Miele: silence the welcome tune

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donprohel

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I live in Munich - Germany, but I am Italian
So I have decided to replace my old washing machine with a brand new Miele WEG375 WPS.

The machine plays an annoying tune when it is turned on or off, and I want to silence it.

The user manual states that in the "Settings" menu there is a "Greeting tone" menu item where I can set the volume of the tune or even silence it.

There is just a small problem: in the "Settings" menu there isn't any "Greeting tone" menu item (all the other menu items are there as described in the user's manual) and none of the other menu items does the trick (there is a "Buzzer volume" menu item, bit it relates to the sound made when the programme is finished, and I have already silenced it).

I have tried to contact Miele explaining the problem but they haven't read or understood my message: they just tell me to use the "Greeting tone" menu item in the "Settings" menu, just that there isn't any "Greeting tone" menu item.

I have scrolled again and again the "Settings" menu and I am sure that there isn't any "Greeting tone" menu item, I also have a video if someone wants to check in person...

Any idea?
 
Is the machine connected to WiFi?
You might have gotten an older stock machine that might have a software version that isn't in line with what the user manual states.
The machine can pull pretty extensive updates via its connectivity system, so just for that it's usually worth having Miele stuff connected through the app. When I had my ModernLife washer a few years back I had a software bug related to the cool down setting. Even had the service come out but they couldn't help. Then the issue got resolved a few months later through an over the air update.

If that doesn't fix this I wouldn't hesitate to open a service call with Miele as long as the machine is under warranty and you have a proof of purchase.
They are usually very helpful with any regard.
You can usually schedule an appointment through the miele web page if you experience any language barriers with phone support (or if they planely refuse to send somebody out) - just mention you prefer a technician who speaks english and they will even usually accommodate as far as possible, especially with your location in a big city area.
 
All Miele techs in USA speak "English" quite well.

Problems with customer service come from changes made by new management of Miele USA some time ago now.

Customer service telephone and likely online was shut down in USA and moved offshore. Now when one reaches out to technical or customer support one likely reaches someone in India or elsewhere.

Unlike days of old where Miele USA technical support was staffed by former (or current) actual techs, these "call center" persons read from and do not divert from a script. If there is a situation that cannot be remedied via telephone or email/text message only remaining option is to arrange a call out. Days of Miele technical support giving out detailed and often extensive information over telephone are long over.
 
Laundress

I am somewhat certain that the German hotline still is very German based.
Actually, I am almost certain that all non-english EU countries have their own call center for Miele. EU languages are weird, and more so the customers.

Munich is just about 2h away from here by car. (Actually will go there for a weekend with my partner next month.)
And given OP states he's an Italian living in Munich the German hotline very much is his only option for service calls by phone.
Not making assumptions, but I had an Italian flat mate back up north and while his English was pretty decent he struggled a lot with German. So if they can't help him in German, going the English route might be easier and less stressful for all involved, especially given the pretty good display of their English language skills in the original post.
 
Replies #1 and #3

I try to clarify, henene4 / Henrik:

- the machine is brand new, it has been purchased from a Miele specialist here in Munich

- the seller ordered the machine for me, so the machine came straight from Miele's warehouse to my flat

- I have taken a look at the user's manuals of washing machines having the same control panel and sold in different countries, and all say the same about how to disable the "Welcome tone" in the "Settings" menu

- the machine is connected to the WiFi

- I have contacted Miele from their website, and they replied in English just to tell me to go into the "Settings" and silence the damned tune; I have already replied sending them a video where I show that there is no way in the "Settings" to silence that noise, but I am quite annoyed that they clearly didn't pay much attention to my message and just copied what in the user's manual

- the shop is a "Miele Premium Partner" and they also do repairs, so I could contact them and ask for someone to come and take a look at the machine, but even if an engineer comes and looks at the machine, they could only confirm that there is no "Welcome tone" item in the "Settings" menu.

Time will tell, but I start suspecting that this control of the "Welcome tone" has never existed in any Miele machine and it has been mentioned in the user's manual just out of a mistake (which would not be a demonstration of the famous Miele quality)
 
Where the machine came from dosen't per se matter - there is always a chance that some machine sat in some warehouse for longer than anticipated and isn't up to date.
But since it is connected, it would have pulled any updates basically ASAP, so that doesn't matter anyway.

Customer service doesn't want a call out for what appears like a typical user error. But you know better - if it was there, you'd see it.
That's why a service call is the way to go - if the fault is real and customer service does not acknowledge that, you need somebody the customer service can trust to know what they do to confirm you aren't making that thing up.

It's a really minute fault, it's something most people don't care about and it's documented differently to what reality is.
A service tech won't be abled to resolve the issue on visit.
But he can confirm the fault, troubleshoot it, and then escalate the issue.
Because it's nothing major AND all documentation says something else, unless somebody somewhere mentions that, nobody will take action.

Another aspect is your consumer rights.
I don't think anybody would return the machine because of that minor issue.
But, in general, Miele puts the documentation online. It's in the manual. The machine dosen't have that feature.
So it has been falsely advertised in a way, which in turn means that in theory you can demand Miele to resolve the issue in a timely manner or you can have the sale reversed.
If Miele admits the issue exists on paper, that only makes that position stronger.

So, regardless, if it is an issue to you that annoys you, take the action and get a service tech out.
It's free during warranty, they are quick and efficient and it it's the only way to get anything to happen.
 
There’s not a lot Miele can do for you via email. Why not just call?

