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Wedding Woes

washer rambles


Looks like the cheapest washer that meets our minimum requirements is about $800 (a smattering of brands at a few stores seem to have $800 models that are almost identical)

And we'll get white, because I basically refuse to pay extra just for color, but also because I don't want the tiny laundry room to feel dark and more crowded than it is.

Now the question is whether we spring for a matching dryer. Ours still works, and I know most of the awesomeness of drying these days is really about the super-spinning washers. But it is a 12yo low-end model just like the washer, so who knows if it will last another month or another 5 years?

I think a new one would work a lot better, and I definitely prefer the matching set. We could sell our current dryer on craigslist for $100, making the net dryer cost $700. Still, if we wait, dryers will be that much more technologically advanced when we do have to get one.

Not sure if we will cheap out or not. We do have that giant tax refund, so we have the money. Just not sure we want to spend it on this if we don't have to.

And that concludes my washing machine rambles for the morning. If you made it this far, you get a cookie.




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Re: washer rambles

  • damn you and your cookie. I'm fasting for a blood test and can't eat anything for another hour or so.

    hold off on the dryer - unless you're going to save enough in energy, etc. to justify the cost, it's not worth it to have the pretty matching set.
  • one other consideration is if they'll cut you a deal for buying both now. but even so, probably not worth it.

  • Same as barbie.  We'd wait on the dryer if it's not necessary but if it means getting a great deal, we'd take the deal.

  • WzzWzz member
    2500 Comments 250 Love Its Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    I'd totally hold off on a dryer until you need one or can get an awesome deal.
  • I vote to get the set.
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  • DG1DG1 member
    Ninth Anniversary 5000 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited April 2012

    Damn. I thought you'd all tell that newer dryers are more amazing than I think they are & it's totally worth it or that it's not worth it but splurge and spend the $700 anyway.

    ::strops::

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  • VarunaTTVarunaTT member
    Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its First Answer
    edited April 2012
    I'd go ahead and get the dryer.  Let's be honest, the old one is 13 years old and is probably a ticking time bomb.  Plus, you should see a recoup in some utility bills by having a newer and more efficient one.  Also, they should cut you some kind of deal that will make this a bit cheaper out of pocket than waiting down the line.

    Also, if this new washer is super duper load, will your now-dryer be able to match drying capacity?

    As far as the "new technology" goes, if you look back, the newest development in washer/dryer was the front loading, super capacity, able to measure soap type thing.  That's what...at least five years old now?  I don't think there's going to be another spring forward in washer/dryer technology that would make waiting worth it really.  It'd probably be like the difference between the Ipad 2 and 3...just some fancier gadgets, but basically the same item. 
  • DG1DG1 member
    Ninth Anniversary 5000 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    Also, if this new washer is super duper load, will your now-dryer be able to match drying capacity?

    Hmm. That is an interesting consideration. Our current washer is pretty big for an older-style. Probably around 3.5 cu ft. The new one will be 4.6 or so. I wonder if that's enough difference to be important. It is almost 30% more.

    I wonder if I can look up the capacity of the current dryer to compare to new models.


    Oh, and UGH at iPad 2 and iPad 3. I bought the 3 and totally regret it. I was all about the retina display, but since I've seen them side-by-side, the retina display really isn't that much better.

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  • WzzWzz member
    2500 Comments 250 Love Its Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    i'm cheap. i like to wait for deals.

    but it will pay for itself in the logn run because a new dryer is more efficient. you already know this.

    so, with that, it's not a splurge to get the set now. i just thought you wanted a deal when you mentioned waiting for memorial day before the washer crapped out.
  • I vote get the set now.  Can you price match sets?  Take a friend with you who happens to get a military discount?  Haggle your poor sales rep out of commission?
    I french with my man
    Daisypath Anniversary tickers
  • DG1DG1 member
    Ninth Anniversary 5000 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper

    Now that we're looking, appliances seem to be perpetually on sale. Sears is doing an extra 15% off with your sears card (which we already have from when we bought our kitchen appliances), and home depot has 15 or 20% off right now, too. I really doubt they would ever be 30 or 40% off, you know?

    If we buy from Sears, we can also go through ebates to get about $70 cashback, plus we'll get about $20 in rewards points to put towards future purchases at sears or lands end or any of their companies. Not a ton, but it shaves a little off.

    If the new dryer is twice as efficient (unlikely, but I can't find good numbers), it would save us about $40/yr in energy cost. So ti would take more than 17 years for it to literally pay for itself. There are other perks, of course, that may make it worthwhile, though.

