Question:
<snip> >I know that most dishwashers are made by a few companies and then >rebranded. Are there any brands to be wary of? Specifically, how is >Kenmore since I’ll be looking at a Sears discount center in a few days.
I’ve installed two Kenmore dishwashers made by Whirlpool. One worked okay for about five years then the motor started not turning. I hit it with a piece of wood and it started working again, but we don’t live in that house anymore. I did another one in my sister-in-laws house. It worked for a few months then the motor burned up. Sears replaced it free and did the install as well. In our present house we had a Whirlpool that didn’t leak or anything, but it didn’t clean well. I replaced it with a Maytag DW9100. I was not keen on Whirlpool, and I will never buy another GE appliance (I try to not buy any GE products any more). It isn’t just the appliances are bad, the warranty service is non-existent. The DW9100 was the only Maytag model that had all the features I wanted, especially the second rinse option, the water heating, and the sanitizing. Most everything has an embedded controller in it these days, it’s cheaper than the mechanical controls. I also looked at the Bosch and the Kitchenaid, but they were too expensive. The DW9100 ended up at less than $400. It was on sale for $500, there was a $50 Maytag rebate, a 10% off day at Sears, and a utility company rebate of $30. So it was $370, which was acceptable to me. The next model down had less of a rebate and so it was not much of a savings. So far so good (about 1.5 years). As to the latch problems, if the floor isn’t level you’ll have problems with some appliances. I.e. we tried two Amana refrigerators and the frame was so weak that the whole thing tilted and could never close right. So we tried a Maytag that advertised a stronger frame and it was fine. A stronger latch is not the way to fix this problem. I also replaced one GE dishwasher in a rental unit. It did work for 15 years, but it was never great at getting things clean. Oh and I learned that you can "linoleum in" your dishwasher when you redo the floor. Be careful! The only place I know to get scratch and dent appliances is at the Sears Outlet. And actually these are usually not scratched or dented, they were bought and returned for whatever reason and can’t be sold as new. Also they often sell overstocked stuff that is brand new. And a big advantage is that you can take the stuff with you and not wait for delivery or pick-up at the local store. They don’t sell just Kenmore. But the down side is that when Sears has a sale combined with the 10% off days, the outlet center is no deal.
Response:
> I just bought the top of the line Kenmore from Sears…"Kenmore Elite"
I finally ended up with a Kenmore also although I chose to go much closer to the middle of the range. > The other reason I bought it…Sears Canada still publishes and sells via the > "Sears Catalogue"… > whenever an item is slightly damaged or is the end of the > model year, they send it to an ‘outlet centre’ where it is marked down > substantially from it’s original price.
As someone else mentioned the Sears Outlet stores are alive and well in the US. The first one we looked at had a horrible selection of dishwashers but the other Atlanta area Sears Outlet had a decent selection. They didn’t have the model I really wanted but they had an acceptable one. Overall a much nicer deal that the ones offered at the appliance stores Dave
Response:
> I hate GE, too. Can’t wait for the cheapo GE dishwasher we got along with > the house bites the dust–which probably won’t be that long. A cycle takes > forever and the thing’s noisy as all get out. I’d give anything to have my > 30 year old Kitchenaid back. > Just shows to go you. The contractor dishwasher (one-level only) in > this house is GE, 13yrs old and does a fine job. (hope I’m not jinxing > myself now)
LOL. To be honest, I’m enough of a tightwad that I honestly hope mine lasts a long time, too. What I failed to say in my other post is that it gets the dishes sparkling clean, which is the No. 1 thing.
