What Company Makes What?

[timborow]

I recently visited the Sears Store here looking at new appliances for a kitchen redo. The sales clerk has worked there for years and seems to be very knowledgeable. She told me there were only three appliance makers out there. She said there is Whirlpool, Maytag, and GE. All appliances with any other name is really made by on of these three companies. She told me that Whirlpool makes Kenmore, which is the brand I am going for. Is all of this true? I know someone out there will have the "scoop" on all of this. Thanks, Tim

 

[toggleswitch]

Salespeople speak tons of ignorant bull$%^&.

Kenmore is made for Sears by a number of manufacturers.
Even Sears laundry has suppliers other than Whirlpool.

Does Electrolux/Frgidaire not exist?
Do foreign suppliers not exist?

 

[petek]

Makes you wonder doesn't it. I was in Sears about a month ago perusing the vacuum cleaners when I overheard a saleslady explaining to a young couple who were looking at Elux canisters why the bags were so expensive. She told them that although they were expensive that they could used for quite a few months before they would fill up whereas the cheap bags would be filled up in a week or two? They didn't even question her. Most of them are absolutely hopeless. One other time a couple of summers ago I inquired to the salesguy, who I know has worked there for +10 years, what size the air-conditioner on the shelf was because it only had a price sticker but no info. Now this isn't a store that has reams of them on display, there were only perhaps 3 and it was the largest looking. He had no idea whatsoever so I said to him well how can you sell it if you have no idea. Then another time I went in specifically to buy a humidifier like the Kenmore my neighbors had recently bought with two plastic water containers. I go in and ask the salesguy if they have the model with the two water containers and he quickly takes a look and says no, only the ones with one container. I said to him that my neighbors had just bought one and he told me that it must have been old stock. The had a big feature setup of the ones with one container on sale. So I said do they have any others and he pointed me towards an aisle, the same aisle he'd gone to check. So I walked over, and there sitting on the end cap of the aisle where he'd just been were box loads of the two water container humidifiers. That time I did complain to the store manager and told him if it was me running the store he'd have been out scraping the parking lot on his arse. He wasn't a young newbie salesguy either but had been there for years. I mean, what do these guys do all day that they haven't a clue what they have for sale. Oh, I left that store rightly pissed off and went to another Sears not far away and what a difference, the guy there knew instantly what humidifier I was looking for and actually seemed to know how they worked and the different types.

 

[maytagbear]

Saleswoman was wrong, but right-

in that a lot of "brands" are made by someone else:

Whirlpool Family:

Whirlpool
Kenmore (SOME)
Roper
Estate
KitchenAid

Maytag Family (Before change-over)

Maytag
Amana
Admiral
Crosley
Jenn-Air
Hoover

Electrolux:

Frigidaire
Electrolux
Kenmore (SOME)

GE

GE
Hotpoint
Kenmore (SOME)

For example: Whirlpool makes most of Kenmore laundry, and a lot of Kenmore refrigerators.

Please add labels, if I missed any.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

As for salespeople, some will say ALMOST anything to make a sale. This is one reason why I prefer an independent store.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[neptunebob]

I know a way to get them off your back!

Before Christmas I stopped at Sears and had to go to the mens room which is past the appliance department. An neew and overbearing salesman asked me "Don't you want to buy a washer?" I then asked "Where is the Oasis?" They didn't have it yet, and after he gave me a blank look I exlained the Oasis to him. He turned so red with embarassment and I was so happy.

Sears is advertising for appliance salespeople, maybe I will apply.

 

[appliguy]

Whirlpool also makes some Crosley and they make Inglis

The Canadian brand that is now sold in Best Buy instead of Estate.

 

[appliguy]

New Whirlpool made Kenmore Fridges are called Kenmore Coldsp

Look at the sticker inside the fridge....ya know where they put the model #....On the Whirlpool and ONLY the Whirlpool made Kenmore Fridges the stickers say Kenmore Coldspot. The last time the Coldspot name appeared on a Sears appliance was in 1976. For 1977 they switch over to the Kenmore name because of its recognizability. I went through every fridge at my local Sears and if it was not made by Whirlpool the Coldspot name was no where to be found.......HMMMMMMMM VEEEEERY INTERESTING.....BUT STUUUUPID!!!

 

[goatfarmer]

Whirlpool also makes the Galaxy brand,very low end.

GE has(or had)the RCA brand.

Kenmore 'fridges are either Whirlpool,or GE.WCI used to make some of the cheaper ones,but I haven't seen one in years.

kennyGF

 

[timborow]

Thanks

I knew I could count on you guys. So if I buy Kenmore appliances, would I be safe in thinking that they were of high quality? Should I go ahead and purchase the Electrolux products? (which are more costly) I think I'll let her know that I've done some research. Tim

 

[launderess]

Our small 18" dishwasher is Kenmore (built by Frigidaire according to the code on the plate inside the door, the first three digits give tell who made what for Sears), and so far after 4 years no problems.

