Whirlpool - Kenmore = Amana

[mrb627]

I heard in my travels this past weekend that Whirlpool had plans to market the Kenmore featured machines under the Amana name. It was also stated that this was put on hold as Sears is having issues with the LG machines and they might be switching back to Whirlpool by the end of 2010.

( I'm not surprised )

Malcolm

 

[andrewinorlando]

Well surprise, surprise. Issues with LG service and supply?? Why can't LG get this right? They make some pretty nifty products, yet when you talk to merchants who sell them, they always relate what a nightmare LG service and supply is to deal with. One of the predominant retail outlets here in Orlando, which has been around for over 50 years, stopped selling LG because they never knew what they were going to get on their trucks. Mismatched sets, too many dryers, too many washers, wrong models from what they had ordered, wrong colors, etc. So, they stopped carring LG products altogether. Funny thing is that Orlando has a number of LG service outlets that do a fairly competent job servicing the stuff, yet the retailers can't get what they order when they need it. Makes a lot of sense to me!

http://i

 

[lebron]

Your link is faulty,

 

[mrb627]

Further Information

The information I received on the subject indicated that Sears squeezed LG into making a machine with all these fancy features for next to nothing price. There is concern on Sears' part that LG purposely coded a bug in the programming module causing a world of service issues for Sears. Oddly, the LG version of the same machine doesn't exhibit the same issue that the Kenmore does. I am not exactly sure what the issue is, but I believe it relates to the wash motion technology.

 

[frigilux]

I also found this surprising: When Kenmore's Duets debuted new features, they weren't allowed to be used for the Whirlpool brand for a contracted amount of time (usually around a year).

I love my LG dishwasher, and check their website regularly. I was planning to buy my next washer/dryer from the local LG dealer when the time comes.

I was quite startled to find they're already marketing the 6-motion washer under the LG name!

Maybe the LG/Sears honeymoon is already over? LG's loss. Sears still sells a lot of appliances.

 

[coldspot66]

LG dishwashers seem to have the most repairs, according to CU.

 

[joe_in_philly]

Is this the issue mentioned below the one you are referring to mrb627, or something else? If so, can you elaborate? I hope that Sears switches back to Whirlpool sourced FL washers - I love my 7 year old HE3t!

January 26, 2010
With software problem fixed, Kenmore 4027 and LG WM2050CW front-loaders now earn a CR Best Buy

The Kenmore 4027 is now a CR Best Buy.

During our testing of the new Kenmore 4027 and LG WM2050CW front-loaders, both made by LG, our technicians discovered that with certain settings the rinse cycles on some tested models didn't work properly.

When we published the ratings for the Kenmore 4027 (shown), Sears, which sells this model, contacted LG Electronics USA about its fair washing score in our tests. LG determined that a software glitch caused both a skipped rinse cycle and lackluster washing performance. Sears and LG say the software has been reprogrammed on all the units in their warehouses and so far have updated the software on half of the models in use. The software update added about 10 minutes to the entire normal wash cycle we use for testing. (Read "Sears Acts to Correct Software Problem on Some Kenmore Front-Loaders" and "Déjà Vu All Over Again: LG WM2050CW Front-Loader Appears to Have Similar Software Glitch as the Kenmore 4027" for more details on this software problem.)

During our tests of the updated front-loaders, we found that the rinse cycles now work properly. The Kenmore 4027, $800, excelled in most areas of this latest round of testing, including washing, and is now our top-rated front-loader and a CR Best Buy. The LG WM2050CW, $700, was very good at washing and excelled in most other tests this time around, earning an excellent overall score and also a CR Best Buy.

If you own a Kenmore 4027 or an LG WM2050CW (or a Kenmore 4044, Kenmore Elite 4051, Kenmore Elite 4219, or one of several other related Kenmore models), be on the lookout for a letter from Sears or LG to arrange for a free service call. To find out whether you own an affected model, call 800-733-2299 (Kenmore) or 800-243-0000 or 888-542-2623 in Canada (LG).

 

[mrb627]

Rinse Bug

Joe,

That may very well be the issue, but I don't have any further detail than what I already reported. Perhaps with this said, Whirlpool will advance the launch of the Amana-mores.

Malcolm