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suedenim

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Jul 31, 2021
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Lincoln, Nebraska
Mom is pretty convinced she needs the Hotpoint Top Load Washer because of its price point. Mind you, money is not an issue for her, she just wants to be frugal and feels validated if she hits a sale too. If she wants to buy based on price point, I think I would prefer to see her in the Amana as that's what our repairman has suggested.

She likes that Speed Queen has 'straight hot water' without tempering it down with cold water. She said she didn't want to pay more than $600 for a washer and I told her she won't be getting a new SQ then.

Are all machines [other than SQ] mixing cold water into the hot water for the hot water wash? The machine must be new and it must be a top-load based on the criteria she's given me. I think she'd be happiest in a used DD myself but she doesn't want to buy used. Mothers.... geesh.
 
Show Her Some Videos

I’d show her some YouTube videos on the wash action of the new HE top loaders. Then show her some videos of the wash action of the TC5 Speed Queen top loaders.
 
Nothing worse than dealing with those that focus solely on price rather than considering performance, quality, and reliability.

 

I say let her get the cheap Hotpoint and learn her lesson the hard way.
 
The Hotpoint is a knock off of the GE washing machine.  She will HATE it.  One of the worst things about them is the spin cycle and the horrible vibration!
 
If she likes the amana that she has had since 1997 then the speed queen TC5 is just an updated version with the same dependability and longevity. She MIGHT get several years out of the hotpoint before it is deemed not cost effective to repair vs. the speed queen’s sturdy build quality and 5 year warranty on a machine still built to withstand 25 years of use.

Or quite simply built by China or USA
 
Have you offered to help pay for a new washer? Honestly, the Speed Queen TC5 I believe is the only new real good top load washer today and probably the last as well (Hopefully not). If she went with the Hotpoint or the Amana and if one of those break in the short run, there may not be a good top loader left on the market anymore if the SQ TC5 does get discontinued. I would get the SQ TC5 while you can.
 
Used options--can you attempt to date?

Yes, I think the TC5 is the best new option for my mother, although it will outlive her. I would also support a Maytag commercial. Stock is horrible on 'good' new washers and I think she's going to need something sooner than that. If she wants new we may have to take what we can find. I think I've got her worked up to a GE model which is close to the Hotpoint she likes but I think sturdier. I've shared one of Mr. Rivas' links for the model. I can get it from Costco and use my Costco Visa to extend the warranty, but, I don't think she's going to be as happy as getting a decent used washer any way you look at it. I just got to figure out how to win her over.

I went to Salvage Warehouse that buys and sells used appliances. They have been around for a long time which is encouraging but I was disappointed in their 60-day warranty. They do offer delivery/hook up/and removal services for a fee of $79. New hoses and dryer cords are included in the price, but she's not looking for a dryer, which probably limits options. The nicest washers I saw were priced with their matching dryer. She does not need the dryer so I am not sure if the store will break up the set.

When talking to the salesman I told him I was only looking and I was trying to assess options for my mother. I also said she really wants 'new' but I wanted to present her with options. They had a Kenmore Elite with a 3-speed motor. It was my favorite. The cabinet seemed in really good shape and it was solid. And, I like the idea that these machines are easy to repair.

Does anyone want to try and date them? (Warning, my phone added canned music on the short video, turn down your volume if you have it up).

 
Thanks

The good news is that she's done a little research and she's aware of the difference in technology of the new HE models. I feel like a broken record as I keep telling her it might look the same but they work very differently. She's going new and getting the GE 'GTW465ASNWW'. Tomorrow we're headed to Costco so I can add her to my membership and she can order. She wanted to buy new from the local appliance dealer, but they don't sell GE laundry. I sort of hate that store so that's a win for me. Normally I'm all for supporting the local guy but that store makes me roll my eyes for their pressure sales and poor service.

Pointers I gave her on this washer:

Complaints seem to be mostly on off-balance issues, so I told her to spend extra time making sure that garments are balanced in the tub. I also said to make sure that the machine is dead-level when it's installed. She went online and read the manual and she educated me on the lid-lock. I'm really proud of her for listening to me and what I had to say. I told her I wasn't 100% confident in the machine, but it was a better selection than the Hot Point she was leaning towards. 90 days is enough time to determine if she likes the machine.

Of course, I would love to have her in a TC5 or used DD made by the Whirlpool company.

I want to thank everyone for helping me or even putting up with my inquires. The latest issue I have is water leaking into my house via my 5 yo roof... A new washer for me is off the table for a few years--depending on insurance. My claim was approved but like with any construction project, money has to be watched. Let's hope the KitchenAid I have makes it to its 25th birthday. In looking for documents for the roof, I found how much I spent on the KitchenAid back in May 1999 and it was $513.00. Adjusted for inflation a similar budget today is $850. That does not seem like enough money to get a decent machine today that will last only a fraction of the time.
 
GE GTW465ASNWW

May I ask what this will cost at Costco? Has she seen the videos of this vs the SQ TC5 or Maytag mvwp575gw?

Price seems to be a main factor here.

I have owned and used the Maytag mvwp575gw for over three years now with no issues.

