Speed Queen AWNE92SP113TW01 Impressions(Sorry Long Post)

[henene4]

@washer111

Thank you for your support. I really read you.
And anyone somehow interested would know my first name in seconds. I've mentioned it several times already. And I don't see why someone would need to know my second name. Really, why?
And to anyone: My name is Henrik E. I live in northern Bavaria in Germany, and I'll write my A-levels in pretty much exactly one year.
And again on the car comperrison (as it shows how much you think into that): As far as my concetn is, 1/9 is still more than 1/25. More than 2.5 times, to be exact. And even though SQ may not had to pay anything, the work done is still worth something.
And if a retailer says a customer is wrong right away, he&#92she has no place in that business. First law of good customer service: Even if he&#92she is wrong, he&#92she isn't at first. You try to help him&#92her. If then züthe customer still complains, you try to stear him&#92her away from the product. Or you give him&#92her tips that might improve the situation.

 

[arbilab]

My 86 Toyota came with a 'ticky' noise from the dashboard. No way to extrapolate that into a "reliability issue" but the dealer nonetheless took the entire dashboard apart looking for it, no argument. All I did was ask if they could look at it.

It still does it intermittently. Actually, from the manual a rubber overlay is missing from the radio buttons and that is what leaves the buttons free to 'tick'. Yes I still drive the car and it has been PHENOMENALLY reliable. ZERO major repairs and it was the first quarter production of an entirely new platform.

HOWEVER if it came with grinding noises from the transmission, I wouldn't be placated with "oh they all do that, just wait". Would I go to 'social media'? Well, it hadn't been invented yet. But neither had manufacturers saying "oh they all do that, just wait".

 

[pierreandreply4]

your issue with speed queen

My advice to you would clearly be to write your dealer a complaint letter that you send by email if your dealer has a website listing sped queen products and that in the email you put in cc all your friends and family, and if it was me and my mom in your situation and notice this when the machine was install i would of exchange the machine on day 1 fort the same model but request they send us the store demo they show on the store floor.

 

[mrb627]

Floor Model CAUTION

A caution on accepting a floor model. The TL machines require a quantity of water be added to the tub prior to machine operation. If a floor model has been plugged in to demo the controls, there is a HIGH possibility that it may have been operated in SPIN ONLY fashion which could cause a problem later on.

Malcolm

 

[washingpowder]

Unfortunately

Just because SQ manufactures deep-fill top-loading machines, it became the best-ever-flawless brand on this site praised by many.
I understand some people just so desperately need the tradition in their laundry rooms and closets with rivers of lukewarm water used each load; but why does it make SQ so fantastic? A decade ago most washers were built like and perhaps better than SQs. Nothing stops anyone from purchasing used units, it's not like they're the *only* way to go. OTOH we live in a modern world and have to comply to certain regulations, most of which I strongly support.
It looks similar to the praise of Miele in Europe, where everyone believes it's the best one can get. Problem is, Miele stands strong behind their product (at least in Europe), fool-proof their product, make an actually durable product and all that with plenty of new and improved design they seem to test well before hitting the market (one they actually have, SQ is still rather a niche brand).

I read and read and reread the original post, and couldn't find anything I personally wouldn't agree with, speaking of the way OP handled the situation. If I'm told out of nowhere that the brand new unit I just bought for a lot of money was manufactured without certain washers, and it probably would need to be taken to a shop and rebuilt, I'd immediately ask for a new one! It's not a dollar store I'm dealing with, it's a piece of appliance I bought to use, not wait for, etc.
Since the OP posted on their FB page *after* trying to resolve the issue first, what was wrong with it? I thought their page would be a perfect place to exchange both rants and raves. Nobody seems to look down at people who post millions of 5 star reviews after using a product just once? Why can't it go the other way around? Especially the latter isn't even what the OP is guilty of.
Although fellow Combo won't read nor reply, I can't help but notice 500 units over 8 years comes down to roughly 9 a month, which isn't really the Rockefeller-kinda revenue; there's probably a lot more units sold nationwide that could have developed a problem. Or people just clench their teeth and believe what you tell them - noise will go away. Which leads to another thing I never understood. I don't want *any* residue in my washer. Wet test is great, means it was checked - but wax? Oil? Whatever the heck it is? How am I supposed to be sure it would actually be *completely* removed after one cycle with dish liquid? There's a reason I sit in detergent ingredients all the time, trying to find something as natural as possible while providing excellent cleaning - no boosters from SQ, thank you. Let alone multiple posts I read regarding the finish of the tub, that needs time to become smooth; noise that will go away; tub indexing before something something something....... I expect my appliance to work right from the very beginning. Don't want to risk silks being damaged.
I'm not the most active user nor the oldest, perhaps just the opposite; yet I can't help but shake my head.

