Consumer Reports March '06

[gadgetgary]

Just received the March edition of Consumer Reports rating washers and dryers. There is also a small article on the Kenmore Oasis(not favorable), and, an article on repair or replace your old washer. States that their repair data shows that repairing any dryer or top-loading washer older than six years, or front-loader older than seven years usually doesn't pay(guess they don't read automatic washer!), based on the price of new models.

Gary

 

[angus]

Just saw that article. They unfortunately rated the Speed Queen FL dead last as they felt the wash time was insufficient and indeed gave it the "black circle" for washing.

They also rated the Speed Queen dryers last since there is no moisture sensor, just a thermostatic control. Another reason for the big downgrade was because the dials could only turn one way. Stop me if I am crazy, but why is a two way dial such a desirable feature that would result in a significant downgrade if it isn't available? I don't think I have ever turned a washer or dryer dial any other way but clockwise. Whats the big deal?

They did not rate the SQ top loader.

TOpping the TL ratings was Whirlpool, which got relatively high marks for "gentleness". Just who is conducting those tests anyway?

 

[Cybrvanr]

I believe what they are figuring their repair estimates on too is the price of parts and labor. From when I worked at Sears, For an in-home repair of an appliance, you will end up paying at least $200...most of that being in labor. For a fancy HE3T or something like that in the $1000 range, it's probably worth it, but for the $400 12 year old Roper or something, it's probably not worth it.

What they AREN'T counting on is nuts like ourselves that can make repairs ourselves, and save a bundle because we aren't paying labor. A $35 water inlet valve is an easy repair that anyone that can turn a screwdriver can handle, along with many other jobs around the washer. Of course, transmission repairs in washing machines can be labor intensive, with relatively little in part costs, making these repairs quite realistic for someone that's daring enough to go that deep into a machine!

 

[whirlcool]

Sometimes I wonder too....

about CR and how they rate things. Another thing about CR is sometimes they rate models that are kind of rare. The Whirlpool TOL TL set I have was number 1 in the ratings the year I bought them (1993), but I have never seen another one and last year when I posted a photo of the set, most of the people here on this site had never seen this set before either. And that's really saying something! It turns out that it was a "special item" order anyway. One would think that CR would rate items that are more generally available to the public.

 

[launderess]

Considering how much of what was formally called "major appliances", are junk with built in planned extinction, CR may be onto something about not repairing but replacing certian machines. A friend of mine is ready to chuck her Malber P18 though it runs quite well for a 10+ year old machine. Only problem is the water valve is dying a slow death, but rather than do the simple repair, the machine is being kicked to the curb.

As plastic parts and unit assemblies become more the norm, we are going to see much more of the "throw away" appliance than ever before. Sad thing is in the United States not much is done with appliance recycling, so all those machines/appliances are going either to landfills or krushers.

Launderess

 

[sudsmaster]

Although CR doesn't take any money from outside interests, I think one of their practices may engender a bias in the selection of the specific products they test.

CR will offer its employees for sale the products it buys, once the testing is over. I suspect that in some cases, this leads CR to gravitate towards testing those products its staff would personally wish to own. So if it sees an excellent but special order item, it might be tempted to test that. In other cases, the blandest products seem to garner favor (especially with automobiles, where any audible hint that there might be a real motor under the hood leads to reviewer disdain).

 

[frigilux]

Too bad about the SQ FL'er getting such a low ranking on its washing score. Who wants to take bets they will add a longer wash option to their regular/heavy-duty cycle by this time next year?

I notice that Frigidaires always receive an average (good) rating for cleaning scores. When I increase the wash time from 18 to 28 minutes, my clothes do get cleaner (I'm going on stain removal, here). That increase makes my WHITES cycle 65 minutes long, which isn't objectionable to me. I wish they'd put a 30 minute wash option on their WHITES cycle. Doesn't mean you'd always have to use it. In fact, I often use the 30-minutes QUICK cycle (6-minute wash, 2 deep rinses) for lightly soiled items with great results.

It's just nice to have the option for an uber-long wash when needed...

 

[launderess]

SQ began to redo their front loaders long before CR got to them.

Spoke with Alliance Laundry's SQ man last winter and he stated changes were coming for the 2006 and 2007 year model for front loaders. Larger door openings, longer cycle times, and more user friendly/input controls are on the drawing board.

Launderess

 

[kevinpreston8]

I have never used CR to rate anything

There is the lab approach, and then the personal, subjective feelings you get for any product. Word of mouth, personal experience, etc always appeals to me much more than CR.