For what it's worth, the Maytag mvwp575gw is about $150 LESS from an independent appliance store ($800) vs. Lowes mvwp576kw ($950) where I live, AND the less expensive 575gw includes the 5 year warranty. My independent store also delivered free, and I live about 30 miles away from it. This is also about $300 less for me that the TC5. If you factor in the cost of the dryer, that is about $600 total. It is true it probably won't last quite as long, but I haven't paid as much either. Parts should be easy to find. This washer uses the parts that many other Whirlpool and Maytag does and some parts are better build quality (the bearings, motor, belt, cabinet, etc.). Mine also came with hoses, which should be replaced every 5 years, so there's that small cost savings too.

The Maytag is great is you are doing full loads. The deep water wash cycles have hot tap and work like one would expect them to.

The Normal Eco cycle is the ONLY cycle that has a half tub fill. It uses a spray rinse (if you don't like you can just run the cycle again w/o adding detergent the second time). However, it adds cold even when hot is chosen. Hot is warm, and warm is cool. I have found a way to manually add hot water when needed. However, most people just want it to work out of the box. I mention this because my kids are getting older now, and I actually have a need to do more smaller loads now. The TC5 has half load options for all of their main cycles whereas the Maytag offers one 7 minute wash cycle called "Normal". It works well for quick washes or smaller loads but NOT for delicates (wash action too rough).

This is why the SQ TC5 edges out the Maytag. It also has a better build quality. I don't know what the difference in price is, but I'd spend the extra on a washer. If she doesn't care about a matching dryer, then Maytag including the matching dryer to the Maytag mvwp575gw washer are still some of the best.

Here is another factor that is key to me. Wash cycle times. Even if just doing my own wash, I love the short cycle times the SQ TC5 and Maytag mvwp575gw offer. 25 to 45 minutes with no other options. This is so useful when I want to do a quick load a night or one of my kids bring home a car load full of laundry from college.

On the deepwater cycles, I almost always add a presoak. 10 minutes presoak with a quality detergent and the right temperature of water means I always get clean clothes.

Cleaning performance, adding enough water, tap hot, and cycle times are worth the extra cost.

My main reason for posting is you may be able to find that Maytag mvwp575gw a lot less from an independent retailer that often offers better service and free delivery too.

I do think the Maytag will need some minor repairs before the TC5. I can do those myself. If you mom has to call someone, then one service call will justify the price difference between the Maytag and SQ TC5.

I am so thankful that I saw videos before I made my decision. I should note that the SQ TC 5 was not available at the time I made my decision as it came out two years ago, and I purchased in 2018. I would still NOT buy the TR series, and the AWN series (what I really wanted!) was already sold out.

Just my thoughts as an older adult who remembers the good washers.
 
I've tried to get her to into something better, believe me. The GE she's looking at on Costco.com is $680.00 but that includes the delivery, the install, and the haul-away of the old Amana. The Costco price is a bit less than what she can get at Home Depot when you add in the additional service she needs.

Our local appliance dealer charged me $100.00 to deliver a portable dishwasher in December 2020. I live less than a mile away. I'm not a fan of this place now. It's really sad because I bought my beloved KA set there back in 1999.

But, we did make a visit to that store and I was trying to show her the Amana that the service guy recommended and then the sales clerk ran to us and dragged her into LGs on display, and then pushed the SQ TR3 at her, not explaining the perfect wash v classic clean. He then told her that they didn't even have any SQ TL in the store, they were hoping to get more at the end of the month.

Well, that's a huge jump, to go from the Amana to the SQ and he spent zippo time with her to explain the technology. I took her to Home Depot and started her with the cheapest model they had, (the Hotpoint), and worked her up to the washers that cost over a grand. She was able to determine that she wanted an agitator and not a wash plate (yay!). I told her to make sure whatever she likes has a 'deep fill' option.

She can afford any model she wants. She understands that she'll never have another washer that will last as long as that Amana, so part of her thinking is why spend tons of money on it when it'll have to be replaced in 3-5 years?

I am here if she has more questions but I'm going to respect her choice at this time. Heck, I might even try doing a load with it myself.
 
SueDenim :-)

I understand about respecting your Mom's choice.

The only reason I posted is I was surprised my Lowe's is charging $150 more for the same washer with only a 1-yr. warranty. The only difference is they label it with a different model number mvwp576kw instead of mvwp575gw. This is probably because the difference in the warranty? I don't think the one at Lowe's comes with hoses either? I had always assumed the big box stores were cheaper on the stuff. Had I found this model at Lowe's first, I would have not have thought the local appliance store could sell it for less.

The matching dryer at Lowe's has a glass door. The one at the local appliance store had a solid white door. I don't know if this has been updated or just a difference in the model that Lowe's and my local appliance store carry.

I will be watching to see what your initial impressions are. Right now it can be difficult to find certain models of washers, so it is always good to have more than one or two to look at :-)
 
She's happy (so far).

Mom's used her new GE today, it was installed yesterday. The service guys showed her how to operate it too. They checked her detergent, etc. She started a load, waited for it to fill with water and balance out, then put it on pause to add her detergent. She did see the low water level but also said her clothes were fully submerged in what water was in the tub. Claimed her clothes got cleaned. She missed the spin cycle though because she had an appointment. I think I might try a load of bedsheets this weekend when I visit her.

Anyone, kudos to the folks that spent time with her at the install. That's more than what I expected.
 

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