Maytags How expensive were they ??

[harvestgold]

I just spoke to a friend of mine that was a native of Iowa and asked him what brand of washers and dryers he had when he was growing up ?? I just figured that maytag would be the Brand most Iowa`s bought !! He said Oh no only the rich people bought those machines !!! Even his relatives din`t buy Maytags cause they were too expensive they all bought Kenmores or Norge . Just how expensive were maytags compared to other brands ?? Were they the cadillac`s of washers an dryers ?? any input on this ?? Harvestgold !!

 

[DADoES]

In my area, back in the day, a Maytag was about $150 more than a Whirlpool or Kenmore of equivalent features.

 

[magic clean]

My parents had an Avocado A606S washer & matching gas dryer circa May 1973. My dad the accountant, recently tossed a few shoeboxes filled with old sales receipts. We found the sales slip; that washer and dryer was nearly $850 with delivery and install.

 

[Hometechdoc]

with inflation

If you factor in inflation, that would put the machines at well over $2000 in todays dollars. They were considered by most to be one of the best machines, but pricey.

I looked up in consumer reports over a period from the 60's to the 70's and they seemed to run about 35-50% more than other brands over the time period.

 

[KurtDixon]

It's interesting that they sold as well as they did. They really were good washers though.

 

[brettsomers]

my childhood washer was an avocado regular-tub two-speed model. it was a mid-70s model. my mother was a housewife and my father worked in a factory, a modest income. my mom once told me she bought the expensive Maytag because she believed/heard they lasted longer. this was a woman who only bought clothes at discount prices and clipped coupons and very budget-conscious. the washer lasted until approx 1995 when i think the motor may have seized. not a SINGLE repair ever.

 

[jetaction]

I Remember Hearing......

Maytag's were always more expensive, by quite a bit. I heard several people say that they would rather have a bottom of the line Maytag because of the quality than pay the same price for a middle or top of the line in another model.

 

[toggleswitch]

my parents paid $250 for a Maytag A206 in 1965/66

two speeds
one cycle
three temps
three water levels
softener dispenser/ lint filter in aqua/turquise color

in the mid 60's that was a WEEK's pay !
Would you pay a weeks pay for a washer today?

 

[DADoES]

<blockquote>in the mid 60's that was a WEEK's pay !
Would you pay a weeks pay for a washer today?</blockquote>
IWL12. Been there, done that.

The Whirlpool Supreme 80 we got in 1976 was $369. Total, including tax.
18 pounder
5 cycle (normal, gentle, knit, perm press, + super on normal)
5 temp
4 levels (which I changed to variable)
2 speed
bleach dispenser
centrifugal softener dispenser
self-clean filter

As I recall, a similar Maytag from the Lacks furniture/appliance store serving this area was in the upper $400s, if not pushing a bit past $500. And of course, Maytag didn't have a self-cleaning filter at that time, or 5 discrete cycles.

 

[Erkjoey]

I found the original receipt from when my grandparents purchased this set. Oct. 1970. The washer was $359.00 and it looks like the dryer was about $100.00 dollars less. Its kind of hard to read the dryer price but the washer says $359.00. I know they had to finance them and paid them off within a year.

 

[polkanut]

OMG are those harvest gold Maytag's drop dead gorgeous. Hang on to those babies for all they're worth. I'm so jealous of you, you're so lucky to have such a wonderful pair

 

[gyrafoam]

Yeah, seems to me they were always a hundred bucks or so more than other brands----but back in the day everyone who had any knowledge of appliances figured they were the best. It was mostly about quality level---steel parts instead of aluminum, porcelain cabinet, full bottom panel, horsepower of motor,etc.

The family of my best friend were "Appalachin" mountain folks who (like so many others) settled in an area east of downtown Atlanta called "Cabbagetown".(These folks tended to have large families). A poor working class neighborhood where many folks worked at the old Fulton Cotton Mill.

In those days the Atlanta Gas Light Co. sold Maytags (at inflated prices) and allowed their gas service customers (nearly all of Atlanta) to charge the appliances to their account-----and pay them off as best as they could----$2.00 or $5.00 a month forever if need be! NO ONE could beat those terms! Sooooooo-

Many of those folks in Cabbagetown had a BOL or MOL Maytag and SWORE by them. I used to go with my friend over to his Grandparents place over on Woodward Ave. and we would wander the neighborhood looking for kids we had played with before. Of course, I would have to be "nosey" and peep into the laundry area----and almost always saw a BOL Maytag.

They were more expensive alright, but even the poorest folks thought they were getting a good deal by purchasing them and history has proven them right.

 

[harvestgold]

Wow Guys Thanks really appreciate the info hard to believe that maytags cost that much back than, sure was a lot of money to spend on an appliance that harvest gold set is awesome i have the same set (Not as nice condition) paid $40.00 for both what a steal !!! as soon as i get them cleaned up i`ll post a pictue i think maytag had such beautiful soft color tones all my friends go crazy when they see my avocado green and harvestgold sets side by side i also have a coppertone washer looking for a coppertone dryer any leads !! I think the coppertone color was not as popular than the green and gold of that era

 

[bobbyderegis]

My aunt's A408 cost $600 in 1978, bought in an appliance store in Utica, NY. They were very expensive, but it was an investment to be had for years, not like today's cheap disposable appliances. She still has it, only the water valve has needed replacement. And the DE606 dryer stands beside it!
Bobby in Boston

 

[hoover1060]

I just called my mom...

Her 1977 A608 washer and matching dryer were $825 for the set. The washer was suffering from a sticky timer when the set was replaced in 1996. The dryer had a new element and had the motor replaced once, but was running fine when replaced.

I paid $440 for my Amana LWA40A in 1998, Reg/Perm press/Delicate cycles, 2 speeds, 3 temps, 3 water levels with SS tub. At the time a Maytag with the same features was $150 more.
I love my Amana!
Mom's 1996 Maytag is a POS compared to what the 1977 machine was..

 

[bobbyderegis]

Amen, Jeff. You cant beat an 08 pair. Seems like your Mom got a very good price.
Bobby in Boston

 

[cehalstead]

Maytag price/value

Regarding the comment about people thinking that a BOL Maytag set was better than a TOL "other brand": very true in the 60's and 70's, maybe the 80's; and unfortunately, people still think this and are very disappointed with the Performa and Atlantis series that salesmen push/ed on them, relying on Maytag's past....

 

[bobbyderegis]

IMHO, the only thing going for Maytag at this point in history is it's past.
Bobby in Boston

 

[hoover1060]

I was quite upset...

When mom bought those 1996 Maytags, especially since she got schnockered into a BOL one speed washer the sales man. When she discovered that we went back to try to exchange, and this meatstick talked her back into the one speed machine.
At least the 1977 set was spared the landfill for a while anyway, I sold them to a guy I worked with at my summer job for $100, and last time I saw him(1999) he was still using them.
I wish back then there would have been a way for me to keep them.