Product review (5 stars): Great Appliance
Exactly what I wanted. After 25 years, my GE washer was making a lot of racket at the end of the final spin, I was told it was a bearing problem, and not worth fixing. It was still washing clothes well, like a wounded soldier determined to drag fallen comrades back from the front line - no quit to it, and loyal. (It's been making that noise for two years, just getting worse. I'm going to give it to my son, just to see how long it will go). After hitting the local appliance store, asking very pointed questions, and having the manager tell me there was no product in his store that I was going to like - they were all high efficiency - (I briefly considered the last GE model with top load and vertical agitator) - I hit the web hard. The negative reviews on ALL other washers are really funny to read. My wife and I laughed, and I may go back and read some more of them if I get down. Especially the front loaders. Anyway, I found the Speed Queen. I read the reviews, and gambled and spent almost double the amount they were asking for the old style GE and purchased the AWN542 Speed Queen. I hooked it up myself in about an hour from box to washing. Adjusting and leveling the legs and getting it even with levels was the most difficult task associated with the machine's installation, but not bad for one person, and if you had two, piece of cake. The longest time was spent cleaning the floor under the old washer. Regardless, I love this washing machine. It holds tons of clothes, washes the load well and very quickly, is simple to operate, and just makes that little task in my life a lot easier. That is all an appliance is supposed to be and do. I have had it about two to three weeks, and my wife and daughter love it too, which is more important to me than my satisfaction with it. Did I buy into the Speed Queen marketing hype and do I like the fact that it says "heavy duty super capacity commercial grade" or something like that on it? Yes. Do I like the fact that it has stainless steel parts where other machines have plastic or cardboard? Yes. Am I thrilled that there is no button or screen to mash on that will wear out like a cheap volume adjustment on a mini van stereo - if it doesn't break first? You bet. I like that a lot. Do I like the fact that it has minimal electric cyborg computer chip foolishness in a high humidity environment? Yes. Do I mind that I can't turn it on or change its skin color or live stream a secure video feed of my clothes washing remotely from my office with an IPad? No. Will it last? I don't know. I hope it will, and it makes sense that it should. If it lasts, it will be the perfect washing machine - or maybe number two compared to my old GE. I wish this company made lawn mowers or gas grills.