IIRC when Sears/Kenmore asks a manufacturer to make appliances for them, it is not just a simple rebadge. Sears spells out how "their" items are to be built and in most cases while made in the same plant as their cousins are either done as a separate run, or part of the plant makes just Kenmore branded appliances. This explains why sometimes Kenmore branded applinaces are built better and have fewer reports of problems/repairs than their cousin appliances built by the same maker.

L.

 

[toggleswitch]

Now who are you REALLY?

Whatever happened to D&M?
Did they become/get taken over by Frigdaire?

Some Kenmore (was it late 80's early 90's?) DW-ers from way back resemble the D&M's such as the Caloric, Amana and Magic Chef badged dishwashers.

Yet when parts were ordered they came from Fridigdaire.
Anyone have the scoop?

 

[Cybrvanr]

For a while, General Electric was also putting the RCA nameplate on white goods. I imagine that's the reason why they didn't go over too good. I still want to think of RCA as high-end American electronics...even though today they are really known for cheap, unreliable foreign-made electronic junk sold at discount stores

There was so much mis-information going around at Sears. The problem is that the sales rep's are not really trained or introduced to new products. They cannot really sell what they don't know about unfortunatley. Sears could do so much if they'd just get their act together. With the acquisition of K-mart, they could be a serious force against Wal-mart. The problem is that they can't manage their way out of a paper bag!

 

[pulsatron]

Appliance Salespeople.

When we were shoppping for our new Twin-Tub recently,my sister did a bit of a ring around a few different stores and the most stupid answer she got was from the fellow at The Good Guys(who a large warehouse type electrical discounter here in Oz),and the silly fool did not even know what a Twin Tub washer was,he kept telling her that she was talking about a double drawer dishwasher.
A lot more training is needed methinks.
Cheers.
Steve.

 

[timborow]

A stove that I saw had Frigidaire Electrolux printed on it. Are they one in the same. So are the Frigidaire Washer and Dryers really manufactured by Lux?

I went to an independent dealer who sells mainly GE appliances. I inquired about a used Maytag Washer. He said, "Maytag is not all it's cracked up to be. Their machines are belt driven. You don't want that. Even today their junk is still belt driven."
I didn't know there was a problem with belt driven machines. If the belt breaks, replace it for a few bucks. Even I can do that.

I also asked him about the different names and the companies that make them. He said, "GE makes GE products. They are of high qualtiy. They don't do any rebadging." I asked him who made Hotpoint. He said, "GE does but that is just their lower end product. That's not rebadging.' I said OK and left.

My last place in town to try is Lowe's. I don't expect to have a conversation with an appliance whizz there either. Tim

 

[Burpalator]

I got a new Kenmore refrigerator back in the fall and I'm fairly certain it's a rebadged Frigidaire. Someone please correct if I'm wrong. (It's a MOL 18 cu. ft. top-freezer model.)

 

[toggleswitch]

You don't want that

You don't like that

UGH. Those are the most ignorant statements that one can make.

Who say I have to think YOUR way?

 

[appliguy]

Frigidaire Electrolux and what is now Aerus/ Electrolux (the

Nor have they been the same since 1933. That is when Electrolux USA built their factory at Greenwhich Conn. Before that all Electroluxs sold in this country from their intro here in 1924 were imported from AB Electrolux of Sweden. When Electrolux USA starting making them here the company split its parent company in Sweden. Frigidaire was bought from GM by WCI (White Consolidated Industries) in 1980 and WCI was bought by AB ELectrolux in 1986. In the late 1990's AB Electrolux expressed interest in selling major appliances under the Electrolux name in the US and in 2000 bought the name back from Electrolux USA which is now called Aerus. By the way AB Electrolux owns Eureka vacuums so when you see an Electrolux Vac in Sears DO NOT CONFUSE IT WITH THE REAL THING that is nopw being made under the Aerus name (and don't be fooled that a modern Aerus is as good as grandma's G because it isn't). PATRICK COFFFEY

 

[jamman_98]

My 2 cents

About 6 years ago I went shopping for a refrigerator. I went to Sears and they had an Amana and a Kenmore that were exactly alike. The only difference was that the Ammana was $300 cheaper than the Kenmore. Same machine!.

Joe
jamman_98

 

[urarachu]

I sell vacuum cleaners.....

A man came in today and wanted a vacuum cleaner that would clean very well, and hold up for a long time. Well I went for the Riccar 8955. I proceeded to show him exactly why it was a durable and powerful vacuum. I flipped it over and showed him all the steel in the construction, the guarded end caps, showed him the big twin fan motor...etc. I threw some corn flakes on the floor and let him vacuum them up. I let him mess around with the tools. He was impressed, but said he still wanted to look around. He told me he was going to go to Sears, and see if they had anything as good, but not so expensive (we sell the Riccar 8955 for $500). He said that if they didn't, he'd return...

