Urgent Washing Machine Advice

[docjames]

Ok, so the old top loading Washing Machine has died, not worth the cost of repairs. Anticipating that any advice from the pimply "sales-assistant" at Hardly Normal, Bad Guys, Lyer or DJ wont be worth much. So throwing it out to AFF community. Hoping to do some non-online shopping tomorrow, not afrraid to buy online from reputable site (and wait reasonable delivery time).


Want a front loader, large-ish (? 7, 7.5, 8kg). Fast cycle as an option preferred.

Any recommendations on brand / size / other? Not necessarily looking for cheapest, but best all-round balance of price and function.

Any recommendations on where to purchase / latest deals? Based in Brisbane (southside but will trek north of the river if required!).

Thanks in advance!


To keep it FF related, we'll say it's for washing clothes that havent been done by the valet laundry whilst away......

 

[casanovawa]

I went to buy a washing machine from a second hand place a few years ago and he was scathing about front loaders, had a whole load conked out and told me to go take my pick if i wanted one... I think the top loaders also usually allow a bigger load although the front loaders are more gentle on the clothes and use less water...

As well as advice here you might want to go to some product review website, Product Review Australia - your reviews on products and services on the Australian marketplace, and check out what they say... Maybe try and buy with any credit card that you have that might double the warranty just in case...

 

[docjames]

Would be buying on CC ideally (hello, FF points, and extended warranty a bonus too!).

mrsdoc wont be swayed on front loader - our current top loader is too hard on our clothes and she doenst like having to reach into it when she could put the basket on the floor in front and just pull the clothes out.

Knowing what's good for me, my official position is I want a front loader. (Silent position: dont really care......)

Great site thanks for the link. Choice is by rego only unfortunately.....

 

[Princess Fiona]

I have the best washer docjames
Bought from appliancesonline.com.au.
Electrolux 8KG time manager front loader. EWF1481
Brilliant wash, super quiet ( except when it plays a tune at the end to tell you it's finished). 5* Water and 4* Energy.
The website is great I thoroughly researched it. Much cheaper than Hardly Normal etc. ( saved about 25% from memory). Reasonable delivery charges, super quick and even take away the old washer.

 

[Fantic125]

We've had an LG front loader now for around 5 years after switching from top loaders previously.
It's been quite reliable apart from having to replace one of the circuit boards a few years ago (around $200 from memory) which had a chip fail.

I would have to say the clothes do come out looking less battered than they did with the top loader, and they do seem to use less water.

Two things to keep in mind;

• obviously you can't add or remove any items once the cycle has commenced (unlike a top loader),
• the cycle time can be a lot longer; the "standard" automatic cycle time on our machine is 1hr 55mins, and the shortest auto cycle is 1hr 28mins.

Due to the longer cycle time though you don't need to use hot water if you don't wish to.

We got ours from Hardly Normal, but find one with the features you want and shop around.
(Can't give you any info about the model or size though - the machines in ADL and I'm currently in Bangalore )

 

[Princess Fiona]

We've had an LG front loader now for around 5 years after switching from top loaders previously.
It's been quite reliable apart from having to replace one of the circuit boards a few years ago (around $200 from memory) which had a chip fail.

I would have to say the clothes do come out looking less battered than they did with the top loader, and they do seem to use less water.

Two things to keep in mind;

• obviously you can't add or remove any items once the cycle has commenced (unlike a top loader),
• the cycle time can be a lot longer; the "standard" automatic cycle time on our machine is 1hr 55mins, and the shortest auto cycle is 1hr 28mins.

Due to the longer cycle time though you don't need to use hot water if you don't wish to.

We got ours from Hardly Normal, but find one with the features you want and shop around.
(Can't give you any info about the model or size though - the machines in ADL and I'm currently in Bangalore )

You can pause my washer and open it when you want, obviously the sooner you do this after the wash has started the better

 

[Homer]

I know it's a "big brand" but I've tried the other top-of-the-line models and now believe Miele is actually the market leader for a good reason.

 

[docjames]

Wow, that's a great site, and will be so much easier than trawling around the disaster that is the previously mentioned retail ripoffs.

Thanks PrincessFiona for that site.

Thanks Fanatic125 - enjoy Bangalore! Yeah, we were aware of the longer wash times, mrsdoc wants me to find one with a short cycle.

PrincessFiona - any idea how long yours takes to complete a standard cycle?

