Who's Who in the Appliance Industry?

"Dave, aren't all appliances made by one company?"

I get asked this question, or some offshoot, by customers fairly regularly.  The answer, the short answer anyway, is "No."  

Now, having said that, there certainly has been consolidation over the decades.  Think of General Motors, which currently has four separate divisions: Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC (yes, I looked it up!)

In our industry there are several "parent" companies that utilize different labels, or "badges"

Let's start by taking a look at the Whirlpool Corporation.

Currently they manufacture appliances for the US market under many different names:

Kitchenaid and Jenn-Air are considered to be their premium lines.

Maytag and Whirlpool would be more mid to upper middle level.

Amana is more of an entry level line, geared for landlords and first time home buyers.

In some cases the products are simply extensions of one another.  There will be times however, especially when one looks at the premium lines, where changes can be more significant between models.  (Any of our sales professionals can help you sort through the different models!)

Now, back to my GM analogy.  General Motors has discontinued several lines over the years (Oldsmobile, Saturn, Pontiac come to mind.)  Likewise, Whirlpool (and other appliance companies) also will drop older brands.  For example, when Whirlpool purchased Maytag in 2006, the Magic Chef line, which was Maytag's entry brand, was discontinued.  Around that time, Whirlpool also dropped the "Roper" and "Estate" badges, essentially replacing them with the better known Amana label.  

Some appliance companies, such as General Electric, keep the

same brand but with different levels.  

Walk into one of our appliance showrooms and you will see models with GE, GE Profile, GE Cafe', and GE Monogram (in ascending order of features, quality, and price).  As with Whirlpool, it can be tricky to figure out when you are simply getting more features as you "step up" the lines, or when the product itself is different and better. 

(Full disclosure - GE does have two lines geared to the more budget conscious consumer,  Hotpoint and Haier, that do use their own monikers.  Yes, it can be complicated!)

Just in case you're bored reading by this point, check out this Hotpoint commercial from a time when Hotpoint was its own company starring Mary Tyler Moore (yes, THAT MTM!) made back in 1954:  (I remember this tidbit from an episode of the old "Biography" series.)

https://www.google.com/search?q=mary+tyler+moore+happy+hotpoint+commercial&oq=mary+tyler+moore+hotpoin&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCAgCEAAYFhgeMgcIABAAGIAEMgYIARBFGDkyCAgCEAAYFhgeMgoIAxAAGIAEGKIEMgoIBBAAGIAEGKIE0gEINzM1M2owajeoAgiwAgE&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:987be7fa,vid:1b0ypsUD7wY,st:0

Whirlpool and GE have the most divisions in our industry.  In case you wondered which other companies are aligned, I'll go over the rest.

Electrolux  has (again in ascending order) Frigidaire, Frigidaire Gallery, Frigidaire Professional, and Electrolux.

BSH (Bosch) also markets Thermador at the luxury level.

LG also has LG Studio as an upper level line.

Samsung has an upscale Bespoke line.

Then there are some manufacturers such as Danby, Summit, and Premier that primarily market to the more price-conscious consumer.  These lines tend to focus on "niche" appliances such as 20" and 24" ranges, smaller (under 14 cubic ft.) refrigerators, 18" wide dishwashers, and so on.

Is this confusing?  Yes, it can be at times.  If you are in the market and trying to work your way through the various brands and levels, let us help you!   Please call or visit any of our 11 showrooms (addresses and phone numbers are on the front page of our site, just to the left of where you clicked on this blog.)  We'll be happy to guide you through this maze, and help you pick the "right" appliance for your needs!

Ventless dryers - Pros and Cons

American sized laundry

On back to back days last week I fielded inquires here in the Westfield regarding ventless dryers.  While these dryers are still a very small part of the overall laundry market, response and interest has been growing (and there may come a time down the road where dryers are mandated to be ductless due to energy savings - more about that below!)

