Absolutely Beautimous!!>>OldSkool
Just like all the others, couldn't agree more, The pinnacle of Whirlpool/Kenmore.
My favorite of all agitators, the Roto-Flex. Allowed a few more garments, and had the best wash action in my opinion.
A little background on the marketing behind these sets; as Sears employees were trained in the finer details of this machine, and knew how to sell them.
Whirlpool/Kenmore had no trouble selling millions of these combos...and what was the clincher?
The Sears Credit Card.
They would allow almost anyone to have a chance to own the "in products" on a budget.
With Sears @ an 18% annual interest rate since the mid-sixties, if you chose to pay over time and minimal payments, the final price was exactly double what started out as the selling price, regardless of full retail or "on sale".
For those customers that had any ammunition as to why one of the competitors were better (Maytag, Frigidaire, even an identical Whirlpool)...A crafty Sears Salesman could easily sway the customer.
Whirlpool had very good statistics as to why, with a faster spin speed on the Maytag & Frigidaire, a good Kenmore set was more economical to run.
With their neutral drain, and clutch engagement for spin, they proved that any slight amount of greater moisture in the final load was more than offset by the lower power consumption of the pair in total than the competition.
IE, with the no load of the drain, gradual spin up of the drum without pulling the motor down into higher amperage draw, and their more economical and efficient dryer designs, it was statistics that customers loved.
Even with an astute customer reminding Sears that "...A Maytag is made to last 30 years...",
A Sears employee would banter back,
"Yes, and a Kenmore is Made to Last 50 years!"
Add in the "When you need Anything, Sears is Here to Service what we Sell";
and the selling snowballed into a "no-brainer" for the customer, with just a "sign and drive" kind of deal.
Then, the product did what it promised...it delivered.
Ah, those were the good old days...
For What's it Worth,
LaVidaBoem
Post Script:
Two of the most important decisions that started the downward spiral of Sears was the abandonment of the in house credit card to Citibank,
and the bidding of appliance building, and awarding to LowGrade with later washers/dryers.
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