You have valid points but nothing is perfect. The Samurai was too easy to tip over.. Yes, it stinks that they do not provide, comments on the structure, durability of the appliances like they once did. Durability of anything built within last 10 years, is now questionable. As to your neighbor, if shelves were flimsy why did she buy it. More important, their compressors, invertor compressor are failing, nowhere near the 10 year warranty LG claims . My family or I have the subscription since 1977. They are not as perfect as they were once before but again., they are better than having no information at all.. They are definitely better than Review.com.
Is there a decent washing machine (TL/FL) available from Home Depot for under $1k?
- Thread starter db130
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I like Consumer Reports for reliability data. Nowhere else are you going to get good quality, independent data on how frequently different brands break down in the first five years of operation. Of course, it's not perfect - for example, in cases where a manufacturer has reliability issues that only apply to some of the models in their line, it won't tell you which ones. Also, it can sometimes flag issues that have already been resolved by the manufacturer, and conversely, miss or downplay issues that arose more recently. But it's still a useful resource IMO.
In terms of appliance performance testing, I'm not totally sold on CR's ratings. As said above they often seem to look/test for things that are different from what I personally care about. And they won't tell you anything about different cycles on the machines other than Normal. I still appreciate they actually test products in a lab though, unlike many "review sites" - and I've found some of their non-appliance testing useful - for example, sunscreens and HVAC air filters.
I too wish they wrote more commentary on the individual appliances they test. They do have more commentary for some of the other products they review, especially cars, but for appliances they rarely give you anything besides the numerical scores which is a shame.
In terms of appliance performance testing, I'm not totally sold on CR's ratings. As said above they often seem to look/test for things that are different from what I personally care about. And they won't tell you anything about different cycles on the machines other than Normal. I still appreciate they actually test products in a lab though, unlike many "review sites" - and I've found some of their non-appliance testing useful - for example, sunscreens and HVAC air filters.
CR did an article 5 years ago on the LG compressor problem. They did get meaningfully more reports of compressor failures with LG than most other brands, confirming the issue is real. But not all LG fridges use this compressor, or fail within the 5 years they measure, and the other manufacturers had their share of problems with high end fridges too, thus, LG still came out as average overall for fridge reliability in their survey. https://www.consumerreports.org/mon...on-over-refrigerator-compressors-a8036944066/
I too wish they wrote more commentary on the individual appliances they test. They do have more commentary for some of the other products they review, especially cars, but for appliances they rarely give you anything besides the numerical scores which is a shame.
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phillymatt53
Well-known member
Jaded???
Hardly! - you don't know me.
First off, I'm not one to believe everything that I read "online".
That is for the masses that tend to be gullible.
And having face-to-face personal conversations with District Managers from large corporations, primarily in the Home Entertainment business, I've learned what their training involves and how the marketing of products works.
Some made obvious "slip of the tongue" remarks in a joking way, never thinking that I would spill the beans as a small business owner.
Remember how the famous term Snake Oil came about?
Products are glamorized in order to sell them, to generate revenue to the companies.
This glamorization takes many forms, mostly superficial, because visuals, and looks have been an important element to the human race.
Think about this for a moment....
When television was first introduced, it gained the masses attention.
People were mesmerized by that glowing box in their homes.
This then evolved into Color TV, then Portable TV, and now the masses have those tiny pocket-sized cellphones to glow in their faces everywhere.
Cost-cutting is a benefit to increase profits, but hushed up of course.
Anyone with common sense to know, knows that.
I'm not "jaded"....These are facts, real facts,
vacerator
Well-known member
Possibly Dadoes. I guess I should have considered the guy who has the YouTube car reviews for classics. Curious cars. He's in Naples Florida. Watch a few videos and you'll see what I mean. He tends to be biased.
Ok, sorry I used that term.Jaded???
Hardly! - you don't know me.
First off, I'm not one to believe everything that I read "online".
That is for the masses that tend to be gullible.
And having face-to-face personal conversations with District Managers from large corporations, primarily in the Home Entertainment business, I've learned what their training involves and how the marketing of products works.
Some made obvious "slip of the tongue" remarks in a joking way, never thinking that I would spill the beans as a small business owner.
Remember how the famous term Snake Oil came about?
Products are glamorized in order to sell them, to generate revenue to the companies.
This glamorization takes many forms, mostly superficial, because visuals, and looks have been an important element to the human race.
Think about this for a moment....
When television was first introduced, it gained the masses attention.
People were mesmerized by that glowing box in their homes.
This then evolved into Color TV, then Portable TV, and now the masses have those tiny pocket-sized cellphones to glow in their faces everywhere.
Cost-cutting is a benefit to increase profits, but hushed up of course.