Response:
Speaking of dishwashers, does anyone have one that gets really dirty dishes clean? I mean you can put in dishes with baked on, dried up gunk and they come out clean? I have an approx. 20-y.o. Kenmore that came with our house and I would replace it if I knew I could get one that would do what I think is the impossible. Donna
Response:
I just bought the top of the line Kenmore from Sears…"Kenmore Elite" The unit has stainless steel on the inside and is actually a Kitchen Aid made for Sears… (Identical in every respect, save the electronic controls which have their order shuffled around a little bit)… I’ve had the new one for approx a month now and it is much quieter and seems to do a far better job than the 10 yr old GE it replaced. One of the main reasons I bought the new one, is that it has the sani cycle where the water is heated during the wash & rinse cycles…this allows me to keep the hot water temp in the house a bit lower for safety (kids)… The other reason I bought it…Sears Canada still publishes and sells via the "Sears Catalogue"… whenever an item is slightly damaged or is the end of the model year, they send it to an ‘outlet centre’ where it is marked down substantially from it’s original price. I purchased the Kenmore Elite (Kitchen Aid Superba Plus) dishwasher that originally sold in the catalogue and at Sears Canada retail stores for $1149 CDN, for significantly less… they had it on sale for $850 Canadian and then had an ‘in store promotion’ of 35% off the lowest price. So it cost me $552 Canadian or approx $370 U.S. The unit was brand new (though it seems to have been made in 1999). It had a slight dent the size of a dime in the front (which I covered with one of those "dishes dirty-dishes clean" magnets) and a broken piece of plastic trim around the tub, which I ordered from the parts dept. for $8.99 and replaced myself… BTW, I am a frequent shopper at the ‘Sears outlet’ stores…I replaced my 10 yr old GE stove with a Maytag Ceran top self clean slide in, that had the original price of $1499 CDN for $488 CDN …it had a bent moulding around the oven door that cost me $69 CDN at the Maytag parts distributor to replace. And I replaced my 10 yr old GE washer with a Maytag Neptune front loader, that cost me $839 CDN …had a dime sized dent in the console and a chip in the paint on one top edge (easily touched up)… I also got the Kenmore built in trash compactor for $79 CDN at the Sears Outlet store. Now I am hunting for a replacement for my fridge and my dryer… I check the Sears outlet stores around the Toronto area on a weekly basis… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > We’re looking for a new dishwasher. Our current one works fine as far > as washing dishes but it seems to leak and doesn’t fit properly into the > space that it is in. Additionally, the door latch mechanisim is broken. > We’ve been through one round of shims and anti-shims (trimming the > flooring) and it didn’t get any better so we are looking at getting a > new dishwasher. Do to the door latch problem my wife would like to > return to the older style level latch instead of the center handle. I’m > not sure I care but I’d like to get a working latch. > We’ve scouted out Lowe’s and the CR Buying Guide plus some websites > without any real results. Basic, lever handled, mechanical control > dishwashers don’t seem to exist anymore. > All of the comparison evaluations seem to start at the 300 dollar > dishwashers and go up and thus rate the 300-400 dollar dishwashers as > fairly bad. Are they really poor performers or are they just suffering > in comparison with more expensive models? I’d like quiet and energy > efficiency but I have no interest in most of the features that come with > the $400+ models. > I know that most dishwashers are made by a few companies and then > rebranded. Are there any brands to be wary of? Specifically, how is > Kenmore since I’ll be looking at a Sears discount center in a few days. > Dave
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Add my name to the irrational list. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GE PRODUCT. > — > Emmanuel > http://www.myTechieGuy.Com > do you have a Techie Guy? > Ditto. > My house ate *two* GE dishwashers in twelve years. The first was six > years old when the $225 electronic touchpad shorted out. Bought > another(with a knob this time) and six years later that crappy welded > fan blade on the motor came loose just like thousands of others. You > call their help line at 1-800-GE-CARES and they say "Who cares?" > My Maytag and I have lived happily ever after. GE appliances(and > Hotpoint) are crap. > John
I hate GE, too. Can’t wait for the cheapo GE dishwasher we got along with the house bites the dust–which probably won’t be that long. A cycle takes forever and the thing’s noisy as all get out. I’d give anything to have my 30 year old Kitchenaid back. To the OP: If you really want a basic model–although I can’t recommend GE anything–ours is a GSD970D (or P, can’t quite read the writing) -48. It has manual controls, nothing digital. Not sure if they still make it or not.
Response:
Add my name to the irrational list. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GE PRODUCT. — Emmanuel http://www.myTechieGuy.Com do you have a Techie Guy?
