Get Washing Machine Fixed or Get a New One, What Do You Do?

nrg2010 on 08/09/2015 - 13:44
Last edited 08/09/2015 - 15:07 by 1 other user

The last 20% special on ebay coincided with my washing machine packing up. I have kept this baby going for a while, I can even get it to play the the NZ national anthem (it's a F&P). This time things looked more serious. So as any Oz Bargainer I quickly found a great deal including delivery, the 20% off equated to just on $200 saving, and around $150 cheaper then anything else I could buy from a shopfront.

Anyway just before I hit the paypal "buy now button", a wave of earthly stewardship swept over me.
I quickly wrestled the machine into the back of a trailer and took it to the repair shop. A week later and with a Himalayan amount of washing backed up, I transported my refitted washing wonder back home, all fixed up and costing me a princely sum of $170.00.

Well four washes later and the thing has failed again. I will be able to resolve the issue in time, that's not the problem.

The core problem is the amount of time I have wasted and the pain it is not having a washing machine for a week (or two as the case maybe) really makes getting stuff fixed unattractive.

Next time I'll hit that "buy now" button and leave Wall-E to clean up my mess.

Poll Options

  • 28
    Out it goes, now what specials does Oz Bargain have on (new product)?
  • 2
    Hey man, reduce,refuse,recycle. I'll get it fixed....
  • 4
    I'll fix it myself.....errrmmm where did this bit go?
Electrical & Electronics Fisher & Paykel

Comments

  • spackbace on 08/09/2015 - 13:50
    +1

    Depends on how economically viable it is for a fix. A fridge, probably get it fixed. A dvd player, out it goes!

  • nrg2010 on 08/09/2015 - 13:56

    Don't think I'd ever trust a fridge again after it packed up on me!

    • gimli on 08/09/2015 - 14:52
      +6

      That's cold…

  • inherentchoice on 08/09/2015 - 14:01
    +1

    You can list your old machine on eBay with keywords including broken/for parts/repair/not working. Describe the symptoms in the listing. You might be surprised at what it will fetch.

    • fredblogs on 08/09/2015 - 15:56

      I considered that but I'm nervous about a stranger lifting a 70kg washing machine through my apartment and down flights of stairs.

  • lost69 on 08/09/2015 - 14:48
    -2

    You could just you know, wash by hand.

    • ItsMeAgro on 08/09/2015 - 16:51
      +2

      I know it's a joke, but just to belabour the point - there is literally no device in your home that saves you as much time each week as a clothes washing machine.

      • Brouw3r on 11/09/2015 - 16:17

        Water heater?

  • gimli on 08/09/2015 - 14:56

    I think it depends on cost and age of the item. If the repair cost is more than say 20% of the item's cost then you need to think twice.

    Also if it is an old product you have to factor in for the product breaking again as yours did.

    I would just axe your old machine.

    • nrg2010 on 08/09/2015 - 16:41

      yeh,I was thinking about the "write off" cost. I think 20% works for me.

      I was thinking how much time I have spent buggering around with it. If I allow $30 an hour for all the messing around that adds $120 to the cost. Add that to the $170.00 + fuel+ phone calls. I'm upto around 40% of the discount price of a new machine.

      Bah….

  • fredblogs on 08/09/2015 - 15:55

    I'm in exactly the same position and have decided to buy new. But I keep wavering - spend $700 on an LG or spend $1700 on a Bosch?

    • NancyCat on 08/09/2015 - 19:08

      Do you think the Bosch would last twice as long as the LG? And do you think the clothes that a Bosch washes would be twice as clean as the ones wash in an LG?

      • fredblogs on 08/09/2015 - 19:42

        Yes, might last twice as long. I doubt it washes any cleaner though.
        It might wash quicker if it's better at detecting how much water and detergent is needed.

  • oscargamer on 08/09/2015 - 16:37
    +3

    fredblogs (sorry to hijack) - we went through that dilemma and went with an LG WD14022D6. Got it for about $680 with the 20% off ebay thing from TGG.
    Bosch are generally good, but 2 1/2 times better than an LG? some say yes, some say no./….

    • fredblogs on 08/09/2015 - 16:46

      That's the LG I'm looking at - I assume you're happy with it? It was in the middle of choice magazine's list, which is weird because LG WD12021D6 was 2nd.
      You probably won't know whether it was the right decision until 5 years from now.

      One thing I like about the Bosch is i-Dos (load detergent once for 20 washes) which appeals to my laziness.

  • ItsMeAgro on 08/09/2015 - 16:59
    +1

    I replaced the $2 fuse on our old washer and got another year out of it. So fixing it yourself is worth a shot.

    When it finally died we bought a new one for less than $500 delivered. If you've had it for years, that's probably the best option with the price of labour these days.

  • PVA on 08/09/2015 - 17:31

    Well our Gaggia auto coffee machine has packed it in - 12 years old and used heavily almost every day. I can tell by the smell that it wasnt just a blown fuse.
    I am not gunna get it fixed but will buy a new one. Now the trick is finding a deal - no one seems to have machines on sale (non-capsule).
    I will bide my time a thrown down instant until a deal pops up.

    • Roney on 09/09/2015 - 15:56

      My Gaggia auto machine died after 5 years and 3600 cups. The problem is 'electronic board which costs $600+ as it can't be easily sourced' even though the brand is now under Saeco! Unless you know what the actual problem is and fix it, just buy a reputable brand machine which I did.

      • PVA on 09/09/2015 - 19:05

        what did you get to replace it?
        No one seems to have a sale at the moment and the regular stores seem to have the same models.

