Speed Queen Becoming More Mainstream?

[Chetlaham]

I came across another major retailer carrying Speed Queen:

https://www.pcrichard.com/speed-queen-washers/

If the trend continues soon Lowes, Home Depot, Menards, JCPenney might follow. This could be a big boost for sales and ultimately foster real competition. Whirlpool would finally be forced to improve their product line. Played right this could improve appliance quality more than anything else in the last 40 years.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

to chetlaham

I'm curious about that too, especially considering the Texas Edition washer they're coming out with soon. How will it agitate? Will it agitate like Whirlpool/Maytag/GE of the past? I want to know. What are the chances it will have a dual action agitator?

 

[Chetlaham]

I'm still wondering if the Texas version is going to be a real thing. I honestly want them to keep the current versions while people buy more of them. The current versions of tested and proven and sold in mass will be a wake up call for everyone in the business.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

speed queen

So am I. I'm curious about what cycles it has, what it sounds and looks like, and how well it performs on heavy dirty loads. If I ever get one, I'd use heavy duty cycle for all my laundry since I don't have any delicate or very little permanent press. The vast majority of my clothes are sturdy cottons. Matter of fact, that's the vast majority of my laundry.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Well, I'm happy enough with my Maytag that I'd just bought even with the way it's made compared to how old school most of those Speed Queens look... Looks great in gray, as I don't think those dispensers mine and the other washers have look that good in white...

 

And I'm just used to and getting the hang of how mine is working--though I miss an actual timer that will tell me how much time is left in the cycle, making me like my dryer (which I like the white I could only get it in) a bit more for...

 

 

 

-- Dave

 

[panasonicvac]

There's no new Texas washer

SQ is not releasing new models out anytime soon, I was told by a rep this week. Whatever you've been hearing was misinformation or false news.

 

[Chetlaham]

New Models

Phew! The tried and true will built customer and brand loyalty.

My wildest dream is 2/3+ of all washer sales shifting to Speed Queen. Eventually Whirlpool, LG and Electrolux will follow with competing warranties and redesigned platforms.

It was Whirlpool that managed to literally sale 9 out of every 10 washers in the 90s. Now I hope Speed Queen can do that same.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

new models

PHEW!!!! What a relief! There's no telling what would happen if they did. Probably cheapen everything which Speed Queen would hate to have to do.

 

[Chetlaham]

Oh, everything would have been worse. It would have been the Maytag Atlantis/Neptune/Herrin/Performa all over again. Giant tubs, lots of features, great looks, with epic cheap-osity and expensive breakdowns within 5 years to compliment it.

If it ain't broken don't try and fix it.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

agitation

Chet, let's not forget about what the agitation would've been like as well as the agitator. They could've been forced to go to that stupid short/fast stroke agitation due to consumer pressure and fall for stupid people. When I say stupid people, we are talking about the average consumer. When Whirlpool did that short/fast agitation, they perfected it with their craft. That's just my opinion. Speed Queen could've copied what most everybody else and GE did. Or, they could've copied WCI/Frigidaire.

 

[Chetlaham]

My guess is they would've dropped the transmission and used a VFD motor even if the agi was separate from the tub. Better than the TR series for sure cleaning wise, but not without being a totally new design with its risks.

Right now customers can choose:

1) TC series for heavily soiled work clothes

2) TC series for those working in offices

3) Front Load for Pet Hair, Luxury and energy savings.

3 bullet proof product lines to establish a loyal customer base.

 

[Chetlaham]

In Store Training

I also think Speed Queen should invest in in-store training. I remember when I was purchasing my Speed Queen from a local dealer in 2013 the guy seemed very optimistic about Speed Queen. He told me about how the machine was made with more metal than others and built like older machines, ect. The advantages gained of it being a compact machine (even though I don't view it as a compact machine). I just nodded as he was preaching to the choir. To those buying who don't know the benefits of Speed Queen, this can be a very powerful way at getting the word out about Speed Queen's performance.

Sears did this extensively and it worked. All other makes and models were treated as introductory decoys with the advantages of a MOL or TOL Kenmore explained and how customers were always happier with Kenmore. And they were, at the time Kenmore was the best overall.

 

[maytag85]

Wouldn’t necessarily say Speed Queen is becoming more mainstream, but are becoming more and more known since people are getting fed up with the crap Whirlpool, GE, Frigidaire/Electrolux, Samsung, LG, many others have been making for the past 15 to 16 years. Speed Queen doesn’t spend any money on marketing, they let their products market and sell themselves.

If Speed Queen were to sell in a big box store, they’d probably would be the only machines that would sell since it would remind people of how their Maytag Dependable Care was built over 20 years ago. They certainly would be more expensive compared to the competition, but some buyers could justify spending more on something that’s got the build quality from something of a bygone era.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

agitation sounds

Can you imagine what the agitation sounds like and they had a dual-action agitator? I could picture them agitating at 140 SPM.

 

[Chetlaham]

Speed Queen should make a TC version with a DA agitator. More clothes would fit, and its what people remember so more sales.

@Sean: You said it. If these machines were sold in big box stores sales would explode. People yearn for solid machines however ease of availability is the barrier.

 

[Chetlaham]

Also...

Give a steep discount to the sales associates. Let them try a Speed Queen of their choosing. Then they can tell the customers "I have this at home" while being able to genuinely share their positive experiences. In stores I've heard many times "what would you buy" or "what would you use". If the answer is Speed Queen that means a secure sale.

 

[qsd-dan]

Whirlpools DA agitator probably wouldn't work well with their 210 arc agitation. The Maytag load sensor would probably work better but both of those agitators are designed with fast action (mainly 90 degree arc) agitation.

Speed Queen really should add a filter in the agitator barrel like Maytag did. If designed correctly, it would be superior to the Pet Pro line and eat up Whirlpools competition for filtering out pet hair. Even better, make that agitator backwards compatible with older models.

 

[Chetlaham]

Is the Load sense agitator still protected by patents? If not Speed Queen should certainly try it. Good point about the barrel filter. Or better yet a circulating pump with filter pan Speed Queen is at the cusp of becoming a major player in the residential laundry industry. They've just got to play it right.

Remember- quality alone is not enough. You need a lime light. Lime lights are what grant validity- they tell the bulk of the masses that any product, idea, concept or service is worthy of veneration.

 

[qsd-dan]

For Speed Queen to really shine, they need to go back to their pre 2018 setup which was very flexible. The TC5 layout is far too restrictive for my tastes, as well as others.