No more defending SpeedQueen.

[ryner1988]

Reply #18

Yes Bob I agree with this point completely. Obvuoulsy I couldn't care one bit less if my machines match visually. I can't see them and they're behind closed doors in our hallway so no one else sees them either. The only thing that matters to me is whether the capacities at least relatively match. I think my 7.0 cu. ft. dryer could handle the larger loads from a new FL if I were to ever get one but I'm not sure about say a 6.5 or 6.2 cu. ft. dryer, hence why people upgrade both. Did you ever have issues like that with the Duet and the mismatch MT DC dryer?

 

[appnut]

Ryne, I personally never felt an issue with the MT DC dryer havng a slightly smaller capacity than the LK Dryer. IF memory servs me right, the LK dryer was rated at 69 cu. ft at the time when looking at Sears Catalogue ads from fall of 1986. Growing up we'd always had dryers with side-swing doors. And just about any Kenmore dryre I was exposed to had the plug-style load-a-door (not full width door). The excption to this was our 1964 Norge TOL dryer that had a full width drop down door. But, that door had three notched positions. First notch was about 45 degree angle that was perfect as a chute that slid wet clothes down the door into the drum. The second notch was 90 degree angle that was an even horizontal angle like all Whirlpool and Kenmore dryer doors that are fully open and allow for folding on the furface or catching garments so they don't fall on th floor when pulling out of the dryer. the 3rd position was the door had pivoted all the way down and was basically flat against the bottom front of the dryer. The 1st position wasperfect for me when putting loads from the washer to the dryer. And then pushed the door flat against the front to place the laudry basket right next to the front of the dryer where I could fish the garments out of the dryer. After I got the 1986 LK dryer, it was apparent to me within six months that the dryer was more of a sfety hazzard for me because the door was o far out in front horizontally that it was very difficult for me to retrieve garments at the back of the drum, I'd have to try and grab them kind of pushed into the front left cabinet corner of the dryr to retrieve said garments. There were numerous times I would almost fall onto the open door or into teh dryer itself. Then I'd have to resort crawling on th floor so I could reach the back of the dryer if needed. So the MT DC was a welcome relief to me when it arrived. And that's why I've been addamant I have ot have a dryer with a side-swing door. As far as I was concerned, I never had a capacity issue with the MT DC dryer with full loads in DD LK or the subsequent Frigidaire front loader or the Duet. I just did typical full washer loads regardless.

 

[panasonicvac]

Some thoughts here

I think I can see why SQ refused to send you a new board. The washer had a 5 year parts and labor warranty and given that the board failed 2 years after the expiration of the warranty, that would make sense honestly. Secondly, when did you knew that the boards were reported to be defective after buying your SQ washer? Just recently or a while ago? Because if if you already knew while ago that they were reported to be defective, I wonder how come you didn't try reaching out to SQ during that time for a replacement board? As far as I've discovered, I don't see any recalls or offerings from dealers about free replacement boards on those SQs' after the expiration of the warranty. And thirdly, this is kind of what you get for an electronic control panel machine. Electronic ones can give you more features yes but are they really as reliable or even last longer than mechanicals? Maybe. So far, I've heard more issues with the electronic ones than the mechanical ones where the electronic ones still needs some work in the modern testing world. Maybe they already have, maybe SQ is telling the truth after all like they claim that electronic boards last longer than mechanical boards. But generally from what I've discovered, mechanical settings are usually more reliable and simpler to use. I know I can still buy a mechanical SQ front loader today however it is definitely more expensive than the FF7 not to mention that the warranty is shorter as well and it would only cover the parts but not the labor.

 

[launderess]

"Anyone know what SQ's residential market share is?

Alliance/Speed Queen barely cracks one percent (1%) of residential laundry appliance market by sales. That number has been fairly consistent for years now.

Whirlpool is #1 with its subsidiary brand Maytag not that far behind. Surprise out of all surprises GE is #3 after LG.

https://www.statista.com/forecasts/997139/washing-machine-ownership-by-brand-in-the-us

Speed Queen's bread and butter is and always has been industrial/commercial/OPL laundry appliances including coin-op.

Out of the gate SQ has consistently targeted certain segment of domestic laundry market; those wanting no nonsense straight up quasi commercial washers and dryers that get job done with little fuss. Built to last and without "frills" such as onboard heaters, dozens of cycle options and so on.

Whirlpool and rest that round out top ten US domestic laundry appliance sales really have nothing to fear from SQ. [this post was last edited: 1/9/2023-00:52]

 

[petek]

Interesting. Thanks Laundress

Heck I wouldn't have thought it that low. To my little knowledge I don't think they were ever sold in Canada particularly before NAFTA as they would have incurred stifling tariffs. The only reason all the other US names were sold here was that they were built here. And of course the SQ's sold here now are branded Huebsch, so there is no associated SQ name recognition at all really. They probably acount for less much less than 1% and the high cost doesn't help unless your rich enough. I did see for the first time last week, probably because I don't go perusing stores much now, just one Maytag Commerical at Lowes and iirc they were asking $1899 Cdn.for it. Near twice the price of my Lg frontloader.

 

[mark_wpduet]

this may be absolutely nothing..

but I too had a board go out on my duet in 2007 after it was 2 yrs old. While it was being replaced I had remembered reading to plug these machines into a surge protector.. As soon as the board was replaced that's EXACTLY what I did and 15 years.. YES, 15 years later, no issues... Is that why? Maybe... Maybe not... but it can't hurt.

I know they have built in surge protection but I don't trust it.

Not sure if it would have helped a defective board or not..

 

[bradfordwhite]

A surge protector is better than nothing.  But the best results: disconnect power when not in use.  Those computers are on all the time even if the machine isn't doing anything or the digital display is dark.

 

The easiest would be to wire in a toggle switch somewhere on the machine to provide a direct cut off of electricity to the computer.

 

 

 

[kenc]

panasonicvac:

See the first link I posted

https://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?89050

This person had their machine for about 5-1/2 years, exact same failure mode, same board, machine is within a couple hundred SN of mine.
So her machine was out of warranty, but SQ comped her a board because it was a known defective batch of control boards.

You are right, they are under no obligation, especially if they are happy selling a machine with a 7 year life span for premium dollars. What are they now? $2400?

As I said, it's the lie that all these failures occurred within the first year of manufacture which is most galling.

And here's a comment later in this thread from a repair tech which apparently is no longer true.


***************************************************************************
SQ has been sending replacements for these boards on a No Charge basis I was told by a SQ service rep that no one will have to pay for one of these boards.