Whirlpool DUET "SPORT" vs orig DUET

[gregm]

There is a new Whirlpool "DUET-SPORT" W&D pair out in Lowe's. They or the washer has a better suspension ? volume seems a tad smaller but not significantly. Are they better than the already made and marketed "duets" ........... ???

 

[maytagbear]

I've been

wondering about the Duet "sport" meself!

I mean, when adjectives are applied to laundry appliances, "sport" is not one I'd think of, right off.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[knitwits1975]

One key difference is that the Duet is German made and the Duet Sport is made in Mexico. I'm guessing the Duet is probably made by a German manufacturer and rebadged as Whirlpool, Kenmore, or Kitchenaid. On the other hand, the Sport is probably made by Whirlpool's own devices except for the outsourcing of labor (this sickens me) to Mexico for a less expensive product. The Duet Sport is probably more of an experimental item. Unfortunately, Maytag pulled a similar stunt in the 1990's when they introduced their "Performa" line. As far as I'm concerned, this was the beginning of the end for Maytag because while the Maytag propers were still sold, the Performa line was being peddled as a mechanically similar machine, but with cheaper, cheesier parts. This would not have been so bad except after a while, the whole Maytag line was built like a "Performa". While I am hoping that Whirlpool will not follow suit by doing things like dunking the German Duet altogether, I'm fearing the worst.

 

[gregm]

thanks

I think I will stick with the "german" made, after all they make great cars too (wink)

 

[knitwits1975]

Actually, I'm not saying the Duet Sport is necessarily the beginning of the end for Whirlpool. Not trying to display a "doom on you" attitude about them. But if people begin shopping by price, sure enough, the company will have to cut corners and before long, will end up getting hurt in the end. It just seems like it's usually not a good idea IMHO for a company to (after marketing a high end product that sells like hotcakes) to then market a comparable cheaper product. But I'm not the one in charge. It's probably also been very difficult for venues other than Costco to market the Duets since they sell them for less and the warranty is doubled. The sport may be a really good machine though. This gives other retailers a fighting chance at selling a Whirlpool front loader. By the way, I happen to like German cars. My dream car is a Mercedes-Benz E class. Of course, E would stand for empty since after making the payments, I would not be able to feed it. But a trusty Volkswagen would be nice.

 

[foraloysius]

That the Duet is made in Germany doesn't necessarily mean that it is the better machine. The Duet is built by Bauknecht and Bauknecht is Germany's least reliable brand.

 

[gregm]

interesting Louis

interesting point Louis!! however the duets have been around the longest and have the best "service" record here in the US if memory serves me right ? I like LG's but don't want to go there because there service sucks or needs major work/training, etc.

 

[tomturbomatic]

The Duet Sports have a horizontal tub and in watching the one in the shop, it does not have nearly the issues with distribution and balancing that the full size Duets do. Plus it has a newer suspension system that makes it better for upstairs installation on wooden floors. I believe that the continuing increase of transportation costs as well as the dollar's disadvantage against the Euro makes the Mexican Duet Sport a better marketing choice for the long range even if it is not particularly attractive in my opinion. It is a shame that the frontloaders owe so much to foreign manufacturers, but they were the ones expanding the technology while domestic washer makers, with the exception of Westinghouse and its various changes in ownership, kept on offering the tried and true until Maytag thought that they had invented the front loader with the Neptune.

 

[tumbler]

Went with German Duet

I just put myself through a rather expensive discovery process; in replacing my prematurely-failed "Frigimore" (bought in '99 or '00, bad tub bearings) I thougt, without researching, that "Maytag has always been good, so they must still be." I bought a Neptune 6700, and a 9700 dryer. Soon found out that lots of people had problems w/the new Neptunes, and CU frequency-of-repair rating was among the worst. It's now in my garage w/an ad in the paper. After much more thorough research, I bought a Whirlpool Duet HT from Sears. Yes, it sometimes takes time to balance the load for spin-seems a little too sensitive to slight unbalance, but otherwise I'm very impressed. Top rated by CU, including repair record. The "lonely" Maytag man is coming over tomorrow re. the dryer, which gives out a rhythmic thumping noise-an imperfection in the drum where it rides on the rollers. I can't imagine them fixing it other than giving me a new drum, or a new dryer. Can't wait to see, but i didn't spend $900 to listen to that racket. Otherwise seems like a competent product.

 

[SactoTeddyBear]

Re: Tumbler:

See my reply on Thread #6937, about my opinion of what you should do and what I would do.

Peace, Good Luck and Happy WP Laundry Days, Steve
SactoTeddyBear...

 

[kenmorepeter5ab]

Department Store

I'm deaf...my name is Peter, I'm best friend.

It's also at P.C. Richards & Son and Sears about new WP "Sport" Duet.

- Peter (kenmorepeter5ab)

 

[tumbler]

Duet dryer

Sure enough-the Maytag man said that the dryer drum defect is on all of the high-end Neptune dryers. I told Home Depot that the only things I want to spend $1000 on and hear all over the house are either a stereo or one of my trombones-NOT a laundry appliance! They took it back, and I bought a Duet dryer. Great machine!

 

[tumbler]

Duet Sport

The regular (German) Duets are 3.8 cu.ft. capacity, about 20 lb. of laundry. The "Sport" model is 3.3 cu. ft., about 15 lbs. capacity.