Reconditioning washing machines is a good idea, especially in these throwaway times. Unfortunately though, economics are affecting the true viability of reconditioning washing machines. As many new washing machines continue to get cheaper (and less repairable) it becomes more expensive to recondition them to a high standard, and much less attractive to customers to buy one reconditioned.

For example, you can currently buy a new budget washing machine for £199 with a 2 year guarantee and free delivery.

Having said that, there are two scenarios where a reconditioned washing machine could be a viable alternative to buying new.

1. If it is a much better quality washing machine than a new budget washing machine and has a good after sales backup from a trusted repair company (usually the one selling it)
2. If even £199 is too much, ether because of current finances or the circumstances surrounding the washing machine requirement

Reconditioning quality washing machines such as Miele would be perfectly viable and produce washing machines that could last longer and give a better service than a new budget one. Unfortunately the cost of spare parts for these washing machines, and the lack of discarded examples to recondition (because they last so long and there are relatively few sold) mean it's not really viable. I don't know of any company reconditioning real quality washing machines.

If you want to spend even less than £199 on a washing machine you are likely to need to buy second hand or reconditioned. To my knowledge, few people truly recondition a washing machine like you could in the 1980s and early 1990s. ( I used to recondition Hoover washing machines in the 80s & 90s, and would always fit a new armature and carbon brushes in the motor, new drum bearings, door seal, control panel and trims, drain hose and any other part that was worn such as suspension, pumps etc. ) To recondition a modern Hoover washing machine like that now would cost more than I could buy a brand new one for. Many "reconditioned" or "refurbished" washing machines are now just washing machines that have been repaired (sometimes for as little as possible using second hand parts).

Reconditioning washing machines on a large scale though, may produce reasonably priced cheap washing machines but I can't see how you can get a quality product with a decent life expectancy for some of the prices advertised. I've seen reconditioned washing machines advertised "from as little as £59". Even if they got the washing machine for free, and did nothing but clean it up and deliver it to you I can't see how they can make a proper profit out of £59 - they then have to guarantee the washer for usually 3 months. When most companies charge up to £30 just to deliver a washing machine and many repairers charge around £59 just to come out and do a regular repair it's hard to see how it's viable to be able to sell reconditioned washing machines at such low prices.

So unfortunately the economics of it all just no longer work. How can you recondition a washing machine that only costs £250 to buy new with a 2 year guarantee (Bosch for example) and sell it significantly cheaper whilst making a decent profit? One would need to be about half the price to be an attractive buy but by the time you've obtained a machine for reconditioning, reconditioned it, cleaned it up and delivered it and guaranteed it there's little more money in it than carrying out an average simple repair to an existing one.

Having said all that I know there are some decent repairmen and shops trying to supply recon machines in areas where some people may not be able to afford new so If you have a trusted local repairer and need a reconditioned one it may be worth trying if you really can't afford new.

If anyone knows of a good source of properly reconditioned good quality washing machines please Contact.