Avoid Washing Machine Problems with BOSCH

[Contrarian]

I thougt german made washers are top class... so I bought BOSCH when they had a promotion.

My 8kg german made machine $1400, 6 mths only, broke down.

Call for service - 8 days lead time. Call their service centre - they tell me too many calls, earliest is this date.

Left my number with the service centre, ask the service manager to call (got his name), he never bother call back.

My previous Electrolux 13 years, got to change due to whole body corrode badly... now product quality extinct liao.

Another reader also similar problem...

we have changed from Bosch sometimes ago due to similar problem....we had dishwasher and washing both from Bosch....after about 1 year or so, they kept breaking down and every time service guy from the company visited to repair it, the bill was typically in excess of $200 for part and labor....soemtime even $400+.....so I thought enough is enough and we have changed brands for both now and very happy ....cheers.

[Jared Seah]

Contrarian,

An interesting post that can be applied to investing too

If a stock we bought turned out to be a lemon...

And we can't turn it into a lemonade...

I guess the next best course of action is do what you have done - change brands!

[Contrarian]

No need to change... I just bought it.

I will give them some 'publicity' - I am sure they will like it...

[nitenite]

thanks for the info as also gona get 1 in the next few weeks :O

btw you may wana 'sell' your news in www.sgclub.com for better publicity effects

[arthur]

German built washing machines or German assembled machines with parts made in China?
Seriously too many components are made in China nowadays.

But what you guys observe is true.
Olden days machinery seems to last far more longer.. that is until companies realised Econ 101, no spoil, no buyers.
Thus, even computers and handphones seems to have lifespans of 3 and 2 years respectively on avg.

[KopiKat]

I thougt german made washers are top class... so I bought BOSCH when they had a promotion.

My 8kg german made machine $1400, 6 mths only, broke down.

I didn't know that German-made Washers were top class! From my limited knowledge, the brand BOSCH, I think is more famous for their Car Stereo in the Electronics products category.

Anyway, $1400 for a washer doesn't sound cheap at all. Especially so nowadays that electronic products are not made to last very much beyond their warranty period.

In my case, I also started with an European brand, Thomson (lasted more than 5 years) but I subsequently replaced it with a Korean brand (Samsung). For an 8kg washer with lots of functions that I ended up not using most of it, it cost something like ~$500 during promo. Even if it only last 2-3 years, it's great value for money (compared to a $1400 one that MAY last 5-7 years).

IMO, Korean brands like Samsung and LG gives the best value for money in the Consumer Electronics arena. They used to lag the Japanese brands badly in the past, but, I don't think that's true anymore. Almost all my Consumer Electronics products have switched from either European / Japanese brands to Korean ones when I had to do a replacement. Some did fail within the warranty period, but, I find the service support + response to be good enough for me.

In case you are not aware, nowadays, in this globalised world, any product, whether European, US, Japanese, Korean, may actually end up having similar components sourced from similar sources (eg. CPUs from Japanese/Korean brands, Passive components from SE Asia/China sources) with manufacturing located in same countries (eg. China, Malaysia, Thailand). There may be little differentiation in the final quality of the product since component sources and place of manufacturing are same-same (only possible difference is the QC standard being implemented).

So, ya, go Korean or maybe even China brands in the future if products are going to just last 2-3 years anyway...

<Vested - in Korean products>
<Not Vested - in Korean stocks>

[Contrarian]

My Italian Electrolux machine lasted 13 years before it died. The machine did not die, the metal rotted to the core!!!

I was about to buy the LG steam washer when Bosch had a promotion that included the vacuum cleaner as part of the promotion.

Yes the korean washers have improved leaps and bounds. Their materials is good quality, they are going the same route as the Japanese. I will not buy the china washers... cannot trust their QC.

Check the website www.renotalk.com, you see a lot more complaints on BOSCH after sales service.

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For white goods, LG is a better bet. My korean colleague told me LG had better technology.

And go for the KOREAN made ones, I am sure Korean steel better than China steel.

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thanks for the info as also gona get 1 in the next few weeks :O

btw you may wana 'sell' your news in www.sgclub.com for better publicity effects

Thank u bro... will do tonight... facebook already have...

Am thinking of wanbao, sinming, new paper... when their sales get hit, they will listen

[CityFarmer]

I had chosen a slightly different brand for my washer 10 years ago, the "Fisher & Paykel", i believe it is a US brand. It is still functioning well after 10 years ;-)

I bought it mainly for its "environment friendly", even it cost more compare with Japanese and Korean brands. It uses less water compare with other brands then

Reliability of more than 10 years seem not a highly seeking feature for consumer product nowaday. It normally get replace to enjoy new technology after probably 3-5 years.

[sgd]

when it comes to home appliances can try singaporebrides forums or wedding forums.

just like forumers here are very knowledgeable when comes to investing, when comes to home appliances some of the ladies and homemakers there are very knowledgeable. we bought our new italian oven based on info there.

best leave such matters to other experts heh!

[Contrarian]

> when it comes to home appliances can try singaporebrides forums or wedding forums.

Yes this + renotalk. I missed the thread on poor bosch service...

Should have gone for the Electrolux 14991 instead or the LG steam washer.

That machine saves water and is energy efficient.