Washing machines - call for opinions

[celticdragonfly]

Looks like selenite and I may be about to buy a new washing machine.

Short form - our 9+ year old washer has problems, repair dude said it'd cost $280-odd to fix it. That's probably more than half the cost of a new one, we're thinking.

So we're going to be looking into replacement. Maybe shopping some tonight, maybe later. Not sure where yet, either.

Anyway. The old one is a large capacity. I'd *like* to get a MEGA capacity, but doubt I can afford that, but I gotta have the large capacity.

Other than that - suggestions? Advice? Avoid brand X? Make sure we get one with those nifty new Left-handed Dingleboppers that they didn't have 9 years ago? Talk to me, people.

EDIT: On the various advice about frontloaders - it occurs to me that might really help with the "training Maggie to help with the laundry more" plan. Hm. How do you put the soap into those things?

Comments

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Look at one of those places ... oh, heck, can't remember the name but there's one in Grapevine Mills Mall ... that sells appliances with scratches and stuff. I got my washer and dryer for $300 lower than they sell in regular stores because they had scratches on the front. (Like I care about scratches? I'm not featuring my washer and dryer in the living room...)

Will go look for the name of the place I got them. I ended up paying about $750ish pre-tax for the set, I think, and it's a pretty big capacity, at least extra-large.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Oh, duh. Sears Appliance Outlet.

[celticdragonfly.livejournal.com]

Do they end up with any warranty? Because that was one of the appealing things about replacement.

I do know that the coupon won't work there, but it might come out better anyway, I suppose.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

I don't remember - it was about three years ago. I didn't get one, but with just me washing my own laundry instead of a family's amount of laundry, there's less chance anything would go wrong and I doubt I would have gotten one if it were offered, so that's not a sign they don't offer them.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

And I second the front-loading thing that everyone else says - my mom has one and I love it. I have a hard time reaching socks on the bottom of my washier if they're behind the spindle, because I'm only about 5'1". :)