Dishwasher - Do You Get What You Pay for ?

Ldealnunja on 11/10/2022 - 23:38

Hi all,

I haven't been on the market for a dishwasher for 20years+ but it's now time for a new one.

There is so much choice at pretty much every price range, it's a jungle…

My requirements are quite simple:

  • Standard 60cm width
  • Stainless steel
  • Nothing fancy, just something durable, with good cleaning capabilities
  • As cheap as possible, preferably below <$1k

In many industries, psychological pricing is widely exploited. Just curious to know if this is case for dishwashers.

  • Do you have any brand/model that you would recommend (or avoid) ?
  • Is there really a big difference between an 'el cheapo' and a Bosh or a more reputable brand ?
  • Anyone in the same boat who found a good deal ?

Thank you for your inputs!

Home & Garden Dishwasher

Comments

  • Benoffie on 11/10/2022 - 23:56
    +2

    Got a FP Dish Drawer. Would buy again. Still going after 15 years plus I hate other dishwashers that require days of dishes to run a full load.

    But it depends on your family and living habits.

    Edit - jut checked the price - wow have they gone up! But totally worth it.

    • netjock on 12/10/2022 - 11:29

      Cost me $800 to fix one think it is an 8 year old model. Depends on your luck. Considering it is $1400 each unit (for a half size) plus cost to fix one out of warranty.

      Plus the form factor actually gives you limited options on replacements. Wouldn't buy non standard size dishwashers.

    • Euphemistic on 12/10/2022 - 15:19
      +1

      Contrary opinion: I hated the FP dish drawer that was in the house we bought. It lasted about 3 months before replacing.

      Felt like it was forever being filled or emptied or run. Couldn’t fit large items in as well. Could only fit our dinner plates in one location so really limited what else we could fit in. No good for a family.

  • Bargainitis on 12/10/2022 - 00:06
    +4

    I have a Bosch series 8. Works like a charm. I would recommend the Bosch range - the series 6 I think are made in Germany. Get that one. I think its worth the money if you can fork out. You will use it for many years to come.

  • YTW on 12/10/2022 - 00:56
    +1

    Was going to say you can't go past a Dishlex for an excellent dishwasher at a cheap price, but it looks like they're no longer being sold. If you can find one (maybe floor stock or at an outlet) then I'd go for one of them. Otherwise I'd just look for one with a lot of good reviews in the price-bracket I'm willing to spend. Dishwashers can be crap and spending a lot of money on a known brand doesn't necessarily protect you from getting a badly designed one. People generally rate Bosch as being good, but my mum had a $1,200 (10 yrs ago) one that was awful. It was loud, did a rubbish job of cleaning and took forever. I'm guessing it was just that particular model that sucked.

    • JimB on 12/10/2022 - 10:59

      I was going to recommend Dishlex.. used a couple of them at AirBnBs and they were surprisingly good.

      I suppose their sister brand Westinghouse would be the new entry level dishwashers of the Electrolux group.

  • AustriaBargain on 12/10/2022 - 01:21
    +2

    Say what you want about Meile, but their machines last a long time and their reps are so keen to please customers that they'll likely help you fix anything that's obviously not your fault for a long time after warranty, and even stuff that is your fault sometimes. When was the last time you were on a first name basis with a Samsung or Westinghouse rep after buying one of their products?

    They treat you good because the margins on the products are fantastic and it's worth giving you good support for free if you buy more of their way overpriced stuff. But it's good stuff at least, mostly. You still need to do your research on specific models.

    • tommy42069 on 12/10/2022 - 09:11
      +1

      I found precisely the opposite - a control board went on my 3 year old Miele and they wanted $850 to replace it (having already charged a $150 inspection fee). The washer was only about $1200 new. They claimed that cockroaches caused it - I asked them what evidence they had for this and they could not provide any.

      • mini2 on 12/10/2022 - 12:06

        I reckon you could've gone down the ACL path since Miele sells warranty "certificates" thingie that extend the factory warranty from 2 to 4 years.

        • Euphemistic on 12/10/2022 - 15:21

          Our Miele had a ‘20yr design life’ slogan on it. I reckon modern Aussie consumer law would mean it’s covered for a bit more than 3 years.

  • DannyC on 12/10/2022 - 03:38
    +2

    Was deciding between a Bosch series 4 vs series 6. In the end decided on the cheaper series 4. The extra features n it being made in Germany of the series 6 wasn't worth the extra $350-400.

    Series 4 does the job well and pricing was a big factor in it in our decision. Hopefully it'll last us as we use it a lot.

    • r0nmac on 14/10/2022 - 17:15

      With ebay 20% / Afterpay, that difference is more like $200.
      I would absolutely pay that just for the cutlery drawer.

      Made in Germany is a bonus.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 12/10/2022 - 08:26
    +3

    IMHO from cheapies to midrange ~$800 they clean fairly much the same.

    Biggest differences from the cheapies and a decent midrange (ie. Bosch - highly recommend)

    • Noise - cheaper ones will be loud
    • Drying quality - cheaper ones generally crap
    • Durability of interior - racks and slides are more fragile in cheaper models
    • Filter quality - generally will never have to clean or remove on a midrange
    • Warranty - if something breaks on the cheapie out of warranty it will probably be hard rubbish
    • iamherenow on 12/10/2022 - 09:21
      +3

      Filter quality - generally will never have to clean or remove on a midrange

      That's the big one for me. On cheap ones you are constantly cleaning spinners, filters, spinner outlets. On the good one I now have I've never needed to do any of this. And when I check the filter thinking it must be time for a clean it is spotless.

      • netjock on 12/10/2022 - 11:32

        I think filters are there for a purpose and if you have stuff getting stuck it means you are throwing plates with too much solids inside.