 

[SactoTeddyBear]

Re: Whirlpool Washer & Dryer:

Hi! Allen whirlcool, you've my curiousity about your Whirlpool Washer & Dryer, you mentioned about. Would you mind Posting Pix's again, including inside the Washer, to show the Tub and Agitator and possibly a Front-View, of the Dryer, to show the Door and Opening?

Have you ever had any Repairs on them at all, or have they been pretty good Machines and problem-free?

"BTW" I'm not really very strong thinking about what Consumer Report's does consider Best-Buy's, very good and terrible Ratings of Washers and Dryers especially and as mentioned about getting petty about how a Timer Dial turns in only 1-direction, or some other petty thing that the Macines does, that someone there doesn't seem fitting or being to their liking.

Peace and Happy Whirlpool Laundry Daze, Steve
SactoTeddyBear...

 

[rinso]

I love CU, but I use it as more of a guide on product features and any big issues, rather than actually going by their "black and white" testing methods. I also feel that CU lost some of its objectivity in the 1970's and has never gotten it back.

For instance, they trash the new Ford Freestyle for having a noisy engine (my friend owns one, and it is a bit noisy) but when a new Honda has an engine that practically buzzes you out of the passenger compartment, little mention is made of it.

But, for testing things and reporting on consumer issues, they are still the best thing going. I just renewed my subscription.

 

[bobbyderegis]

I have always been a fan of CU, but I must say I place a lot less trust in their ratings now. I always agreed with their ratings in the 60's and 70's, but now I don't always agree with their results. The product descriptions are very vague as of late. I always say I'm not going to renew my subscription, but I haven't dropped it-yet.
Bobby in Boston

 

[DADoES]

I dropped my print subscription a few years ago. Tried the online service for one year, but it isn't any better. They have a forum, but only accessible by online subscribers, and the CR moderators *rarely* participate (unless that has changed now). ALSO, their subscription system REQUIRES credit card info be saved for automatic resubscribe. Access was IMMEDIATELY terminated when I removed credit card info in preparation for canceling, and I still had two weeks time left!

 

[petek]

I don't dismiss their ratings but I don't enjoy the magazine near as much anymore since their focus shifted from testing consumer goods and food products to more and more health, lifestyle and government issues like retirement plans, investment houses, insurance, leaving few pages devoted to appliances. All you get now is maybe a 2.5 page synopsis plus chart and maybe and scant few pictures of the tested machines other than the CR best buy pics. In the old days you'd get pages of info and way more pictures.

 

[hoover1060]

They also had vacuums in this issue

for the first time in a long time the Windtunnel self propelled is not #1!

 

[petek]

so jeff , who was number 1?

 

[whirlcool]

Sactoteddybear:

Here is a link to my Whirlpool page with all sorts of photos of the units.
They have been VERY reliable, only one repair in 13 years. Last year it needed a new agitator kit, $25 did it myself. They still run as good as they did when they were new.
However, last year the washer started getting a moldy smell to it and I ran the Cascade Complete washout and then I ran a bleach load through thru it and it still had a mild mold smell to it. I recently found out that the moldly smell isn't coming from the tub, but the area around the top of the tub, under the top cover. I ran a terry towel with a mild bleach solution under there and all kinds of mold came out on it. I guess I need to take the outside cover off and clean it out.

http://www.dual-reference.com/Wash/Whirlpool.htm

 

[frigilux]

I still find CR a credible source for making decisions about purchases. Having said that, I rarely seem to buy their top-rated appliances, mainly because the nearest Kenmore dealer (Sears) is 65 miles away. I've had no complaints about any of my 'middle-of-the-pack' products from Frigidaire and Maytag. I go more by the actual score the product receives than by whether it's first or tenth on the list.

If the top-rated product gets an overall score of 75, and the 10th or 15th product down the list gets a 60, I don't hesitate to buy that product if it's the highest ranking one I can find locally. I generally use their guides to stay away from the real dogs, with fair/poor overall scores.

And I miss the more detailed test results. They used to list the rpm speed of each machine, its rinsing abilities, etc. Maybe the 'average joe' consumer didn't care about that info, but I sure miss it.

 

[rayjay]

Consumer Reports

I subscribe to this magazine also. At times it is frustrating in that the previous year, the dishwasher or washer, dryer was rated number one or at the top. Then the next year it is ast the bottom of the ratings. What could have changed in one year??? A couple of years ago the rated the front loaders as excellent in washability, then the next year, they were rated above average, and the Maytag TL Neptune was rated excellent in cleanability. You just never know what to buy.