I may have to change my Screen name

[iheartmaytag]

My Maytag range has been giving me trouble for the last two years. I was informed by a local Maytag repair center that Whirlpool is no longer supporting any equipment over 10 years old. My Range is 17 years old. Finally they decided that it's the oven controller and I could pay them $495, and it may fix the problem.

Knowing that $495 is half of a new range I had planned to replace the Maytag when tax refund comes around. I have shopped many places looking since about October and the one sales lady I was most impressed with was Donna at Towne West Mall Sear's.

It the middle of my range searching and with no intentions of further purchases I walk in the kitchen Monday and all the lights are flashing on the dishwasher. This dishwasher has been trouble since day one. (Maytag 300 Quiet Series plastic tub). The machine washes fine, when it runs. The control panel has been replaced x3, the heating element was replaced under recall. The lower rack rusted through at 18 months of age (That's cosmetic according to Whirlpool extended warranty). So when the lights were flashing and I couldn't stop them. Then when I tried to start the machine it would jump from Auto Clean to Rinse hold. Repairman said that this was the last model before Whirlpool took over Maytag and Maytag turned out a lot of garbage in the last few years of their life. I couldn't see anymore beating the dead horse any longer. I called Donna and asked her if there were any two-fers.

Last night I went to Sear's and ended up picking out a Kitchenaide Dishwasher Mid line w/SS tub. Still has hydrosweep. Purchased the extended warranty (it's still a Whirlpool product).

Then with Donna's help I choose a GE convection oven smooth top with five burners, and warming drawer. I have loved my convection oven the last 17 years and would be lost without it now.

They will be delivered March 2, as the range had to be ordered. I choose to stay with White instead of SS exterior for several reasons:

1. The Frige is still white so I didn't want them to fight.
2. I really don't like SS, it's pretty but shows finger prints and smudges.
3. Donna said that Whirlpool and GE use a different mixture on the SS and Kitchenaide is more shinny and GE is a darker slate. The whites didn't clash.
4. With all the changes in appliances white seems to be the constant that doesn't date when a kitchen was done. My preference, and it's was $50 cheaper.

Hope I don't regret my account draining, company coming the second week of March, and then Easter need a dependable stove/oven and Dishwasher.

Thus why I may have to change my Screen name. My all Maytag kitchen is now only the refrigerator. Let's just say Iheart(vintage)maytag.

 

[danemodsandy]

Uh-Huh!

"Whirlpool is no longer supporting any equipment over 10 years old."

And this, sports fans, is why I'm no longer supporting Whirlpool.

 

[DADoES]

 
There are services that repair oven boards.

http://www.fixyourboard.com

 

[d-jones]

"And this, sports fans, is why I'm no longer supporting Whirlpool."

 

      That pretty well sums it up for me.

 

[iheartmaytag]

"And this, sports fans, is why I'm no longer support

Notice the new range is a GE. That has mostly to do with I don't like Whirlpool's Steam clean feature that doesn't give you a high heat option if things are really dirty. This devolution in technology bothered me. The GE you can choose Steam clean for light soil or High Heat clean if things are nasty. The racks can stay in to clean too.

Unfortunately the Kitchenaide is a Whirlpool sourced unit. But I have hopes, and 90 days to return it if it doesn't work out. Also bought the 5 year warranty.

 

[turquoisedude]

So annoying...

To say the least! What a horrible attitude the appliance manufacturers have. I wonder how many of them have an interest in waste collection and landfill sites??

 

[lordkenmore]

is why I'm no longer supporting Whirlpool

Unfortunately, I honestly wonder if the long term support situation is much better elsewhere. And if it is, how much longer it'll be better.

 

[iheartmaytag]

Lord Kenmore. You are correct, Planned obsolescence and a throw away society.

 

[polkanut]

This exactly why we'll be getting Speed Queen laundry equipment when the time comes.  Hopefully not for a long time though.  I love my Dependable Care suds-saver.

 

[tomturbomatic]

I am sorry for your misfortune

I hate to have to tell you this, but Maytag stoves were crap from the day they bought the obsolete Hardwick factory. They did cheap things like use painted surfaces above the oven door. It was Maytag's misguided attempts to have a full line of appliances that led them into bankruptcy because of stupid, ill-considered cheap ways of doing things like those Admiral-made side-by-side refrigerators where the doors would never line up. It is a sad tale of what happens to a conservative, family-owned company when the family line ends and they search outside and find an idiot who does not know his butt from a shotgun appliance-wise to run things. The absolute shit on which they plastered the Maytag name, like those Norge laundry appliances, did not make any of it Maytag quality and, like adding spoiled apples to a barrel of good ones, just brought the whole name down. If they had invested the money they spent on the stove and refrigeration lines on designing a true large capacity washer, they might still be in business today. They should have learned their lesson in the 50s when they offered the gas ranges from Globe and refrigerators and freezers fron Amana. They withdrew from those markets and decided then that it was better to concentrate on laundry appliances and that was when they had the Maytag name on GOOD stoves and refrigeration equipment. Now it is a bastard brand with no one to stand behind appliances that need a LOT of propping up. It is sad. The lack of support from Whirlpool speaks so well of the Republican Upton family of Michigan, owners of Whirlpool, who have one of their own in Congress. On the other hand, how could you expect WP to support the trouble-prone products of a dying company that would have vanished totally if WP had not pulled it in off the doorstep on the metaphorical cold, snowy night?

