to buy GE appliance business according to Bloomberg.
Looks like Electrolux is the front runner
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joe_in_philly
Well-known member
Here is another story to back that up.
GE considers selling its appliance business
General Electric is in talks with Swedish firm Electrolux to sell its iconic appliance business.
usat.ly
It just kills me. GE makes excellent modern ranges. I'd thought about replacing my 1984 Hotpoint slide-in with a basic, coil-top GE range. I love their racks which can stay in the oven during the self-clean cycle. And that range has the highest wattage 8" coils. Even though they say they'll support product, I don't put a whole lot of belief in that in the long haul. And I hate flat surface ranges. My Revere Ware won't work well on them. It took me 22 years to finally have a kitchen with matching appliances--black & brushed chrome. Vintage won't allow me to keep that. White is too plain. GE has already let me down. Hmm, a charcoal grey 30" Custom Deluxe Frigidaire?
The quality of GE appliances has deteriorated considerably since the 1950's.
Their ranges still are near the top, but the rest of their offerings, from fridges to washers, are often too mediocre to merit consideration by the discerning buyer.
It's been GE's corporate strategy for some time now to stay in a market only as long as it is #1 or #2 in sales. Apparently they don't give much credit to the concept of making great home appliances to build a name and reputation that will reflect positively on their other, more mundane, but still profitable offerings (like jet engines and medical equipment). Hence GE's appliance division has largely deteriorated into bottom feeder "contractor grade" appliances that hardly reflect well on GE's vaunted commitment to quality and design.
Their ranges still are near the top, but the rest of their offerings, from fridges to washers, are often too mediocre to merit consideration by the discerning buyer.
It's been GE's corporate strategy for some time now to stay in a market only as long as it is #1 or #2 in sales. Apparently they don't give much credit to the concept of making great home appliances to build a name and reputation that will reflect positively on their other, more mundane, but still profitable offerings (like jet engines and medical equipment). Hence GE's appliance division has largely deteriorated into bottom feeder "contractor grade" appliances that hardly reflect well on GE's vaunted commitment to quality and design.
whirlcool
Well-known member
Would the appliances then be branded "Electrolux" or would they be "GE by Electrolux"?
polkanut
Well-known member
<span style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino; font-size: 14pt;">I can hear Thomas Edison spinning in his grave!</span>
Edison spinning in his grave
Undoubtedly reeling and rolling from the high voltage shock!!!
Undoubtedly reeling and rolling from the high voltage shock!!!
iheartmaytag
Well-known member
It's a lot like the Maytag purchase by Whirlpool
At least it isn't going to China. . .
At least it isn't going to China. . .
Yet...............
"
"At least it isn't going to China. . ."
Not yet. But it will sooner or later. Or S. Korea. Or Mexico where Electrolux already has a large operation.
Basically anyplace that has a docile, compliant, eager-to-work-for-pennies workforce along with some gov't subsidies.
"
"At least it isn't going to China. . ."
Not yet. But it will sooner or later. Or S. Korea. Or Mexico where Electrolux already has a large operation.
Basically anyplace that has a docile, compliant, eager-to-work-for-pennies workforce along with some gov't subsidies.
Eager-to-work-for-pennies
I don't know if people are really "eager" to work for little money. I watched a news report about some super-modern Electrolux factory in Poland (I think) and all the workers interviewed complained that Lux only paid them the least amount possible. Some people even had to have two jobs. But... between having no money and having a little... these people chose to work for Electrolux.
I don't know if people are really "eager" to work for little money. I watched a news report about some super-modern Electrolux factory in Poland (I think) and all the workers interviewed complained that Lux only paid them the least amount possible. Some people even had to have two jobs. But... between having no money and having a little... these people chose to work for Electrolux.
passatdoc
Well-known member
@Allen/Whirlcool
When Electrolux acquired Frigidaire, the situation was different. The US Electrolux vacuum company, independent from the Swedish parent company, held the rights to use the name "Electrolux" within the USA. Buying Frigidaire gave them a foothold in the US market, using a familiar brand name (maybe not the most prestigious, but easily recognizable, since they couldn't sell under their own name.