 

[henene4]

On combo

Funny enough, I was abled to locate the business combo "works in", check that back and read several reviews about it in a matter of 5 minutes. I could have gone on his personal facebook site, but rather checked his quite empty business facebook. I guess, this explains a lot about his reaction about the facebook post of the OP.

One review in particular said that he "is angry and not easy to work with". Several complained about hus company never showing up on service calls that have been confirmed per phone as his website strongly reenforces. Not that I would straight away believe anything that is on the internet without double-checks and so forth, but reading his reactions on such a matter here, I think there is something about it. Not that there are no positive reviews, but keeps me thinking.

And after that research, I think I know why he "only" sold 500. And its not that his business would not run profitable. However, I still don't get what that means in relation to the problems of the OP. But again, more information.

I love it when simple psychological thinking can open up a persons existence I don't even know a lot about so much. I mean, if I met him I am verry sure he would be the way I would imagine him now...

Sorry, but that went so far off-topic that its on topic again!

 

[washman]

If tradition means easy to use and clean laundry

without taking hours to do it, then I'm all about tradition.

Ya see, if all these fancy dancy eco-machines were da bomb so to speak, then someone would have made one years ago. But thanks to goobermint regulations and not free market economics, we're forced to use these asinine machines that are overly complicated, unreliable, and pretty much impossible to repair.

 

[mrb627]

Missing Washers

Wish there was a way to determine what washers are the Missing Washers which somehow managed to get overlooked during assembly...

Malcolm

 

[henene4]

"overly complicated"

Well, I am again confused.
There are designs out there that even don't need the most complicated parts on a SQ washer: Transmission, brake and clutch. At least, these are the most important drive components that are not necessary.
There were HE washers years ago. I think about 10-15 years ago. Like, Calypso, Neptune and first Cabrios I think.
And again: It is free market. If no one would buy these machines and all would only buy SQ, only SQ would be alive. And even SQ has to follow your (elected, btw) goverment.
But you know why thats not the case: Because not everyone is unsatisfied. Lots and lots of people like their washers.
Some are just doomed to overlook the 80% (guestimated) consumer satisfaction. Its negative selection: You remember way more exactly when you hurt your self last then when you smilled last. Negative emotions will always overpower positive once.

 

[criswan]

Washers

Malcolm,

I am not sure which washers were the missing culprits but they were not easily accessible without a tear down hence the retrofit kit that they sent the techs out with. I don't know much about the mechanics of the SQ but they kept saying he last ones they had this issue with had to be taken to the shop. I trust they were knowledgeable as the dealer is also our largest local appliance repair shop

 

[frigilux]

John (combo52) has helped countless people here with appliance repair issues and I enjoy his strong, sometimes strident opinions. No one appears to have a problem firing back if they disagree with or feel slighted by his posts. God knows we've had a few heated exchanges over the years, but I always find his posts great value-for-money; the occasional jaw-dropping pronouncement startling (and often entertaining).

I'll add these reviews to those Henrik referenced:

"I have been using these guys for over 25 years. It doesn't get much better. These guys don't just repair appliances, they know appliances! They know them inside and out and they are a wealth of information. Always honest. Always affordable."

"I have used these guys for years and years. They always go the extra mile and get the job done right. They have also offered me great advice over the phone when they couldn't come out and fix the problem immediately."

"When my 1979 Whirlpool dishwasher finally stopped running, I asked him to recommend a new model to sell me. No way; for one-third the price of a new model, John replaced the motor from his private stock."

 

[mayfan69]

Nice response Eugene!

Nice response Eugene to what appears to be a personal attack on John and his business.

