Black Friday: Washers & Dryers

Washers & Dryers
Learn how to choose a washer and a dryer. Then read our washer and dryer Ratings (available to subscribers) to find models that are right for you.

Samsung 3.8-cu.-ft..High-Efficiency Washer, $1,398, Lowe’s
Samsung 7.3-cu.-ft. Super Capacity Electric Dryer, $998, Lowe’s
Whirlpool 4.0-cu.-ft. Duet High-Efficiency Washer, $998 , Lowe’s
Whirlpool 7.0-cu.-ft. Super Capacity Electric Dryer, $898, Lowe’s

Comments

[Lois Brewster]

I am interested in a new washer & dryer. I have not been able to find any information on the new "steam" laundry machines. Does this feature work? In the ratings, there is no mention of this feature.

[ginatwo]

My dryer stopped heating the day before Thanksgiving. since it is about 25 years old, and Sears advertised 20% off on Saturday from 7 am till noon, I thought I would just go get one of the CR best buy dryers, pick it up and take it home. Little did I suspect this would be a problem!

First, Sears told me the Consumer Reports printout was wrong, there were no such numbers and never had been. I found on the floor a 7.5 cu. ft. dryer that was very similar to the CR best buy. Sears didn't have it in stock. Their computer said it would be in later that Saturday, but the clerks (by this time I had four clerks at the computer) said the computers were not working correctly. After several tries, they got a confirmation that such a dryer would be arriving at the store on the following Wednesday. Unfortunately, they would not be able to deliver it to my home until the Tuesday after that, because their delivery service only delivers in my area once a week, and the machine would arrive at the store after they had already made their weekly rounds.

After over an hour in the store with four clerks, the only option i had was to pay for a different machine than the CR Best Buy rated one, at the 20% off rate, then hope that it arrived in 10 days.

In addition to rating appliances, perhaps CU should also rate the sales and services part of appliance sales departments.

[Steve]

I was planning to purchase a front loading washer dryer from Sears, but discovered that most of the front loaders out there (including from Frigidare and GE as well have a known design flaw. They use aluminum brackets with a stainless steel drum, which results in serious corrosion of the brackets. These companies will not sell the brackets alone and require the entire drum to be purchased at a steep price (more than the sale price of the whole washer on Black Friday). Expected life seems to be 5 - 7 years. So now I am looking for a top loading washer - Sears may be having a sale of 28% off on Black friday on these... uncertain as of today. I have amy Kenmore front loader (made by Frigidare) for 7 years and I realize it may have very little life left. I was looking for another set for a rental.

For info on the design flaw see: http://www.appliancejournal.com/appliance-repair-help/washer-repair/why-kenmore-front-load-washers-fail-271/