Samsung Swings For The Fence

[frigilux]

The young (late 30's) couple who purchased the local Maytag/Frigidaire dealership are now carrying Samsung and KitchenAid. They're keeping Maytag but plan to phase out Frigidaire, beginning with the laundry line. They're going to a Samsung dealers event tomorrow and Thursday.

They said the company is doing everything it can to get into as many independent dealerships as possible, the strongest incentive being wider profit margins for dealers.

Gotta say it: Their appliances look great and Samsung appears at or near the top of the list for ranges, refrigerators and laundry equipment at Consumer Reports. Style appears to be backed up by performance. Dishwashers remain the weak spot.

Samsung wants to give LG and Whirlpool a run for their money in the US market. Looks like they're succeeding, unlike Electrolux, which has struggled to increase its US market share.

Interesting note: KitchenAid's black stainless line is available only to dealers who sell a certain amount of KA product annually, and this small store will never reach that benchmark. However, Samsung is rolling out their own black stainless line which will be available to all their dealers.

At any rate, it will be interesting to talk to them when they return from the Samsung event.

Aside: The long-time former owner of the dealership was courted by Samsung a couple of years ago, but he'd fought in the Korean war and refused to sell the brand.

 

[alr2903]

Do they sell SQ?  -A

 

[frigilux]

No, they do not. There is another dealership in town that sells GE, LG, Whirlpool, and Speed Queen.

 

[alr2903]

Frigilux,  Thank You.   We seem to have only one SQ dealer in this city. a rather high end appliance boutique.  I don't think my little money would go far.  I wondered if there more dealers in other areas of the country.

 

[tomturbomatic]

I wonder what they have been told about the servicing of these foreign appliances, like about parts availability. Please keep us posted. Service after the sale forms an important part of a dealer's reputation and if customers can't get prompt service, it could sink the dealership's reputation.

 

[frigilux]

I mentioned parts availability to them. They've been assured by their Samsung rep that parts will arrive quickly. Both dealers in town do their own servicing, so quick access is important to them.

I once asked the LG dealer if getting parts was difficult and he said he had no more problem with them than he did with GE and Whirlpool.

 

[tomturbomatic]

parts will arrive quickly

from where? In our area, I remember that servicers had to put up with no stocking of parts in the U.S. All parts had to come from overseas. I hope that they have changed that parts situation.

 

[arbilab]

In this institution's coinop laundry, the Maytag N-word frontloader takes about 3 months off every year waiting for parts to arrive from Mars. That's under 3 different owners of the franchise, all equally incompetent.

The last one changed the waxmotor and the board after 2 months out of service, now 'permpress' cycle doesn't agitate or spin.

Incompetence, at all levels. Might as well expect it when a 'brand' becomes nothing more than a name to which someone bought license.