        • Roney on 10/09/2015 - 00:41

          I went around asking for a better price at HN, RV etc. I was able to get a good discount for a Jura machine. Best flavour from same bean comparison.

        • PVA on 10/09/2015 - 08:59

          @Roney:
          Mate what model and about how much did you pay.
          Jura are pretty expensive but there was one model I was looking at a while back.
          The real cheap one from them can't steam milk.

        • Roney on 11/09/2015 - 01:17

          I know Jura is relatively expensive. But thats what you pay for if you go for quality grinding (important) and known durability. Paid $1300 after some haggling for Impressa F8 last Aug. If you prefer to steam your own milk (generic electric milk frother around $100?), you can get a cheaper Jura model for $800 or less if you can haggle. Suggest you sample between brands and models, bearing in mind that taste could change a lot with grind wear in cheaper machines. Good luck mate.

  • mskeggs on 08/09/2015 - 17:42
    +1

    I take a middle road. I get on youtube and fixya and mend it myself.
    If it is beyond me, or parts are stupidly expensive, I replace.
    Nearly all whitegoods are stupidly easy to fix, and if it is something more tricky, often the repair guys can't do any better.

    • nrg2010 on 08/09/2015 - 17:59
      +1

      yeh, I downloaded the repair manual and learnt the binary error messaging. So when I took it to them I told them it was problem xxxx,I showed them a video I made and told them that I'd already done X,Y and Z (I have a NSW electrical licence).
      I only went ahead with the repairs as they told me that they could fix it.
      But as you say, I'm starting to think that they can't do any better!

      • ItsMeAgro on 12/09/2015 - 15:04

        Yeah, that sounds like way more than most repair guys can manage.

        Professional repairmen learn quickly that most of their profits come from replacing fuses and other "turn it on and the off again" type stuff, for technophobes and grandmas. So some never go beyond what you, the owner, can learn in 30 minutes with a little tinkering and an internet connection.

  • oscargamer on 08/09/2015 - 18:02

    fredblogs - had it all of 3 months

    very quiet, very

    doesn't walk around the laundry like the last one did

    so far so good

  • goosegog on 08/09/2015 - 19:18

    How about a side by side Maytag fridge which has decided lately to start leaking water over the floor on the freezer side whilst also gluing in the freezer basket with ice & now starting to freeze the fridge side too !? This appliance is apx. 15 years old & never had a problem before. So what do we do - buy a new one ( space is an issue there ) or pay out to see if it can be fixed. I'd love a new one but the dimensions are too large for the present opening ( the one we've seen ) which then leads into pulling apart some of the kitchen to make it fit & changing cupboards to accommodate the new fridge which then leads to painting, new tiles, new worktops etc. etc.!!!!!!!!!! Bloody fridge!! + we're off on holiday in 10 days & I'm very worried what we'll find on our return with all this water leakage from the freezer part. Any good technicians out there who could help with a quick fix remedy ? Hubby is a builder who knows many trades & could probably give it a go - time allowing- but would need the suggestion to solve the problem before attempting. PLEASE HELP :( :(

    • Unbranded on 08/09/2015 - 21:47

      Similar issue with my 9 year old side by side Maytag this year, but then it started tripping the switchboard safety switch every 4 hours - I wouldn't risk going away leaving it running if I were you. I replaced it with an excellent Hisense French door fridge which is whisper quiet (Maytags are so noisy), more energy efficient and makes better use of space compared to side by side. My Maytag was one of the shallower models and the Hisense fitted perfectly into the same kitchen cavity nicely.

      • Euphemistic on 09/09/2015 - 10:06

        Our fridge is a similar age. When it packs it in, I'll do a quick bit of research and see if it is an easy fix. If not then time for a new, more energy efficient model. Washing machine is similar, but younger. Attempt a self repair first before replacing. Both items work well and do what I need.

        The dishwasher on the other hand will be straight out the door to replace it with something better (I hate dish drawers). I'm even contemplating ripping it out while still working to flog off and replace, but too busy ATM with other renovation works.

    • twocsies on 10/04/2016 - 01:08

      Old post I know but… 15 year old fridge = replace it! You will save $220 per year on your electricity bill based on a 33 cent/kwh energy bill.

      https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=refrig.calcu…

  • oscargamer on 08/09/2015 - 19:21
    +1

    15yrs old - give it a hug and wave goodbye, before you go on hols

  • stralya on 08/09/2015 - 22:12

    Any laundromats nearby? You could use it in the interim while waiting for a bargain to crop up

  • imcold on 09/09/2015 - 08:14

    Well if its one of the Samsung washing machine that causes fire hazard, you can take it back to the store and get credit for a new machine. That's the only solution.. Getting a plastic bag fix is a short term fix.

  • megadeth on 09/09/2015 - 12:45

    Get a factory second from graysonline etc. We got ours (a Whirlpool) for $300-something eight years ago and it's still going strong.

  • Falchoon on 09/09/2015 - 15:58

    I've got a F&P washing machine that I inherited from my mother ~(not sure how long she had it for) and I've been using it every day for 10 years and it has never missed a beat.

    Be very wary on buying anything from Graysonline, most of the stuff on there is new price (or more) by the time you add buyers premium, GST and freight. The few times I've needed to buy whitegoods I've bought from Appliancesonline - free delivery and will take your old broken appliance away.

  • goosegog on 11/04/2016 - 14:05

    Well guess what - this Maytag is still going - still leaking water over the kitchen floor & freezer veggie. basket still frozen in place. Apart from that it switches on for 15 mins. then sits quietly for apx. 45 mins. ( unless we are opening the doors often )
    What to do as the opening for a new fridge is not as big as needed for a new one that we would choose - which then leads to major renovations & cost . Oh for a lotto win !

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