Eventually the US Electrolux vacuum company went out of business, and Electrolux was able to buy the right to use the "Electrolux" name in the USA. However, rather than rebrand everything as Electrolux, the company kept Frigidaire's name on their BOL and MOL offerings, up through the Frigidaire Gallery line. Electrolux began to introduce TOL products under its own name. (TOL for the company,at least) The strategy seems to have been to preserve the recognizable Frigidaire name for mass market and sell Electrolux products to the upper market demographic.
GE is a little more confusing, as its products range from mass market/builder basic appliances, through upscale GE Monogram, up to GE Café which is high end. Some of the Monogram and Café models are in the same price range as Electrolux. My bet would be that they will keep the GE name for the mass market products, while slowly changing GE Monogram and Café over to the Electrolux brand. When the public hears "GE" they think of mass market, not their upscale Monogram/Café market niche (I'm not dissing the products, only stating the public perception).
One thing I liked about post-Electrolux Frigidaire models was that they did introduce some European features to mainstream US appliances. An example is the use of convection fans in ovens. When I upgraded my gas range (basic GE builder model), I wanted a gas convection range. Only four non-commercial range makers (non-Viking, non-Wolf, etc) offered gas convection in 2001, they were GE, KA, JennAir, and Frigidaire. All but Frigidaire added $300 or so to the cost of their convection ranges (rather expensive little fan...) except Frigidaire Gallery, which had only a $100 mark up. Convection is nearly universal in Europe, but treated as a luxury feature---and a chance to hose the consumer---in the USA.
Frigidaire Gallery offered both simple fan convection (Speed Bake) and third heating element convection (True Convection or some name like that) and the Speed Bake option was $700...vs $1400 and up for GE,KA,JA. $1500-1800 was not in my budget at the time, and i"ve been delighted with it after thirteen years of perfect service. I had to calibrate it once about three years ago and otherwise have never had a problem with it. I later bought Frigidaire Gallery FL/dryer and counter depth fridge, partly because of loyalty induced by their offering a convection range I could afford at the time (and not raping me on price just for having convection). The current version of my range now has five burners and grates that go all the way across, and Speed Bake has been eliminated in favor of third heating element-only convection (since the gas model lacks heating elements #1 and #2, it's really the ONLY electric heating element...but it is element #3 in electric ranges). This model's MSRP is only $900, and can be had on sale as low as $800. Assuming build quality matches mine (may not if made in Mexico---mine was made in USA), an outstanding value.
When Electrolux acquired Frigidaire, the situation was different. The US Electrolux vacuum company, independent from the Swedish parent company, held the rights to use the name "Electrolux" within the USA. Buying Frigidaire gave them a foothold in the US market, using a familiar brand name (maybe not the most prestigious, but easily recognizable, since they couldn't sell under their own name.
Eventually the US Electrolux vacuum company went out of business, and Electrolux was able to buy the right to use the "Electrolux" name in the USA. However, rather than rebrand everything as Electrolux, the company kept Frigidaire's name on their BOL and MOL offerings, up through the Frigidaire Gallery line. Electrolux began to introduce TOL products under its own name. (TOL for the company,at least) The strategy seems to have been to preserve the recognizable Frigidaire name for mass market and sell Electrolux products to the upper market demographic.
GE is a little more confusing, as its products range from mass market/builder basic appliances, through upscale GE Monogram, up to GE Café which is high end. Some of the Monogram and Café models are in the same price range as Electrolux. My bet would be that they will keep the GE name for the mass market products, while slowly changing GE Monogram and Café over to the Electrolux brand. When the public hears "GE" they think of mass market, not their upscale Monogram/Café market niche (I'm not dissing the products, only stating the public perception).
One thing I liked about post-Electrolux Frigidaire models was that they did introduce some European features to mainstream US appliances. An example is the use of convection fans in ovens. When I upgraded my gas range (basic GE builder model), I wanted a gas convection range. Only four non-commercial range makers (non-Viking, non-Wolf, etc) offered gas convection in 2001, they were GE, KA, JennAir, and Frigidaire. All but Frigidaire added $300 or so to the cost of their convection ranges (rather expensive little fan...) except Frigidaire Gallery, which had only a $100 mark up. Convection is nearly universal in Europe, but treated as a luxury feature---and a chance to hose the consumer---in the USA.