        • iamherenow on 12/10/2022 - 12:02

          The cheap one couldn't deal with anything on the dishes, and it would need constant attention. The better one can deal with more crud on dishes AND needs no regular cleaning of filters or spinners. Haier VS Asko.

        • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 12/10/2022 - 12:24

          My primary Bosch 4 series, I've only had to clean the filter once in 3 years, and that was because about 2l of bolognese went in the dishwasher by accident, and even then it was only a few pieces of pasta to pick out. On a cheapie probably would have had to clean and run 1-2 cycles through the machine to clean it.

    • r0nmac on 14/10/2022 - 17:16
      +1

      Ill add "cutlery drawer" to this list. Once you have used it, you cant go back to the basket.

      • Euphemistic on 15/10/2022 - 15:19

        As long as your cutlery draw is within reach of the dishwasher. Ours is three steps away so the basket is easier.

        • r0nmac on 15/10/2022 - 20:37

          I'm talking about the cutlery rack inside the dishwasher. I don't understand why manufacturers treat it as a premium requirement

          • Euphemistic on 15/10/2022 - 21:49

            @r0nmac: Yes, the cutlery draw/tray that costs height in dishwasher space and is a lot bigger to deal with if your cutlery draw is not immediately next to the dishwasher.

            For me, the basket is more convenient.

  • altomic on 12/10/2022 - 08:49
    +2

    4 years ago when i bought my house it came with a 10 year old LG dishwasher. great machine until it died 6 months ago due to a leak/crack in the base which caused power to short and trip the fuse.

    a friend gave me a brand new but non-functional kogan dishwasher (the water inlet valve was faulty - the inlet valve is built into the water connection hose- friend had called kogan and they sent a new replacement but told her to keep the brand new "old" one). i transplanted the inlet hose from my broken LG into the kogan and installed it.

    The kogan dishwasher is slighter louder (stll very quiet) compared to the LG.
    The kogan doesn't dry as well as the LG - but i just leave the door open+racks out for a few hours and that is solved.
    The kogan hold as much stuff as the LG (as well as my large dinner plates).

    the kogan machine was free so I'm quite satisfied with it as a dishwasher

    • spal on 12/10/2022 - 09:02

      Free beats it all.

  • Duckie2hh on 12/10/2022 - 09:14
    +4

    Bought a second hand Bosch for $80. perfectly runs well.

    • drhip on 15/10/2022 - 22:17

      You mean $800?

      • Duckie2hh on 15/10/2022 - 23:30

        Nope $80 off facebook.

  • JimB on 12/10/2022 - 10:56

    I believe there is a small difference but not a big one.

    The only issue is trying to gauge reliability. I would expect 10+ years out of a dishwasher.

    I would recommend German Made Bosch or lower model Miele.

    Otherwise spending less and get a Beko (for 5 years warranty) or Westinghouse.

  • Blue Suby on 12/10/2022 - 10:59

    My 12+yo Whirlpool died (German made but no longer made there and fixable) All DW's now have only 2 year warranty and salesman laughed and said most DW's only last 5 years before needing replacement. I ended up with a seconds AEG originally priced @ $2599 for half price and 2 year Guarantee. It washes even sticky stuff like dried on cheese and dishes only need a scrape not rinse and I use every 3rd day ors so. It is extremely quiet-have to listen hard to see if it's actually washing and so far very happy with it. The choice seems to be buy cheap and replace every 5 years or pay a bit extra for a better quality product. BTW all the big stores says service if needed is slow or non existent (can wait 5 months for someone to come out). Check out some of the reviews on Miele and Asko.

    • netjock on 12/10/2022 - 11:33

      BTW all the big stores says service if needed is slow or non existent (can wait 5 months for someone to come out)

      That is the biggest problem is when things go wrong.

  • freefall101 on 12/10/2022 - 11:46

    I lived in a big apartment building where they put the same no-name dishwasher in every apartment, have since moved to a place with a bosch one. The bosch is older but much, much better, it's quieter, more reliable (drain had constant issues and sometimes didn't finish the last cycle properly), and cleans better. Plus has more options, seems to make better use of space internally (it's still 60cm, just fits more and is designed better) and I'd definitely spend the few hundred extra for peace of mind.

  • Drakesy on 12/10/2022 - 11:50
    +1

    What i found, no.

    Had a $1200 Asko - lasted 5 years before carking it.
    Now have a $400 Euromaid - 5 years later and it hasn't skipped a beat.

    • netjock on 12/10/2022 - 13:17

      I think people just want to justify what they spend.

      Just because the dishwasher could flush solids through the tiny drainage pipe doesn't mean it is healthy to do so and probably the filter isn't fine enough to filter for accidents.

      I'd much rather clean out my filters once a month even if there is nothing there for health reasons than have whatever that might stay there.

  • Euphemistic on 12/10/2022 - 15:25

    IMO cheap means fragile parts and hard to service. Expensive doesn’t give good value for money - doesn’t provide additional benefit proportionate to the increase in price.

    Mid range is where it’s at.

  • baker bob on 13/10/2022 - 00:10

    My old apartment had a really old Dishlex that didn't skip a beat and cleaned really well. I almost replaced it when I did a kitchen reno, so glad I didn't. The house I recently moved into has a newer Bosch and it is a complete piece of garbage, constantly having to hand wash stuff that it doesnt clean properly, everyone here seems to be recommending Bosch but I miss my Dishlex.

  • Tiredman on 13/10/2022 - 09:01

    Family have a Bosch i think. Needs to pre rinse all the plates before putting it in. We have an entry level Miele and just throw anything in without rinsing and it comes out clean.

  • dealnunja on 13/10/2022 - 23:11

    Thanks a lot everyone. Some very helpful comments here.

    I'll start the hunt for a bargain!

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