I too have found John to be extremely helpful with appliance knowledge and even though i disagree with his views on vintage Maytags, I respect his views. He's even gone out of his way to send me Maytag parts and we have spoken on the phone several times. Both my partner and I plan to visit him (and others) when we travel to the US and Canada next year.

Henrik: I found it interesting that you mentioned the 'negative' reviews while only making a 'throwaway' comment about the positive reviews that Eugene has now copied in. Just because he doesn't have a personal facebook page or his business has an 'empty' FB page means very little....I've befriended many washer repairers here in Australia who are of John's maturity and have been in business 30+ years: and they don't have FB pages etc....and it certainly hasn't hurt their businesses.

I would trust someone like John who has been a washer repairer for many years, knows the intracacies of these appliances and knows how they've been built, as opposed to a few 'armchair critics' of this site who have near to empty profiles.

 

[washman]

henene4 I'm not going to educate you again

on what constitutes a free market vs. a highly regulated market. Been there done that before on other threads.

The complexity I am referring to has nothing to do with what is underneath the sheet metal. I'm talking about the user interface, ie the control panel. Cycles for allergens, play clothes, ordinary clothes, sanitize, sterilize, etc. Control boards that are not very well designed or engineered to last. That is the complexity I refer to. And like I have stated many times, it is asinine to the 100th degree.

Fact is, manufacturers have decided in light of having to comply with GOVERNMENT regulations (newsflash that is NOT a free market at work)let's put all kinds of neat-o cycles to convince the user that the new machine is much more flexible and by golly if 3 options are good, then why not have 15? or 20?

Over an hour to wash, rinse, and spin dry a load of clothes? Nonsense!

Running "cleaning" cycles to clean the very machine that, last time I checked, is supposed to clean your clothes? Again, more nonsense! How was it possible that millions of old fashioned water guzzling machines managed to do the job without any special "cleaning" cycles? My mothers Whirlpool was used for 18 years and it saw all kinds of crap thrown in it. Nowhere does the manual state run a cleaning cycle with a special cleaner. Never. Nor does my SQ require such useless steps. I just use it as outlined in the manual and move on.

Just because we supposedly "elect" (by the way, in the US the EPA is NOT elected by anyone) goobermint officials does not mean they take office and do the will of the very people who elected them. Far from it. That is not a free market at work. Not sure what curriculum you studied in Germany but that is how it works.

Thus, in celebration of Earth day today, I did a load of basic cotton/poly blended clothes in my SQ. Total wash, rinse, spin, and dry was about 1 hour and 10 odd minutes. Thanks to an efficient use of time to accomplish a basic task, I am able to devote my scare time to other duties involved with moving in a new home.

 

[henene4]

So, recap!

All I wanted to say was:
1. He's probably not a verry social media enjoying and reenforcing person. That explains his reaction to the OPs FB page.
2. He seems to be a personality that would search the fault the customer then the product. That indeed is criticism about him. But really, I have to take to be called uneducated and business harming. So someone should be abled to take that comment.
3. Why should I use the positive comments if I just wanted to show that independent partys have the same mind about him as I do?
4. I would trust him. But did I doub him? In which words? I doubt that a washer is comparable to a car in terms of retail actions, and that the grease could not harm laundry. Everything else was not direct critisism.

On washman:
You won't educate me. Neither will I.
BUT: A market can be regulated and a free market as well. Its regulated HOW they sell it and what way the products they sell have to be designed it. What YOU buy is not regulated in any way.
If a market would not be regulated, everybody could sell anything. And you wouldn't like it.

 

[washer111]

@washman

While I generally have respect for your opinions, I must disagree about the "Clean Washer cycles."

These have come into play because consumers are now washing their clothes with the "Goobermint-regulated" Normal-cycles, which use water that is practically cold, and very little of it at that. Couple this with other poor laundry habits; too little detergent, fabric softeners and God only knows what else, and you can see why this has come into play nowadays. People don't have a clue how to (correctly) launder clothes - and they then blame the manufacturer when their clothes washer breaks, gets mouldy and otherwise doesn't work properly. 

 

The other thing - A clean washer cycle is there as a maintenance item. Did your floors come with a sticker that said "You must clean every XXX days?" No, I didn't think so. Yet we still clean our floors, even though the book/sticker didn't say we should. 

 

Its the same with a washer - Take care of your washer, and it will take care of you. 