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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_washer-rambles?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:47Discussion:505540bf-fd7c-4f57-b715-35372bdbc7c8Post:c6c8b893-bbd7-46c3-ab18-fc9be2a5846a">Re: washer rambles</a>:
    [QUOTE]Now that we're looking, appliances seem to be perpetually on sale. Sears is doing an extra 15% off with your sears card (which we already have from when we bought our kitchen appliances), and home depot has 15 or 20% off right now, too. <strong>I really doubt they would ever be 30 or 40% off, you know?</strong> If we buy from Sears, we can also go through ebates to get about $70 cashback, plus we'll get about $20 in rewards points to put towards future purchases at sears or lands end or any of their companies. Not a ton, but it shaves a little off. If the new dryer is twice as efficient (unlikely, but I can't find good numbers), it would save us about $40/yr in energy cost. So ti would take more than 17 years for it to literally pay for itself. There are other perks, of course, that may make it worthwhile, though.
    Posted by DG1[/QUOTE]

    We got our $899 washer for $499 as part of a pre-black friday sale.  It was in very early november and it was just a great sale, not something you had to wait in line for at the butt crack of dawn.
  • Other things to consider in "paying for itself" picture.

    Will it dry faster and larger loads?  If so, that will save your time in doing laundry for your household.  How much is that worth in terms of not just money (how much you are worth per hour) but how that time can now be spent (maybe family time, maybe personal time alone, maybe TV time, whatever).

    Peace of mind that a new dryer (hopefully) will last for another 20 years to the kids out of the house, rather than a 13 year old dryer that might or might not last for the next 20 years or might not last until you find the "perfect" deal.

    Those are the first two that popped into my head.


  • All of the money-saving websites and peeps will say do not get a replacement for a machine that is currently doing what you need it to do. This falls under, "If it ain't broke, don't replaceme it" rule.

    If you are getting white, whatever you replace it with, will match. You can get the fancier, newer version of what you have when you need to. I do not think a new dryer is going to save you enough time, money or peace of mind to justify spending $700 for something you do not need.

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  • DG1DG1 member
    Ninth Anniversary 5000 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper

    H reminded me that the new dryer has also failed on several occasions over the last year(ish), leaving clothes anywhere from slightly damp to so wet that I wondered if we forgot to turn the thing on.

    He's also all "I don't want to be talking to appliance salesmen again in 2 months." Which, I have to admit, is a pretty fair description of hell.

    And for $700, it's something I can easily be talked into. It's not pocket change, but it's not throwing away the money, either, since we will get some value out of it (slightly better performance, slight energy efficiency, more time, less laundry stress and drama). And a "now vs. later" purchase is different from a "now vs. never" purchase.

    In the end, if H wants the new one, and I am on the fence, I will not argue over $700.

    (and yes, I might be rationalizing just a little bit because I just want a new one, damnit.)
    :)

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  • your old dryer may also just need to be cleaned out/serviced.

    our 30-something year old POS dryer is working fine after a thorough cleaning - and we were at the point where we had ordered the brand new fancy dryer (when it was delivered we realized it was the wrong hookup, but they wouldn't let us exchange at the sale price, so we just returned) - we had the old dryer serviced post move, and with a good cleaning and one minor part replacement (a breaker or sparkplug or something), the thing is going strong alomst 2 years later. total cost: $60 service call on our home warranty.

    dryer was free when we bought our philly house in 2007, we have paid $60 service, and maybe a bit more in energy over the years. cost of new dryer was almost $900. total savings is probably $750.
  • GBCKGBCK member
    Knottie Warrior 5000 Comments 500 Love Its Name Dropper
    I skimmed because my head hurts, but, FWIW, last time my dryer was being stupid, my reading said you won't save on elec. bills w/ the dryer.
    According to the interwebz,  modern washers = energy efficient.  Modern dryers = as inefficient as ever.

    Like Barbie, my dryer = 30+ years old.

    Also, I don't know exactly where you're looking, but consider playing on camelcamelcamel to see what the cheapest recent sale price was on bestbuy to give you an idea on whether or not you're getting a deal.

    (assuming this washer, because I'd like it:
    http://www.bestbuy.com/site/LG+-+3.7+Cu.+Ft.+9-Cycle+Large+Capacity+Washer+-+White/1564276.p?id=1218269688912&skuId=1564276

    went to camelcamelcamel.com, apparently it was $200 less a year ago:
    http://camelbuy.com/product/1564276

    I'd not buy that :)
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