Give it to me straight: how long have I got?

[superelectronic]

Cheap newbies?

...not on my watch, love!

No, thankfully I'm not on an economy drive unlike so many of us these days. Nonetheless, repair gets my vote as money well spent.

Now, if I WERE to play fantasy shopping, my current choices for a household setting are between the AEG L74650 (£565) and the Siemens WM14 S4 95GB (£699). My rationale is that both offer a full 5 years' parts AND labour guarantee, are from relatively reputable manufactures, have inverter motors (none of that high pitched screech for me, please) and look nice too. I wasn't bowled over when I saw them in the flesh admittedly but they'd do and at least aren't totally white. The Siemens is a bit pricey for my liking so the AEG would probably get to the checkout. Don't suppose either would give me 15 years' service but frankly I'll probably get bored after a while anyway!

Of course, if we're talking new machines for fun, I'd be more than happy to snap up that Vision pictured above! Two thirds of the Brit contingent will probably burn me at the stake for saying it though...

Ditch the Hotpoint for a Hoover (dropping the Aitches as necessary)? Well if we're talking the classic "clatter/rattle/'what speed am I on again?'" spin variety I'll pass if it's all the same...and you could float Noah's Ark on all that water they get though! BUT they do look lovely and have some solid engineering to boot; just not my choice as the daily machine!

Ta ta...

Alex

...you know, brochure shots just ain't what they used to be, are they?

 

[aegokocarat]

go fo the siemens not the aeg

 

[pierreandreply4]

you could also look at whirlpool that have some nice features as well but it all depends on the price your ready to put on it and there is also lg that have some great washers as well.

http://www.whirlpool.co.uk/859200015000.product.100381.html?sku=859200015000

 

[3beltwesty]

That Aquasteam 9770 B costs £ 598.00 - £ 666.00 new

versus a £ 135 repair

***Here in the USA many folks would pay 1/5 of a new washers price to have an old one fixed. But here many of us prefer repairing than filling landfills!

http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/pl/14-...irlpool-Aquasteam-9770-B-Black-Compare-Prices

 

[aquacycle]

"It Can Easily Be Fixed" here in the UK are some of

Oh God, Mike, that post was the funniest thing I've read all week!!
If I have to read "here in the US..." one more time, I swear, I'll go mad! It seems certain people have not yet realised, the US is NOT the world.

 

[3beltwesty]

All that assuming is real funny too!

It is also quite funny to ready how others believe through blind faith that a blanket canned quote for a dishwasher also works for a washing machine!

ie assuming!

It is real funny how assuming is common in one part of the world is alarm bells and a giant read flag in other parts of the world.

It is rather funny how some of us are concerned about details while others gloss over details were not concerned about the word "dish" in the canned quote.

It shows the UK is not as detail oriented; and quotes that mention the wrong appliance to be fixed bother folks less.

 

[ronhic]

Posts 49 and 50....

...confirmed that the quote was also applicable to washers, 3Belt...

 

It would appear from your cynicism, that Americans appear to get a much worse deal (for a change) than other nationalities do when it comes to appliance service....and that the level of trust that people are prepared to extend to a major appliance manufacturer when it comes to sales and service (Note, I've not mentioned quality of appliance) is vastly different to that experienced in, in this instance, the UK.

 

...and as for your comment that the 'UK is not detail oriented', what a complete and utter load of rubbish! I'd suggest that you sweep up your own vast yard before leveling that comment at another nation....

 

[pierreandreply4]

when it comes to repairs i can say that for canadian washers tech today don't even bother to repair the appliance they say to the customer calling for a repair to clearly buy a new machine so in order to be able to have the washer or any appliances repaired here in canada its important to keep the bill of purchuse of the appliance and all papers as well in order to be able to have a repair. if you look at the following pic that i am posting my grandmother had a 40 year old dryer the heating element did its time sure she could of called her repair tech to have it fix but after 40 years of use for this dryer she decided to buy a new dryer.

