Came Home Sunday

[DUD]

and took GrandDaughters to their Mothers for a 2 week visit. While I was gone LOML

decided to wash some clothes, big mistake. Noise from bottom of front loader washer,

so I took it apart Monday. The impellor on the water pump was loose, so I put it back on

and retried it. No luck, so I got online to Sears and looked it up. $149.99 and it is not in

stock so I took it off and looked in the impellor area, and small tip of plastic has broke off,

so it won't spin. I take it this morning to a local service hoping to buy a used one or a new

one in stock, No Luck. They checked price and availability and I have one coming in the

A.M. for $84.00. It's tough to pay that for a at the most $10.00 piece of plastic. Bill

[germdoc]

I feel for you. I had a front-load washer a few years ago that "blew a gasket", so to speak. The thing (can't remember brand, not a Kenmore) cost more than $600 new, and the repairman (from Sears) basically said it's not worth repairing--would be more than $450 to repair.

From what he told me front-loaders tend to be problematic because they spin off-center. A local repair guy does a brisk business rebuilding old top-loaders and reselling them, but won't touch front-loaders because the cost of repair is too high.

I learned my lesson. My next WM was a rebuilt top-loader, and I most recently bought Maytag's cheapest top-loader for my new house. If it breaks after 2 years, I'll buy another...

[eezlock]

came home Sunday

I know how you must feel about the washing machine....I had to replace mine
not too long ago. First, it was the dryer, then the washer, but I can't complain too much they were both about 30 years old and it was their time
I guess. I got tired of repairing the old dryer, (1) heating elements, (2) then belt (3) drum bearings needed replacing and on and on something every month it seemed. Then washer needed new transmission, it started leaking fluid on the floor and didn't want to spin or pump water out as it should....guess they died after a hard working life, got them replaced with new GE models that use less water, energy and detergent as well! eezlock

[Uncle Cracker]

It's tough to pay that for a at the most $10.00 piece of plastic. Bill

You are also paying for several more of the thousands that were made and probably gather dust on dealer shelves for years...

[jackellis]

Front loading washers are supposed to be more energy efficient, though I'm not sure how much you save over the life of the appliance.

As for the cost of parts, Uncle Cracker's got it right. The manufacturer makes a certain number of parts for inventory and then hopes they sell. I will tell you, though, that the jet engines sold for airliners are typically priced around cost because the manufacturers make all their money on parts. And if you think $150 is a lot for a piece of plastic, there are switches in corporate jets that can cost over $100 grand! That just blew my mind.

[dbhost]

I must admit I want front loading machines REALLY bad. But it's because my lovely bride has some trouble reaching down into the tub of our washer without a stool...