Now American (and Canadian) laundry is rather unique compared to the rest of the world.  Our washers and dryers are larger, much larger.  Cycle times are generally shorter.  And, our giant dryers exhaust the heat and moisture generated during the drying process to the outside through a four inch metal vent.  While this setupmight seem "normal" to most of us, North American homes are actually unique in using ducted dryers.

What are the advantages to ducted dryers?

1. 1) Speed!  By ducting the heat and moisture out of the house, clothes can be dried significantly faster.
2. 2) Price!  Ductless dyers are considered to be "specialty application" pieces in the US market.  As in so many other industries, specialty application or size means more $$ out of your pocket.

As I said above, the traditional vented dryer is still very much the norm.  

However, there are times where a ductless dryer makes sense. For example:

1) You live in a high rise and cannot put a four inch hole through your wall

2) You want to place the dryer in an indoor area, away from a wall.

3) You want your home to be as green and energy efficient as possible.

The last part is very true.  I'm going to let this article from Reviewed.com (from USA Today) explain the specifics of this process in a very articulate manner (so articulate in fact that I briefly considered being lazy and just culling from this article.  Just kidding!).

https://reviewed.usatoday.com/laundry/features/everything-you-need-to-know-about-ventless-dryers

Ductless dryers come in three formats:  "Compact", "All-in-one", and what I'll call "Simply ductless."

First, compact, 24" wide, European style laundry.

24" "Euro-style" compact laundry

These smaller units are the norm in Europe, where living space tends to be smaller, and energy awareness is generally more advanced than the USA.  

The washer uses less water and spins out faster (reducing the amount of water the dryer has to extract from the clothing.)  Dryers use either a heat pump or condensation feature, capturing the extracted water into a resevoir that gets emptied fairly regularly (think of your dehumidifier.) 

For those trying to be as energy conscious as possible: note that these ductless dryers can use as little as 50% of the energy used by their ducted equivalents!!

resevoir on Electrolux 24" unit

 The downsides:  Three big ones: Price, capacity, and time.  

1. 1) Price: Plan on paying in the $2000 range for a compact laundry set, compared to the $1200-$1600 for a full size, American style, laundry pair. 
2. 2) Capacity: Volume on these compacts is significantly smaller; generally only 50-60% of full size capacity.  For small households this may not be an issue, for larger families it probably will be!
3. 3) Time:  Be prepared for drying times that are on average about an hour (plus or minus) longer than a typical dryer.  Simply put, exhausting all that built up heat and moisture out of the house speeds the drying process!

Second, the "All-in-ones"

GE Profile"all-in-one" washer 

GE rolled out their all-in-one unit in the middle of last year (click on my blog of  8-23-23 for what - I hope! - is an informative explanation of the pluses and minuses of these units).  LG has since introduced their own model, and other companies are either manufacturing or have plans to manufacturer their own competing models.

How well do these sell?  I asked three of the sales professionals I have the privilege of working with here in our Westfield showroom.  Their answers very from seldom (Rick), to once in a while (Carlos and Pat).  So while these pieces are still very much a niche item, there are scenarios where an All-in-one is the perfect solution to unusual laundry logistics.

Finally, there are normal looking, normal US sized dryers that are built to condense rather than duct out.

These units, and frankly we don't sell a lot of them, usually are purchased by customers who are looking to make their home as efficient as possible, but don't want to sacrifice capacity (as in 24" models), and are willing to accept the longer cycle times and a higher initial price tag - remember however that these machines use a lot less energy!

Now, we do expect both interest and sales of this category to increase in the near future. If your utility company offers rebates on E-star products you might well see rebates on the considerably more efficient condensation and/or heat pump dryers!   Also, there have been occasional rumblings that the D.O.E. may begin mandating that ducted dryers be phased out - that hasn't happened, at least not yet!

If you have any questions on this, feel free to leave me a note, call one of our eleven stores and speak with a sales professional, or even stop in and visit one of our showrooms!  Phones and addresses are just to the left of the blog link on our site's front page.

