"Dreaded Amana's"...
Thanks to the info on this board, I called SQ headquarters in Ripon, WI when I was researching and asked them if this was just a rebadged Amana, he assured me it wasn't and that when SQ had returned to the home market, they kept "only the good stuff" and re-engineered the rest. I have had no experience with Amana's, but wanted to check anyway. Time will tell if that is true, but from everything that I have experienced so far, the quality is there. If it only lasts the 3 years that it's under warranty, then I got a better value than my Whirlpool Cabrio of just over 1 year. But I really doubt that will be in the case. As I visit the laundromat 1x a month (Speed Queen laundromat of course) to wash the king comforter, I hear the TLs kick on and they sound exactly like my home model.
A few calls to SQ post-purchase has been nothing less than stellar. The last person I spoke to had been in the laundry business in some form or fashion for over two decades! They know their stuff! He even provided his company e-mail address if I had any further questions (he sent me tech docs on the units). It is refreshing.
It's a bit odd - it's like purchasing a NEW piece of history. I just hope that TLs can hange around a few more years. I still have the '03 Whirlpool TOL TL that is in perfect order - hopefully it will die before SQ quits making TLs. The lady that owns the SQ laundromat said they were heavily pushing FLs (she only has 3 TLs now). The lady at the hardware store said that her SQ salesman was encouraging her to stock more FLs. I'm just not a FL guy yet. I guess I'm young-old school.
I would imagine that if TLs continue, then they will go to the version of the commercial TL where it uses less water by partial rinsing and other tricks. One thing mine does is a slow cold/hot fill. Instead of a waterfall, I get trickles. SQ states this is now government mandated flow restriction--I cannot see HOW that would save the planet, but oh well. Who knows...get a TL while you can.