 

[superelectronic]

Getting back on track...

I think it's time to iron out some misconceptions here...

(1) the new washers suggested were "fantasy shopping" only; I'm not buying any of them (including the Whirlpool: don't think they have they best rep over here).

(2) No-one is going to book a repair for a washing machine when the quote states "dishwasher" without double checking first...and if they do, more fool them, wherever they live!

(3) All over the world, there are bound to be those who focus on detail and those who don't; to make a sweeping statement about an entire nation is pretty rich (and not exactly based on detail either). Ditto on the assertion that a nation prefers to send things to landfill rather than repair.

(4) My machine is easy to repair if you know what you're doing and parts ARE readily available. The chance of my being presented with a repair bill several hundred more than anticipated is very slim indeed, unless I find the most crooked repair service in my local area...and frankly I'm probably going to go with the Nationwide manufacturer's service at that very reasonable fixed price anyway.

It's certainly interesting to hear about a more global perspective on repairs; ultimately, however, I was originally posing a question directly relevant to my situation and location!

Thanks to all for the input.

Alex[this post was last edited: 3/29/2011-14:21]

 

[3beltwesty]

Ronhic; Re :"Posts 49 and 50....

...confirmed that the quote was also applicable to washers, 3Belt..."

So it too 49 comments to have somebody very that the quote for repairing a dishwasher also fits the major repair of the actual washer in question!

SUPER FUNNY!

Not the massive comments that the job is super easy, but ZERO time spent with getting the quote on the washer, not the dishwasher!

TOO FUNNY!

Even Matt in the UK mentioned the quote was low and seemed more like a service call charge

Folks differ on how they assume stuff:

Thus you say

"Given the price of GBP134.00 is the price quoted by Hotpoint, the manufacturer, and Assuming it is also applicable to washers, how much more of a blasted quote would you like 3Belt? "

Here we do not assume a low quote for a dishwasher is the same as one for a washing machine.

Instead of attacking others when a quote defines the wrong appliance, here most get a better defined quote so the risk is zero. It seems others get off attacking a concern that a quote references the wrong appliance. It seems many are scared to clarify a quote that references the wrong appliance, it is far easier to just post comments that the job is easy than pick up the telephone and get a quote on the washer.

Here I value if another comments that a quote is maybe in error due to the wrong item being referenced or the quote seems too low. It looks like in other areas folks do not want others concerns, ie you hope that the quote is the same and attack others who question that the quote referenced the wrong appliance.

How folks assume varies widely

 

[pierreandreply4]

Price for parts also vary greatly as well depending on the appliance needing the repair

for an exemple i have a 3 year old fridgedair gallery pro fridge that has receved 2 repairs the first repair being the fridge still under the warranty and it was an whole curcit board that was replace the second repair was to fix a handle for taking water from the fridge the repair cost 200$ witch also includes the service call witch is 50$ minmum and also please note that some appliance tech may have to bring the appliance in question in there shop for the repair if it needs a particular tool that they can't transport.

 

[electron1100]

on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on

I can only assume that it is 3 belts intention to bore us all into submission ;-( zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[hoover1100]

Indeed

We seem to just be going round and round in circles about issues which have already been resolved here, and words are being put into peoples mouths (mine included it seems).

The machine is easily repairable, the repair will not take very long, it will not be too costly and is well worth it.

Surely there is no more left to discuss?

Matt

 

[pierreandreply4]

sure its repairable but there will come a time where it will be impossible to repair repairs are not eternal

"Quote from my last post my grandmother had a 40 year old dryer the heating element did its time sure she could of called her repair tech to have it fix but after 40 years of use for this dryer she decided to buy a new dryer". That she could of had repaired witch would of lasted her another year or 2 but know that appliance have a max life for use also and this is my final post in this topic

canadian appliance max life for use is 10 years for newer appliance compared to when appliances that had longer life use du to very large familys.