Anyone with common sense to know, knows that.
I'm not "jaded"....These are facts, real facts,
vacerator
Well-known member
I agree with you Jrap. Products can also be cheapened to save production costs. Otherwise the retail price goes higher, or does anyway. Example is Toro/Briggs and Stratton. Latest engine has a smaller air filter, and Toro touts no oil changes ever. You can tell this engine is lighter than the previous models. I bought a new super recycler last month. It seemed difficult to pull the cord out of the box. It started fine for 4 uses, then dead. Fresh gas too. I got a refund.
phillymatt53
Well-known member
I remember the days when products were assembled and held together with screws, bolts, real metal brackets, etc.
And it was fairly easy to service those products.
In my shop, stuff made since the 1980s started to be made cheaper, using those snap-in plastic supports/standoffs, holding down the PC boards and other assemblies.
That white plastic, some sort of nylon or polymer material was always a pain to deal with.
Gears and mechanical parts were also made from that stuff - gears cracking, levers bending, etc.
We at the shop called it "Milk Bottle Plastic Crap"
And as far as cost cutting of products, I've improved-modified many products that I determined were potential issues, in order to make them last and give them a long lifespan.
I've coined that type of improvment as "DE-Chinese-ing it"
panasonicvac
Well-known member
My brother just bought an LG WM3400CW from Home Depot and has been really pleased so far. If I had to get a new washer from Home Depot, I'd go for an LG front loader preferably the WM3470CW. And if I had to go for a new dryer from Home Depot, I'd get a basic Whirlpool with the lint trap on top. I don't see why I should spend extra on a matching dryer with features I'd rarely use.
db130
Active member
I'd like to thank everyone's input. I have an update!
First, I went to take a look at the dryer this evening, armed with an IR thermometer and a bunch of tools.
<cough> The dryer vent was *very* clogged
The good news is that after I cleaned out that elbow and fired up that dryer with the duct disconnected, the vent temp easily reached 175 degrees when I pointed my IR thermometer on back of the dryer. I ended up spending about 30 minutes to clean out their ducts.
So... I was able to convince them that they didn't need a new dryer, and their Whirlpool-made Kenmore dryer lives to see another day!
Next, I presented the Whirlpool WFW4720RW front load washer as well as the LG WM3470CW front load washer as options (both were $698 with free delivery at Home Depot). They picked the LG.
The LG washer will replace a Kenmore Calypso washer that was purchased 2nd hand by me years ago (I can't remember exactly when).
First, I went to take a look at the dryer this evening, armed with an IR thermometer and a bunch of tools.
<cough> The dryer vent was *very* clogged
The good news is that after I cleaned out that elbow and fired up that dryer with the duct disconnected, the vent temp easily reached 175 degrees when I pointed my IR thermometer on back of the dryer. I ended up spending about 30 minutes to clean out their ducts.
So... I was able to convince them that they didn't need a new dryer, and their Whirlpool-made Kenmore dryer lives to see another day!
Next, I presented the Whirlpool WFW4720RW front load washer as well as the LG WM3470CW front load washer as options (both were $698 with free delivery at Home Depot). They picked the LG.
The LG washer will replace a Kenmore Calypso washer that was purchased 2nd hand by me years ago (I can't remember exactly when).
Convince them, once or twice a year to try and clean their ducts. So many public service announcements about dryer fires.
db130
Active member
Apparently, they had been quoted anywhere from $450-$1k(!) for duct cleaning. Apparently, I'm in the wrong business! I'd be totally raking it in at those rates.
Their ducts had been replaced as part of an energy audit fairly recently, I'd like to say within the past 5 yrs? The amount of lint that came out was a bit surprising.
I'm going to invest in one of those $20 dryer vent cleanout tools.
Their ducts had been replaced as part of an energy audit fairly recently, I'd like to say within the past 5 yrs? The amount of lint that came out was a bit surprising.
I'm going to invest in one of those $20 dryer vent cleanout tools.
Why so? Is there something complicated about it? Circuitous route beyond that short duct in the photo above? Difficult to access?
phillymatt53
Well-known member
For about 12 bucks, it's cheap insurance to install a screen covered louvered vent.
I did, and am pleased with it.
Louvered to keep out bugs and cold winter drafts, and screened to keep out birds from hiding junk in the duct.
I did, and am pleased with it.
Louvered to keep out bugs and cold winter drafts, and screened to keep out birds from hiding junk in the duct.
db130
Active member
Trying to scam the elderly was more likely the reason. It is a somewhat long run, but I was able to remove all of the duct pieces for cleaning except for one 5-ft section of rigid duct. I had easy access to both ends of that piece, and I could see clearly through it afterwards.
