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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to buy a new washing machine without first getting a man to come and look at the broken one?

46 replies

Spidermama · 05/04/2010 10:13

I have a build up of washing. My old LG washing machine seems to have been winding down of late. For weeks now there's been a grinding noise when it spins.

Last night it span for too long. The 3-minutes-left counter was on for about an hour.

It made some terrible noises then I finally turned it off at the wall. There was a smell of burning and the clothes inside smell of burning.

We've had this machine for about 8 years so I reckon it's all over and I should just go at get a new one. DH thinks I should get a man to look at it. Even if I found a man, he'd charge a third of the price of a new machine to fix it only for something else to go wrong.

Some extra info:

dh is away for a month.
It's my birthday today. He forgot.

So I reckon I'm off to Currys this morning for my birthday. AIBU?

DH thinks I should call someone to look at the old machine.

OP posts:
WidowWadman · 05/04/2010 10:15

When my washing machine brok3e after 4 years of use we replaced it, as we figutred that would be more economical, seeing as how high call out charges and how low the price of new machine is.

Original poster
Spidermama · 05/04/2010 10:16

My thoughts exactly WW. Four years! That's not a great innings is it?

OP posts:
bigstripeytiger · 05/04/2010 10:16

I agree. Even if you did pay to get it fixed you are still left with an eight year old machine.

porcamiseria · 05/04/2010 10:17

i am afraid so, had same dilemma, they are not built to last

get a few service washes done as your b day treat!

CarGirl · 05/04/2010 10:17

8 years old? I wouldn't bother getting it looked it either. Not to mention it can take a month by the time they come out, order the parts, come back to fix etc etc

WidowWadman · 05/04/2010 10:17

Nope, but it was a cheapie, so not surprised. Spent a little more on the new one and hope it'll last longer.

MilkNoSugarPlease · 05/04/2010 10:17

YADNBU although Id pick up some chocolate OR new clothes to go in the washing machine, as a birthday gift to yourself

Happy Birthday!

MilkNoSugarPlease · 05/04/2010 10:18

Clearly NOT chocolate IN the washing machine though! otherwise you WILL be paying call out charges

CarGirl · 05/04/2010 10:19

As we have a family of 6 I always go for the 5 year insurance thing that way I know I have a machine guaranteed to work for 5 years. The previous one they had to replace after 2 years as the brain was very very sick and they couldn't fix it!

bronze · 05/04/2010 10:20

I dunno. I have an LG that I fixed myself. Its 9 years and still going strong. You may find fixed it lasts longer than buying another one does the way they seem to be made these days

bronze · 05/04/2010 10:23

I would be peed off that he forgot your birthday though

fluffles · 05/04/2010 10:23

i've never had good news from a washing machine repair man - can't count how many call out charges i've spent just to be told the damn things are fucked

unless you think it could be a jammed underwire or similar then i'd give up on it. it utterly galls me to say that as i'd much rather repair and reuse older machines and hate sending them to the recycling/tip when you can never be sure where they'll end up

Original poster
Spidermama · 05/04/2010 10:23

Good idea cargirl.

I also have a family of six. PLUS the washing machine was broken in the cottage last week so I have a full week's washing to do. PLUS I got back to find the cats had sprayed everywhere so I have to wash all the bedding.

Thanks for your support everyone. I'm off to Currys via Thorntons.

OP posts:
Original poster
Spidermama · 05/04/2010 10:25

fluffle I know what you mean. It seems such a waste. Currys claim they recycle old ones so handy if they can just do a swap.

OP posts:
CarGirl · 05/04/2010 10:26

Problem is as the dc get older their clothes get bigger then dd1 turned 13 and the amount of clothes she gets through now I feel like I spend my life washing!

BendyBob · 05/04/2010 10:26

Mine died yesterday too aged 10 years (RIP) It deserves some sort of medal.

Ours too was making awful grinding clanking noises too for some time before the drum finally seized up yesterday and a terrible din when it was spinning.

I don't think it's worth trying to fix a machine 8-10 yrs old. Got another one on order last night and they take the old one away.

JustMyTwoPenceWorth · 05/04/2010 10:30

YABU to buy a washing machine for your birthday! That's setting The Cause back to the 1950's

1 visit to look and see what part you need, £50. part £30. 1 visit to fix it, £50. total £130

And that's if it's a small part, if there's no callout fee, if the repair person actually sorts it on the first go! so £100-£200+ to fix an 8 yr old machine.

New machine £300. ish. (You can get them from £150 of course. but they won't last long)

It's a false economy to try to fix this one. Appliances aren't built to last a lifetime any more. Years ago it was worth it, because manufacturers made things to last. It was a major purchase. Repairs were cheaper. Things would routinely last 20 or 30 years. Nowadays they are designed to last less than 5, so you'll go out and buy a new one.

elmofan · 05/04/2010 10:31

Happy birthday x

i would get a new machine , my machine broke down last year , it was 4 years old & Dh wanted to get it repaired , i rang the company that made the machine & they sent out a technician , he came out the same day which was good but charged me €90 & as i handed him over the money he told me the part only cost €10 the other €80 was his fee for coming out
the machine lasted another 6 months then i went out & bought a new one .
oh and i was told the integrated washing machines only usually last for 4-5 years .

emsyj · 05/04/2010 10:41

I would go out and buy a Miele... 10 year guarantee! That's what my mum did when her 20 year old Hotpoint top loader gave up the ghost, and she's never looked back . I've got one too and I love it a little bit more than I love DH....

PfftTheMagicDragon · 05/04/2010 10:46

I'm getting a Miele next time. Ours has been dying for the last 6 months but DH refuses to accept it. Wobby drum, grinding noises, broken programmer (which we have replaced at a £60 cost) and is now broken again, continual blockages.

ChasingSquirrels · 05/04/2010 10:48

I just got a new one, mine was 13 years old.

nannynick · 05/04/2010 10:48

YANBU - Get yourself a lovely new machine.

I recently had my washer repaired... £60, to replace a £7 belt (I looked up the part on the net). My machine was only 3 years old though, so I figured it may get another few years out of it - plus there was not a burning smell!

As you have had a burning smell, time to replace... these things are not built to last anymore (unless you get one of the really expensive ones which have a 10 year warranty). So 8 years is a good innings.

lotster · 05/04/2010 10:53

Whatever you do get one with a handwash cycle - makes life so much easier!

muggglewump · 05/04/2010 10:58

I've just bought a second hand one for £50, my 9yr old Zanussi was going to be £144 to fix just the washer part, or £189 if I wanted the drier bit fixed too.

The one I now have has a higher spin speed than my old one, is only a year old and it's a bosch so pretty good, plus it was sitting unused for most of the year. My boss and her brother plumbed it in for me, so I only really wasted the £25 call out charge but then they (call out people) got rid of the old machine for me.

emsyj · 05/04/2010 11:01

All the Miele ones have a handwash cycle and a 30 minute express wash....