Buying First Washer and Dryer Combo

One of the biggest scams is washers (appliances in general). Get a cheap one. Take it from someone that HAD an $1800 and a $1500 washer. BOTH broke requiring expensive repairs. They had all the bells and whistles - touch screens, computer washing, etc. All they do better is break! Get the cheapest, lowest frills you can find. As an added bonus, the cheaper ones clean better too! HE detergent is a scam. Don't get an HE washer. Get a regular, high water usage model. Also find one that has a substantial agitator. Most of the newer expensive ones have done away with this to claim higher capacity.

I agree with dealgate. They aren't worth it. Get a traditional model and be happy.

find a local scratch and dent shop. Research the best brands. If you read the fine print and follow the rules, the 0% interest cards are a pretty good way to go, but I would also stay away from best buy unless they have a killer deal. Try sears/Lowes/home depot or a scratch and dent type store.

I agree with the above poster, and I have heard bad things about the front load high efficiency washers. They tend to mold easily and the gasket tends to break causing them to leak and new gaskets are expensive. Get a top loading one from a good manufacturer. The ones with agitators tend to wash better than the ones without but I am not sure you can find them with agitators anymore.

I probably wouldn't buy a used one from craigslist unless you are able to repair one that is broken.

They don't make them like they used to. My current washer is 25 years old given to me by my dad and the one he bought to replace the one he gave me broke twice and he has since replaced that one again, meanwhile the one he gave me has had no repairs and I have a large family and use it heavily every week. It is built like a tank.

I also agree with dealgate.

Thanks for the responses.

I have to disagree. I have had a front-loader for about 18 months now and I love it. Bought a Consumer Reports "Best Buy" model from Sears for under $1k ($7xx if I recall) and it has been great. Cleans really well, uses HE detergent (but very little of it) and barely uses any water. One of the perks is that clothes spend only about ~20 mins in the dryer afterwards because the front-loader takes so much water out of the clothes.

I recommend going towards the lower price range for washer and dryer. You will never save enough water in the washer and electricity or gas (in the dryer) to justify the front loader versus the top loader. Just watch for the best deals if you have the time. Did you have a washer/dryer supplied by your apartment or did you go to washateria currently. If you are happy with how your clothes come out using your current methods then stay close to those options. I would buy as someone suggested using a 0% interest credit card and also a credit card that offers extended warranty coverage for free. I tend to stay away from purchasing extended warranties on appliances since I can diagnose and make most repairs myself for much less and quicker.

Another one for "normal" washer/dryer.

This is what I know. All friends who have bought the HE units for 1-2k have them sitting in the garage unplugged and old style in the laundry room. One told me they don't wash very well and it takes 2x as long to dry (don't remember the models).

I bought washer/dryer for 75 each on craigslist, probably 1980's models. Just use the correct load setting (low/med/high) on the washer and use correct time on the dryer (you don;t have to turn the know as far as it will go to get dry cloths). Detergent is cheap enough too. The HE stuff is nothing special (borderline scam).

I have never seen a legit reason to pay 1-2k for washer/dryer set (or fridge for that matter).

Save your money. You can spend it on other things.

Quote from Jabbit : I have to disagree. I have had a front-loader for about 18 months now and I love it. Bought a Consumer Reports "Best Buy" model from Sears for under $1k ($7xx if I recall) and it has been great. Cleans really well, uses HE detergent (but very little of it) and barely uses any water. One of the perks is that clothes spend only about ~20 mins in the dryer afterwards because the front-loader takes so much water out of the clothes.

The key is you have only had it for 18 months. Wait until the 4-5 year mark, better get saving now.

Quote from nizzy1115 : The key is you have only had it for 18 months. Wait until the 4-5 year mark, better get saving now.

I kind of have to agree. My parents had the top of the line front loader and had to recently replace it. It was 5 years old. Repairs cost more than the machine did. It seemed to break every 2-3 years. I bought a basic top loader and nearly 3 years in I am still going good, only had to deal with a button/cosmetic failure. Where I live electricity and water are fairly cheap, Given the short life the front loaders seem to last I can't see how they pay for themselves.

Stay away from Home Depot, had a really bad experience with appliance delivery. I'd recommend Lowe's, maybe Sears if you're going to buy new.

The HE washers especially take much longer to wash clothes than the old agitator-style ones. This is dictated by less water and no agitator. Means clothes last longer though. HE driers maybe take a bit longer, but dry times have always been around the 1 hour mark for me even with older driers. Wash times are now around 1 hour, too (Whirlpool Cabrio Platinum W/D pair). Only had it a month or so now, so can't comment on longevity.

One thing to keep in mind with a front load washer is to leave the door open slightly when you're not using it, otherwise it gets musty and mildewy inside. Another thing to consider is that without the pedestals (or something similar), the door on a front load is quite low and requires bending over a bit more to load / unload.

Quote from bruteshot : 1) open a BB credit card and purchase a new front load washer/dryer combo for 18 months interest free financing

Just to clarify are you saying you are getting one of those combo units where the washer and the dryer are attached and one solid unit?

The only thing I would say about that is that if one goes bad you have to throw out the other as well. Sure you can get it repaired but sooner or later one will be working fine and the other will be dead. The front loaders stack very well and if one breaks you just buy another one to replace the dead one.

Also, check what (if any) energy/water rebates your utility companies have. A number of years ago I bought a nice Fisher and Paykel washer and my water company gave me a $175 rebate. Cool thing was I didn't have to mail anything in, it was literally a piece of paper I gave Lowes and they deducted it off the purchase price!

I wasn't speaking about stackable/all-in-one units, we just need both. Thanks for the tip about the rebate potential.