Does anyone else prefer front load washers with REAR control panels?

[sudsman]

I perefer Rear controls too

on any machine washer or dryer.

 

[eddy1210]

Here's another favorite

My latest top control front loader!

 

[jetcone]

Jamie

that tub is big,easily a double load. The water level is easy now that I have figured it out, I have the diagrams on my laptop so when you get one you can easily tweak it to the level you want. I have mine set for just above that boot and so when the clothes tumble they are covered with a splash of water. Just enough yet still saving too.

AND the 1000 RPM spin in that tub leaves everything just Frigidaire damp!

 

[combo52]

REAR CONTROL WASHERS AND DRYERS

Rear controls are often more reliable and much easier to service. Many FC washers are damaged the tub assembly hitting them if a schock absorber breaks, they are more likly to get moisture in them being next to the dispensers, tub boot and vent. And people love to spill detergent, softeners, bleach etc on top of the machine which can run down the front top seem or even just down the front of the machine. We also see a lot of damaged, broken controls when the machines are moved and I have even seen broken controls when furniture etc is moved past the machine.

 

Gas and electric ranges that have front mounted oven and burner controls also have many more problems.

 

[the7]

I prefer washers and dryers with rear controls.

 

[autowasherfreak]

I like the rear controls too.  1.  I think they look better, and 2.  They are easier for me with my poor eyesight to read.

 

 

[appnut]

They are easier for me with my poor eyesight to read.

Jim, it's the opposite for me.  I think the ones up front are easier for me to read, display color is also important. 

 

[sudsmaster]

My take on it:

Rear controls: easier to read

Front controls: allow the machine to be put under a counter

 

[nmassman44]

I too prefer a rear control machine. One thing is that when I load the washer I use the top of the machine to go thru the load as I load the washer. A rear control prevents socks and stuff from going behind the machine. Nice machines here!

 

[mark_wpduet]

I like rear control too.

But WHY is selection so limited in the US I wonder? I mean, the only ones I can think of are LG and SQ.....WP doesn't even make one.

 

[3beltwesty]

Front controlls help sell stands for washers and dryers!

From a pure marketing viewpoint; a low profit margin, government supported tax kickback to maker water saving WASHER is used to hawk high profit margin sister devices.

ie the DRYER and TWO BOXES/STANDS to lift these higher.

slanted rear controls are easier to read.

A USA sales chap will push a matched washer and dryer; plus two stands to get them higher.

The profit margin on the boxes/stands is huge. They are just a low tech sheet metal box with a drawer and they cost 200 dollars each. If you buy a FL washer that is government supported via tax credits to the maker; the maker makes more profit on that box than the washer that sells for 400 to 900.

A new dryer is pushed too. Ones wife wants a cool looking laundry room. That 700 buck washer needs a 700 buck new matching dryer! plus 2 boxes/stands at 200 each. With state sales tax now you credit card is close to 2 thousand dollars.

USA Dryers have long lives, older ones in the usa are simple and easy to fix. If one does not want or care about matched pairs; the older dryer often can be used.

 

[3beltwesty]

In the last example Joe and Jane usa six pack charged their credit card about 2000 thousand dollars. If they bought added service contracts; it might be 200 to 300 dollars more. State sales tax varies from ZERO to about 9? percent in the usa.

The maker sold you two boxes at 200 each=400; this is the highest profit margin stuff

The dryer at 700 bucks is the 2nd highest profit margin thing.

The FL washer at 700 dollar is sold with the least profit margin, it has a tax credit to the maker of a few hundred dollars, and sometimes more if the states have a program too like they did a year or two ago.

If that washer is sold with little profit; it still gives a big tax credit to the maker

 

[mark_wpduet]

The Pedestals

Yes. The pedestals are expensive.......If you think about it, if you had a REAR control washer you would not need a FRONT control dryer, which would also need a pedestal. So .......You save by buying a lower cost matching dryer and not having to buy two pedestals....Makes sense.

Unfortunately at the time I bought my Duet pair almost seven years ago......I wasn't that smart....But I got the WP employee discount on all of it.....Still if I had it to do over I wouldn't get the pedestals again........

It does make me wonder.......What if someone DOES buy pedestals (like I did)......Then ten years later you need another front load washer..........Now are those pedestals going to "fit" the new front load washer you buy if it's from the same manufacturer?.....If not, what a waste.....But it wouldn't surprise me.

 

[lordkenmore]

Now are those pedestals going to "fit" the new front

I'm betting that something will change enough so that one has to buy a pedestal all over every time one buys a washer. Why, I'm sure all sorts of exciting pedestal advances occur every year!

OK. Maybe there aren't any advances--past, of course, finding ways of making the product ever cheaper. But that pure profit of selling pedestals over and over surely would tempt any appliance maker.