Washing machine is FUBAR'd

[Two_Sheds]

Bosch for me, quality gear with a good service dept if required. Ours is now 6 years old and going well.

I always thought Bosch made good stuff

[di]

Do you not think it's strange that we all say and seem to agree that white goods don't seem to last as long as they used to do. Is it really just coincidence that over the same period of time manufacturers and retailers have been able to flog us insurance and extended warranties.

Perhaps I'm just cynical but when things seemed to last longer we didn't need (and so wouldn't buy) the warranties.

Coincidence, hmmm.

Apparently() the reason why fridge freezers don't last as long is because they've had to modify how they're made to try to reduce their carbon footprint...I'm no expert but would think the fact that they now need to go to landfil sooner & factories need to be making more it kind of nullifies the good deed of removing whatever it was that made them last longer but caused more pollution.

I agree though with the other stuff...they make their money on convincing us we need to take out warranties because the stuff's not made as it was.

[Sprocket*]

I have a Hot Point which is going well for last 4 years, Mums is 18 years old, and her dryer is 39....

My washing machine repair man buys and reconditions them straight from the factory. They are mega cheap and often have a small dint in the side or something minor. It may be worth looking in the yellow pages...

[fran]

Bosch Classixx - and the cycles don't take too long either!

[HeyWayne]

I can recommend Hotpoint. Our last machine we'd had for about 10 years. We did (somewhat stupidly) pay about �80 a year breakdown cover - which we used maybe twice. We only got rid of it because after the 10 years it was somewhat innefficient by today's standards (only 800 spin end used quite a lot of water).

When Bean was born we knew we'd need a more efficient machine that was also reliable so we bought a Hotpoint Aqualtis. It's fantastic - almost silent (the noisiest bit is when it fills with water), and touch wood has been faultless. It gets used daily with all the baby stuff and has a massive drum.

I used to work for Electrolux for a couple of years and at the time they owned Zanussi, Tricity Bendix, and AEG. I was able to buy "graded" goods. We bought a Tricity Bendix tumble dryer for �60. I still haven't found where the "grading" is as it doesn't have a mark on it.

I was told by one of the engineers that worked there at the time that the reason machines "don't last like they used to" (when in reality they actually do) is that expectations of machines is greater than it used to be, and that the machines have to do a lot more than they used to.

So, the short answer is - in my humble onion, buy Hotpoint.

[Jeanied]

I'm with TS and PW - Bosch all the way for me. Cold fill, only heats the water it uses and one of the 'greener' models. But it also has a very long wash time - best for putting on overnight. My 2p of advice - get to know a local repair/ supplier to sort you out - then when it goes wrong its easier to get it repaired. Mine was supplied by a local business called ' Wash, Vac and Tumble' a short walk from me - trouble is they closed down a few months ago I started using Bosch after my dear OH started washing jeans with nails in the pocket and ruined 2 machines.

[vikkib]

We just had the exact same problem. We bought an Indesit machine less than 18 months ago and it broke 2 weeks ago.

I contacted Argos (the retailer) under the sale of goods act and explained I didn't think it was 'fit for purpose' as it broke down in such a short time and they said I had to get an engineer out, get an official report from them that would need to state that the breakdown wasn't caused by 'wear and tear' but by a faulty part etc. THEN we'd have to submit said report for processing to see if we qualified for a refund, replacement or for Argos to pay for the repair under the sale of goods act... useless! I asked how long this normally took and they said upwards of a month. I asked if I could buy a new machine in the meantime and then they could refund me the cost as it would be difficult to go without it for a month but they explained that if it was decided they would just pay for a repair I'd HAVE to get the broken machine fixed! I barely have room for the one machine let alone two while I'm waiting for them to make their mind up!

I couldn't find an engineer that would come out without charging at least �35 and three of the engineers I spoke to said a straight forward repair would cost between �80 and �90 and a non straight forward repair would be anything up to �280... the machine only cost �220 in the first place!

Ended up getting this...

Currys - Shop for Washing Machines - BOSCH WAA28165 White 1400 Spin Washing Machine

But it was reduced to about �250 when we got it... has to be said it's not quite as sturdy feeling as I'd expected from a Bosch but it will hopefully last a fair bit longer than the Indesit. (fingers crossed!)

[bobleponge]

Probably not much use to you LL but I have a Sidex machine, that I bought second hand from a couple nearby, after my ex took everything, including the shirt from my back, that happened to be in the Bosch washing machine I used to own.
The Sidex came with the original bill (very French, they do that here) and its now 9 years old, and still works very well.
Having read HW's engineer saying "they do more than they used to" there maybe something in that perhaps? The machine I have was owned by the laydee of the couple, who then moved in with her new fella, and the woman was a long haul trolley dolly, and reckoned she only used it once a week on average over the time she had it.
I only use it probably twice a week when I'm home, averaged out is only one a week throughout the year.....
But did our parents not wash our clothes as much when we were kids? I dont remember being like Piskies engineer, I'm sure we always had clean clothes pretty much every day???

[Hans Mum]

But did our parents not wash our clothes as much when we were kids? I dont remember being like Piskies engineer, I'm sure we always had clean clothes pretty much every day???

think they did wash them as much boble, just we didnt have as many clothes and my mum had a twin tub, automatics were not common place like now. I remember her doing washing in that thing from whites through to darks and spinning them seperately.

[jaykay]

My Bosch washing machine broke down this summer after 12 years of being a reliable workhorse. I dread to think how many washes it had done as there are 6 of us in the house (so lots of bedding, clothes, towels). I wanted something that would be just as reliable and long lasting, and was advised to look at Bosch, Siemens, AEG or Miele. I bought the Miele machine (��� - ouch!) but it is brilliant. It has cold fill only, and does a 32 min wash. So far, it is the best machine I've had. Comes with 5yr guarantee from manufacturer at the moment.

[coreopsis]

I used to have AEG- flipping brilliant,washes and spins very well,economical to use.I left it behind when I moved out.Pricey at the beginning though

[coreopsis]

Sorry,just doubled the post

[Incy]

My Mum has a Miele and swears by it. As I come from HUGE family she needed something that would work well and really last. She got her machine about 10-12 years ago and it's still going strong after 2 house moves too!
She has a bit less washing now as some of us have grown up and left home properly but the 4 youngest still bring their washing home at weekends.
I think she used to do a minimum of 2 loads per day in it and at times it was running constantly.
They're not cheap but well worth the investment in my view.

[Polly Fouracre]

I think that if you don't over (or under) load your machine it should last for years. When Jim does the washing I have to take half the washing out of the machine before he sets it going- might as well do it myself in the first place really!
Also, as said above, the occasional hot-wash with washing soda keeps fluff etc. from building up.

[lainey lou]

I would contact Indesit. It may be "out of guarantee", but bearings should not need replacing after only 2 years. I can't remember the exact law,( it's something like The Sale Of Goods Act) which takes precedence over manufacturer's guarantees.

will do this, thanks and thanks to everyone for the advice.