A wash-day miracle...

[retropia]

...is reportedly headed our way.

While reminiscing in Bruce's "Frigemore" thread about that particular model of front-loader, and fretting about no longer having one, I performed one of my periodic internet searches.

As this model is a 2.7 cubic-foot capacity machine, normally I run a search on "Frigidaire 2.7" and some of the other brands under which this machine was sold. Besides GE and Kenmore, I think someone told me they sold a Gibson version of this, too.

Looking under Kenmore, I found ONE for sale at a SearsOutlet in Morrow, GA, which I believe is in the Atlanta metro area. It was listed as new, a floor model, with scratches the only damage indicated.

The low-resolution photos on the website made it look exactly like the model we had. It had a list price of $799, but was marked down to $519. The shipping estimate to our door was $213, which didn't seem too bad. So, I made the impulsive (for me) decision to buy it, which I was able to do online.

That was Sunday, and Monday I received a call from one of the store managers confirming the order and shipping details. She said they would strap it to a pallet with corner protectors, then box it and strap that, as well. It would go from the store to a Sears depot, then shipped by a contract shipper to our local Sears depot, and then Sears employees would deliver it to our home.

It's supposed to be here sometime next week, and I received an email today that it was on its way. Of course I recall the recent experience Launderess had with the damaged AEG set, so I know anything can happen during delivery.

Thus far, the experience with SearsOutlet has been remarkably easy and pleasant.

The model number is 417.40412700 and the serial number is XC10114311. According to the appliance look-up website, it was either built in 1991, 2001 or 2011. I'm guessing 2011 is the correct year. I'm kind of surprised it was built that recently, as I thought that Kenmore had dumped this model awhile back.

It appears the laundry angels have arranged a wash-day miracle!

 

[rp2813]

2001 might be it.  My sister has had a similar, if not the same Kenmore model for several years.  That seems like a long time for your machine to have been sitting around at Sears, though.  Experts will have to advise if this model remained virtually unchanged into the 2011 production year.

 

[frigilux]

Had the Frigidaire version; it's a little workhorse! If you're careful not to over suds (which shortens the life of the spider and bearings, a weak spot with these machines) you should get years of service from it. If you prefer an "old school" front-loader with its generous fills of water, this is a good choice.

Glad you found one!

 

[chris74]

Ain't able to solve the mystery when it was built

Compared to the other appliances in the picture, this washer looks somehow small...

 

[retropia]

This looks exactly like our previous washer from the year 2000. It just seems bizarre to think it's been sitting around a Sears store since 2001. I wonder if there will be any way to tell its exact age?

I'd considered a new Frigidaire, as I was interested in an internal heater and a larger capacity. Plus, we'd had such a good experience with our old one. But I was concerned about the lower water levels in newer machines, plus reports of shorter lifespans.

This washer IS smaller than today's front-loaders, which are more typical of the burgundy behemoth on the left, in the photo. I think this Kenmore is considered to be more of a Euro-sized machine, meant to be able to fit under a kitchen counter.

It will handle a queen-sized comforter, which is the largest item I need it to wash.

 

[frigilux]

Doug-- I loved my old Frigidaire/Electrolux front-loaders (had a 1996 and a 2002), but have been spoiled by the bells/whistles and larger tub size of the 2010 redesigned model. By the time your new 2.7 model is ready to be put out to pasture, the latest crop of washers will have 4 hour wash cycles with nothing available but 3 cups of cold water, LOL![this post was last edited: 9/19/2013-14:05]

 

[DADoES]

 
<blockquote>I wonder if there will be any way to tell its exact age?</blockquote> Serial numbers are typically coded for the manufacture date, model numbers for the marketing year of introduction.

 

[nmassman44]

Well actually no you dont have to "decode" the age of the machine...It will say month and year of manufacture. On mine new GE Frigidaire front loader it says 09-10 right on the sticker. The older front loader hat threw the spider was made 04-01. This front loader looks like it has the water temp sensor and delay wash cycle, It should also have the PowerWash cycle and the spin speed max should be 1100 rpms.
The other thing is that this washer holds as much as my SQ toploader. It may look small, but looks are deceiving. Also this washer has a small water patch that it uses to wash. It washes very well and gently too I might add.

 

[yogitunes]

the water level on these machines are adjustable......

thinking I need to find a set or two.....they are a powerful workhorse....

 

[frigilux]

Preparing for the howls of derision: If you adjust the water level, adjust it lower. Not to the levels of today's machines, but I found that lowering the water level actually improved performance. There are three rinses (and a fourth if you want it) so less water doesn't hinder rinsing.

