Recent Kenmore 500 washer??

[kenmoreguy64]

Somewhere on here yesterday I saw a post from someone who had a very recent Kenmore 500 series washer which was unsatisfactory, and if I remember, was going to be replaced by a better model Whirlpool. The poster mentioned the machine not having a balance ring. Is this correct? I thought all DD machines have had them for years, but I am not well versed on them. Are there other DDs without them<br
Just curious...if anyone has any info., please let me know. Thank<br
Gordon

 

[magic clean]

Gordon

the full size machines have balance rings. Only the compact & 24" thin-twin direct-drive do not.

 

[rll70sman]

Gordon, I'm the one who has the less-than-desirable Kenmore 500. It has a tub-balancing system, but it seems to be engineered differently than my new Whirlpool. The Kenmore wash tub always leaned to one side and often banged against the washer cabinet at the end of a spin cycle. This new Whirlpool always keeps its tub balanced and comes to a nice, smooth stop after spinning<br
Also, the new washer has most of the same features and cycles as the Kenmore but with a true two-speed motor that agitates and spins at slow speed and an automatic temperature control that operates like it should. The Kenmore only washes and spins at one speed and has a horribly inconsistent automatic temperature control<br
If I would've known what kind of a washer this really was, I would not have bought it. But, since I have a Sears card and judging by past Kenmore quality, I didn't hesistate. Now there are several negative posts on Sears' website about the quality of this machine, complaining of the same issues I've had. Some people have gotten Sears to take their units back, but customer service insists I had mine installed wrong and was not using it properly. Well, first of all, Sears delivered and installed my machine. Second, if the owner's manual states that the delicate cycle uses slow agitation and spin speeds, then that's what a person should expect. Not so! I'm not done arguing with customer service and am determined to get them to take it back and refund my money. Stay tuned...<br
Rob

 

[rll70sman]

Kenmore--No More!

No pun intended! I just got done arguing on the phone with Sears customer service about this washer. They've given me the final runaround and won't take the machine back. So, I called the appliance dealer where I bought the new Whirlpool and told the owner he is welcome to take it away for parts. Someone will be out today around 2:00 to pick it up. It's been listed on craigslist for awhile now with no bites and I want the piece of crap out of my garage<br
Sears engineers better be careful about how they design Kenmore appliances in a day and age where competitors could send Sears to the grave at anytime....

 

[rll70sman]

There [wiping my hands together]! Judge's Appliance just picked up the Kenmore and got it the heck out here! In fact I think I would've busted a gut laughing if they lost their grip and dropped it while loading it on to their truck (as long as they didn't get hurt, of course)<br
My advice after all of this is try and buy from a local appliance dealer that's been in business for a number of years. They make sure your appliance purchase is a pleasant one from the time you buy it until it needs repair or replacement. And the salespeople seem to be more educated about appliance construction and operation than those working at Sears.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Rob <br
I'm curious if I understand this right...are you saying that your machine was sold as a true two-speed model, and it only operated in one speed? Is that right? If so, I'd think you have a reason to claim false advertising against Sears<br
Gordon

 

[rll70sman]

You got it, Gordon! The BOL Kenmore models have only one-speed motors, but the 500 series and up are supposed to be equipped with two-speed motors. Now, granted, I don't wash a lot of laundry on the delicate cycle, but I do have lots of sweaters that I prefer to be washed and extracted at gentle speeds. The high-speed thrashing action on a DD will shred them otherwise<br
What's interesting is the total price on this new Whirlpool with nearly identical features was the same price as the Kenmore BEFORE tax, delivery, and disposal. And it is a much more solid machine that works like a charm!

 

[kenmoreguy64]

If I remember correctly, the 1993 Kenmore 70 DD I have doesn't offer a 'true' delicate cycle like we have on belt-drive models or on your new machine either. This machine has a 'Heavy Duty' cycle, which is most closely related to the 'Normal' of old with high speed agitate and spin, a 'Normal' cycle that agitates in low speed and spins in high, and a Perm Press that spins in slow (I don't know about agitation, I have never used a Perm Press cycle, ever). There is a setting in the DD's 'Normal' for 'Delicate' which is just a short agitation period, again at low speed, but it spins on high<br
Sears' pricing on machines has not seemed very attractive lately. Just out of curiosity the other day I looked at a few top-loaders at Sears, and compared them to an appliance store across the street that offers Estate, Whirlpool, Amana, and Maytag DD machines. Sears' prices are out of line. You can buy an Estate or Amana Super capacity two speed machine that sounds very similar to your Kenmore for $325 or less, and those were not sale prices. I am sure that you got a steal on your new Whirlpool because it was last year's model. With the lack of diffences now between the various Whirlpool lines and Kenmore hardly being much different either, I'd have no trouble, yes even ME, in buying an Estate, a Roper or an Amana machine, etc. That store has a BOL one-cycle Roper washer for $199 that I'd love to buy just for the heck of it (I like BOL stuff).<br
I love buying stuff like you got that that's been sitting around (I might be leary about a fridge though). I bought my Potscrubber 1200 dishwasher in 1993 that had been made in 1990. It just sat on the back shelf at Lowe's unopened for close to four years.

