Products To Consider

I have often posted about rebates, which can be enormous. Have a look at a few examples...

Frigidaire FDB2433 - This is Frigidaire's best selling stainless dishwasher, and it is $299 after $250 in rebates. Not bad for an integrated dishwasher.

Bosch SHE43P25 - This is the best selling Bosch dishwasher. It is all stainless, quiet and water saving. It is $649 after $150 in rebates.

Frigidaire FAFS4272 - The new Frigidaire washer is bigger, uses less water and has a steam option. It is $449 after $300 in rebates.

Bosch WFVC4400 - This is a great washer. It is big, water and energy efficient. It is $569 after $200 in rebates.

It must be end of the year, and companies have quotas to fill...

Do This NOT That

Let's say you cannot vent your dryer. You live in a condo in Boston or any other city. For LEED and PassiveHouse certification, its pretty common. Now you have really two options. Either you buy a washer with a separate condenser dryer (turns steam into water) or a washer and dryer combination in one unit. My strong recommendation:

Do this: Bosch washer and condensor dryer

Not that: Any combination washer and dryer

Why: First the dryer in a combo is 110v, so it is notoriously slow. Secondly the rate of repair is far better with a condenser.

Big Tip:

If you have purchased a condenser set, run a water line from the dryer to the drain in the washer. The water will then be drained from the dryer therough the washer, so it does not have to be emptied (my drivers taught me that).

Meet The New Boss (Tomorrow)

Had a great blog set for today...I was posting the new introductions on appliances from an industry show held at Foxwoods yesterday, but I forgot the pictures. So now the post is about: How to buy appliances now:


Some of this is a review

1. Look for rebates: Its still number one. Sears, Lowes, Home Depot and every appliance store has some kind of rebate offer. Example: Viking and Thermador pro ranges have similar specs, but Thermador is also adding a dishwasher for free with purchase...advantage Thermador.

2. Have a Bottom Line Mentality: 30% off $1,000 is still more expensive than $650. As consumers, we pay with dollars not discounts. The price at the bottom of the invoice is the only relevant item

3. Free is...?: Free Delivery is a great idea, unless there is a charge of $30 for removal, another $60 to walk up two flights of stairs and $25 for a range cord(which costs $3). Ask these questions before you buy

4. Buy what you use, will use and more importantly understand: The over the range GE Advantium is a great piece cooking at 4-8 faster than a regular range. If you use just the microwave only feature, you have overspent by $400-500...same with convection or any other step up feature.

5. Be Social: Angies List is worth the subscription, some free resources like Yelp and Citysearch will have reviews. Quick Note: There are issues with every store...Look at the responses from the stores to the problems as an indicator of your future experience...Also, ask friends, neighbors and tradespeople where they shop

6. Selection is good: Meaning you want to see it. Do not be pushed into store brands without a reason as salespeople typically are paid a higher commission for selling a store brand

7: Service: Establish who will fix it BEFORE you buy. Appliances are not cars. Every major car dealership has service, not every appliance store does the same. You will need service on a new product 15-18% of the time, so prepare beforehand

8. Walk: There are plenty of stores who want your business if someone is being unreasonable or unaccommodating(or both)

Dryers

We spend a ton of time explaining the vast difference between EnergyStar front load washers and the conventional top loaders. In the long term, the cost of operation of a top load is way too expensive...

Dryers are the same story just with different terminology. Couple of pointers on buying the right unit:

1. Dont worry about size. The smallest dryer is larger than the biggest washer.

2. Look for a moisture sensor: Moisture sensor will shut the heat when it senses a level of moisture in your clothes. Total win/win. Clothes are not shrunk and energy is not wasted.

3. Don't buy on cycles: It's just a timer anyway. Cycles are writing next to the knob. Total waste of your dough if you are buying a machine only on this basis.



For no extra charge, following are a few operating tips:

1. Do multiple loads at once...Dryer is already hot, and there is no energy wasted.

2. Clean the lint filter often...Dryer operates more efficiently.

3. If you do not feel like ironing (I actually like ironing), throw the wrinkled garment into the dryer on an air fluff cycle.

Mistakes To Avoid...Part 2

24 inch washers are versatile...They fit in small spaces, under a counter and can be stacked. There are a bunch; Bosch, Miele, Asko, Maytag and Whirlpool.





But don't run a gas line. They are exclusively electric...(A friend of mine made that error)

Why My Ipod Still Works

My Ipod...faithful companion on every run and long walk. It was actually a present from my sisters, and has a wide spectrum of music from Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Old Thin Lizzy, Lady Gaga, U2, Cage The Elephant among others.

As you know, I was away for a couple of weeks, so I threw everything into my washer with two capfuls of detergent and fabric softener (to prevent wrinkles during the spin, try it). Everything in this case includes my Ipod...

So would it work. Answer is yes. Simply, I have a front load Miele washer. So it wasn't submerged under 42 gallons of water like a regular top loader..only barely damp with 10 gallons.