 

[hoover1100]

there will come a time where it will be impossible to repair

yes...that's true for any machine.

Does that mean we should just stop bothering to have machines repaired, even if the repair is perfectly economically sensible?

Even if it is only a couple of years before the machine is beyond economical repair, the repair will still have been paid off in the extra service the machine has given.

All of these issues have been covered in this thread many times over already.

Matt

 

[superelectronic]

So how long did I have?

Well, I couldn't put up with the noise any more as of last Thursday so I have had to wave the white flag and re-install the Proline. Considering the Hotpoint's drum seizes up if left for a couple of days it's probably for the best (though it is readily freed and will wash away quite merrily).

I've yet to arrange a repair as getting a day off is tricky at the moment.

Things really aren't running too smoothly - even in the process of swapping machines I have found that (a) the neutral pin of the Hotpoint plug had somehow fused itself into the socket (a mini-short - Lord knows what happened there) and (b) I can't get the Proline's drain hose to fit on the under-sink drain properly so a drip tray has to live underneath it.

Using the old machine was fun for about half an hour but I very quickly remembered the irritating features - hissy filling, 2 minute delay interlock, slower cycles and a less "positive" agitation. That's before one considers the woeful lack of usable programmes and the conditioner compartment that doesn't work by design! It was nice to witness the high water level rinses and the fill as it coasts down from spin...and the pump is definitely quieter than the Hotpoint's. Somehow, though, the vibration from final spin always manages to wake me up all the way upstairs (doesn't help that it shakes the dispenser drawer all the way out either).

Still, I will just have to grin and bear it for a couple more weeks.

Absense definitely makes the heart grow fonder!

 

[superelectronic]

The shocking discovery...

Opened up the melted socket earlier...it's a wonder there wasn't some sort of fire!

 

I'm blaming the slightly old socket rather than the plug. And to think I only used it to avoid cutting off the machine's plug to feed the flex through the hole to the socket!

 

The moral: DO check your installations from time to time.

 

Pic's not the best...sorry! Note the blue wire in socket has gone black and the bubbled plastic around one of the plug pins. Could old soldered ends on the copper wire in the socket have been to blame?

 

[superelectronic]

Back with a vengeance

...but hopefully <span style="text-decoration: underline;">not</span> for long!

 

[3beltwesty]

there will come a time where it will be impossible to repair

there will come a time where it will be impossible to repair

There are folks who repair and fix items well beyond what "normal" industry support declares "impossible" or "no parts available".

In cars when I lived in Los Angeles, one store only carried pre WW2 new old stock Ford Car parts.

If one wants to invest in time for old parts; or to remake them then items can be used past declared "one cannot get parts"

On the other hand; saying "it is impossible to repair" is a common way to "jusify" buying a new item. Thus a couple I know junked their old "1990's" dryer; since their expert repair guy says one cannot get timers for stuff that old ( he sells nes dryers! ) !!!!

 

[superelectronic]

So finally the Hotpoint repairman has been!

Pronosis: repairable!

Downside: did not have the parts on his van. These have been ordered and now I am waiting for another appointment. Whilst it might not be a machine they commonly repair, you'd think they'd load the van with likely parts given the fault description they had from me!

Is it me or do you think 7.40am is a bit early for a repairman to pitch up? Caught me completely unawares. I did get the text they promised but with no time slot.

Anyway, I'm pretty vexed about the continued delay (admittedly mostly on my part trying to find a suitable day off).

The bloke who turned up was very pleasant though!

Oh well...I've sent my feedback.

 

[pierreandreply4]

I think its because since its an older washer i don't know what year repair tech end to keep in there trucks or shops parts for newer machines but this is just my tought in the matter but in other word congratulation on having your machine repaired and i also agree with you that 7:40 am is a bit to early repair techs should call first to set up the perfect time eater mid morning or start of the afternoon after lunch.

 

[fl1012]

Early.....