Whatever happened to the Trivection Range (and other industry near-misses)??

 

Perhaps you remember, back in the late 00s, Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin starred in a successful, Emmy-winning sitcom on NBC called "30 Rock."  The premise had Tina playing the producer of a sketch comedy show (picture Saturday Night Live), while Alec played her corporate-focused boss.  It was one of the few sitcoms I watched, and I did find it funnier than average sitcom fare.

"What does this have to do with appliances?", you may fairly ask.  Well, in the show's storyline, Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin's character) was promoted and tasked to save the struggling sketch comedy show.  The reason for his promotion:  Donaghy's fantastic success with launching the "GE Trivection Oven."  In fact, the pilot episode devoted a decent amount of time extolling the virtues of this (at the time) exciting new product!

:

https://www.ge.com/news/press-releases/featurenew-trivection-technology-geperfecting-delicate-balance-heat-and-time

What was there not to love, right?  So what happened? Why did this breakthrough product not catch on?

The biggest reason was probably the price.  At a $2999 retail, the oven was significantly more expensive than a corresponding standard wall oven.  Additionally, product reviews were largely indifferent to the unit's cooking performance, and generally dubbed it "not worth the additional expense."  Quietly, and without fanfare, GE discontinued production a few years later.

Here's a link for the press release for GE's product rollout:

https://www.ge.com/news/press-releases/new-ge-profile-harmony-clothes-care-system-first-ever-laundry-pair-communicates

(Not that the satirically-inclined 30 Rock writers were willing to ignore the demise of the Trivection Oven.  Below is a synopsis link from the final season of the sitcom where the Trivection Oven is put to rest (my favorite line --  Jack: How many vections does this new product have?"  Technician: "It has five vections."  Still makes me smile!)

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2010/11/nbc-s-30-rock-bids-farewell-to-the-ge-trivection-oven/index.htm

GE's solution:  Induction ranges give consumers uber-speed on their cooktop with zero compromise in performance.  Also, GE has done very well with another combo product, the Advantium Oven.  This unit combines convection, microwave, and halogen light energy to give the consumer an oven that cooks four to eight times faster than a normal, without any reduction in the quality of the finished product.  The Advantium line remains in the GE lineup.

https://www.geappliances.com/ge-appliances/kitchen/advantium-ovens/

(Interested in more about induction ranges?  Check out my blog from 5-27-23)

                                             ***

Now, the Trivection Range is not the only "near miss" in the industry when it comes to product rollouts.  I remember back in 2003, long before streaming, Bluetooth technology, and Smart appliances were commonplace,  GE (sorry; I reallydon't mean to pick on GE exclusively!) introduced their "Pro Harmony" washer and dryer.  This laundry set featured the ability of the washer and dryer to communicate to one another.. Radical thinking for it's time!!

https://www.ge.com/news/press-releases/new-ge-profile-harmony-clothes-care-system-first-ever-laundry-pair-communicates

The units came with a sleek, sort of "half crescent" back control panel, so that when the two pieces were placed together they would like one team:

Now, in 2024, in an era where Smart technology is pervasive and ubiquitous, it's reasonable to wonder why this set didn't catch on.  The number one reason, as with the Trivection Oven, was the price: $2199 for the set - for comparison purposes, at that time a reasonable top load washer-dryer pair sold in the $1000 range.  I also remember showing this set to my customers, and I was met almost universally with resistance to the extra technology involved with using the machines (oh my God!  -- the washer and dryer required a "patchcord" to commuciate with one another - remember, this predates Bluetooth type technologies), and the mere mention of having to attach a cord was enough to deter consumers who were not used to, and frankly had no interest in, such a technologically advanced washer and dryer.)

What happpened?  Of course, "Smart" appliances caught on.  They are everywhere today, and offer extra convenience features through easily downloadable phone apps.  Today, not only is the concept of a connected appliance normal, for many consumers this convenience is expected or even demanded!

