US Appliance Stores

[logixx]

Especially for all the non-American members, here's a "Follow me Around" through Home Depot, Best Buy and Target.

BB was nice, Home Depot had mostly dirty and broken appliances on the floor and Sears... well, the one Sears I've been to had only some appliances on the floor (couldn't even find dishwashers) but tons of sales staff. So no video from Sears. Unfortunately, no store had the appliances plugged in, which I found surprising as two Sears stores in L.A. had practically all washers, dryers and friges/freezers plugged in and ready to play with. :-(

I love the dryers the most simply because of the sheer size of them. The washers are nice as well and feel (quality) just like the average European washer. It's just the fact that one can't select a precise temp that I really don't like about them. The HE top loaders have massive drums, really. I do think, however, that my 3.3 cu,ft. washer will hold the same amount of clothes as the top loaders cannot be stuffed like front loaders. Still, those drum are huge. Dishwashers...? Well, I honestly think that one day, American companies will have copied the European design closely enough to make decent units. I don't see why any modern dishwasher should use 10 gallons for a Heavy cyles and still take three hours to complete it. And what's up with these spray towers on the BOL units?

 

[gorenje]

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing

 

[rapunzel]

Look at those dainty hands

and those HUGE washing machines. My god, if you'd fallen into one of those, how ever would you have gotten out again? Those American fridges are as big as European apartments. Imagine how many people could find shelter inside one of those.

 

[rapunzel]

I am disappointed...

that F&P are not represented.

 

[DADoES]

 
I don't think F&P has ever been carried by Best Buy or Home Depot.

Lowes.com lists DishDrawers, refrigerators, microwaves, cooktops, ranges, range hoods, a warming drawer, and a refrigerator drawer.  No laundry, although they carried it in the past.

 

[mark_wpduet]

cool -

You filmed your NYC appliance browsing trip.......

Probably disappointed in American washers vs Euro washers. I think the Euro washers are better from what I've seen (at least for the most part)
Dryers are another story.

 

[frontloaderfan]

I'd be inclined to agree with you, Mark. Having owned both, in Europe and the US respectively. When I lived in Germany, I think Gorenje had a not-so-good reputation. I first owned an AEG Öko Lavamat then a Miele (can't remember what model number it was but it was the last one without the honeycomb drum). That was hands down my favorite.

 

[henene4]

Last one without honeycomb drum was stoped makeing just a year ago. That was the most bottom of the line one (1400rpm,6kg, 10 cycles). When have you been here? It may be something like a W961 as we owned it. Had it a display? And if so, how where the option-buttons placed? Side-by-side or one underneath the other?

 

[frontloaderfan]

@ henene

I bought the Miele in late 2001 or early 2002 from Quelle. W961 sounds very familiar. It had the buttons underneath each other and a 1200 rpm spin speed. It had a small digital display for the remaining minutes in the cycle.

The honeycomb machines were available, but they were of course more expensive. I can't even remember if I paid DM or Euro for it. It was right around the time of the currency switch (Währungsreform?). I think it might have been Euro 1000,-, which would put us in early 2002. I left Germany in 2005.

 

[henene4]

Well, the W961 had 1400rpm and no display. Yours probably was a special Modell. I'll check that out...

 

[logixx]

Can't say that I'm disappointed in American washers, Mark. They feel just as solid (or flimsy) as the average washing machine one can buy here. The only thing that I couldn't have on my washer is this Cold Warm Hot labeling scheme that every US washer has. After all, my washer basically is an American unit with some modifications for the European market.

 

What really disappointed me was that no unit, besides that Samsung, was plugged in. And there were only a few Whirlpool front loaders (and, just like in L.A., nothing from Electrolux) - most of the stuff was Samsung and LG.