7:40am is early for a visit. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that i'd still be in bed at that time. They should've phoned ahead, ideally the night before, and checked it was okay.

Kinda agree with you about the lack of spares too, although i'd say this is pretty much normal. I always find wherever i go to get something repaired, whether it be a laptop, car or washing machine, parts always need ordering in. We just don't seem to stock anything in this Country anymore.

Whilst it would've been nice for the engineer to break the mould given your prior fault-description, i'd say a return visit is fairly normal. Least it's gonna be fixed - fair play for not scrapping the machine like so many people annoyingly do these days.

Liam

 

[pierreandreply4]

Me i think just a crazy tough the main reason pepole trash there old washing machines, and buy new one is because they are afraid of high repair cost me i know i could of had the agitator on my old 1993 inglis superb2 repaired if i wanted but sadly the washer had done its time it was already 10 years old and in 2004 bought a whirlpool duet thats laready 5 years old i am sure it will last another five years but knowing that when it reachs its 10 year life span i know that i will have to replace bought washer and dryer or maybe before its time since i have a pet but only time will say.

 

[ronhic]

Don't complain....

...that they turned up at 7:40.....

 

...complain if they DIDN'T turn up at all....

 

...and be grateful that it was early - there is little more frustrating than waiting all day for a repairperson to show knowing there are other things away from the house you need to do....

 

[superelectronic]

Service at the crack of dawn...

I've no objection to a repairman turning up very early...I just wish they'd warned me it would be that early! Looking at the text message I received, I suspect part of it was missing (cock up in the service centre I imagine). And I was in bed at 7.40am with the kitchen still in total disarray from the night before...oh the shame of it!

 

Seems it's my lot in life always to receive service personnel in some-or-other state of undress/unpreparedness based on previous experience.

 

Thankfully the early arrival meant I ended up going to work (no need for a day off after all our UK bank hols) where I had an equally frustrating day that required several drinks in the pub to get over.

 

'Til repair day II...

 

[superelectronic]

For the sake of completeness...

...I'm pleased to report Repair Day II was a success!

 

The machine now has new bearings and whirs away the manner one expects.

 

The repair itself was done in under the hour plus an extra half hour for prep/testing etc. The old bearings and spider were taken away so I have no pics of them (didn't want to get under the feet of the repairman by snapping away whilst he was working). All I can say is it looked rather chalky, though the internals of the tub really weren't bad at all given the age.

 

I've run it through a hot wash with descaler; have half a mind to repeat the application though - there are still some deposits here and there!

 

The Proline has been banished back to its corner in the hall where it ought to be.

 

In closing I'm happy to have shelled out the £135 and look forward to a few more years' washing the Hotpoint way (but not forever and a day, obviously).

 

<span style="font-size: xx-large;"><span style="font-family: times new roman,times;">* FIN *</span>
</span>

 

[pierreandreply4]

congratulation on your repair but if you went your machine to last longer this is just my own personel tought it would be better off washing in cold water this will make the machine last longer as well as prtoecting the parts but this might also be temporary as eventulaly your actual washer will be beyond repair might be a year or 2 but eventaly it will happen

 

[3beltwesty]

Why do you think washing in COLD water extends a washers ser

Most all FL washers die due to bad bearings; the water seal leaks and then the 52100 ball bearing's steel corrode like mad. The actual ball bearing life drops like mad once they are corroded.

"hot" water temperatures in washers is mild compared to a car's water pump seal; and these are only weakly die with temperature.

 

[richardc1983]

Glad to hear you got the repair done.

My Hoover A3100 is still working as a daily driver with no problems at all.

Its a little star!

 

[fl1012]

Good news.....

Glad the Hotpoint's back in full working order, Alex. Do feel abit sorry for the Proline though - it's not THAT bad, is it?! ;-)

Richard - Also glad to hear the Hoover is problem free, long may it continue. You struck gold there!

Liam