Frigidaire Gallery offered both simple fan convection (Speed Bake) and third heating element convection (True Convection or some name like that) and the Speed Bake option was $700...vs $1400 and up for GE,KA,JA. $1500-1800 was not in my budget at the time, and i"ve been delighted with it after thirteen years of perfect service. I had to calibrate it once about three years ago and otherwise have never had a problem with it. I later bought Frigidaire Gallery FL/dryer and counter depth fridge, partly because of loyalty induced by their offering a convection range I could afford at the time (and not raping me on price just for having convection). The current version of my range now has five burners and grates that go all the way across, and Speed Bake has been eliminated in favor of third heating element-only convection (since the gas model lacks heating elements #1 and #2, it's really the ONLY electric heating element...but it is element #3 in electric ranges). This model's MSRP is only $900, and can be had on sale as low as $800. Assuming build quality matches mine (may not if made in Mexico---mine was made in USA), an outstanding value.
American Lux Vacuums . . .
The US based Electrolux vacuum company has never gone out of business, they are still very much around. What they did do was sell the rights to the Electrolux name in the US and thus had to change their own name. Since that point they have been known as Aerus. Not as nice a name but the owners of Aerus made a chunk of change with the sale.
The US based Electrolux vacuum company has never gone out of business, they are still very much around. What they did do was sell the rights to the Electrolux name in the US and thus had to change their own name. Since that point they have been known as Aerus. Not as nice a name but the owners of Aerus made a chunk of change with the sale.
After nearly 20 years of purchasing Electrolux-made Frigidaire appliances, I was all excited to try a new-to-me brand: GE. Who's probably going to wind up with it? Electrolux. Sheesh!
Looks like my future belongs to LG and Whirlpool (WP for laundry only).
Suppose this means yet another (formerly) US brand will bear the burden of Electrolux's crappy dishwashers.
Looks like my future belongs to LG and Whirlpool (WP for laundry only).
Suppose this means yet another (formerly) US brand will bear the burden of Electrolux's crappy dishwashers.
passatdoc
Well-known member
My praise for Frigidaire laundry/fridges/ranges does NOT extend to dishwashers. I own a Bosch!
On the other hand, the FL/dryer are eight years old with zero repairs/service issues. THe fridge is eleven years old, again no issues except a broken water intake solenoid that I replaced for $65 (repairclinic.com). Range is 13 years old, had to recalibrate the oven once and no other service issues.
On the other hand, the FL/dryer are eight years old with zero repairs/service issues. THe fridge is eleven years old, again no issues except a broken water intake solenoid that I replaced for $65 (repairclinic.com). Range is 13 years old, had to recalibrate the oven once and no other service issues.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Do the Acquisition Conga!
One-two-three - FEH!
One-two-three - FEH!
One-two-three - FEH!
One-two-three - FEH!
(Kick on each "FEH!" until you realize that kicking will do no good)
One-two-three - FEH!
One-two-three - FEH!
One-two-three - FEH!
One-two-three - FEH!
(Kick on each "FEH!" until you realize that kicking will do no good)
I wonder if Whirlpool even considered buying the GE Appliance division?
I would have not had a problem with this thought.
Gosh. When you think what GE was at one time in the appliance circus. And not to mention the Maytag change over.
It truly does cause me sad feelings. The majority of the USA consumers won't even have a clue.
What can you do right?
B
I would have not had a problem with this thought.
Gosh. When you think what GE was at one time in the appliance circus. And not to mention the Maytag change over.
It truly does cause me sad feelings. The majority of the USA consumers won't even have a clue.
What can you do right?
B
mrb627
Well-known member
Alliance?
Wonder if Alliance had any thoughts about absorbing them...
Malcolm
Wonder if Alliance had any thoughts about absorbing them...
Malcolm
It's saddening honestly. GE has always been the appliance company I loved to hate. I would deliberately keep tabs on all their products and any new releases just to make sure I was still disgusted by them. But it's a double-edged sword I suppose, because the entire reason for my distaste for the brand was their lack of passion to build high-quality, solid products over the past decade or so. Everything has felt so cheap and hastily put together, not to mention the horrible children's book font they've been using. Back in the FilterFlo era, their appliances were built like tanks, and lasted just as long. Just never have had a liking for any of their dishwashers.
