New Tariffs On Washing Machines

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The first big discussion for 2018 was the department of energy standard effect on Speed Queen with new top loaders that may or may not clean clothes and delayed roll out of consumer front loaders that may or may not exist for 2018. Whirlpool, Maytag and Whirpools various other sub brands dominate the market but tbis this would be an ideal time for Speed Queen consumer units to gain market share. Except that energy standards forced their redesign. You could argue that the 2017 era Speed Queen models were great machines with a premium price that terrifs would have made more competitive. And I've heard there may be some Factory space available in Newton Iowa if they need it...

I still think the tariffs are misguided and will cost jobs in solar and trade disputes we don't need.

You can still get one of these for a while LFN50RSP115TW01

https://www.pwslaundrywest.com/i-22306115-speed-queen-lfn50rsp115tw01-front-load-22-lb-capacity.html

Or

http://www.dexter.com/vended-laundry/vended-washers/t-300/
 
"If you mean machines that last less then there predecessors and have a shorter warranty, then I can understand why people would be rabidly resistant to innovation."

I was not addressing those issues in detail Chet.

Those could be summarized by my comments saying that WP still has issues in other areas. And so does the industry as a whole.
Not too long ago, appliances had tiered warranties where racks and PCBs and drive components would be covered with addition 3-5yr warranties.

But now, except for MT's skimpy 10yr warranties on silly parts that never break, and except for SQ's longer warranties, the WHOLE industry only now offers paltry 1yr warranties on everything.

I'm not holding my breath, but I wonder if this extra domestic breathing room from the tariffs will inspire the companies to put some quality and warranties back in?

Oh, and just because a concept existed 30 years prior, doesn't mean it cannot be innovated upon.
The cell phone existed before the iphone. But Apple truly made the Smart Phone market that everyone eventually got into.
And yes, I'm ignoring Blackberry, because if they were so great, they would've dominated first. And they didn't.
Just because the VMW idea was already around, doesn't mean it wasn't further innovated upon and then successfully commercialized by WP.
 
Automobile production while different from appliance production has some parallels. Honda, Toyota, BMW and others opened non-union US based factories for a variety of reasons. Not sure about Whirlpool but I think Speed Queen has union jobs. And you can bet that LG and Samsung won't be opening union factories.

The Auto industry does have some key differences like the Legacy cost of healthcare and a lot of other things I'm not getting into here.
 
Does the new SQ top-loader really use substantially less energy than the 2017 line? It certainly doesn't seem to use less water. Did extracting all those internal organs make a big difference in the amount of electricity it uses? Would be interesting to test both models in a real-world situation to find out the difference.

Got a kick out of the PWS Laundry ad in Reply #19. Check out the shipping information.
 
Some PWS products only ship to California likely a result of Alliance assigning certain dealers certain territories. As a California it is very odd to see something restricted to sales here versus banned here. There's a long list of pesticides and chemicals and other things we can't get in California but this has more to with dealer regions.
 
Background article on the tariffs...

Excerpt:

The tariffs were imposed not because of unfair trade practices by other countries, which is normally the case, but because U.S. manufacturers said they were being hurt by foreign competition.

“This is an unusual trade law, rarely used,” says George Slover, senior policy counsel at Consumers Union, the policy and mobilization division of Consumer Reports. "It allows a challenge to imports based solely on the imported product making it too hard on the U.S. manufacturer. No unfair trade practice or other wrongful conduct needs to be alleged or shown."

Read the entire article:

 
To quote buick from the 1940's

"When better automobiles are built, Buick will build them".

 

When consumers demand better quality appliances, companies will build them. Of course, it will cost more, but always remember, the quality remains long after the price is forgotten.
 
Good Idea, Frig

I wonder just how much of a difference the energy savings of the 17 vs. 18 models. Of course this only applies to the Normal-Eco cycle.

It seems they only needed to hit the check-box of auto-load-sensing to meet the mandate for 2018, right?