I'm glad to see so many positive comments about this machine!  They are fun little units.

 

[washabear]

Congratulations on your find, retropia! Let us know how it works out.

Bruce

 

[retropia]

The good news

The good news is that the washer (model 4041 or 40412, depending on where Sears displays it on their websites) was delivered on Tuesday of last week.

The young men who delivered it were courteous and polite, and they were careful carrying it downstairs, using straps, to not bang it into anything.

It is a new and unused machine, as it was obvious that the power cord had never been unsecured from its factory position inside the machine.

The dark marks you see along the top edge of the machine are just from the packing tape that I haven't yet removed.

 

[retropia]

When it was built

If I'm understanding the sticker correctly, it was built in 01/2011.

 

[retropia]

The unfortunate news

Alas, good old Sears let me down at the very end of the delivery process, during installation. If I'd have known that the delivery guys were also going to do the installation, and that they didn't know what they were doing, I'd have asked them to leave and I'd have installed it myself.

The trouble is that the one deliverer who installed it didn't wish to bother with reading the installation instructions, and it was obvious he'd never installed one before, or at least not this particular model.

Specifically, he left inside the machine two lower metal shipping braces, plus a Styrofoam block in the lower center of the machine. The instructions, taped to the machine, explained what needed to be done.

 

[retropia]

The electric cord

Apparently someone at Sears understood that their high-quality contracted-out deliverers/installers can't be bothered with reading installation instructions. The electric cord is tucked inside the machine. It cannot be removed without first removing the front lower access panel, where, surprise! one can also access the braces and foam block that must be removed.

The installer, when he figured out he couldn't get to the electric cord to run the washer, to demonstrate that it worked, asked me "Why did they make it so hard to get to the electric cord?"

He'd only brought in a pliers to remove the screw/nuts attaching the lower front panel. After he removed the panel, I could see the Styrofoam block, and I mentioned that it should be removed. He replied, "No, that is supposed to stay in place." I thought, well, this must have been a change from our older version of this washer.

What do I know? I'm not the expert here.

There was a black plastic ring labeled "do not remove" that he removed, which I think somehow helped secure the power cord to one of the shipping braces, plus this label, which he ripped off with his pliers.

 

[retropia]

The test run

Thus, having only partially completed the installation, he started a test run of the washer, had me sign a form, and he left. It was only after I started reading the installation instructions that I realized things hadn't been done correctly.

Did he damage the machine by running it while leaving the braces and block in place? I don't know.

I should mention that there are three or four plastic/screw-in "plugs" that come out of the back of the machine, and those were correctly removed, so at least that much had been done correctly. However, the holes that are left are supposed to be filled with plastic plugs, and that part also wasn't done.

In any event, I called the Sears Outlet in Atlanta, and left a message for a manger to call me back with my concerns. Not having heard from her, I phoned the next day. I was put on hold for 10 minutes and then disconnected.

Then I called the Sears help line. There I waited on hold for 12 minutes to speak to an operator. When I finally got to one, she said she would transfer me to a service scheduler who would send someone out to check the machine for me. I received a "hello" from the service scheduler and then the line was disconnected. (I was on my landline, so the disconnections can't be blamed on fuzzy cell phone service.)

So my next phone call was to my credit card company, and I've filed a dispute. Maybe that will get the attention of Sears; I don't know.

In the meantime, I've disconnected the washer and slid it to one side, and reconnected the Kitchenaid toploader.

More drama thanks to Sears! We will have to wait and see how it all unfolds.

 

[frigilux]

Nooooooooo! After finding and procuring a now hard-to-find washer, an incompetent installer causes trouble. That would really piss me off.

Possible good news: Have read on several occasions of installers forgetting to take out shipping braces. Once they were removed, all was well. It is to your advantage there wasn't a full load in the machine. An empty washer can't have stressed the suspension too much.

Raise hell with Sears, and good luck with your washer. Let us know what happens.

 

[lovestowash]

Wonderful machine...

I bought the Kenmore rear-control version years ago, so I could get a larger matching dryer, rather than the 5.9 Frigidaire version...
Steve1-18 adjusted the water level up a couple of inches...
It would easily hold a king-size bedspread, albeit lighter than a comforter...
Sold the pair when I got my grandmother's Westy Spacemates...
Hope you get the kinks worked out...
These machines have few of the issues of the current FL's...

George

 

[pierreandreply4]

if it was me

if it was me i would give up using a front load washer and stick with the kitchenaid topload as a top load washer gives a much better cleaning performance