He came back 30 minutes later and bought it. He was disgusted by the demonstration that Sears gave him. The woman just didn't know what she was talking about. Not to mention, their vacuums are half the vacuums they were 10 years ago. So when he flipped them over, he was shocked by the all the plastic. He left our little shop very pleased.

Corey

 

[timborow]

I agree Toggle

When I asked about the quality of an older Maytag, he said it was all advertising. Belt driven machines are out of date. That may be, but many Maytag and other machines are still kickin while DD machines are filling our scrap yards and land fills. I had a GE Belt driven machine back in the early 90's. This same guy said, get rid of it and buy a new one. If not, you will be replacing that belt all the time. I didn't know any better then, so I did chunk it. I bought a Kenmore that is still alive and working perfectly. Tim

 

[petek]

I take everything the salespeople tell you with a grain of salt. And always remember the chances that they've ever owned or used even a small percentage of the items they're selling is slim. Take Sears for example, they'll have 20 various dishwashers on display, how many of them has Mrs. Smith who works there part time ever actually seen or heard in operation, same with the washers and dryers. Probably zero.

 

[jasonl]

Kenmore fridge

How do I know which Kenmore fridge is a "true" Whirlpool and not a GE?

My house is going to be ALL Kenmore and I want all WP-made.

 

[appliguy]

LOOK FOR THE TAG INSIDE THAT SAYS KENMORE COLDSPOT

Jason, The easiest way to tell is to look at the tag inside the fridge...All Whirlpool made Kenmore fridges say Kenmore Coldspot on the tag where the model number is found. PATRICK COFFEY

 

[toggleswitch]

How do I know which Kenmore fridge is a "true" Whirlpool and not a GE?

Look at how a WP dumps cold air into the freezer. The Kenmore badged WP will be the same.

 

[panthera]

sears sales

Back in 2000 I had to buy my folks a new dryer and washer very quickly. Had to take what was in stock, no time to wait. So went to Sears - only place with appliances in stock that day (yeah, stupid but that urgent). Told the sales-in-duh-vi-dual NO WHIRLPOOL. So Mr. "The customer can't tell the difference" walks over to a Kenmore, sitting next to its identical Whirlpool twin. When he opened the Kenmore lid I opened the Whirlpool lid...I just stood there looking at him. He said Whirlpool was the best brand so I should buy it...After I drove to Denver and came back with a GE (thanks Franz!) we stopped in at Sears on the way back and showed the floor manager the receipt for the new dryer and washer we had just bought elsewhere and told her why. She sighed and said "I understand you. We no longer have the resources to train our sales staff properly - and they are under so much pressure to make a sale that they no longer see themselves as the customer's agent."
Bummer! Sears used to be the best in the area, when I am in the 'States today, I only buy there when I must. Someone ought to kick their management in the you-know-where.

 

[brisnat81]

Some Whirlpool is Crap, but you're generalising too much

Hi Keven,

I agree wholeheartedly with you, that low end whirlpool gear is rubbish. IE the cheap frontloaders/dryers, compact fridges, The euro dishwashers etc.

However, the Whirlpool TL washers and matching dryers are bullet proof, the Whirlpool S/S fridges have the lowest repair rating of all S/S fridges in AU.

If the Oasis is based on the F&P then that can be expected to have above average reliability as well.

They US and AU cooktops/ovens are long lasting, and the Duets/HE machines seem to as reliable as you can expect.

Your hatred of whirlpool seems to blind you to the good products that they make, maybe European whirlpool is Bad, I dont have the experience to know, however the Euro/US hybrid that we get in AU is pretty bulletproof.

 

[petek]

When you're at Sears looking at the fridges it's easy to tell just by looking at the interior appointments like the temp dial and air flow grills which are generally the same by manufacturer family regardless of who's name they put on it. I can never remember who makes what, heck some makers who make their own standard fridges outsource another maker for a different model.

 

[toggleswitch]

Sears is advertising for appliance salespeople, maybe I will

There was so much mis-information going around at Sears. The problem is that they can't manage their way out of a [WET] paper bag!

Bummer! Sears used to be the best in the area...

I SOLD APPLIANCES FOR THEM P/T after my real accounting day job. MGT ARE MORONS! My pay was commission only. I barely made minimum wage. We were hugely over-staffed, always. The sales-ladies we had had no idea what hard-wired meant or what questions to ask in terms of gas/ elecric or even prongs, outlets and configurations.

While I was there the Hispanic CEO had two visible goals- sell maintenance agreements and make the store Hispanic oriented /friendly. What about middle America that is your business core?

Sears succeeds in spite of itself, and the stupidity of management and the general internal politics that abounds.

One last point, IMHO any salesperson that is decent leaves for a better-paying job. The wages were insulting.

 

[bobbyderegis]

I was under the impression all refrigerators were made by only two companies: Woods, of Canada, and a US manufacturer that I can't remember. True or not true?
Bobby in Boston

 

[petek]

Woods makes a big share of the freezer market, not fridges.