Kenmore Washer - 500 Review

I gathered from your initial posting that the majority of your animosity towards the Kenmore product was based on customer service. Seems I was fairly accurate. Although it still doesn't bode well that you couldn't even get one good appliance out of Sears with a Kenmore badge on it.

I too hope for another 10 good years of service. But believe me... if not, Whirlpool will be the first I call. I have an issue dealing with local stores... especially around where I live. The stores here are all locally owned as we are a small city. Contrary to popular belief that doesn't always make things better. They often find it a hassle if there is a potential for lost funds. But in all honesty I have yet to deal with ours. It may be a good experience or it may not. I guess only time will tell.

Best of luck in your future appliance ventures!!!

7)
I apologize for being rather arrogant. I'm an Architect and I frequently see and hear about instances just like this when there are usually other underlying factors. In a situation like this, there is way to much going on behind the scenes than to simply point a finger directly at Kenmore... maybe Sears for poor customer service. But in any instance, you can easily find out what factory produced the unit and take it up to the next level to get the problem corrected. Yes, doing so is a pain but in the long run which is worse: you despising a store brand because the store didn't help resolve the matter or taking the extra time and dealing with the manufacturer to resolve the matter? Sure most manufacturers tell you to go back to the retailer first, however, they will all get involved need be to ensure the retailer provides the customer service the manufacturer feels the customer deserves. After all, the manufacturers name relies more on it than the store... they have a lot more vested in the matter with many other stores and customers. Believe me, being the little guy doesn't mean that the big guy won't help you. It's roughly 1 in 10,000 units that they don't and that 1 is usually because of the attitude of the customer.

6)
Maybe you should have researched them more (it's obvious you do research as you read a consumer reports article...) so that you purchased a higher grade appliance because maybe you are harder on them than you realize? Or, maybe it has nothing to do with the appliance or you at all? Maybe your new home has "dirty power" which would often short electrical components in large appliances randomly. Maybe your new home has extremely hard water which would allow your dishwasher to not effectively work? Maybe the reason you love your Amana so much now is that it's new again and it hasn't had time to fail? I understand that you had two Kenmore fridges replaced... where they faulty upon instantly plugging them in?

5)
In all honesty, the Kenmore products you complain about are no less than there brethren with a different badge and decal. Although, it is possible you may have received the lemons of the line... although I'd find that hard to believe considering you are complaining about all your Kenmore appliances which would include roughly 3 differing factories. I doubt all 3 had a bad day at the same time outfitting your new home with all junk appliances? Again, this sounds more like your own animosity towards Kenmore stemmed from your Sears experience perhaps when getting them fixed and/or replaced?

4)
All that said, all models made identical to the Kenmore 500 for instance (my 10 year old model is identical to my new model) are built using the same methods and parts, there is no diversity other than a couple buttons, badge, and a sticker that some guy at the end of the production line slaps on the unit. Literally slapping them on, have you ever noticed how crooked and wrinkled a serial number tag can be on some appliances? Same goes for refrigerators, although I believe they all come from their Michigan plant. Anyway, that means all like models are equal as they leave the factory. They don't just throw in a few random parts here and there to lessen the quality of a Kenmore vs. a Maytag. Imagine the rebuttal that would take place if they did... there are hundreds of thousands of Sears customers who could have easily gone to Home Depot and bought the same product for the same price with a different name... but they didn't. It's like Chrysler, the 300C, 300 Touring, Magnum, and Charger all were produced in succession to the next without any change to the assembly line. Therefore, not one of them was superior to the next and when one was plagued with fault, all of them where plagued with fault. Again, off queue but it shows the point.

3)
Anyway, here's where I owe an apology. Each of the brands I mentioned in my initial reply I mentioned as superior with exception of the Amana. In essence, they are truly 100% equals. Giving you the perks here as you stated their equality. For instance, you state an instance of appliance being identical to the Amana which you own. Then further claim the Amana being the better product which is nearly impossible. Take for instance all Whirlpool Top Load Washers and Dryers are produced in their Ohio factory. They are built on the same line regardless of what label they leave with. Granted, Whirlpool Corporation is like many others who outsource small parts to cheap companies, they aren't swapping parts randomly into the production line of the Kenmores instead of the Maytags. That costs more to do than they are willing to spend, guaranteed.

2)
All this goes beyond the stickers a and the model numbers shown. The page you cited and its support link merely identify brand reference, I.E. a Maytag identical to a Whirlpool and so on. It also boasts about the brands they have acquired over the years. But it doesn't identify where items are made or any further variations thereof. It even goes as far as saying manufacturing arrangements are constantly changing... yeah, not so true. Does anyone know how much it costs to rearrange factory equipment? If this were the case, then GM may have changed its equipment so it could finally build a vehicle to the same quality and specifications of the foreign car market. Instead, it costs to much so they'd rather pay laborers $100k a year to sit and install a plastic door panel and still build a crappy car... I apologize, that was an off point comment.

1)
Wow, I'm glad to see you are learning about "house brands" aka "brands made specifically for box store retailers". Most people don't understand this tactic. This is a much bigger game than most people are aware of. I'll apologize for not elaborating on where my comment came from. There is a lot more to it if you are going to cross reference identities of appliances and state them as equal. I'll admit, I posted incorrectly as well as it appears your grief goes beyond the unit and its manufacturer.

I'm going to respond with a novel... sorry to take so much of your time, but you might find it worth reading. Due to limitations of this site, I have pasted paragraphs using a number showing order.

For starters... Amana is not a Kenmore product. It's manufactured by Whirlpool who also manufactures Maytag and Jenn-Air. All of which are superior products. Perhaps you should know more about what you claiming as equal. Besides, I love my 500 series washer and dryer. Just replaced an older set of 500's that where roughly 10 years old.