I believe it was Mayfan that posted the image of an Australian TL machine used exclusively on cold-water for its entire life - the inner tub of that machine was completely encrusted with all manner of scale and rubbish after a couple of decades of, abuse (in my humble opinion). If needed, I will post that photo here again - in that washer's case, using such a cycle might have kept the machine cleaner or better smelling, if those issues were noted by the previous owner. 

 

And while I must admit I too don't always agree with John - I can certainly trust him when he says that any washer whose user(s) makes <span style="text-decoration: underline;">*sensible*</span> use of it (Warm/Hot washes, with enough detergent) will never need many of the major repairs to do with bearings or seals, nor should they need clean-washer cycles. 

 

Our member Bob (Appnut) has repeadtedly stated that its not just choosing the cycle based on what the label says - You actually have to take an interest in the machine, and study the actions of each cycle to make a choice that will work the best for you, not just do what the manual seems to think is the be-all and end-all in automatic laundering. 

These new-fangled cycles you mention are the manufacturer's way of getting hotter water temperatures (boosted with heaters, in many cases), higher water levels and more rinses while still being able to meet the Government-mandated energy ratings. 

 

For the record, if I want, our Miele, in Australian programming mode, will do a full load of lightly soiled Cottons, at 140ºF (boosted temperature) in just a pinch over an hour. More if you want an extra rinse - although machines sold in Australia must meet washing/rinsing standards, otherwise they cannot be sold at a retailer!

Otherwise, you get a cycle at about 1hr 45mins. During a typical Australian Summer, you can bet anything you want those clothes will be dry within the hour, if not less, depending on the temperature. 

 

@henene4

We may have shared an opinion before on this thread - However, I think you have taken it too far.

There is no reason to go on a rampage against John or his business, especially considering you don't know him personally. What is written doesn't always display the intent it was written in. What you are say is simply uncalled for.

While we might have opinions about people on this board, I think it is best we keep those personal thoughts strictly to <span style="text-decoration: underline;">ourselves.</span>

 

 

[pierreandreply4]

Washer111

Washer111,

sure i wash clothes in warm water and use hot water for bedding but there are time i need to set the wash tempature to cold water because there are certain things that need to be wash in cold water, and also washers of today are not like there where back in the 1950 and 1970, and unless going back or finding a vintage washer with true wash rinse temp no dumb down tempature we can not porevent the additon of dumb down wash rinse temp unless the washer manufacturer offered us a switch option before the washer that we toggle true wash rinses temp or default act wash rinse temp other wise we can only use or judgement

 

[frigilux]

Dropped by the local Speed Queen/LG/GE/Whirlpool dealership to look at televisions, but was distracted by the new SQ models. The size of the SQ display has increased since I picked up an AWN542 there in early 2014. There were two front-load sets (one side-by-side, one stacked) and four top-loaders (two electronic, two with traditional controls).

Love the look of the sleek electronic panels on both types of washers and the cycle flexibility now available on the front-loaders. Hadn't noticed before that all the controls for the stacked set are located on the washer. The electronic controls do seem a bit cramped compared to those on other brands, whose controls are more spread out over the console.

Was fun to finally see these smart new models in person.

 

[mrb627]

Not Yet!

I haven't seen them in person yet. I fear there will be a purchase involved. And I'm not ready to buy.

Malcolm

 

[brucelucenta]

SQ washers

Personally, I do not think Speed Queen has been a good reliable machine since the late 60's when they had the old solid tub models with the giant solenoids for wash and spin. Those old machines were incredible work horses that lasted and lasted. Those models were in more laundromats than not and were run many times all day long for years at a time. Changing the design to a reversing motor ruined them and it was downhill from there, in my opinion. I worked on many a washing machine in my day and never considered Speen Queen a very reliable or good machine from the 70's on. I think they tried to copy the design somewhat of the Maytag washer belt system, but did a poor job of it. They have always been problematic and noisy when they started making the perforated tub models. The first few years of those models had serious tub seal problems too. So they have really not been great machines for a long time now. Nothing new.

 

[frigilux]

Malcolm, my money is on you pulling out your MasterCard. Thank God they don't have an internal heater or the side-by-side pair would have followed me home. They have a very solid, substantial presence about them---even without looking under the hood.