Homer - yes, that's been near the top of the list as we know others who have them that like them.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Usually wash everything on synthetics it is 1hr 30 mins, also has a 14 minute freshen up cycle which is great for light wash ( and does actually clean on this).

 

[iqis60]

Doc, my method for choosing a new piece of white goods is as follows-

1) Open up a webpage for Choice, another one for the government energy rating site Energy Rating Website and a third with appliances online.
2) After deciding on size, select the top five or so for efficiency from the energy ratings site
3) Weed out the really expensive options by checking appliances online for basic prices.
4) With what is left, I check Choice to compare the options based on the reviews. Where there aren't reviews in choice go looking for other reviews.

I follow this method as I'm a person for whom water/energy efficiency is my highest priority. I will choose the second, third or fourth most efficient option if the first one gets trashed in reviews, but I like to reward efforts to get the most efficient products.


PM me if you want a temporary login to choice.

 

[Moopere]

I know it's a "big brand" but I've tried the other top-of-the-line models and now believe Miele is actually the market leader for a good reason.

Yep, this is my belief now as well. After many years of random choices I've settled on Miele for the washer, dryer and dishwasher ... all reliable and hard working. 10 years+, still going.

 

[Greggsy]

We have an LG WD12020D front loader. It is very good and uses a quarter of the water the previous "tank drainer" top loader that we used to have. The wash times were a concern to us as well, so this model has a 30 minute quick wash feature that cleans most of our loads pretty well. It also plays a tune at the end of a cycle, much to my wife's amusement.[h=1][/h]

 

[munitalP]

We have had a couple of machines over the years (17 years of marriage in fact) and both (mrs m) agree that the Fisher & Paykel machine we have is the best we have had.

Our reason for purchase was after searching the interwebs for info - I wanted reliability, don't care about water usage, wanted quality wash, ease of use finally price (it was mid range).

The one key factor I was unaware of, the F&P is locally (NZ I think) built, so spares are easily provided / sourced if you ever need them. The product came with a 5 year warranty as well but that may have been a store warranty rather than the manufacturer - can't remember. I can say though, we have had 5 years trouble free use.

Home & Kitchen Appliances - Fisher & Paykel Appliances - Australia

 

[nonpop]

Bought from appliancesonline.com.au.
.

+1 to this.
Regardless of brand, we used this company about 3 months back and found them to be excellent. Delivery, installation and took the old one away all included in the price which the traditional retailers where charging extra for. This was the first time I've bought a white good online and was very cautious. But all went well.

P.S I have no financial interest in this company. Just had a good experience.

 

[docjames]

Thanks all, we have some other shopping to do this weekend so will (on a limted basis) trawl the stores and see what's around price wise (but probably end up purchasing online from the recommended website!).

 

[QF029]

Very happy with my Miele combo although they're not cheap. Miele also control the retailer pricing (not sure how they're allowed to do this) so shopping around generally doesn't help with them.

 

[DeKa]

Another +1 to Appliances Online. I bought some small appliances from them this week and they were delivered next day, for far less than anywhere else.

Very happy with my Miele combo although they're not cheap. Miele also control the retailer pricing (not sure how they're allowed to do this) so shopping around generally doesn't help with them.

Miele run an agency model for large appliances - you buy from Miele, and the shop gets paid a fee or commission later. You will notice when you finalise the transaction, the sales person will bring out a special order book, and write your contact and delivery details, plus credit card details on it (if you pay by credit card). You are then charged by Miele, not DJs, Harvey Norman etc.

 

[admin]

My 14 year old GE washing machine also died last month, and was advised that it wasn't worth repairing again. Given that shopping for white goods is not something I enjoy (actually its more like something I resent), I usually like to minimise the pain and get it over with quickly.

Went to my nearest "The Good Guys" and got a Bosh 6.5kg Front Loader. The criteria I used was that it was a brand name, did have good reviews and is a very popular item. Happy with the purchase, but then I was with my old machine too: a washing machine is a washing machine, after-all.

Incidentally I paid $665 including delivery, installation and removal of old machine. I just had a look at 6.5kg Front Load Bosch Washing Machine WAE20262AU | Appliances Online, and see that it is more expensive from them: shopping online is not always the cheapest!!

 

[v8Statesman]

I know it's a "big brand" but I've tried the other top-of-the-line models and now believe Miele is actually the market leader for a good reason.

I have one too. Scary price tag. But the sales guy told me one thing that sold me. They go in dry, they come out dry.


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[v8Statesman]

shopping online is not always the cheapest!!

....but can be done in your underwear ;-)



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