I had an issue with our coffee machine, I wanted to reset the brew settings and there was nothing in the manual about how to reset defaults on the default profile.

I rang Miele, got an Australian and she also couldn’t find the answer. She committed to find out and called me back with a solution that wasn’t in the manual.

For something that isn’t black and white, you can’t beat a phone call to discuss the issues. If you ring, it’ll likely wind up with them arranging a service call for you. Yes Miele service isn’t the same as it was 10 years ago, but they will still bend over backwards to try and assist.
 
Update

Thank you very much for all the replies and suggestions.

Yesterday I sent to Miele a video showing that the "Settings" menu does not contain the "Welcome tone" menu item.

This morning I have received a call from Miele by a nice lady that addressed me in English but also spoke Italian (she actually is Italian, it is not difficult to find Italians in Germany).

The video has clarified the problem, the lady asked me to try and change the language of the washing machine to see if the problem persisted, which I did while on the phone with her, and of course changing the language did not solve the problem.

The lady will check internally if a remote update can solve the issue or if they need to send an engineer to "add the function" (to silence the "Welcome tone").

Very good customer service, indeed, but I still wonder how such a thing has happened: this is not an error or a fault (as henene4/Henrik suggested when he wondered if it could have been just an outdated version of the software) at least it seems that a few corners have been cut in the production of the software (and I have a few reasons to believe so, including the fact that when the machine is turned on, it plays the "Welcome tone" at a much lower volume than when it is turned off).

And I still believe that the "Welcome tone" function has never existed (which would not make the matter any better) but I wait: time will tell if I am right.[this post was last edited: 5/3/2024-04:04]
 
Hi. I have a WCR890WPS and I had to enter the service menu to get rid of the annoying sound it makes when i switch it to on or off. Now it doesn't make the sound when I switch it on but the sound is on when i switch it off.Problem only half solved! Perhaps you have to enter the service menu and have a look at it. I changed 4 W1 in 8 years (all changed by Miele for problems) but despite the fact they are robust and well done they don't do for me. I just got Supertronic W5000 and T5000 and plan to swap them as soon as possible. Good luck with your Weg375WPS.
PS I am italian too.
 
Software quality?

Thank you bewitched/Marco, it seems that your experience confirms that there is something wrong with Miele's software: if have been able to solve only half of the problem...

However, with the appreciation for the customer service, 4 machines in 8 years is quite an achievement!

Now I am curious to see how Miele addresses my issue...
 
Miele quality itself has suffered a bit, but not as much as their programming quality.

I've seen some hints that make me think that they outsourced programming all together.
They are using Bitron components for certain parts. Bitron is a parts supplier that makes parts in all categories and price segments.
The thing that made me think they are doing the programming on behalf of Miele was the final spin on full load cottons cycles. It goes to full speed for a minute, slows down to half speed for about 30sec and then goes back up for the remainder of the spin.
That behaviour I've only known from Bauknecht machines, which famously use Bitron main controls.
When I saw that the WPS hose had Bitron branding on it, a few things clicked there.

I had a programming issue when I had my ModernLife Miele a few years back where it would go into a fill error when ever it would try to run a cool down on a boilwash.
Without cool down activated it would run just fine.
Had the technician out, did a manual software update to no success.
Didn't bother calling out again. Got a over the air update about 6 months later and that fixed that.

The US has been experiencing issues with bleach dispensing for years now.
Some had some prewash issues.
Germany has had some wrong wash rhythms in special programs of the bedding variety.

All pretty minor stuff on a coding level, but with significant impact on the machine in total.
 
Update

As I wrote in a previous message, I have found some even more bizarre behaviour of the washing machine.

The Miele engineer has just left, he has been unable to address any of the issues, he told me that he has never seen anything like this and he will be back for a software update (I have no idea why he couldn't make the update today, and I haven't asked).

Because this is exactly my professional domain, I agree with henene4/Henrik that either Miele or their supplier must have outsourced the software development to the cheapest possible supplier, and thus they got the lowest possible quality of software.

The issues with this washing machine are neither errors nor "bugs": this is the worst quality software I have ever seen in my career (and be assured that I have seen quite shitty software)
 
If that is the worst quality software you have seen - especially on an appliance - you haven't seen much unfortunately.

Quality control is definitely lacking - at least it runs in most situations.
If you ever get a Gorenje appliance in your hands you'll rethink how bad Miele actually is.

It ain't good, it ain't the worst BY FAR.
 
More surprises...

My new Miele washing machine is a continuous source of surprises.

Today I wanted to try the "Maintenance / Clean Machine" programme, just to see what it is about.

When the "Maintenance / Clean Machine" programme is selected, the Quick Power Wash option is activated; I de-activated it.

To my great surprise, towards the end of the programme the display showed "Pre-ironing" and the machine start doing exactly that, which is quite unexpected for a maintenance programme.

After a few minutes of "Pre-Ironing" (maybe to smooth the wrinkles of the drum) the machine proceeded with the last rinse.

I admit that I am so naive that I would have never expected a "Pre-Ironing" in a "Clean Machine" programme, but I would have never expected that another software issue would have solved itself (without an update) either
 
The very early W1 my partner got a few months back does the exact same thing.
It also says "Pre ironing" during the steam phase after the wash spin if AllergoWash is selected.
Same principle - steam sanitation.

My VZug also has a short and a long maintenance cycle - one is a "quick refresh" basically and one is a deep clean.

I think the one W1 I had that had the SingleWash feature also allowed for quick to be selected on the maintenance cycle and very much behaved like a SingleWash if you left it selected.
 

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