(For more discussion of Smart Appliances, please refer to my blog from 5-17-24)

Simply put... the Harmony washer and dryer was an idea ahead of its time.

                                                  ***

Here's one more example of a idea that sounded irresistible, but didn't catch on:  3D televisions.

Avatar!  Avatar!!!  In 2010, back when Manny's still sold televisions, back when electronics companies still sold their wares to retailers (such as Manny's TV and Appliances!), Avatar (which set records as the biggest dollar grossing movie ever up to its time) ran in our store  open-to-close, 24-7, on a 60" 3D television in our showroom.  Customers could try out the cool-looking glasses, and get awed by the impressive depth effect of the picture.  3D television was the "Next Big Thing", and was wildly hyped by TV manufacturers, cable companies, dish suppliers, etc.

And -- almost no one rushed out to buy these amazing televisions.

First, the requirement of needing glasses to view 3D was an obstacle the industry never succesfully overcame.   

 **Personally, I think that requiing individual glasses took away from the social enjoyment of watching a movie with your friends or family.  Also, what if five people are over to watch a movie, and you only have four sets of glasses?? Ouch!** 

Consumer reaction was basically a gigantic yawn of indifference.

Also, it turned out that even a large home TV (50-70") simply didn't provide the same "WOW" factor of a large cinema screen.  Both content producers and cable/satellite providers were slow to upgrade to 3D programming and signal (At that time, signal "compression" and the resulting loss of HD quality was a frequent complaint among owners of upper end video equipment.)  Also, televisions at the time were capable of displaying a signal of at most 1080p resolution - without going into a techie explanation, by the mid 2010s 4K, with roughly four times the resolution and detail, had become the industry norm.)   In other words, picture quality improved to the point that 3D had been largely reduced to "gimmick" status.  Sometime around 2013, 3D television was quietly mothballed.

What's happened since?  Short answer: TV signals became better.  Advances in technology and signal delivery allow us to watch programming in vivid color and detail, markedly better than even a decade ago.  Watch a football or baseball game on a 4K set with 4K signal, and the image is so life-like that the picture almost has a 3d, deep quality without the need for special glasses or equipment.

                                             ***

I hope you enjoyed these examples of highly touted and good product ideas that for one reason or another didn't catch on with consumers.   

Now, should you have questions about modern appliances, please reach out to us at any of our eleven showrooms (addresses etc., can be found on the first page of our website!)

Oh no! I need to replace my washer. What do I do? Should I buy a dryer as well?

We always see a spike in sales of refrigerators and air conditioners in the summer months.  Ranges and other cooking devices peak around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.   

Laundry, on the other hand, sells pretty consistently year-round.

Ah, yes.  The wringer washer.  Once upon a time, sometime between World War II and Watergate, the wringer washer was the "state of the art". Imagine the post-war excitement!... no more washing by hand, or going to the laundromat with everything... no, this amazing device did a great job washing your clothes, as well as extracting excess water from the garment  And as so many modern appliances offer, it saved time and labor on an otherwise mundane but essential household chore.

Yes, washers have changed - dramatically - over the decades.  Even recently, thanks to the introduction of washers with larger capacity tubs, with impressive savings on water usage and electricity,  and with better cleaning and rinsing performance, a washer purchased in 2024 has little in common with a washer from, say, 2004, never mind 1954.

I blogged about the different types of washers in an earlier blog (Jan 3), so I'm not going to reinvent the wheel. The link to that blog can be found on the first page of our website.

So, let's go back to the original question:   

"I need a washer- what do I do?

Carlos Jackson, one of my coworkers here in Westfield, has been selling appliances and managing appliance departments for about seventeen years now.  I decided to ask him what questions he likes to ask his customers when they come into our store needing new laundry.

His first question:   "Have you done any research yet?  Is there anything that caught your eye?"

