Product review (3 stars): Great for 10 months, then the problems began; awful warranty period and support
I purchased the SPT SD-2202W in July 2015. Due to concerns about leaking, I had a serviceman install and hook it up. I haven't had problems with leaks, and for the most part it does a decent job doing what it was designed to do.  However, the reason I'm writing a review is for other people to be fully aware of the warranty period and return policy/methodology that Sunpentown takes with their products; the Latin phrase "caveat emptor" applies.

At about the 10 month mark, the unit began occasionally emitting a very loud squealing noise (colleagues have remarked it sounds more like a banshee or demon) in a cyclic fashion (most likely indicating lubrication, bearing, or motor problems). The noise would stop between cycles. Initially it would only happen once every couple weeks, so I thought nothing of it, but gradually began to recur.  It's now August 2016 and this behaviour happens consistently every wash, not to mention the noise has gotten louder.  The different cycle styles/settings have no bearing on the problem.

Today I contacted Sunpentown (800-330-0388) knowing full well the unit was out of warranty.  Most companies have lists of third-party repair shoppes or service stores which can repair their products even when out of warranty (for cost of labour and parts -- often will come to almost the cost of a new unit), and that is what I was hoping to get.  But Sunpentown has no such thing: they do all repairs in-house, requiring products be shipped to them in City of Industry, California.  Adding insult to injury, you must pay shipping *both ways*.  And in my case (likely due to out of warranty, which is understandable!), there may be additional repair costs depending on the nature of the problem.  I was told that if you used "Sunpentown's shipping labels" (no disclosure of what shipping company is used, but given cost I suspect UPS or FedEx, as freight would be a lot more), it would cost US$80 total ($40 to ship it to them, $40 to ship it back).  This doesn't include initial shipping materials (likely another $30-40 due to size and weight).  I was also told repeatedly that because the unit was out of warranty, I should "contact my credit card company, as many offer extended warranties" (while sometimes true, I find this very bizarre for a manufacturer to repeatedly bring up); Amazon in July 2015 was not offering "extended warranties" at purchase-time, otherwise I almost certainly would have picked such given that it's an appliance.

I am reluctant to return the product based on concerns that this might become a recurring problem, forcing me to spend ~$120 every year plus deal with the hassle of packing/shipping this thing (the latter is the biggest annoyance, as I've a bad lower back and in no way can box this thing up myself).  I'm inclined to have the unit recycled (hoping recycling plants take these!) and look for other products from more reputable companies in the US with better warranty periods and hopefully in-home repair service (or at least third-party folks who can repair them).  Googling "Sunpentown repair" turns up literally nobody who repairs their products -- which is OK except when compounded with a 1-year warranty.

I'm giving the unit 3 stars (more like 2.5 stars, but I chose to round up) given that when it works it's OK... but pray you never have problems.