Why can't things just work?

So both my fridge and washer (brand new) need to be replaced. The new fridge came today but I can't get the washer until next week Saturday because I scheduled meetings all week. AND I bought two refurbished tivo's from tivo and NEITHER of them is working either! And the tivo discussion boards have only a handful of references to this problem and none of them include the solution. And I've been on the phone with the tivo people for almost an hour already!!!!!!!!!