Brief review: Front load versus top load conventional: 25-30 less gallons per use, 1/2 to 1/3 the energy and 60% more capacity on average.

Wall Ovens...Again

Let's end the wall oven quandry...

Wall ovens like most appliances fit cabinet specifications. New construction typically fits a 30 inch cabinet, and older sizes can be 27 or even 24 inch.

In 1975ish, convection became the new feature in high end cooking. Convection as you know is fan forced heat for more even cooking. 35 years later, there hasn't been much in the way of significant inprovement from the original design.

With this much easier task at hand, I would consider the following:

Super Premium:

Wolf and Miele - Wolf has two convection fans and a ton of cooking modes for people who want to cook. Miele has the best controls, which eliminate the guesswork out of almost any recipe.








Premium:

Thermador and Electrolux - Both have good controls as their value proposition. Thermador has the best rebate program (yes a free dishwasher would help sway me as a consumer)








Sleeper:

Bosch - I dont understand the marketing, but their products are attractive, functional and a great value.

JennAir/Electrolux

When you read this it will be Monday, where I am now will be Tuesday, but I am writing this on a Sunday. Now for more confusion, lets look at the integrated Electrolux and JennAir...

The JennAir is $1149, and the Electrolux is $699.









This is curious, because it is the same dishwasher. JennAir sells them to Electrolux, but then they can't move them at $1299 and close them out at $699.

Do I like this dishwasher at $1299, heck no, at $699 however, for a fully featured integrated dishwasher...its a pretty good price.

Better Late Than Never?

So Frigidaire has a new stainless steel dishwasher with stainless on the inside. Consumers don't buy dishwashers over $500 without stainless on the inside, and Frigidaire learned this the hard way. For years, they concentrated on plastic tanks (ok to $399) with tons of features at $599. Invariably, they would rebate the product to $450 somewhere...

But that was then, Let's look at the "new" Frigidaire...








Not bad, decent features.....but how does it compare to the best seller?

Bosch





Frigidaire has more features and is $40 cheaper, but Bosch will heat the water hotter and is quieter. Once again, I would lean to the Bosch piece, but Frigidaire will package this as part of the rebate program to enhance sales.

How To Buy Appliances..Part 7

This is really not all that difficult...Its easy if you know what you want. Much harder when you have no idea. How about a novel idea? Lets stay under your budget, pick desirable items and as an added bonus, not lose your mind.

1. Establish a budget. You will stick to it.

2. What pieces do you really want. Is it a SubZero, stainless steel appliances, slide in range?

3. Rebates. I hate to say it, but $500 in rebates would sway my loyalties between similar items.

So lets say you have no idea:

4. Start at the range. There are more tough choices than any other product.





5. Refrigerator next, once again the most difficult dimensionally.





6. Dishwasher and over the range microwave should match the other two pieces.









If you stay within the same brand, there are numerous budget saving rebates. I am not partial to side by sides, but this Bosch package has a whopping $1350 in rebates...I can learn to love it for that type of money.

The End Of The Handshake Agreement

An unique agreement was forged in the 1920s. The founders of Whirlpool and the managers of Sears forged an almost 100 year alliance. Whirlpool would supply the washers and dryers marketed under the Kenmore name. As legend has it, this deal was first struck with a handshake (it was years before the class action lawsuit.)

This just ended...Now the winner of the contract was LG. Sears marketing(I suspect) will revolve around technology and steam. The machines will start looking like this:





Instead of this.





Now I have my opinions of LG, but for consumers like yourself, it should be interesting. Whirlpool has to keep the factories running without Sears' help. This can only mean one action in the very near future: Big time price drop.

I am a Bosch guy for now, because they are just dumping their product (previous post), but Whirlpool can really regain share by being similarly aggressive.

My Most Interesting Post

It isn't all champagne and caviar being the CEO. Sometimes the best intentions dont quite work...So now you are now me(minus the issues)...What would you do? Before you read the complaint a couple of points

1. Unit is out of warranty. There is very little recourse from the manufacturer

2. We dont push warranties. Our sales percentages are less than 8%.

3. Average length of life is just that. For every 20 year old product, there is a few that do not

Winning solution receives a $25 gift card...Here goes

Dear Mr. Sheinkopf,

I purchased a stackable washer and dryer, a stove and a refrigerator on September 14, 2005 and like all of the people who commented on your blog I was very happy with the sales and delivery process. The hinge on the stove broke and was replaced while under warranty and is already not working properly again, but my main complaint is with the refrigerator. It is only three and a half years old and the "mother board" is broken according to your service man. I had to pay $99.00 to find that out and your customer service department wanted to send the serviceman back for another $280.00 or more.

I lost about $300.00 in food and I don't believe the life of a refrigerator should be three and a half years old. Apparently the craftsmanship is worthless and that is the reason you all push extended warranties. You advertise that you stand behind the products you sell but you don't mention the additional fees. I spoke with GE and they at least will send me the part for a fee but I would like my $99.00 refunded, I don't know why the refrigerator I purchased would have a mother board nor was I told that it did or that there were other options. A few months after this purchase my 20 year old extra refrigerator died and I purchased an inexpensive one from Sears which still runs perfectly and much colder than the GE ever did.