I'll be honest:  that was not the question I expected!  I expected a question more in line with narrowing down the choices, questions like "top load or front load washer?", or "is your dryer gas or electric?".  Carlos is correct, however: a lot of customers come into our stores already armed with a sense of what they want, thanks to the mountain of data available online.  In some cases they have narrowed their search down to a brand, or even a specific model.  If our customer has a sense of what they want, well, isn't that a great place to begin the sales conversation?  Kudos to Carlos!

His second question:  "How quickly are you going to need it?"

Another great question!  Here you, the consumer, let us know if your washer is dead and you need delivery or pickup ASAP.  Or, perhaps you're moving next month, and don't want the washer delivered until then, and are going to ask whether we can hold the unit until you're ready.  That's important to know especially if that washer you saw online is backordered for a couple of weeks!

Third question:  Are you looking for a dryer as well?

Even though there is no law or statute that says "Thou shalt have matching washers and dryers", I've learned over the years that the overwhelming percentage of our customers, all other things considered, do prefer a matching set.  And with the trend in recent years to have laundry brought upstairs where it might be more visible, that desire to "match" is even more common.

Pssst!  By the way... on many of our laundry sets, we offer $100 rebates on matching pairs.  And, in many cases, these rebates are only for independent retailers like Manny's, and NOT for the so called Big Box stores!.  I call these rebates the "Thank you for buying local" rebates!

At this point, with a good sense of what his customer wants, and how quickly he or she needs the appliance, Carlos then starts disussing and demonstrating the different features on models that seem to fit his customer's wants and needs.  This is now when he asks the questions essential to narrowing down the search, questions such as:

"Do you prefer a front loading or top loading washer?   (I refer you back to the blog link above to highlight the pros and cons of various type washers) 

Is your dryer electric or gas?  If gas, do you have natural or propane gas?  (gas is more efficient, but gas also requires specialized installation.)  

Usually at the end of this dialogue a couple of things happen:  1) We have a good sense of what you are seeking, and have provided options that fit these needs and wants, and 2) You, our customer, feel comfortable with the exchange between you and Carlos (or with any of our salespeople), and feel comfortable that Manny's can be trusted to both  solve your dilemma, and deliver you a washer (or washer and dryer) in a professional and timely manner.

(By the way, Carlos was a little bit iffy about taking part in this exercise, and I thank him profusely for letting me pick his brain and get a sequence that isn't exactly the same as mine! And yes...buying him a large Nutty Pumpkin at Dunkin' helped as well!)

So.... if you need a washer (or even just a dryer), or another appliance, I hope you feel comfortable reaching out to us here at Manny's and trusting us to help you choose the right appliance, deliver it to you in a timely manner, and be there for you after the sale should you have any questions or issues!

We now have eleven locations (info is listed right next to the "blog link" on our website's front page.)  We do hope you consider Manny's when you need to purchase appliances!

The Mass Tax Holiday is over. Now what?? Should I still make a purchase??

 

Well, the infamous Massachusetts tax free weekend has passed.  We had an incredible weekend! Thank you to all our customers who visited us during this hectic period.  We are grateful for your business, and we know that none of this is possible without your support!

(And yes I know... to New Hampshire residents who reside in a state without sales tax, a "tax holiday" in a complete non-event!)

So, now that the TF weekend is in the rear-view mirror, we still have to get all these products to you. Now it's time for our delivery and warehouse teams to take over.

First:  We have to order all this merchandise.  Our warehouse team gets almost literally buried in the days after the tax holiday.

Second:  We pride ourselves in getting your products to you in a timely manner. Our warehouse crews somehow manage to unload merchandise from incoming trailers, check in, sort, organize, rearrange, and finally reload all these appliances onto our delivery trucks, ultimately sending them to your homes, or to one of our showrooms if you chose to pickup your merchandise instead.

I know it sounds like a lot of work, and it is!  We do pride ourselves in having the right people and infrastructure to get all this product out to you in a timely manner.  (Think of this as one of the many reasons to purchase from a local retailer like Manny's!)

