When Did Asko Go Off The Rails?

[launderess]

Seems back in the 1990's or so Asko was known for quality washers and dryers when sold in the USA. They were right up there with Miele and Bosch. Today it seems I hear a very different story. Motors going after just a few years, motherboards (ditto) and in general all sorts of bits failing before the five year mark. Worse it seems Asko's repair/service distribution in the USA at least isn't wonderful. Current owners of Asko cancelled Repair Clinic as a source of spares so you have to go through them.

Cannot understand why a supposedly "quality" European brand washer would need a new motor in just a few years of use. Can see the brushes going but that should be an easy repair... no?

 

[richnz]

I bought a 1.5 year old dishwasher for a song

$80 NZD. The previous owner had replaced the control board once and had given up because it was having a fit again.

Looking inside the machine the were no obvious signs of quality.
The plastic racks were beginning to change colour, the top rack was not sliding well (Screw those ball bearing runners).
The machine (D5904 Pro Dishwasher) also seemed to have little thought applied to keeping water and steam out of the control panel at the front.

Anyway to get it running I didn't need a new pcb.
The analogue pressure sensor needed replacing & I did see them listed there on the repair clinic website.

Its such a shame because it could be a fantastic machine if it was made with a tiny more attention to detail.

 

[askolover]

Antonio Merloni

dropped the ball on Asko and it has gone downhill ever since.  Mine from 1997 is built like a tank.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Asko Rails - On , Off , On Again...

The only time Asko Sweden went off the rails was when like many other private family companies they where subject to a takeover, that being that that other "M" company who I wont grace to name here....

Following that companies demise the Asko company was purchased by Gorenje from Slovenia, Gorenje is one of the largest ElectroDometica companies in Europe and offers a complete range of household electrical appliances.

From 2013 Gorenje promotes ASKO as " ASKO is the Gorenje Group’s International Premium Brand, (see link below), and long may it continue......

Asko USA had the large uber collection but as far as I am aware they where the M companies design and NOT to be confused with the original Quatro style Asko`s that we have all come to love!![this post was last edited: 9/30/2015-05:25]

Gorenje

www.gorenje.com

 

[chestermikeuk]

Gorenje Worldwide

Pronounced Gor Ren Ya..

http://www.gorenje.si/izdelki

 

[chestermikeuk]

Please to say..

My Maytag Asko set from 2001 - (Maytag UK acted as a distributor for a number of badged appliances, hence laundry from Asko) am pleased to say is going strong in the new Laundry Room, and long may that continue!!

http://https//www.flickr.com/photos/chestermikeuk/albums/72157629174272577

 

[launderess]

Actually Asko

Has been in the USA since at least 1995 or 1996 if not before. At one time they were the largest selling "European" laundry appliance in this country. This was when Miele and Bosch were also beginning to sell units here.

Have seen Asko units with "Quattro" all over including Craigslist and fleaPay. In fact you can't fling a dead cat without hitting used Asko units for sale. Common models I see are T780 dryer and W660 washer.

However there does seem to be a love or hate relationship with Asko appliances:

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/asko.html

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussion...o-and-miele-washer-dryer-reviews-so-polarized

http://www.diyforums.net/asko-washer-/-dryer-worth-putting-more-into-5138320.html

 

[chestermikeuk]

Love them...

All depends on the level of service and backup, many of the Quatro series parts did suffer under the M ownership, must have been hard for all those loyal workforce to find yourselves working for the worst in the industry according to their standards....

As Farenheit451 states...
" My wife and I have owned ASKO, and we were fortunate to have had a technician who knew ASKO well and was able to get warranty issues taken care of quickly and without question."....

 

[gorenje]

Hello Launderess

... unfortunately I will not be able to answer to your question about Asko's repair/service distribution in the USA.

The only things that i know is what Mike has told.

In 2010 Gorenje took over the Swedish Asko from Italian Antonio Merloni.

