Everyone Is Running They...... So Am Joining In The Fray
One, Miele service and or part information *can* be found on the Internet if one knows how to search and where. I have them, not to mention a huge service book of Miele kitchen appliances (mainly ovens, cooktops etc...).
Miele tends to keep such information close to it's vest, at least as far as North American market is concerned for several reasons. One, the parts aren't available on these shores except from Miele. So it's not exactly clear what one would do with the information anyway. For those whom wish DIY, Miele will sell,ship and give information over the telephone and or via email/fax on how to do the repairs.
Regarding sales of various units, including "Little Giants".
To the best of my knowledge Miele does not *give* display units away to dealers, they have to purhase them, and as with everything else the stuff ain't cheap. If you think the market for "rinky dink" washers that cost *thousands)is small, try selling commercial machines that require 220v power (no and ifs or buts), and cost several thousands of dollars. In short your average Miele dealer isn't going to bother to even know about such things much less sell them. According to Miele persons I've spoken with the few USA domestic customers have "Little Giants" installed in domestic settings. Even then those sales were mainly pre-real estate crash when everyone was building "MacMansions" and or wanted commercial laundry appliances, perhaps for a very wealthy family with lots of children and or fine linens.
If dealers purchase Miele appliances for display, they are stuck with them until they sell, or Miele agrees to allow a price reduction. On rare cases Miele will take the units back, but even then nothing is sent back to Germany. Miele USA will allow certain employees to "bid" or otherwise purchase such units, or they may sit around until corporate finds a use for them.
Regarding Capacity:
My older Miele is rated for 11lbs and holds just that. Many newer front loaders both 24" and 27" may state they hold more, but if you read the owner's manual one is advised to load the washer 3/4's or less. My Miele as with others of it's class was built and can wash 11lbs of wash every day up to it's duty cycle limit for years without problems.
Am also here to tell you the Miele holds more, much more than the small 24" Whirlpool toploading portable I nabbed last year.
Miele units not matter what they are will always cost more because of shipping, taxes, duties and so forth. Miele has not gone the route of Bosch and build an NA plant, nor does it seem likely to go that route. There is no free lunch when it comes to appliances. You can either build quality that will cost, or pound out units for the masses that cost little.
As for purchasing a commercial front loader for home use. Well suppose one could do that, but not all dealers can or will sell to domestic end users. They also may not offer service or even warranty coverage under those situations. You can purchase whatever you want from fleaPay or elsewhere, but if something goes south, you could be on your own.
There is also the fact that until one gets into *very* expensive commercial units, cycles are limited and often difficult to change, or at least not as easy as simply pressing a button or turning a knob.
Miele makes all manner and sort of washers and dryers that never will see this side of the Atlantic. Much of it having to do with us being one of the few places left on earth relying on mainly 120v power for domestic use. Please do not go on about how many homes have "dryer outlets" and so froth. Obviously this was not the case for Miele never sold enough 220v powered units to make a major stake in here, and now only sells 120v units. Indeed while most all commercial units from the smallest to largest rely upon 220v power even without heaters, aside from perhaps a few Asko and maybe Bosch models *all* domestic front loaders sold here run on 120v.
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