We had an Electrolux dryer but the condenser fins were impossible to clean. The Siemens dryer has an auto-clean (with water flushing) function.
(I appreciate the OP is only looking for a washing machine).
The washing machine is great.
Best features:
It senses the load automatically and also dispenses liquid detergent and fabric conditioner automatically.
It's pretty good too at detecting especially dirty loads (kids clothes after muddy football) and adjusting the cleaning cycle/time for that.
Ours are down in the basement and as they have wi-fi capability with an open API, I've linked it to our home automation system and Alexa so Alexa can tell you when the dryer or washing machine has finished it's cycle which is useful if you have a lot of loads to wash.
I've been informed that that is the best feature of our home automation system!
Just because I can, Alexa comes up randomly with various normal and some sarcastic messages that tell you that you need to hang the washing up etc.
Of course you could just link the machine to an app on your phone but where's the fun in that?
The only real advantage I can see to getting V-Zug appliances is if you intent to repair them yourself and you live in or around Zug as you can visit the service department and get the spare part on the same day but this is more useful for easier-to-replace parts such as those in ovens.
If people think they are getting better quality parts when buying V-Zug over cheaper alternatives (often half the price) then they are simply wrong.
They quite often use the same motors etc and I've easily cannablised one manufacturers machine to get another manufacturer's machine working.
We lived in a flat for 5yrs (in Zurich) with all Zug appliances and never had any trouble with any of them. However, just today, I had my Samsung clothes washer fixed after more than 3 weeks of back and forth with the warranty/repair folks. It is about 3yrs old and quite an expensive model. All of the electronics packed inside are a disaster waiting to happen. I replaced our older models that were workhorses and I could fix them myself (no electronics).
I wish I could recommend something, but I liked this NYT set of reviews.
Thanks for the advice, and recommendations, folks!
I'm so frustrated with the company's unresponsiveness. When I bought this expensive professional machine the promise of quick service was what sealed the deal.
Ja, ja, I've been here long enough to know that one cannot believe anything a company says if not in writing in a formal contract. I suppose I should just 'selber schuld' myself... but their previous responsiveness had lulled me into complacency.
The last two machines died out of warranty. Back then the repairman came within a few days, sold me a new machine that day, delivered and installed the next.
This is the first time I've needed a repair within warranty - and now I'm seeing a very different attitude towards customer service.
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I'm torn as to what to do next.
The 'cheap and cheerful' idea makes economic sense. I probably should just buy inexpensive models and replace as needed.
But ecologically it pains me that these days one needs to treat large appliances as disposable items. That a company cannot or will not provide timely repair service is part of a larger problem.
OH wants to hold them to the warranty, but I don't know if I am up for the fight. Which I suppose is what companies count on.
(Yet again I yearn for my big ol' workhorse all-mechanical Maytag back home. It's almost as old as I am and still going strong. They just don't make 'em like they used to. Now get off my lawn. )
Well, my advice in general is that for the essentials in a home you go with the tried & true trusted brands to avoid headaches downstream. There are no guarantees but typically going off brand for these things more often than not leads to a scenario you fear in terms of disposing large appliances prematurely
Personally I am not married to a brand for a washer/dryer and we are mixed on Miele atm but should we replace down the line we know there are a few other good brands out there (Suisse - VZug, Schulthess) with extended warranties that are ultimately worth the supplemental coverage
Bosch comes with a 5 year guarantee, 'extended warranties' are generally an insurance where the shop makes more profit in the warranty than on the goods being sold, hence their enthusiasm to sell you one.
Our miele washer and dryer costs more than Fr.4k if I remember correctly. Barely a few months in, something broke and we were told that the repair bill would have been Fr.800 (this I remember clearly). Then we had more issues, so when Fust asked at the end of the 2 years if we wanted to extend for another 3 years, we said yes! It was very well worth it because we had to fix it a few more times.
Now with the Siemens, we did not bother with the extended warranty based on our previous very good experience with them. So far so good... fingers crossed.
I think my Bosch cost €499, so even if it did die after 5 years & over 1500 wash cycles, it's still a good return on cost. At that point spending say even €200 is likely to be a bad deal. Can you even get a repair in CH for that?
Yup. Also a fan of EE brands. I have a Beko fridge that has been going forever.
For WM and appliances in general, I would forget about repair. It is too much hassle. Esp. for tenanted properties. You have to arrange for repair, maybe wait for parts etc. etc. You can buy new anywhere and online, they come and take away the old and install the new without waiting around - you can always select a vendor with immediate availability and next day delivery/install.
Which large appliance has a warranty of 10 years? I know of none
Typically you get between 3 & 5, it's outside that 5 year window where you are on an island. I am also talking about a water heater etc. You either pay through the nose to repair and weight that up against a new machine but not without turning large appliances into waste fodder. Ideally, you extend the life of your machine without having to dispose of it and not breaking the bank to do so - warranties like that should be factored into the overall cost
Sure, you could skip a more expensive machine and just buying lower priced ones and junking them when they become faulty since the price is low enough but again you simply add to waste
Everyone's metric is different but the cost of an appliance is not simply the retail price
They don't of course. The legal question is how long a 2000 CHF machine is expected to last?
We had a Miele fridge repaired outside of warranty - for free, and by Miele, as the Miele guy decided that it was a bit crap that the broken part should have lasted longer.
Have you read the small print of your extended warranties to see what it actually covers, whether it covers the full amount, and so on.
A warranty covers items that were faulty at the time of purchase - is that going to be the problem after five years of use?
A general question for anyone: Have you successfully (or unsuccessfully) claimed on an extended warranty for an electrical appliance?
1. as you ask for large capacity, i'd take a look at whether it is too full even if within manufacturer specs.
2. is the washing machine installed evenly (use spirit level to check)
3. change brands using a different motor in case it is a flaw with the motor
4. 'cheap and cheerful' doesn't mean disposible. your buying expensive has resulted in 3 replacement WMs so appears to be more like the disposible approach. the cheap ones may last longer (typically have fewer fancy features/electronics that fail).
This is why I purchased Gorenje over any of the cheaper western European brands. The western European brands try to build in lots of features on the cheap, which inevitably go wrong over time.
The eastern European brands, on the other hand, build basic machines using sturdy materials. They just go on and on and on. Nothing fancy, but dirty clothes go in and clean clothes come out. The one repair I had to do on my dryer was a self-service job that took 15 minutes and a EUR10 part.
They're not popular here, but Gorenje machines are very popular in Germany. Have a look at their reliability ratings and you might change your mind.