New Speed Queen washers and dryers!

[laundrynut]

Your point well taken.

We have a local clothing warehouse store down here whose slogan is, “... an educated consumer is our best customer.”

That being said:

There’s a person working at our place who has always purchased GM products. Even though his daughter purchased a used Ford that outlasted every GM he’s ever owned, he still refuses to purchase anything but a GM for himself.

Some people will always stick with a particular brand. Their parents and grandparents had that brand, and they have it too.

The general perception of how long a particular product is supposed to last has greatly changed. Everything has computers built into it. Today’s consumers are more interested in features, eye appeal, upgrade-ability and speed before considering how long something will last. Can you say BMW?

Just look at computers. Do you care if your computer will last 20 years? Why would you want it to? People eventually want an excuse to “upgrade” to a newer, faster and more feature-filled model. As long as it works well until they get tired of it, that’s OK. And that’s what the manufactures are betting on. We’re not all like that, of course, and wouldn’t replace our washer as often as our computers. But that mentality has worked its way into just about everything we buy now, one way or another. Companies take all of that into consideration when projecting the required longevity into the design of their products.

 

[mark_wpduet]

Yes

What you're saying does make sense. I've just read so many online reviews of disgruntled people who bought something and the usual example would be "broke after 15 months" "I will NEVER buy another GE again!" etc.

I wasn't as aware the brand loyalty was as strong with appliances/cars as with food but I guess I'm wrong there. As for people wanting an excuse to get something newer/better after a few years is just the way things are now I suppose.

Interestingly enough, there is an appliance store here in Lexington called ADI. It's the same company that serviced my duet and installed my dishwasher. They sell SQ's. Unfortunately they don't list their prices on their website.

 

[autowasherfreak]

I do like the simplicity of the control panel in the very first picture, just your basic cycles. My Frigidaire has a lot of weird cycles that I don't even use.

 

[sudsman]

Laundry Nut

not just local store they use it here too and all over the southwest.

 

[laundrynut]

I had no idea

..that Syms was nationwide. I've always assumed that Cy and Marcy were just local. Well, at least they come across that way on the TV.

 

[laundrynut]

mark wpduet

I'm curious. Does ADI stock any SQ products? Can you walk in and actually view a SQ washer?

 

[surgilator_68]

I hear that very statement from my customers on a daily basis. BUT my old one lasted 20 years before it ____________ (whatever it did.)

That was 20 something years ago. Things were made differently back then. Quality control was better, materials were better, the cost of living was lower, the wages were too for that matter.

People have strong brand loyalty. I remember hearing stories about the first washer my great grandparents bought. It was a Whirlpool, and of course because of that my grandparents bought Whirlpool, my parents and Uncle bought Whirlpool, his children bought Whirlpool and until the last 5 years or so I bought Whirlpool. Of course I have worked on and owned all of the major brands, but when it came time for something new it was made by Whirlpool. So brand loyalty can and will go on for generations. Sometimes even when you are treated badly from the Manufacturer.

 

[surgilator_68]

Kitchenaid

KA was and still is the TOL. I think it was discontinued because they weren't making the money on it that they wanted. It was also a very poorly marketed product line. When people would say they don't make 'em like they used to, we would always say buy a Kitchen Aid.

Sadly the marketing department dropped the ball on it. Like so many other great things that have come and gone. When KA was in the laundry business, how many commercials and ads did you see? Do you remember the Polara range? How many commercials did you see for that? How about the Briva in-sink dishwasher, the list could go on and on. These manufacturers do make some great products but aren't marketed properly and then they get pulled.

 

[yogitunes]

made like they used too...

my sister had her SQ solid tub from 1970 to 1988...needed a belt and a pump impeller during her ownership...she only got rid of it cause she wanted something new...and gave her SQ away...not to me of course...

the new SQ TL may have the same agitation stroke...but I still want the solid tub and overflow rinse and the bangging solenoids...that's what was used in laundromats and what really lasted....how many laundries did you ever see those machine ever break down after hundreds of loads back to back...I only seen one....

my next set will be a SQ but I will miss all the unique wash performance of the old ones

 

[mark_wpduet]

laundrynut

I'm not sure. I've never visited the local store here but they might.