                 Shawn St. Marie, one of our warehouse managers, hauling a range from warehouse to loading dock.

                                                                             

                                Appliances on our Wilbraham loading dock waiting to be loaded onto delivery trucks.

From there, our delivery team takes over.   Our trucks normally carry 7-13 orders per trip (trucks in our outlying areas with more travel between stops, such as Central NH, of course can only manage fewer stops then a truck that services Springfield or Worcester with relatively short drives between customers.)

Unfortunately, and despite our best efforts, hiccups still happen.  Even though both Manny's and our distributor attempt to stock up for the TF event, temporary backorders do occur.  

And we know, despite our best efforts, concealed damage (dents, dings, scratches etc.) sometimes happens.  Should that happen we usually give you the choice of accepting a damage allowance if the blemish is livable, or we will reorder the product and redeliver as quickly as possible.   

Fortunately for everyone involved, damage doesn't happen often!  When issues do arise, be assured we will do our best to accommodate you in a timely manner.

But what if you didn't shop with us on the second week of August?  What if you don't live in Massachusetts?

Don't be shy about purchasing from us in the upcoming weeks! Labor Day specials and discounts are about to appear, usually starting the middle of this week (August 22 is the start day for the majority of our specials.)  

Reach out and speak to our sales professionals in any of our eleven showrooms if you have any questions on the above, or if you are considering an appliance purchase in the upcoming weeks.  We're here to assist you in making the correct appliance for your needs and wants!!

Tax holiday 2024

 

First, a disclaimer:  This blog really is only going to be interesting to Massachusetts customers!  (Sorry VT, NH, CT, RI shoppers.)

Of course, I'm sure our customers who live in the Granite State couldn't care less about a sales tax holiday, right?

Now, if you live in one of the great states of Connecticut, Rhode Island, or Vermont this blog is going to be of little help to you (unless you are willing to drive to your nearest Massachusetts Manny's, in which you will be able to save our sales tax.)

But -- if you reside in the Bay State, there's a good chance you are aware of our state's annual no-sales-tax weekend, this year occuring on August 10th and 11th!

If you'd like to see some of the sales and discounts you can take advantage of in addition to the tax savings, a link to our circular can be found on our website.  Just click on the link immediately to the left of the blog link you just clicked.  

Massachusetts is one of 19 states that implemented a sales tax holiday in recent years.  The intent is to help consumers with their back to school purchases.  It also has the added benefit of helping to generate business at what is normally a slow time of year for some businesses. 

(In case you were wondering, this is the breakout of the tax holidays throughout the country:)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/shopping/2024/07/19/back-to-school-shopping-sales-tax-holidays-2024/74411623007/

If you look at the list, you will see what makes the Massachusetts sales tax holiday different from other states -- It's the dollar cap!!  

In Massachusetts, you can save the entire 6.25% sales tax on any purchase up to $2500! (Do note - over $2500, and you pay the full tax.)

Keep in mind: The cap is $2500 per product, NOT on the entire purchase.  So, go ahead and add a new dryer to your washer, or upgrade your kitchen while saving a couple of hundred dollars! 

As far as our neighboring states are concerned, only Connecticut has any sort of program, and it is far more restrictive:  Clothing and shoes under $100 per item are tax-exempt from the state sales tax of 6.35%.

The result (perhaps unintended) of the unusually high limit in Mass is that sales in certain businesses (such as the household appliance business) spike - dramatically!  Most, but not all, of our products fall neatly into the under-$2500 category.  As a result, many customers time their appliance purchases to take advantage of the extra savings the tax holiday offers (plus, let's be honest... who doesn't want to find a way to pay less tax, yes?)

Have you ever shopped in a mall or big box store on a tax holiday weekend?  If you have,  you might have been frustrated by the huge crowds of shoppers, which makes getting the attention of salespeople challenging! (Personally, I haven't had the pleasure of shopping the tax holiday - I've always been on the other end, doing my best to at least try to take care of our customers.  The experience can be stressful for employees as well as customers!)