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->We’re looking for a new dishwasher. Our current one works fine as far >as washing dishes but it seems to leak and doesn’t fit properly into the >space that it is in. > Any chance it is a GE? GE is well known for leaking around the edges > of the door. Personally I hate GE and avoid all of their appliances > and I avoid all companies GE owns that market under other names but > that is just my irrational bias showing … plus much negative > experience with anything connected to GE. >Additionally, the door latch mechanisim is broken. >We’ve been through one round of shims and anti-shims (trimming the >flooring) and it didn’t get any better so we are looking at getting a >new dishwasher. Do to the door latch problem my wife would like to >return to the older style level latch instead of the center handle. I’m >not sure I care but I’d like to get a working latch. >We’ve scouted out Lowe’s and the CR Buying Guide plus some websites >without any real results. Basic, lever handled, mechanical control >dishwashers don’t seem to exist anymore. >All of the comparison evaluations seem to start at the 300 dollar >dishwashers and go up and thus rate the 300-400 dollar dishwashers as >fairly bad. Are they really poor performers or are they just suffering >in comparison with more expensive models? I’d like quiet and energy >efficiency but I have no interest in most of the features that come with >the $400+ models. > Most of the "features" are crap … however, depending on where the > thing is located you may want one considered to be quiet .. those do > cost a bit more. > After that, basket design is a make or break decision point for me. > In my current house there is a Maytag with such poorly designed > baskets you can hardly get anything into it. When that unit dies, the > replacement will not be a Maytag. >I know that most dishwashers are made by a few companies and then >rebranded. Are there any brands to be wary of? Specifically, how is >Kenmore since I’ll be looking at a Sears discount center in a few days. > If Whirlpool still makes the Kenmore units, I’d look closely at either > Whirlpool or Kenmore … I don’t know where you live but the more > expensive units do not necessarily provide any value. I use exactly > one setting for my dishes. Btw, can you tell Whirlpool is my > favorite appliance manufacturer. > Kasper
Response:
I bought a brand new GE Washing Machine from Circuit Crap in Montclair, Ca. Two years later the top part after you open the lid rusted out. So stupid me called GE to figure out why a water equipment is rusting out in two years of normal household use. So short story GE burned me and they will never get my business again. I went out and bought the Maytag Neptune and have never looked back since. It seems to me that GE scours the countryside looking for the dumbest employees they can find. — Emmanuel http://www.myTechieGuy.Com do you have a Techie Guy?
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Add my name to the irrational list. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GE PRODUCT. > — > Emmanuel > http://www.myTechieGuy.Com > do you have a Techie Guy? > Ditto. > My house ate *two* GE dishwashers in twelve years. The first was six > years old when the $225 electronic touchpad shorted out. Bought > another(with a knob this time) and six years later that crappy welded > fan blade on the motor came loose just like thousands of others. You > call their help line at 1-800-GE-CARES and they say "Who cares?" > My Maytag and I have lived happily ever after. GE appliances(and > Hotpoint) are crap. > John
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > We’re looking for a new dishwasher. Our current one works fine as far > as washing dishes but it seems to leak and doesn’t fit properly into the > space that it is in. Additionally, the door latch mechanisim is broken. > We’ve been through one round of shims and anti-shims (trimming the > flooring) and it didn’t get any better so we are looking at getting a > new dishwasher. Do to the door latch problem my wife would like to > return to the older style level latch instead of the center handle. I’m > not sure I care but I’d like to get a working latch. > We’ve scouted out Lowe’s and the CR Buying Guide plus some websites > without any real results. Basic, lever handled, mechanical control > dishwashers don’t seem to exist anymore. > All of the comparison evaluations seem to start at the 300 dollar > dishwashers and go up and thus rate the 300-400 dollar dishwashers as > fairly bad. Are they really poor performers or are they just suffering > in comparison with more expensive models? I’d like quiet and energy > efficiency but I have no interest in most of the features that come with > the $400+ models. > I know that most dishwashers are made by a few companies and then > rebranded. Are there any brands to be wary of? Specifically, how is > Kenmore since I’ll be looking at a Sears discount center in a few days. > Dave
we got a dishwasher that the builder put in the house about 30 years ago. since day one, we had trouble with it, first the screws that hold the thing under the counter were not put in right and it had scratched the top chrome trim, i complained aobut that and when the put in a new crome trim they had to mess with the lever handle that holds the thing closed and thats when the wires in the console must have gotten messed up. we only got the dishwasher as there would have been a void in the kitchen as the new house was built and the plans called for a dishwasher to be supplied by the owner. got it for a very good price so cant complain, but never really used it at all, now the house is old and we can find cabinets to match the space where the old dishwasher is so we gonna get another dishwasher just to put something new in it place…. already put in new built in oven, cook top, frig., kitchen sink, hood over the cooktop, next will be the dishwasher, just getting ready if we found out that all the stuff they sell now has too many bells and whistles on it, probably the dishwasher too.