 

[alr2903]

rll70sman, i know exactly what you mean about that inconsistent ATC, my family has one, the warm and hot runs in hot, then cold, alternating. It would definately require not putting an article of clothing in the "fill zone", that would be ruined by hot water. Its a time waster too, a constant fill of mixed hot/cold would be better. alr2903

 

[rll70sman]

Gordon, the new Whirlpool was marked down to $416.00 from $530.00. There were three units left in stock and, as it turns out, the 2008 models were the last to be offered in the "bisque" color that was popular for so many years. With my washer and dryer tucked away in a second-floor utility room, it didn't matter that the washer wasn't an exact match to my white Whirlpool dryer. The salesman said that manufacturers now only offer white in their top loader lineups as they focus their marketing efforts on the more expensive front-loading models with all the latest bells and whistles.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

I have heard that Rob, though last I saw Kenmore had some in metallic dark blue (my favorite color bar none). They wanted like $100 more for the blue! We have a Sears outlet store on the way home - time to stop by!

 

[rll70sman]

The blue would be my favorite color, too, especially if the machines were in a kitchen or bathroom in plain view all the time. I'd be interested to hear what you find out.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Rob <br
I've been to the Sears outlet twice in the last two weeks, and have learned a lot by checking out the competition from Whirlpool, Amana, etc<br
Interestingly, all the offerings at Sears seem to be over-priced as compared to other WP products. The outlet was most interesting of all, because as of today they had finally sold all of the remaing 2008 800 series machines that had haunted that place since early summer. There were probably 30 of them in Pacific Blue originally, last week there were two left, and today there were just spaces where the two had sat. They were marked down from original clearance prices in the mid $400 range to $358. I almost bought one but DO NOT NEED IT, lol. It's better that someone will use them vs. what I would do<br
Anyway, what's also interesting is right now there are 9, yes 9 500 series machines on the floor, all saying "returned/reconditioned" on them. There is still one 700 series in the metallic blue that was returned as well. NINE!, and I had quit counting - there may have been more. Also, there were close to half dozen 800s, all on a floor of only about 30 machines total<br
If those 500s were really used and returned (they looked new) I'd love to know why. <br
Gordo<br

 

[rll70sman]

Oh, ever so interesting! I guess I'm not the only one who has issues with the new Kenmores. Wow! Sears had better get its act together and design machines that people want without problems as soon as they're unpacked. And only Sears is to blame for these manufacturing flaws--not Whirlpool<br
Like I said a couple of days ago in another thread, I'm not done with Sears. I'm compiling a packet of information to accompany a complaint letter that is going straight to corporate headquarters. Even if nothing becomes of the matter, I've still taken someone's "valuable" time away from other tasks and cluttered up their desk in the process. And that washer will be the last Kenmore appliance I ever buy! It's Whirlpool or Alliance (Speed Queen) from now on. At least these companies still have American pride and manufacture in the United States.

 

[rll70sman]

There, it's done! I just finished composing a thorough, two-page complaint letter to W. Bruce Johnson, the interim president and CEO of Sears, addressing the piece-of-crap Kenmore washer I had and the terrible customer service encountered. It will be sent tomorrow via certified mail with a notice of receipt. Mr. Johnson got an earful so I'll keep everyone posted on what I hear, if anything. If only he knew of all the negative Internet blogs and forums about Sears, he and his executive team would do something to improve the company's rapidly deteriorating reputation.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Rob - Have you written a review of that washer on the Sears website? I think you can if you haven't already.

 

[rll70sman]

I just posted a review on the Sears website so some time may pass before it shows up. Also, I forgot to mention that included with the complaint letter is a whole stack of information to support my claims. Even if no one looks at it, someone will still have to take the time to sign for it and potentially clutter their desk in the process.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

It will be interesting to see what happens next Rob. I'm glad you sent them a piece of your mind. What has happened to that machine since you got the Whirlpool? I have forgotten...<br
Gordon