My new Miele Wt2670 Washer Dryer

[karatedragon]

I have just had delivered a Miele WT2670 Washer Dryer. I need to report that I am totally amazed by it.

The build and design of this machine oozes quality. From the whisper quiet operation, wide range of programmes, high spin speed and other finishing touches such as the backlit dial and interior drum lighting.

I had a Hoover Performa washer dryer and was pretty unipressed by the drying results. The washing was always still damp even after a drying time of about 2 hours!. I was going to go ahead and just get another Hoover but not a washer dryer as I have always had that brand.

My neighbour showed me their new Miele W520 machine and I was very impressed with that. They had previously always had Hotpoint and were moaning that they have barely lasted. In fact their latest Hotpoint was written off at just 16 months old.

I was sceptical about a Miele Washer Dryer (even if they made one) as the Dryer function on the Hoover was pretty naff and reading reviews people always seem disappointed.

Well... The Dryer function on this Miele machine should completely change anyones views on combined units. The thermospin reduces the drying time right away. The dryer is also whisper quiet and just sounds like a couple of pedestal fans or fan heater. After a cottons 40 degree cycle it dried a towelling robe, four pillow cases and a cot quilt in 25 minutes. Yes 25 minutes!!! And when I say dry I mean dry enough to sleep in.

It really has proven the point that you buy cheap you buy twice and you get what you pay for. I would never have purchased one of these fantastic pieces of engineering if I had not seen my neighbours Miele washer as the price would have put me off.

My new machine has come with a 5 Year Parts and Labour Guarantee and the option to extend this to 10 years on payment of a fee.

I am so dammed impressed with this machine that when I have my new kitchen in March I am going to have a Miele Ceramic Hob, Single Fan Oven and Dishwasher. What a fantastic brand that seems unsung. I had not heard of Miele until the other week.

Thanks

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

I also subscribe to the theory that when you buy cheap you usually buy twice ( or even thrice ) It's a shame it doesn't apply to everything though as life would be simpler. Sometimes products can be a lot cheaper and either just as good or better overall value. But with something as mechanical and hard working as a washing machine the saying is usually true. For people who've always bought washing machines from the old household names, the difference in quality is a revelation, and as your post shows, many people simply don't realise such a difference exists. The fly in the ointment is of course the cost, a Miele washer dryer is pretty expensive by anyone's standards. But if you can afford it, and you could afford to invest in the odd expensive repair over its expected 20 year life it's a good investment. Your post highlights that it's not just about build quality, which affects longevity and noise levels, but also about the quality of the entire performance of the product, which can become a genuine pleasure to use.

[karatedragon]

Washerhelp - I think the trouble is that what were once very respected household names for a quality, reliable product coupled with acceptable after sales service have ruined themselves by allowing the public to simply dictate the prices they are prepared to pay. I would wager these respected household names rely on the fact that their heritage heralds modern day expectations and that seems not the case. I thin they also rely on the fact that people who previously always had the brand nae would continue to have the brand name and not break the mould and change.

When my fantastic machine was delivered my neighbour friends were at my flat. They have a Servis machine that they paid £189.99 for. It has a 1400 spin and bounces up and down like child on smarties. He could not understand why this Miele machine was so "expensive". He said it is way over the top as it is only a washing machine and that it looked ugly. I was quite hurt by this.

I think purchasing on quality and reliability is something to do with age. My friends are early 20s. Everything they buy for "domestic help" purposes seems to be on how cheap it is and whether it is nice looking. However, when it comes to plasma TVs, DVDs, games consoles money seems no object. It is as if priorities are wrong. I am now 30 years old and have come to realise the benefits of build quality and the importance of good courteous after sales service. I had a problem with my Hoover Washer Dryer within about 4 months of purchase. I had to wait nearly 3 weeks for an engineer to come out. Luckily it was just a leaking soap drawer and not a full mechanical failure. This morning I telephone Miele regarding how to use this new machine. They could not be more helpful and even offered to send someone to assist two days later if I needed it without charge. Is this because I paid the true cost of a machine and not £179????

My other neighbour who introduced me to his Miele W520 is 78 years old and can remember the days when things were built to last! His advice was so right.