 

[alr2903]

WP products still have ID plates that read "Benton Harbor Michigan". Benton Harbor is a town where the local government is/was abolished due to finances or the lack of them and now run by an appointed "City Manager". I think Benton Harbor, shares the plight of Newton Iowa, Canton Ohio, Herrin IL. and so many others. To stay on topic, we have a Maytag stove bought new in 2008. We have had no problems with the electronic oven control. The sad thing is the Stove in the basement that cost 1/10th of the Maytag on craigslist ( Gas GE ) is better quality and bakes beautifully. I am ashamed to post this, I dented the Maytag scrubbing off a stain. Oh yes, right up front between the two front burners. A visitor would not notice it. I notice it everytime I clean the darn thing. It is sad considering what it cost new. alr

 

[twinniefan]

Whirlpool

That is really so sad to hear,for many, many years here in Australia, Whirlpool was known as a high quality brand, back in the time when Malleys manufactured them here anyway, I also remember Dame Edna starring in their tv commercials.
Mind you I thought the same about G.E. hence why I was so very disappointed when my G.E S.B.S fridge freezer only lasted 6 years before packing it in, especially when it cost me $3000 AU dollars, oh! well buyer beware I guess, interesting that the L.G. top mount is heading towards it's 4th birthday and hasn't missed a beat.
I do hope you enjoy your new appliances.
Steve.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

I can't get quite used to Maytags that resemble Whirlpool & Kenmore washers & dryers; the top-mounted lint screen on the dryers, for example...

-- Dave

 

[kenmoreguy64]

I saw this post once before, and was going to reply but wanted to verify something with a knowledgeable WP employee before making any statements. The remark made by the service person "Whirlpool is no longer supporting any equipment over 10 years old" is unfortunate and very over-stated, at the very least.

Whirlpool's policy has been, and continues to be, that if a certain part is turning (that means it is being used and sold in the field) in a certain amount per year, they will keep supplying that part until that changes as long as they can still get it made. Once a part gets used infrequently enough, then it becomes NLA, but not until then. If the vendor or source has gone out of business, no longer does business with WP, or will not sell those parts anymore for whatever reason, then sometimes things that should be still available aren't. That may or may not apply to the Maytag range discussed here.

We still see some brand new belt-drive washer parts being made, for example the plastic front feet are still widely produced, as well as a couple Kenmore timers, and even somewhat recently we could still get the blower belt for the 1965 and older dryers.

The part on the 17 year old Maytag range may not be generating the annual "turns" it requires to be a profitable item for Whirlpool's parts department, or WP may not be able to get it from Maytag's vendor, whomever that was. Usually when a part comes up for re-order, vendors or manufacturers require a certain minimum run, and if this is larger than what WP wants to buy and hold, then the part may get obsoleted.

It is unfortunate what service people tell customers sometimes. My parents were told in early 2008 that their 3.5 year old GE Dishwasher needed a new motor/pump, and that it probably was not worth repairing. This came from a GE Factory Authorized service person who was sent out by GE themselves. The machine is still running today with that same motor, and it turned out to be the conduit line on the lower side of the upper rack was rattling/vibrating. It was fixed with a zip tie.

In any event, WP has no such broad policy abandoning support of products older than ten years. There are still parts being made for products 30 years old. It all depends on usage and availability from suppliers. I know its fun to jump on the bandwagon that we hate the big bad old corporation, but the service person's claim here is unfounded.

Gordon

[this post was last edited: 2/20/2013-17:57]

 

[DADoES]

 
<blockquote>It is unfortunate what service people tell customers sometimes.</blockquote> Yes, I've run across reviews on Epinions and had direct discussion with a few people who were told blatant untruths by service techs.  I suppose there can be various reasons why that happens.  Perhaps the tech just doesn't want to deal with the situation.  He may sense it's want the customer wants to hear and makes the statement to placate anger.  Or he may not know any better.

 

[combo52]

NEW DW And GE Range

You made good choices, KA is still one of the best DWs made, { MT TT DWs never were, or were their ranges ] and GE cooking appliances are still very good ranges. If I were you I would continue to take good care of you appliances and GET YOUR MONEY BACK for the Stupid 5 Year Extended warranty, these warranties only guarantee that you will likely not only get bad service but that the warranty company will make a killing. No Consumer Group or anyone with a lick of finical sence would ever recommend you throw your money away on these almost worthless contracts.

 

[iheartmaytag]

Kenmoreguy

Thank you for the clarification.  I was told that the stove was no longer supported, and that Whirlpool no longer supported equipment over ten years old by not one but three former Maytag only shops.  After the first oven control failed to fix my problem and after six inconvenient home repairs they decided the range needed another $495 controller, but would not guarantee the repair on that old of a range.  This is why I choose to be quit of the range.

 

Then the dishwasher that has been problems since day one started acting up again, I decided to be quit of them both.  I am so disappointed, my 1999 Jet clean was one of the best dishwashers I ever owned.  My what 9 years can do to a companies quality.  

 

Combo, 

Too many electronics.  I'd rather have the security.  Last DW the service contract more than paid for itself. Though the factory contract wouldn't pay for the rusted out racks after only 18 months, as they called that cosmetic; Sears would cover the racks as they call that necessary for the function of the unit.

 

Waiting now for March 2, for them to arrive.

 

 

 

[gusherb]

This is why

I would just like to go back to the 1960's and purchase a lifetimes worth of appliances (I'd only need one of each! hah!)

The stuff they put out today as far as quality and usability is nothing like it used to be! Makes me sick. Best oven and cooktop I've ever used was my grandma's 1960's coppertone Caloric built in gas wall oven and gas cooktop with thermostatic frying burner.

I think the only way to find that same quality (aside from collecting vintage stuff) is to spend thousands on commercial or ultra high end stuff. As for dishwashers/washing machines there is nothing as good as what was made 25-50 years ago! (except maybe a Speed Queen washer, but can't think of a dishwasher)

We have a full kitchen of Maytag appliances, 7 years old now. Only thing on the fritz is the Samsung front load washer with a Maytag badge slapped on it.