From the beginning of the year 2013 the production of Asko appliances stoped in Sweden (Vara) and started to move to Slovenia (Velenje). First Asko washing machines and dryers in April 2013 and then also dishwashers in September 2013. Since then all the production take place in Slovenia.

I dont know how the service/distribution works because despite the fact that Asko appliances are made in our Country and the owner is a Slovenian Company we don't have Asko appliances in our stores. We can only find a few washers in the Gorenje's Studios (Corporate's megastore) across the Country.

Like this one:

http://www.gorenje.si/prodaja/studii/ljubljana

 

[tomturbomatic]

When we went to the International Kitchen & Bath Expo in Orlando in 2001, Asko had been taken over by that other company. You could look into the dishwashers and see by the rack design that they were pieces of crap. I did not think that the original Asko washers were efficient rinsers because they only spun after each set of two rinses.

 

[askolover]

Mine rinses 4 times...with 3 spins..no spin immediately after the wash water drains. 18 years I can't complain!
If the Gorenje units hold up well, I'll buy another one.  If not, I'll use my backup Miele...that is when the Asko finally dies! My favorite thing about Asko is the door gasket.[this post was last edited: 9/30/2015-09:42]

 

[gorenje]

Asko was part of the Italian Antonio Merloni Group from 2000 to 2010.

As regards the spin in the rinse cycle there are several brands that omit the spin at the end of the wash cycle to avoid sudslock and minimize wrinkling (especially after a warm or hot wash) The following rinses are with spin.

Some others brands instead of omiting the spin at the end of the wash they use a much slower spin for the first (soapy) spin and then for the next spins a regular high spin.

 

[suburbanmd]

I bet Asko has been rerailed

I'm taking delivery of an Asko Pro Series W8844XLW washer tomorrow, so obviously I believe it's worth taking a chance on them now. I'm taking the chance because this machine is unique in the US market, a halfway-decent-sized (2.83 cu ft claimed, 2.7 cu ft DOE method) washer with temperatures in degrees, not Through the Looking Glass "When I use a word it means just what I choose it to mean" signifiers like "warm" and "hot". 2000W heater is also nice, as is cold fill (so the long delay in getting hot water at my house won't matter). I'm used to long cycles on my Miele W4840, and in fact almost always use Extended option because I like the results, so the Asko's cycles shouldn't bother me. Besides, this machine has a Time Choice cycle where it'll adjust the cycle to fit within the time you specify, between 30 minutes and 3 hours. The Asko isn't replacing the Miele, rather it's going in the basement next to a previously unused utility sink.

Parts and service availability should be better, now that the Sub-Zero Wolf organization distributes Asko in the US.

Anyway, wish me luck.

 

[launderess]

Spining After Rinses

Yes, for optimal results laundry should be extracted after main wash and between successive rinses, however there are variations and reasons for them to occur.

When set to "Sensitive" my more modern Oko-Lavmat rinses the same in "normal" as the older Miele; two deep rinses (the Miele does three)then spins.

 

[christer89]

Asko is no longer what it was, really strong long holding things. Write cylinda stone washer on YouTube. 2 Swedish guys trying to break a asko ( cylinda) original name in Sweden.

 

[gorenje]

... nothing is no longer as it used to be.

I belive.

This is something we've learned already some time ago. And applies to all brands, even the best ones like Miele, sadly.

Among other reasons the addition of a large amount of electronic components has only shortened even more the duration of this day's home appliances.

 

[alr2903]

Gorenje, you nailed it.  Seems if you  have something repaired it costs as much as a whole new unit. 

 

[chestermikeuk]

Asko

Hi Tom, I wonder if the dishwashers you saw where not original Asko models because their baskets where like professional models in domestic machines, the first to have the double covered dark grey coatings and deep fill baskets!!

Have never had a problem with my Asko rinsing, you can adjust the water level for higher use and can opt for up to 7 rinses..have never needed to use the 7 when dosing with powder accordingly it managed fine with 3 plus conditioner.

 

[imperial70]

... nothing is no longer as it used to be.

Good point.  Just enjoy the appliances for what they are.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.