you are 90% right we are scared to put even £1 on the cost of a machine, but its not because of a price war with anyone else its because £1 onsite is arount £20 by the time it gets to the shop. I know from being a customer that if I can get the same specification machine (1600 spin with 7kg load and 4 easy programs AAA etc...) but I have a choice between a white box with a oval shaped door, a white box with a round door or a graphite box with these 2 options I'm going to go for the one that goes with my kitchen thats £20 cheaper. After all its just a washing machine I'll get 3-5 years and move on or get a new one. Its the throw away society we live in today.
This is the way I think, well did think, Now if I'm buying I weigh up the name, the tests and use sites such as this to get my information. purely because I work in the industry now. but would it affect my choice. I have to say I've had as good an experience as you can have with domestic appliance's. (only ever had a toatster and a kettle go wrong) so I can say I would buy HP washer and seperate tumble drier. I've had electrolux and LG fridge's never went wrong so I'd go with them again. some weird eastern european cooker or one of the big arger's?? I'd have both again.