CR Tests The SQ TR7

[frigilux]

Yes, kids, the testing organization you love to hate has bottom-rated the SQ TR7 with an overall score of 12 (out of a possible 100). That's the lowest score I recall seeing for a washer. It will come as a surprise to absolutely no one that the problem was cleaning (or more precisely, the lack thereof). It was so bad, in fact, that CR retested the machine using the Heavy Duty cycle set for the maximum wash time. The cleaning score went up slightly, from 'poor' to 'fair.'

SQ raves about having spent years and, undoubtedly, a lot of bank developing their new machine; yet through all of that no one saw a red flag in cleaning ability? Unbelievable.

 

[rp2813]

It's hard not to think this was an intentional move by Alliance.  The logic behind it, I don't know, but how could any development team be so, so stupid?  Even the most average of homemakers can see that the wash action is incredibly deficient.

 

[DADoES]

 
SQ says in the early sales training video that the new design washes 4.7% better than the previous design, while causing 19% less "damage" to fabrics.

 

[nmassman44]

I read the CU rating for the SQ washer and they rated all 3 models that they currently have as a 12. Methinks that Alliance might need to rethink the models some since some will buy the washer thinking that they are getting something that will work but find out , the hard way, that it is ineffective in doing its primary job and thats getting clothes clean. I have a feeling that alot of mom and pop stores that sell SQ will be taking many back because of unhappy consumers and if they refuse, State Consumer Protection Bureaus will be rather busy.

 

[helicaldrive]

If they don’t make

some good decisions soon to remedy the problem, the marketplace will make some more bad decisions for them.

 

[kb0nes]

Intentional Move

Ummm they spent a lot of money to develop this machine, my hunch is that they expected to get some back.

Ask yourself this, what is the benefit of designing a sub par machine to Alliance? Perhaps to help them sell their superior front load machines they aren't selling anymore? lol

I see a bad mistake with no hidden intent here. My crystal ball is cloudy, but somehow I see Alliance just leaving the residential market. The way people today are so quick to blame the manufacturer for problems created by the user (see Stinky Washer syndrome) likely makes residential sales less desirable. The customer is always right only applies to customers with common sense.

 

[frigilux]

1. "Ask yourself this: What is the benefit to Alliance of designing a sub-par machine?"  Answer:  There is no benefit in doing that.  So why the hell did Alliance do that very thing?
 
2. "My crystal ball is cloudy, but somehow I see Alliance just leaving the residential market." I couldn't agree more.  Your brother John disagrees strongly with with both of us.  
 
3. "The way people today are so quick to blame the manufacturer for problems created by the user..."  This is not a case of poor cleaning results due to user error.  The blame lies squarely on the shoulders of Alliance.

 

[launderess]

On the one hand suppose Alliance should be given credit for attempting to produce a traditional TL washer with central beater. This when going up against increasingly stringent federal energy use restrictions.

Is there even a market for traditional TL washers on the commercial side? If not then can see that perhaps Alliance is perhaps eyeing getting out of that sector all together.

Time to face the fact because it is a fact traditional TL washers as Americans knew them are going way of the Dodo. It just isn't possible to produce machines (IMHO) that can give proper results in current regulatory environment.

 

[lorainfurniture]

On the sales floor it checks a lot of boxes

Full tub fill
Agitator
It’s quiet
It’s reliable
It looks old school (on purpose)

I’m pretty sure they prioritized the check list over performance, and sell “well, it’s good enough”

 

[gelaundry4ever]

Wow!

Wow! Unbelievable! Not! That's all I have to say!

 

[mrsalvo]

Actually, I'm about done commenting on Speed Queen, other than looking for a good replacement later this year. Very let down with the washer I purchased. Water rates are going up for south central Texas as we very well may be heading into a drought this summer, and I think its about time to seriously look around for something I can live with and one that will fit in a fairly cramped space.

Peace out!!

Barry

 

[kb0nes]

Eugene, in response to your points:

>1. "Ask yourself this: What is the benefit to Alliance of designing a sub-par machine?" Answer: There is no benefit in doing that. So why the hell did Alliance do that very thing?

My response was meaning that there was no benefit in Alliance _intentionally_ making a machine with poor performance. My opinion is that they simply messed up, it wasn't an attempt to say sabotage top loading washers so that the evil gubbamint can impose their ecological ways or some other paranoid idea. Indeed they will lose lots of sales and their reputation as a result of this faux pas. I can't imagine there were meeting discussions asking how they could best wreck sales during the design phase of this machine lol

>2. "My crystal ball is cloudy, but somehow I see Alliance just leaving the residential market." I couldn't agree more. Your brother John disagrees strongly with with both of us.

I've disagreed with him before and verse visa. He does surely have inside information I don't have. I can only form an opinion based on the knowledge I have now, we'll see how it shakes out in 3-5 years.


>3. "The way people today are so quick to blame the manufacturer for problems created by the user..." This is not a case of poor cleaning results due to user error. The blame lies squarely on the shoulders of Alliance.

Correct, Alliance messed up the design in my opinion too. The point I was making is that I could see a reason for them to leave the residential market because of consumers taking not responsibility of problems due to them. How many times have we seen people "demand" a new machine due to a simple issue that should be simply repaired? Residential customers are likely much harder to deal with and the cut-throat retail market has much smaller profit margins to justify dealing sticking with it.

 

[wishwash]

At least this is one review that Alliance can't scrub.

 

[frigilux]

Phil- Thanks for your responses/clarifications. You know I have nothing but respect for your input/insight here at AW on topics ranging from physics to politics. The same holds true for John (combo52) who summed up the TR7 perfectly a few months ago: The wash cycle is basically just a power soak.

What I find perplexing is this: Why on earth did Alliance allow this intriguingly simplified machine that, unfortunately, doesn't clean well, get to the sales floor?

 

[gelaundry4ever]

How dare alliance?

How dare alliance ruin the speed queen washers? This is a sham!

 

[norgeway]

I will keep

My old Rim Flo Hotpoint, it will outwash aNY new machine on the market!

 

[sq9series]

"It was so bad, in fact, that CR retested the machine using the Heavy Duty cycle"

LOL, it was so bad that CR felt the need to contact SQ engineers to make sure their test machine was working properly.

 

[tolivac]

I will hang onto my old Hotpoint RF washer as long as it still works-one from the Dixon Swap shop!!!Love these,simple,unembelished,not gawdy,but WORKS!!!!!

 

[johnb300m]

I'd be half inclined to bet that it wasn't even the engineers that came up with the agitub design.
At least in my sad experience, this to me smells like it has inept marketing and management dweebs written all over it.
And they just strong-armed the engineering team to "make it work."
This is my life.
Not much of a stretch to think that SQ geniuses did the same thing.