6th washing machine in 2 years - AIBU?

[Washingmachinewoe]

I've NC because this is outing as I've been moaning to people about it IRL.

Bought a washing machine in 2012 and it died in December 2020 - that felt reasonable, it had heavy use and we got a new one immediately.

Timeline

1. Dec 2020 - original 2012 machine broke down (machine 1)
2. Dec 2020 - new machine delivered and worked fine (machine 2)
3. Feb 2021 - Machine started leaking from the door and the retailed replaced it (machine 3)
4. Dec 2021 - Machine 3 stopped draining and spinning, engineer said it was beyond repair and retailed replaced it (machine 4)
5. Jan 2022 - Machine 4 started leaking from the door and the retailer replaced it (Machine 5)
6. Nov 2022 - doing my washing on the weekend and got an electric shock from the drum.

I have and electrician here - he's tested all of the electrics (which are pretty new and in decent condition) and the socket that the machine in plugged in to, he's plugged it into other sockets and it's still giving us a shock (well him, I'm not bloody touching it again)

So I need Machine 6.

AIBU to think this should be replaced under warranty as the machine itself is less than a year old

YANBU - they should replace it
YABU - cheeky fucker territory - you can't expect 5 machines off one warranty

Sometimes it's more economical to buy quality. We've had a Bosch for 15 years and it's still going strong. Yes it was expensive to begin with with but cheaper than 6 washing machines!

I found that most of them were made in various countries, none of which were Germany.

Fair enough. Mind you, I'm not sure that 'made in Germany' is necessarily a guarantee of the same sort of engineering quality as used to generally be the case, if the automotive industry is anything to go by. To be sure, always need to be wary that brands don't always live up to their former reputation. From this thread it sounds like beko has changed from 'budget but ok' to 'false economy'.

Good update!

I’m very shocked by 6 machines in two years. we bought a Bosch from JL in 2009 and it’s still going strong (touches wood quickly).

Yes, that Bosch looks like a good one.

Those recommending Bosch can I add careful what range you buy? Bosch used to be good across the board, but are now the economy range out of Bosch, Neff & Siemens. Bottom of the range Bosch aren't really any better than hotpoint or hoover.

Similarly Zanussi and AEG - John Lewis love to tell you their own brand is made by AEG whilst keeping quiet about Zanussi although JL washing machines do seem reliable on the whole.

As per pp's, it's a false economy to get cheap white goods. All mine are Bosch or Miele, and all are still going 15/20 years on, so although the initial cost is much higher, the cost per year is lower.

Get the best you can afford, with the highest load, as the higher the load capacity the stronger and heavier the machine.

I have a very similar problem I've had 3 in 6 years and I could never work out what I did wrong

Someone said to me don't use short cycles and I didn't with the second one.

Right now using beko but it's going the same way as the last

Definitely some 'more expensive at the point of purchase' brands are worth it in terms of long-term useful life. I have a Samsung add-wash (the kind with the little door into which you can add that odd sock that fell out of the pile of washing on the stairs after you've started the wash programme). It's not the top of the range of that particular model (as in it's not 'smart home' friendly, and I can't control it from my phone) but it's been going strong now for at least 4 years and has never needed any engineer input. And it's been used at least once every day since I bought it! (Busy house, 5 people, lots of washing!).

Yes, it cost a bit more than some initially, but its been worth it in terms of hassle-free washing over the last 4+ years! I would recommend it to anyone in a heartbeat.

Interestingly, the guy I use for all my electrical repairs (independent, does washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers, ovens, tvs...) says that washing machines are definitely not 'built to last' any longer. Many use cheap plastic parts, whereas before they used materials that lasted longer, and the average '5 year usage' stats many brands boast is based on 2 washes a week over those 5 years! I mean, unless you're a single person, who only does 2 washes a week?!

6 washing machines
2 years

Ergo some last less than 6 months

What are the retailer doing about it ?

Are they exchanging for the exact same model which has some major flaw?

