Adulthood: Not always what it is cracked up to be.
Our 4 year old, $600 dryer needed a new $300 main computer board. AGAIN!
(First time was under warranty so we didn't pay for it.)
We would have just had it fixed, but we didn't trust that it would not happen again in 6 months and we would be out the full cost of the dryer. So we decided to just sell it and get a new dumb one. One that more closely resembled a tank.
Here is my rant: Does everyone else not remember that our parents had the SAME washer and dryer the WHOLE TIME they were growing up? These things used to last 20 years. Now you are lucky to get 5 years.
I don't need 50 choices on how to dry my clothes. I don't need my dryer to steam my clothes. (Seriously. What exactly am I doing in my clothes that they need to be fumigated?) In short, don't need a dryer smarter than I am.
I need a machine to blow hot air and spin.
No computers. No triple sensors. No flux capacitor (ok, that I made up).
But honestly.
Hot Air + Spin = dry clothes - $300 repair.
So, Franca and I did some post-nap scouting yesterday. We spotted a very alluring $699 Maytag 2000 series fancy-schmancy one at Sears for $399. Oh the lure of the deal.... But no. Stay focused. Tank. I need a tank. None of the other 3 places we tried had much either on clearance or of the tank variety. Bummer.
Franca and I convinced Marc to accompany us today back to Sears where we spotted a very basic tank. The Kenmore 6002 on clearance for $396. It's exact twin sat three feet away marked $459 on sale from $528. Apparently, someone had opened the wrong box and now they had two of these on the floor, so they put one on clearance. Hmmm, not having to dispose of a box and save $63? SOLD!
I'm feeling pretty good about this new pairing. The previous set looked like brother and sister and now there is a little exotic laundry romance happening down there. Hee hee.
I was going to add that the new dryer reminds me of my childhood, but that just felt weird after that last sentence up there.
Anyway, now I'm headed down to dry the 4 mattress pads and 4 sheets for Franca's crib. (Does anyone else's kid go through spurts of peeing through the already-up-a-size special nighttime diapers? Geez! At least she's hydrated I guess.)
We were going to replace our washer and dryer recently when our washer started getting cranky (and I had grand designs of getting those fancy schmancy front loader doohickies that you could STACK if you wanted to), but after reading the reviews and talking to people, I decided to stick with my 10 year old white non-fancy Maytags. And they'll probably both break tomorrow now that I've said that.
ReplyDeleteYou made a good choice. We have the Maytag Bravos (fancy) and both the washer and dryer suck. Suckity suck.
ReplyDeleteWe've had good luck so far with our Kenmore's, but of course now that I've said that and ran three loads of wash today it will probably explode. Damnit.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem like EVERYTHING breaks now. Our fridge is BARELY a year old and we paid $1300 for a piece of shit that keeps leaking water that Maytag won't fix. Bastards.
Yeah I had a fancy schmancy front-loading washer and it kicked the dust the same month I paid it off (< 2yrs old). lovely. We went with a basic top loader this time. No electronics issues; the fluids lubricating ball bearing were leaking, and replacing that part of the unit was ~ same as the cost of the machine. Meanwhile my mom uses the same set that she and my dad bought 30 yrs ago... I know extended warranties are supposed to be a rip-off, but I figure it means for the extra $60, my <$400 machine will last three years and anything else is a bonus ($150/year). With the new breakdown rates, I really can't justify the fancy-schmancy machines that cost $800 -1200/ea - will they last 6 - 8 years?
ReplyDeleteWhen I moved into my house 14+ years ago, I went to Sears Outlet (Scratch & Dent) & bought a non-fancy washer & dryer (tanks). Last year my washer quit spinning & emptying water. Thanks to google, I figured out what the problem was & after a quick search on ebay & $9.29 later, the part was ordered & I fixed it myself. That's the total on what I've spent on them over the years. They are both still going strong. (Though like others mentioned, I've probably just jinxed myself) Everyone I know that has a fancy-schmancy set has had problems - very expensive problems! Let's face it, when have water & electronics ever played nice together. I think purchasing the tank was a very smart decision!
ReplyDeleteI have the same washer/dryer that you have/had. I just hope your's was cursed because I want mine to keep working. And, my parents have had the same washer/dryer set for 30 years and repaired it when it broke each time. My mother is afraid to replace it because no replacement could last 30 years.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a dryer, thank god, so I have one less problem to deal with, but my washing machine died on me 6 years after I bought it. I was really annoyed since I bought and paid for one to last me 20 years, like my moms did....
ReplyDeleteAnyway, bought a new one. This time the cheapest I could find... whats the point of throwing more good money after bad...
I feel your pain... ours was the <18 month old fridge who's mother board died. question: if they can make the wireless mini magic of a cellphone work how can they not make a giant plugged-in fridge or washer work? craaazy.
ReplyDelete