Which magazine Don't Buys!

[islingtonsteve]

Just subscribed to the Which mag online and have read thro the new washing machine reviews.. There do seem to be some strange notes - particularly the Hotpoint Aqaultis - as not only does this appear in the Don't buys it also lists it's noise levels as just aboout acceptable - I thought these machines were near on silent!..Anyway - below is there little blog on Don't buys.... Any thoughts
The Hotpoint Aqualtis AQXXL129 and Indesit WIA121 claim the dubious honour of being the first two washing machines we’d recommend that all Which? members avoid. In our latest test, these models struggled to get the basics right. Both were poor at removing tough stains, such as red wine, grease, chocolate and blood, on the cotton wash. The Hotpoint’s easy-care program is also far from the best. Don’t be tempted by the two machines’ desirably short wash times because, overall, they have too many weaknesses to be worth buying.

 

[toggleswitch]

ah yes "Which" the equivalent of our Consumer Reports.

 

[panthera]

Stiftung Warentest

Like Stiftung Warentest here in Germany. They do a lot of tests together, by the way.
I know some folks think these magazines are prejudiced and I agree they sometimes have priorities which are just plain weird. But it is nice to have an independent opinion why I spend my hard earned money on a durable good.
What did Which like, by the way?

 

[lavamat_jon]

I don't subscribe anymore, but usually Miele and BSH come out top so obviously they must be doing something right .

Jon

 

[nickuk]

Interesting thread, this. I used to subscribe to Which? but stopped because I also `just got the feeling' that sometimes there was a little creative license / cut and paste going on.

However, I agree with Jon that the best buy machines are normally a good bet.

I'd also like to know what they're currently suggesting we buy. AFAIR, the Miele Premier 520 was a best buy in about June '06, and surely that's a good use of £480 - indeed I'm seriously thinking about buying one myself.

RobM has an Aqualtis and says that it's really quiet with the Induction motor. Several manufacturers are putting out TOL models with Induction motors (Hotpoint Aqualtis, Hoover Vision 1600, Electrolux Insight) which I think is a nice alternative.

Nick

 

[islingtonsteve]

yeah, I do get the impression that they will always back certain makes regardless..but maybe that's just me. Best buys are siemens, tricity bendix? bosch miele and LG.,
Strange they slate the bosch for rinsing (one of the worst tested) but still stick it in with the best buys. I only joined becasue I just purchased the new Hoover Vision 1400 and wanted to see how they rated it - but they didn't test it. I find the range of machines tested a little strange as well..with some of them being a couple years old and them excluding newer machines inspite of them testing in Feb 07. I hoped over and had a look at the vacuum testing as well. This was done in jan 07 and for some reason they are still testing the old Hoover One version yet it was replaced in early 06 with the new and much better batch..

 

[khodabear]

I don't recall if it was here or on Garden Web that I read a post from a repair pro who pointed out that in one issue Consumer Reports rated a Kenmore Washer a #1 Best Buy, but rated the identical Whirlpool way down.

Sears payoff? Perhaps.

Peter
advancing consipracy theories
in Denver

 

[panthera]

Stiftung Warentest

Also sometimes will rate two "baugleich" machines differently. When I wrote them and asked them why (this was back in the early 1990's), they wrote back:
1) First, they corrected mistakes in my German.
2) Explained that they rated elements such as the instruction manual in only one language per page (not the mixture of English-French-Spanish paragraphs we often see in the US) or the use of recyclable packaging materials so highly that they could push a machine up or down a note.
They gave a few examples, seem to recall that the Constructa washers of that time came with a very detailed, easy to follow, well-illustrated washing guide on the detergent door. That got them plus points over the Siemens of that model which, tho' otherwise identical, only had a blank face for the door.
I have noticed that Miele seldom gets bad notes, their opinion of Whirlpool is about as bad as mine and B/S/H is never especially good or bad...
What bothered me for a long time was their refusal to test and evaluate brands sold by one of the biggest chains in Europe: Aldi. They pretended it was because they used OEMs (like the others don't???!!!) but finally gave in. Pure snobbishness.

 

[robm]

Hotpoint Aqualtis

Hi Steve

I'm quite surprised at that report. Especially the sound because it really is very quiet. I did a video (sorry can't work out how to add to youtube) which I showed to Darren and Jon when I went to Lincoln. They agreed how quiet it is.

Re wash results, I myself haven't had a problem although we did have a stain that didn't come out. Although I love high water levels maybe in the wash this isn't always a good thing. Todays detergents aren't really designed for high water levels and I think that these dilute the powder too much. I must remember to add more. Not good for economy I guess.

Below is a pic of the whites program (washing tea towels). The level on the shirts program is right up the door, bearing in mind the drum is tilted this machine uses gallons of water.

Rob

 

[khodabear]

Hmmm..it would seem that keen eyed consumer magazines could figure out how to provide a score for actual performance and convenience of use and a seperate score for clap trap like packaging.

Peter
Dreaming
in Denver