To be somewhat taken aback by Curry's estimated lifespan for a washing machine

[GleamingHeels]

Went with my mother to buy her a new washing machine yesterday, we'd made a list of things we required and selected the one we wanted... as part of the attempted extended warranty hard sell, the salesman told us that the expected lifespan of a washing machine 'these days' was two years!

My mum's last one lasted her fourteen years - single person, fairly light use, my last one lasted me at least eleven... have we just been really lucky or was the salesman talking through a hole in his fundament or possibly chasing some commision for selling insurance ?

[GleamingHeels]

Oh, and my mum didn't take out the extended warranty/aftercare plan - she has insurance already for all her kitchen appliances - possibly a bit expensive, but gives her peace of mind

[GleamingHeels]

Couldn't agree more HotCrossPun , however he did have the grace to give in and get on with taking the money for the washing machine when I said clearly that we had made a decision and would not be buying the after care.

I still think only two years is crazy though... our that lasted a long time both happened to be Zanussi

[ChunkyPickle]

I worked for another highstreet retailer, I did get commission on machines, but not on aftercare - HOWEVER - I did have targets to meet on sales of it, and not meeting those targets meant less money/a chance of getting fired if it went on too long...

I also happen to know that they made an absolute fortune on those plans - way more profit on the aftercare than the machines themselves.

I would hope for > 5 years out of even a family used washing machine. 2 years is definitely unreasonable.

[HotCrossPun]

Good for you GleamingHeels

The whole 'pressure sales' thing does not bode well with me. Our store got in trouble from head office once for not offering PPI to customers who were taking out finance with us.

We only gave it to customers if they asked us about it and had read through all the literature.

Our (very sensible) manager had decided that PPI was very rarely a good addition to finance because the terms and conditions for them actually being able to claim on it were so strict.

With the uproar and revelations about PPI that followed, I'm glad we stuck to our guns!

[HotCrossPun]

ChunkyPickle Comet?

[Jinsei]

Ours has been going for around six years now. The last one broke after four years and taught me not to buy shit products just because they're cheap.

[LessMissAbs]

I once bought an Indesit, for various reasons stored it for a year before using it. It broke the second time!

[bubblesinthesky]

Ours is 7 years old and seems to be working well but I've had to have it fixed a couple of times

[AKissIsNotAContract]

Oh crap, I've just realised ours is an indesit. Funnily enough autocorrect wants to change indesit to undesirable.

[Ooopsadaisy]

First machine lasted 12 years. DS was 9 and DD 6 when it finally died so it was doing a lot of washing.

Second machine is nearly 8 years old and going strong.

[GleamingHeels]

bubbles : a couple of repairs in seven years, presumably due to fair wear and tear - but not yet reached the 'uneconomical to repair, must be replaced' stage - see, that sounds resonable to me

[HotCrossPun]

AKissIsNotAContract

[ChunkyPickle]

Lol - TBH it doesn't really matter - they're all much of a muchness (I knew a few 'professionals' who cycled around them all) - I would suspect that just because it's 'no commission' doesn't mean 'no financial incentive' though :)

[StuntGirl]

I agree with pickles, many stores insist on pushing additional products despite the staff not actually getting any compensation for it. The 'bonus' is keeping your job!

[HotCrossPun]

I'll take that as a yes then

In our store I was one of the top sales people.

I also took on a training role, did customer service at weekends and regularly travelled to conferences around the country to represent the store.

At my yearly review I was awarded a 'best' which was the top compenticy level you could reach.

I was rewarded with...a 10p per hour pay rise.

I was told not to tell any other other sales people as 'they would all be wanting one.'

That was the extent of the financial incentives

[AuntieMaggie]

Our hotpoint washing machine broke after 5 years... it was a sealed unit and everyone we phoned about repairing it were honest enough to tell us just to replace it as it would be cheaper because it was a sealed unit... Our hotpoint tumble dryer went a few months later!

[TarkaTheOtter]

Dh (who works with currys) thinks there is a financial incentive for pushing "knowhow" aftercare service. Perhaps not at the individual level but that it affects the store level bonus pool. He's not 100% certain though.

[LastOrdersAtTheBra]

Our washing machine (cheapest in the shop) has been with us for 12 years, it's that long ago I can't remember if there was any hard sell of aftercare, but I'm glad we didn't buy.

I got really angry when we bought our dishwasher and, after we'd ordered, had lots of calls saying the product they'd sold us was so crap it'd be broken in 2 years and we were foolish not to buy the insurance. Currently still going strong after 3 years.

Bound to jinx them both by posting this though...

[GleamingHeels]

Oh, HotCross bet you felt totally motivated to tell them where to stuff their financial incentives by your extra 10p per hour!

[Pigsmummy]

My 15 year old washing machine died on Monday, bought a new one locally, amazing service from independent White goods shop, I purchased it at 1110 amd the new one was fitted and working by 1300 amd the old one taken away, checked price and it was competitive. I hope this new one lasts 15 years and I will be recommending the local shop to everyone I know!

[eosmum]

Mine gave up today, 2.5 yrs old. Have the extended warranty only covers parts. Dh googled the problem and 2 people more than 2 hrs to fix, have to get a new one.

[Itsnotahoover]

There are various targets the stores, as a whole, have to meet to get a pittance bonus every now and then. These targets include whatever happens sales, installations, TV cables etc plus getting a good mystery shop score. If the staff do not hit individual targets, they will eventually get put on a performance development plan for basically not doing the job they're being paid for. But they do not earn commission. I hate having to pressure sell, and rarely hit my targets if I'm honest. How I've still got a job is beyond me but I'm grateful that I do as I've got bills to pay like anyone else!

[RhondaJean]

Wow.

My smeg is a washer dryer - fabled for not lasting - and it's five and a half.

It died a couple of weeks ago.

New motor brushes, seven quid, and it's right as rain again.

My mother in law is still using the zanussi we had before that...

[HamAlive]

My Hotpoint only lasted 3 years. My bargain Beko is still going strong and it's usually going at least once a day!

In contrast, my parents have had their tumble drier for about 30 years.

[AuntieMaggie]

Ditto my parents HamAlive til about last year. DPs grandparents have the same one and I keep trying to buy it off them cos I think they're better at drying too!