Malcolm
 
"Buick"

became known as Puick by 1980, and now are mostly built in China, where most are sold today.
Build a better product, sell more, like Dyson? Or have a better marketing scheme, which also has worked, as with Shark for example.
People can be very gullible. Our daughter didn't know Lincoln is a Ford product.
 
Miele T1515 dryer ducting and other questions

I have now purchased my second, second hand T1515 dryer for my basement setup. I have to get the electrician over to add 2 more 240v outlets. I understand that the voltage splitters are no longer available from Miele.

I need to duct this second set. I have heard that you shouldn't duct 2 ducts to 1 main duct. IIRC the adjusted length for ducting a miele is 33ft. Because of overhead obstructions I have to add a couple of extra elbows to one of the dryers.

I have been thinking of an inline duct fan and have looked at Fantech only so far. I have an adjusted length of around 45'on the left dryer. This includes 4 elbows (5'each) and one outdoor vent (10'?). I know nothing about dryer fans. I need help.

Questions:
1) can I add a fan that is easy to maintain and work as it should?
2) can I connect 2 dryers to one vent if I use a dryer fan (I've been told Its not a good idea)?
3) If anyone sees any other errors in my setup, I'm all ears.
4) Are voltage splitters a good idea?
5) If a fan is an option, what are good brands?

enduring-2018012520020509766_1.jpg
 
Nice Novotronics, Enduring - and how apt, given we've been talking extensively about quality vs cheapness. Those machines must be at least 15 years old, possibly 20 or more... alas, even Miele is not what it once was.

BTW, how is it legal to exclude trade unions from factories? Despite Maggie Thatcher's crackdowns (and those of the more recent Cameron/May Tory regime), I believe that it is still a fundamental right for workers to be members of a trade union. In Germany, the unions are more powerful still, yet do you hear of tremendous industrial unrest there?!
 
I don't see why Whirlpool would want this to be done. Maybe those of you who implied this could explain a little more, although I haven't taken the time yet to fully read this thread. In my area at least, Whirlpool products are considerably cheaper than other manufacturers. Hasn't anyone noticed how Whirlpools are most incentivized at big box stores?

Whirlpool makes an entire suite of household appliances, not just washing machines. This tariff is only on washing machines. Which US company focuses on laundry products and just came out with a new design hoping to capture more market share? I can think of one.
 
I'm all for keeping American jobs here but the toothpaste is already out of the tube. Tariffs can harm the economy and stifle the market.

The best thing to do is to incentivise companies with tax breaks if they show tangible proof that they added American jobs (with no trickery or creative accounting). It should incentivise domestic and foreign companies.

So, if LG or Samsung brings production over to the US (or increases the number of people needed to run their plants) then they should get a tax break. The US headquartered companies (Whirlpool, Alliance Laundry, is that it?) would get a tax break for maintaining US production and would see decreases in tax liability for adding jobs.

It's just more fair that way. Speaking of tax breaks, I'd love to see a massive tax break package for everyone (working class, middle class and the wealthy -- all at the same time) and every company regardless of size and the IRS at the top of the scrap pile, but I disgress.
 
@wishwash: I think Whirlpool would be content with this because washing machines don't last as long as a range or refrigerator. Most washers these days are lucky to see 10 years, in some cases it is less than five, so they'll snag more sales when people flock to the store (or online) to replace their failed washer, since washers historically need to be replaced more often than a range or refrigerator. The economy is doing better overall so then you factor in the people who have some free cash to upgrade a washer that works but is desired for replacement.

People in the market for a washer will see a similar washer (in features and capacity) produced by LG, Samsung, and whatever Electrolux and GE builds overseas and then the ones produced by Whirlpool/Maytag (and the WP-built Kenmores) and notice the price discrepancy between the Whirlpool brands versus the foreign-produced ones. A lot of people buy on price (or at least it is a huge factor in the purchase) so naturally, Whirlpool would gain more sales, at least what is likely to play out in this scenario.
 

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