Response:
We’re looking for a new dishwasher. Our current one works fine as far as washing dishes but it seems to leak and doesn’t fit properly into the space that it is in. Additionally, the door latch mechanisim is broken. We’ve been through one round of shims and anti-shims (trimming the flooring) and it didn’t get any better so we are looking at getting a new dishwasher. Do to the door latch problem my wife would like to return to the older style level latch instead of the center handle. I’m not sure I care but I’d like to get a working latch. We’ve scouted out Lowe’s and the CR Buying Guide plus some websites without any real results. Basic, lever handled, mechanical control dishwashers don’t seem to exist anymore. All of the comparison evaluations seem to start at the 300 dollar dishwashers and go up and thus rate the 300-400 dollar dishwashers as fairly bad. Are they really poor performers or are they just suffering in comparison with more expensive models? I’d like quiet and energy efficiency but I have no interest in most of the features that come with the $400+ models. I know that most dishwashers are made by a few companies and then rebranded. Are there any brands to be wary of? Specifically, how is Kenmore since I’ll be looking at a Sears discount center in a few days. Dave
Response:
>We’re looking for a new dishwasher. Our current one works fine as far >as washing dishes but it seems to leak and doesn’t fit properly into the >space that it is in.
Any chance it is a GE? GE is well known for leaking around the edges of the door. Personally I hate GE and avoid all of their appliances and I avoid all companies GE owns that market under other names but that is just my irrational bias showing … plus much negative experience with anything connected to GE. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Additionally, the door latch mechanisim is broken. >We’ve been through one round of shims and anti-shims (trimming the >flooring) and it didn’t get any better so we are looking at getting a >new dishwasher. Do to the door latch problem my wife would like to >return to the older style level latch instead of the center handle. I’m >not sure I care but I’d like to get a working latch. >We’ve scouted out Lowe’s and the CR Buying Guide plus some websites >without any real results. Basic, lever handled, mechanical control >dishwashers don’t seem to exist anymore. >All of the comparison evaluations seem to start at the 300 dollar >dishwashers and go up and thus rate the 300-400 dollar dishwashers as >fairly bad. Are they really poor performers or are they just suffering >in comparison with more expensive models? I’d like quiet and energy >efficiency but I have no interest in most of the features that come with >the $400+ models.
Most of the "features" are crap … however, depending on where the thing is located you may want one considered to be quiet .. those do cost a bit more. After that, basket design is a make or break decision point for me. In my current house there is a Maytag with such poorly designed baskets you can hardly get anything into it. When that unit dies, the replacement will not be a Maytag. >I know that most dishwashers are made by a few companies and then >rebranded. Are there any brands to be wary of? Specifically, how is >Kenmore since I’ll be looking at a Sears discount center in a few days.
If Whirlpool still makes the Kenmore units, I’d look closely at either Whirlpool or Kenmore … I don’t know where you live but the more expensive units do not necessarily provide any value. I use exactly one setting for my dishes. Btw, can you tell Whirlpool is my favorite appliance manufacturer. Kasper
Response:
. SNIPPED > I know that most dishwashers are made by a few companies and then > rebranded. Are there any brands to be wary of? Specifically, how is > Kenmore since I’ll be looking at a Sears discount center in a few days. > Dave
Kenmore high end dishwashers are made by Whirlpool. I am not sure about the cheaper ones but they do not look like a Whirlpool product. The Whirlpool that I have was identical to the Kenmore except the silverware was in the door. The Kenmore has a basket. Its a trade off really dirty silverware, I mean really dirty, will not come clean in the door. Most of it will but you may have a piece or two that have food on it. However you can bake scalloped potatoes in the oven, do nothing to the dish and it will come clean. When properly loaded we have not had a single dish not come clean when properly loaded. We have had 3 in 15 years. The first one we sold the house after 1 year. The second lasted 3 years but the water quality was the problem. we have since put a softener and filters on the water line coming into the house. The one we have now is 11 years old and cleans like new. The first 2 were Kenmore the last is Whirlpool. We have never had any mechanical problem with any of them. The last one is a Whirlpool because we like the extra room you have with the silverware in the door and second I have had so many bad experiences at Sears I will not shop there unless it is the only place to find the item I need. A bit off subject but I had a top of the line Kenmore dryer. It took forever to dry clothes. I know of 5 other people with the same opinion on the length of drying time. They were all vented correctly and at least in my case the lint filter was always cleaned. Fred
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