 

[mark_wpduet]

SQ Top load water level on max setting

Someone mentioned above that the new SQ TL lowered the water level a touch due to energy standards. This is a vid on youtube it looks like a nice max fill to me. I never thought I would ever consider getting a TL again but I'm considering a SQ if my Duet ever dies and the repair is outrageous. I had no clue they did a spin dry....I love that

 

[gotwasher]

sq front loader

Hi all john from mn i was at at local laundry mat that had sq low end front loader some were running in spin and thier bad bearings roaring away. i think elux fride made them they sure look alike but in they very good machines i like thier top loaders and high end front loaders.

 

[ryanm]

My friend who has an appliance business and is a Speed Queen dealer told me that they did not lower the water levels. In my case, my new machine had a faulty part, which he replaced and the issue was resolved, the water comes right up to above the last row of holes on a full load. I also get completely HOT water if I choose the hot temperature, none of that cold water mix. It is a great machine, by far.

 

[rayjay]

Ratings

As a guideline the Speed Queen Model CTSAOA[W]N was only rated AVERAGE in washing ability, and is near the bottom of the list accoring to the latest ratings.

 

[yogitunes]

Brand loyalty...an educated consumer...I really like to hear customers complain about a bad kenmore...never to be bought again...and then chose a whirlpool cause their better built!...educated my a$$

I have a buddy who builds chryslers in delaware....a sworn GM man

My father worked for american motors...insisted we all own them...kinda re-investing into a company he worked for...for the most part the ones we had ran good...not to mention having your own built in mechanic who knew them inside out...all 3 brothers know automotive like the back of their hand...I do too...but prefer to work on washers first...yeah, I had to be the ODDBALL!...until theirs breaks and then they call me!...lol

 

[mysteryclock]

Who's ratings?

Are you talking about Consumer Reports or some other evaluation group? If so, what are the ratings for each category, and who was the winner?

 

[djmjlcst]

Model CTSAOA(W)N???

Hey Ryanm,

I couldn't find this model on the SQ website. Could this be an old discontinued model? You stated this one on the latest ratings. As mysteryclock asked - whose ratings are these? No matter what the ratings state, I still love my SQ washers and dryers.
- Mike L.

 

[laundrynut]

Model numbers seem to change

..as often as I do laundry. LOL

Sometimes I think it's because if a bad model gets a bad rep, they give it a new look on the outside and a new name or model number, but inside, it's the same old machine. Sort of makes it difficult to get a good reading on consumer reports when the model you're checking hasn't been out long enough to have any bad press.

So far, my stacked SQ FL & dryer are working well. The only thing I would want to change are the wash and rinse cycles. The wash cycles are too long, believe it or not. And the rinse cycles are too short. 20 to 25 mins is way too long for the type of detergents I'm using. And 2 min rinses are way too short for the rinse additives to do their thing.

The perfect formula (for me, anyway) would be wash cycles of 12 mins for Regular; 9 mins for Perm. Press; and 6 mins for Delicate. All rinses should be 4 mins. I'm going to check with the local distributor to see if I can get a custom programmed control unit, since it is microprocessor technology. The dial for the washer is only a selector; it isn't a mechanical timer, like the dryer.

 

[suburbanmd]

LaundryNut, you mentioned an out-of-balance problem in another thread. Is that on the SQ, or another machine?

 

[laundrynut]

It's the SQ.

This is my first FL. I'm still learning the tricks. I'm thinking that it is more important to load the FL with items that are similar in weight when wet, rather than similar in size. In other words, a hand towel is similar in size to a T-shirt, but heavier when wet.

The out-of-balance spins are not a constant problem. I think it's more of what I'm putting into it, rather than the washer having a problem.