Edited December 18, 2006 by karatedragon

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

'karatedragon said:

I think the trouble is that what were once very respected household names for a quality, reliable product coupled with acceptable after sales service have ruined themselves by allowing the public to simply dictate the prices they are prepared to pay. I would wager these respected household names rely on the fact that their heritage heralds modern day expectations and that seems not the case. I think they also rely on the fact that people who previously always had the brand would continue to have the brand name and not break the mould and change.

Spot on. I have opinions on this here - Are new washing machines not made as well as they used to be? To be honest, a lot of the blame is with much of the general public - not just the manufacturers. Until enough people are prepared to pay a proper price for their washing machine and stop being seduced by cheap rubbish with lots of features they will get noisy, unstable, unreliable, and in many cases unreparable washing machines.

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When my fantastic machine was delivered my neighbour friends were at my flat. They have a Servis machine that they paid £189.99 for. It has a 1400 spin and bounces up and down like child on smarties. He could not understand why this Miele machine was so "expensive". He said it is way over the top as it is only a washing machine..

Take off the VAT and it's down to £161.69 That £161.69 has to cover (working backwards) A full 12 month in-home guarantee, the profit by the people you bought it from, delivery across the country to the retailer, delivery from the manufacturer’s company across seas to the company commissioning it (in this case Servis) The profit for Servis, the actual manufacturing costs and the profit by the manufacturing firm and all the manufacturers of each individual part. The £161.69 has to go a hell of a long way. The actual physical manufacturing cost is probably £50 or even lower.

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I think purchasing on quality and reliability is something to do with age. My friends are early 20s. Everything they buy for "domestic help" purposes seems to be on how cheap it is and whether it is nice looking. However, when it comes to plasma TVs, DVDs, games consoles money seems no object. It is as if priorities are wrong. I am now 30 years old and have come to realise the benefits of build quality and the importance of good courteous after sales service. I had a problem with my Hoover Washer Dryer within about 4 months of purchase. I had to wait nearly 3 weeks for an engineer to come out. Luckily it was just a leaking soap drawer and not a full mechanical failure. This morning I telephone Miele regarding how to use this new machine. They could not be more helpful and even offered to send someone to assist two days later if I needed it without charge. Is this because I paid the true cost of a machine and not £179????

Again you are spot on. Buying a washing machine is not sexy, buying a new plasma TV or digital camera is. People usually see a new washing machine purchase as a necessary evil, it’s also a distress purchase, often made under panic and with resentment. Cheap washing machines let people make this resented but essential purchase without spending too much money and millions of people are very happy about that. Usually it costs a lot more in the long run though, but you can spend many years, even decades not really realising this, and just accepting that’s what washing machines are like. As you say, as you get older you become less resilient to things breaking down and things not performing properly. They start to stress you much more so you are more prepared to spend larger amounts buying something very well made <fileStore.core_Emoticons>/emoticons/default_smile.png (If you can afford it of course).

[peterpogan]

I bought one of these machines in september 06,and it's performed faultlessly.It gets used about 5 times a week,going through the express wash and drying cycle.The clothes are clean and dry,as one would expect.Some friends consider me to be a lunatic for spending so much on a machine,but then they spend £300 every 3 years or so.I'm expecting mine to be doing the job in at least 15 years time.I do make sure the machine does the fluff rinse cycle after every other wash or so.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

One of the ironies that I've noticed is that when people buy something cheap they often tend to disrespect it and not care for it. But when spending a lot of money on a product, they really look after it. People buying cheap washing machines often don't bother even reading the instructions, cleaning it, or generally looking after it. But when you spend a lot, you tend to sit down and read the instruction book from cover to cover, you clean the soap dispenser out regularly, and generally have the attitude that you want to make this thing last as long as possible, which of course helps to make that happen.

[karatedragon]

when you spend a lot, you tend to sit down and read the instruction book from cover to cover,

Ahh yes I have done that with my new Miele. I found the book for my old Hoover Performa which I never read. I didnt know I was supposed to run an empty wash in it on arrival. I think I just filled it up and switched it on!