We have developed a plan over the years, and we strongly encourage customers to consider this plan:

Come in between now and Friday August 9th.  We will be busy, but not overwhelmed.  We can work with you and help you with your purchase. Whether it's a basic washer for an apartment you're renting, a new range to replace the old coil top unit you've been nursing along, all the way up to putting together an appliance suite for a remodel or kitchen upgrade, we can help!

Here's the procedure we've developed:

1. You come in ahead of time and speak with one of our experienced salespeople, so we can assist you in picking out your appliances.
2. We put together on paper a "quote", outlining your purchase.
3. On the 12th and 13th Manny's dedicated staff gets up early and drives to work, robust cup of black coffee in hand, and begins processing these payments.  

One important stipulation to note: Your purchase must be paid in full on August 10-11. (That means no deposits or layaways.  Sorry --

state rules!)   

Now, we ask that you keep the two following thoughts in mind:  

1. This tidal wave of business is going to stress inventory levels.  There will be temporary stockouts - we just don't know which pieces will be affected yet.
2. Our delivery and warehouse teams will be working their tails off, but - there are only so many deliveries we can perform each day. Delivery turnaround will be longer the first few weeks after the holiday weekend.

So, as in past years, please be patient with us!  We will do our best to get your tax-free appliances to you as quickly as possible.

If you have any questions regarding any of the above, you can always reach out to any of our staff at our eleven locations.  Store numbers and addresses can be found on our web page.

And finally...Happy Shopping!!

Top ten appliance model list - updated for 2024

Last autumn (10-28-23 to be exact) I posted a list of the top selling model Skus, both overall and by category.  That post has proven to be one of the most frequently "hit" posts on my modest blog, so I thought that mid-year would be a good time to revisit and update the list.  

(In case you're interested, here's a link to that article: https://www.mannystv.com/Blog.html)

As I assembled the list below, I was frankly surprised by how much the list changed in a relatively short period of time.  I was also surprised that three of the models (the Speed Queen washer and the two Bosch dishwashers) are what we consider upper-end models and premium brands.  It does look like while our customers are demanding quality and performance for their hard-earned dollars, many are willing to pay a little more for this quality - more than I honestly expected!  

So without further ado, here's the list.  Note -These numbers are based on sales through our distributor (the New England Appliance Group) which services just about every independent retailer in the northeast.

1)  Maytag washer MV4505MW   No surprise here.  This mid-level top-load washer offers all the essential cycles, has a generous 4.5 cubic foot capacity tub, and uses a traditional auger type agitator to help move clothes around for more thorough cleaning.  A fine mid-level choice!

2) GE Over-range micro JVM3160RFSSS  Once again, the top selling over-the-range microwave oven, and this time even closer to the number one selling appliance overall!   A perfectly useful, albeit basic by today's expectations  (no convection oven, smart features, or moisture sensor for examples) micro-vent combo.

3)  Maytag electric dryer MED4500MW   The companion dryer to the #1 selling washer above.  four temperatures (by the way - in "dryer language, air fluff/no heat counts as a temperature), timed and auto dry, end of cycle signal... as with the "4505" washer, all the essential features.  No steam or smart features, but a perfectly dependable and useful machine.

4)  Speed Queen washer TC5003WN

Have you ever found something you buy didn't hold up as long as you expected?  It could be a lawn mower, a t-shirt, or even a clothes washer.  Have you ever exclaimed in frustration something along the lines of "I'd pay more money for a product that lasts longer!)?

Well, when it comes to laundry you have the opportunity to do just that: behold the Speed Queen washer!   

Five to seven year parts AND labor warranties.  Short cycle times.  In the case of the listed model, (cue the cornets!) no lid lock!   Oh yes, and made in the USA.  The only downside is the price, approximately double the average washer.  If the Speed Queen is within your budget however, I feel it's well worth the investment (my wife agrees; we've had this machine in our house for almost five years now.)

