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WARNING - Miele's terrible customer service and build quality

16 replies

GiddySheep · 07/12/2024 11:41

I bought a whole kitchen of top end Miele appliances. I'd always heard about it's good service and build quality. However, I've learnt that's not the case.

They don't respond to emails and, when they do, they only do so after you print the emails and send them to them by registered post l!!

The latest problem is with an oven. After 3 years of normal use the door lock failed and jammed the door. Technician said he thought it was caused by heat exposure (it's an oven) and replaced it with an upgraded part as they don't fit the old one anymore. Charged over £500 for this (over 25 % of the cost of the oven). When customer service finally bothered to respond, they explained, in summary, Miele can't guarantee it's products don't come with faults, it's usual for parts like this to fail so soon and, if it doesn't break in the first few months, the parts in the product must have been fine. The general attitude is just accept we're right and everything we sell is perfect.

Prior to this, the induction hob failed just after a year of use. Whilst Miele replaced it, this was through gritted teeth as it was over a year old.

I want to flag this to everyone so you don't fall for the sales pitch. The products may be nice, but the build quality has gone downhill (but the price keeps going up) and the customer service is horrendous. I won't buy anything from them again and will actively warn people about this. If you do buy from Miele, just get ready to key paying for expensive repairs until you get fed up and replace it. Also, if you get customer service to respond (but don't get your hopes up as they prefer to ignore emails) just be prepared for blunt responses that are designed to get rid of you.

Just to add, I get that an oven won't last forever but at this price point and with it's marketing blurb it has to last for more than 3 years of use without breaking.

OP posts:
shockeditellyou · 07/12/2024 11:45

I’m always very skeptical of people raving about Miele build quality. Tales of 20+ year old appliances only tell you that build quality was great 20 years ago!

In the case of washing machines, you could buy a bottom of the line Beko, run it until it dies (several years at least) and replace it three times for the cost of one high end Miele. I don’t think the cost benefit ratio stacks up at all.

p1l1l · 07/12/2024 11:50

I tend to go with cheap ish - mid appliances. Not the cheapest, but still not expensive. That way, if and when they break, I can replace them with similar and not break the bank. I only have one Miele thing and it’s a small vacuum cleaner - and it wasn’t expensive.

KittenPause · 07/12/2024 11:56

I recently bought a Miele heat pump dryer and I love it

I wouldn't ever buy an oven or hob from them though

I'd buy another Neff oven - mines lasted 17 years but that's what they specialise in

KittenPause · 07/12/2024 11:59

Thank you for flagging it though and I'm sorry this has happened

It's very annoying considering the cost

And no I won't be buying a job or oven from them in the future

But I might buy my fridge freezer, dishwasher and washing machine from them once they breakdown

My Bosch integrated dishwasher has also lasted 17 years and still going strong

KittenPause · 07/12/2024 12:01

I have a small miele hoover from them which has the strongest suction ever and is brilliant and was just a normal hoover price way cheaper than those rubbish Dyson ones

JC03745 · 07/12/2024 12:03

The warranties used to be 10yrs or 20yrs, so they did have a reputation for longevity and good built quality. We recently renovated and installed all Miele and so far so good.

Its the was 'customer service' I found dreadful. Long queues on their phone lines and when they took the details, they cocked up the order. Firstly, they addressed the order something hilariously wrong like Mrs Boaty McBoatface. Our address is 'Orchard House, Smith Lane, Oyster Cove'. They addressed it to 'Orchard Lane, Oyster Cove' and a random post code!

When I called to tell them the details were wrong, they said they couldn't amend it on the order nor notify the driver. They said that when the driver had gone up and down that road and realised there was no house number/name, then he 'might' call me to get the correct address!!!

Meant to say, Miele do have a factory outlet. The stock changes daily and some is brand new. If you have a bluelight card, you get 20% off their regular stock, but you need to ring up to order it.

RandomMess · 07/12/2024 12:03

Yes the cylinder hoovers are still good but know that the more expensive models you are paying for the electric rather than manual dials etc. Sebo are also supposedly very reliable and good.

Nothing seems to have the quality build of 20/30 years ago sadly.

WorldMap24 · 07/12/2024 12:06

I brought a Miele hoover under the guise of superior quality and lasting for years. It was in the tip after having it one year. It broke earlier on (after maybe 6 months) and i got it fixed under warranty, but it took six weeks! The customer service experience was the worst I'd ever experienced, so when the same thing happened a few months later I couldn't be bothered with the hassle and binned it. Will never buy anything Miele ever again.

KittenPause · 07/12/2024 12:12

Just to add my ceramic hob has also lasted 17 years and it was an unknown random brand called Schott (ceran ) from curry's and has been used practically every single day. It was a normal price

GiddySheep · 07/12/2024 12:21

@KittenPause Do watch out on the washing machine. Miele has some terrible customer reviews and feedback for some of its latest washing machines.

OP posts:
GiddySheep · 07/12/2024 12:25

@JC03745 You're right on the outlet, but there is a risk you're buying a returned item that was defective and "fixed" if you read the product guarantees. As such, just make sure your getting enough discount to ensure taking the risk is worth it. If the customer service is terrible when you buy new, suspect it'll be even worse when you buy from the outlet.

OP posts:
GiddySheep · 07/12/2024 12:26

RandomMess · 07/12/2024 12:03

Yes the cylinder hoovers are still good but know that the more expensive models you are paying for the electric rather than manual dials etc. Sebo are also supposedly very reliable and good.

Nothing seems to have the quality build of 20/30 years ago sadly.

I agree. I'm happy to pay more that something works well and lasts a long time. Everyone talks about sustainability and the best way to achieve that is through make products that last.

OP posts:
KittenPause · 07/12/2024 12:26

I have a Bosch washing machine it's the new dryer that's Miele and it has excellent reviews

KittenPause · 07/12/2024 12:27

I like my appliances to be as simple as possible so there's less to go wrong

KittenPause · 07/12/2024 12:32

I'm on my 3rd or 4th fridge freezer though

I got so fed up that I just bought a basic Candy one and its been fine

The DC were always leaving the bloody doors open so the frost free part kept getting knackered

So I bought the Candy because it didn't have the frost free - again I just thought keep it simple

RandomMess · 07/12/2024 15:00

@WorldMap24 😱 that's awful!

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