My purchases may be small in your eyes but replacing appliances is an investment for us
and we expect they will last at least 10 to 15 years. I will wait to for your response.

KitchenAid

KitchenAid dishwashers were originally manufactured by Hobart a commercial manufactured. KitchenAid was always the best product back in the day...Whirlpool acquired the line in 1988 and relaunched as a full line product.

Unfortunately, Whirlpool are factory people, not marketing people and KitchenAid became commoditized...Then the Europeans like Bosch started grabbing share based on quietness, metal tanks and overall fit and finish

Its funny how a brand can lose its appeal by doing nothing. In the late 1990s, KitchenAid relaunched the brand again with a metal tank and guess what quieter models. I really like this dishwasher as it also has more features and a evisserator instead of a filter like Bosch

Here is a funny (to me) stat.

KitchenAid dishwasher 1986 $599...





KitchenAid dishwasher 2009 $399 after rebate...

How To Buy Appliances(Again)

Short post today...I have been thinking about this a bunch over the last 2 weeks. I have become more mercenary over the past year or so. How I would buy appliances now is a bit different than years past

My plan:

1. Find a bunch of suitable products and brands..like Bosch versus KitchenAid, Frigidaire v GE, Maytag, etc..So you would be buying a self cleaning gas range, then deciding on the brand

2. Find the best value including rebates..Rebates are absoutely huge. Do I like a Bosch dishwasher better than a KitchenAid..yes. Would I like the Kitchen better if it was $200 cheaper with rebates..defintely

3. Find a good service provider or be prepared for torment...Appliance service is bleak at best. Spending the ncessary time discovering who are the best service providers

4. Buy on recommendations, reputation, value and price

New Math

Lets look at this Bosch washer and dryer. It sold well 2 years ago at $1749 and why not? It is incredibly water efficient, quiet and has great capacity. Of course because there is a recession and fewer of you, it now has $400 in rebates.





Of course, you want pedestals...Why should you bend? There is an extra $400 in rebates if you "buy" the peds or $800 total.

A Good Top Loader

Ah, the odious top loader...only a product like a Hummer or Dodge Durango wastes more resources that a $399 top load washer, and this workhorse refuses to die. This virtually guarantees years of wasting money to the tune of $200 per year.

This new GE is different. Its almost like a front load machine with 4.1 cubic foot capacity and only uses 16-24 gallons per wash.

Not bad for $400...

How To Buy Appliances

670 plus posts and finally I am on point:


1. Rebates: Its all about rebates these days. in the old days, it was Magic Chef who started it, Frigidaire expanded and now brands like GE, Bosch and KitchenAid have rolled out programs. Rebates can save you almost 1/3 the purchase price. Watch the web, ask a trusted salesperson and review manufacturers websites...They change monthly

2. OEMs: Fancy term for the same product labelled several times. KitchenAid, Amana, Maytag, Whirlpool and JennAir have the same refrigerator. Buy the least expensive. In laundry, this could save $200-300

3. Features: What do you really need? I love the top of the line cooking products with power burners, convection and second oven, but only if the client will use it. The difference between a KitchenAid dishwasher at $600 and $1300...buttons, cycles...aka features

4. Service: Hate to say it, but the chances of a product being repaired by the manufacturer is remote at best. Find the retailer or independent who can fix increasingly intricate products

5. Social: In the old days, you would ask your friends and peers about a prospective company. Now you can check Yelp, Angieslist and CutySearch for hundreds of reviews

Do Something Different

Appliances are like math. They follow predesignated spaces based on cabinetry. A refrigerator, for example, fits a 30, 33 or 36 inch cabinet. Stoves are 30 inch and dushwashers are 24.

Lighting can be conceivably anything. Larger islands and eclectic furnishings allow for customization. In other words, your place can look unique.


With new lights from Vermont, China and Poland, you can look pretty unique...

$299 for a Decent (But Not The Best Dishwasher)

Lets look at a Frigidaire dishwasher...





The Frigidaire has every possible cycle and an attractive price of $449 as its claim to fame. The racks, plastic tank and loadability could be better, but I would still rate it a solid 6.2 out of 10. Definitely worth the money, but I still like Bosch and KitchenAid better.

Starting April 1, however, this unit is $299 after $150 in rebates(33% off)...little different story.

Depth Charge

You are about to buy a new set of laundry...Probably place it in a closet upstairs. Thats smart. Checked for vibration, etc. Checked the dimensions as well...Very smart.

You have it covered except for one small, yet crucial detail....the duct. If you are turning the vent, you need to add 5 inches in depth.

There are two solutions to your issue if you now find yourself needing more depth.

Bosch condensation requires no ducting as it turns steam into water which is then drained through washer.





Electrolux has a great solution: They notched the back, so it is actually just 31 inches.