5)  GE electric range JB256DMWW  

I love it!! Again, this coil top electric range made the top ten last time, and has actually moved up to #5 on the overall list!  For rentals, starter homes, and other applications where price is important, this GE range (and its predecessors) has been our "go-to" coil range for over a decade,

(BTW if you're wondering what happened to coil top ranges in general, I talk about that in my 2-28-24 blog.)

6) Bosch dishwasher  SHP65CM5N   This dishwasher, and its next-step-up "sister model" at #10, are both newcomers to this list.

Back around 1997, when I was still pretty new to the major appliance industry. a sales rep visited our store in Wilbraham.  He was attempting to convince us that consumers would be willing to pay a premium price tag for a dishwasher that cleaned better, and was quieter than the relatively noisy models of that era.  This brand, Bosch was unknown to me and most Americans at the time.

Today, Bosch dishwashers are much more known, and have become our go-to upper end line.  Bosch has a loyal and satisfied following that is willing to spend $999 on a dishwasher that cleans well, holds up over time, and offers "brag to your friends" quiet.

7)  Maytag dishwasher MDB4949SKZ  

This not overly-fancy, reasonably quiet, energy-star qualified, USA assembled dishwasher offers performance and capacity at a reasonable price.  In addition to a full set of cycles, this Maytag model features a fingerprint-resistant finish on the door, and a ten year parts (not labor!) warranty on the motor and basket.  A very safe choice in the mid-range category.

8)  LG front load washer WM4000HWA

9)  L G front load washer WM3400HW

LG hits the top ten list for the first time with these two front load washers!

I'm going to talk about both the "4000"series and the "3400" series model together. Both machines give solid cleaning performance, a generous 4.5 cubic foot capacity, and a ten year part warranty on the motor and drum.  The 4000 washer adds a turbo wash option, and a steam option to assist with the cleaning of heavily soiled garments.  The 4000 also has "smart" capability, using an app that can be easily downloaded to your smartphone.

10) Bosch dishwasher SHP78CM5N.   The step-up, 800 series version of the dishwasher discussed at #7.  The biggest complaint I get about Bosch dishwashers: the lack of a heating element for quick drying.  Well, the 800 series dishwashers employs a CrystalDry feature to address this, transforming moisture into heat.   Also, at 42db, the machine is barely audible!

As I mentioned before, some of the models making the top ten list pleasantly surprised me.  

Now, in case you are trying to decide what to buy in a specific category, I'm including the best selling models for each popular segment below.

Top "top-loading" washer: Maytag MVW4505MW  see #1 above!

Top "front loading" washer:  LG WM4000HWA  see #8 above.  

Top electric range:  GE GRF600AVSS  The successor to the JB750 range that made the top ten list last time.  Except for some availability issues this past spring, I'm sure this popular stove would have made the list this time as well.

Top gas range GE JGB735SPSS  This model was on the top ten overall list last time, and most likely would be this time around as well except for some availability issues in the spring.

Top electric slide in GE Profile PGS930SYGS  A "fully-loaded" gas range, which is outselling lower priced alternatives.

For refrigeration I'm breaking this category down into styles:

Top "Topfreezer" fridge GE GTS17DTNRWW  (a basic but reliable small unit that is very popular in apartments.)

Top "Bottom freezer" fridge Whirlpool WRB322DMBM (out of stock for a long long time due to Covid-19, but finally available again!)

Top "French-door" fridge GE GNE27JYMFS (internal ice and water, energy star qualified, and now with a fingerprint resistant front.)

Top "counter depth" fridge  LG LRFLC2706S  (actually considered by LG to be "counter-depth max", giving more capacity than the typical counter depth model while still keeping the refrigerator case cabinet roughly flush with a typical kitchen cabinet.) 

Specs on all the above models can be found on the website (just copy and paste the model number into the search box on the front page.)

If you're looking for an appliance, but don't know where to begin your search process, these models above may be a great place to start!