Bosch here 5.5 years and has never gone wrong.

My Hotpoint machines have always been amazing. We have just bought a new one after around 10 years, the previous one we had for 12. We have only ever had to replace the brushes occasionally.

I have my 3rd load of the day in it atm. You seem to have been incredibly unlucky. Glad you are getting a new one.

Take a look at Haier washers. Slightly more expensive than the cheapest Hotpoint but fantastic quality and very quiet. Mine was from AO.

By coincidence several close family members including me bought Indesits around the same time. I didn’t expect much given the price but they are all almost 10 years old.

I'm on hold to get the £600 Bosch. Fingers crossed it will last. They can deliver on Wednesday, disconnect the old and fit the new one. It will cost me an extra £200 but hopefully it will be worth it.

I currently have a Beko dryer which is fine and Bosch Dishwasher which is also fine.

If this one goes I'm going to put a cupboard in the void and spend £70 a week on Laundryheap (obviously I'm not).

Beko is a budget brand but I have one because I needed a washer and absolutely could not afford more than £300 not even on a credit card or anything
it’s absolutely fine and lasted well!
My mum has smeg appliances and her dishwasher has broken twice in two years and her washer been repaired twice !
ive heard Samsung washers are great. When our cheapy one goes we will pop a more expensive one on a card as it will save money in the long run

Thursday guys! Thursday is THE DAY!

new Bosch and I paid for them to do all the business because I'm frankly over it all.

Thank you for letting me vent.

Good luck!
I disagree with pp who say it's a false economy to buy cheaper white goods. Apart from this last one I have never spent more than £350 on a machine and they have all lasted 5 plus years, even when there were 5 of us in the home. The improvements between machines over the years between years is startling. In terms of the water used/power used and time the cycles take. I wouldn't want to be using 15 year old technology today when it comes to washing machines.

@FirstnameSuesecondnamePerb to be fair I only paid for the original and one replacement, so whilst extremely inconvenient at least it hasn't cost me stupid money.

It depends what you need. Washing machines add water and detergent, agitate your clothes then rinse and spin them. Most people don't need the latest blue tooth technology and I'd also point out that the oh so helpful technology that lets you start your washing machine on the train home also tells the manufacturer that yes you did overload it and actually you use it 3 x a day not just once a week.

However brands like Miele use better quality components and test them to destruction. You should get 20 years standard use from a Miele - which is why they cost more to start with.

We’ve got all Bosch white goods and they are lovely , hope your new machine works out for you @Washingmachinewoe

That's crazy. I bought a Samsung because they come with a five year guarantee. I've had it nearly six years and never had a problem. My previous one was an AEG and I had nothing but trouble with it.

One major reason that modern washing machines break is their too-large capacity. They are fine if you actually put 9kg washing in at once, but if you just put in a half load then it can damage the bearings and burn out the motor when it spins as it is unbalanced. An unbalanced load would be eg 5 pairs of socks and a bath towel. A better balanced load would be 3 bath towels and 5 socks...

A good washing machine with a huge capacity will simply not spin a small, unbalanced load, but a bad one will keep trying until it breaks itself.

So don't buy a massive capacity machine unless you really do wash large loads.

Here are some useful tips for extending it's life. We do a drum clean every other month at least which starts with a cup of bleach on the drum clean cycle. Followed by a cup of white vinegar on a quick cycle and clean the lint trap.

blog.domesticandgeneral.com/articles/how-to-extend-the-lifetime-of-your-washing-machine/

This is very good advice indeed. And I'd be willing to bet good money that many, many loads of washing fit into the 'not enough to use the machine's capability properly' criteria, if the threads on here about people doing eleventy-million loads a week are to be believed.

We are on our 3rd washing machine in 36 years.
1st was a Bendix Electroluxthink I got the name right it lasted 13 years. 2nd was a AEG which lasted 10 years. 3rd and current machine is also a AEG still going strong and now at 13 years. When it goes was thinking of getting a Bosch or Siemens