Do you trust Consumer Reports ratings? (or, anyone buy a dishwasher lately?)

[glenn1]

Looking to buy a dishwasher to replace the 13 y.o. builder grade POS that came with the house. Consumer Reports seems to have quite a hard-on for this model: Kenmore 1603.

 

[Alprazolam]

They paid a nice amount of $ for that review.

 

[Schmide]

I got this earlier this summer. 2 months ago.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp...8&type=product&cmp=++&id=1099395212689

We ended up paying 280 something, sale and such, the sliver steal is 50 bucks more. It had all the things I wanted in a dishwasher: adjustable racks, top and bottom sprayers, and in door silverware. It's quiet gets and the dishes clean while having all the things you see on the higher priced models.

 

[Squisher]

I trust consumers reports until it comes to car reviews. Even then they a worthwhile read, but need to be taken with a grain of salt.


Sounds like that Kenmore filters food particles on the fly. Generally your higher priced dishwashers have better interiors (don't get that stink), more cycle options, better sound deadening, and more interior room.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Isn't that Whirlpool?

 

[gosstech]

Isn't that Whirlpool?

No its a f"ing Kenmore.

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: Alprazolam
They paid a nice amount of $ for that review.

Proof? That's an outright lie unless you have proof.

Consumer Reports is a non-profit organization. They purchase all of the products that are use. Per their website...


"Our National Testing and Research Center, in Yonkers, N.Y., is the largest nonprofit educational and consumer product testing center in the world. We buy all the products we use as test samples. We receive no special treatment. We accept no free samples. If a manufacturer sends us a free product, we return it. "

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Originally posted by: gosstech

Isn't that Whirlpool?

No its a f"ing Kenmore.

Then it is most likely a Whirlpool.

 

[Schmide]

From http://www.appliance411.com/parts/make.shtml

Sears does not manufacture any of their products, instead they are all made by the other leading manufacturers, often with added features. They are then rebranded with the Kenmore (or other) brand name.

Notably are: most laundry products and dishwashers made by Whirlpool, lower end front load washer and matching dryer by Frigidaire and many range models by GE.

Too bad the sears site lacks pictures. I've seen both and the interiors and they look almost identical. I'm sure if you look at both you'll find more similarities than differences.

 

[John P]

As Schmide pointed out Kenmore's are made by various manufacturers.

I recently bought the black Kenmore Elite with the stainless steel interior and the jet thingies, I believe it's made by Whirlpool. My wife and I looked at all the models and picked the salesman's brain for quite a while before deciding on that model. My wife likes it so far....

If you get a decent salesperson they actually do know what they are talking about, that's why I like to appliance shop at sears.

 

[Schmide]

Ha check this out

look at the pictures on this auction

Kenmore-Dishwasher

and the alternate view 3 from the best buy link

Whirlpool 24

The only difference is the in door silverware compartment which I prefer

 

[NuKe9]

I actually own the dishwasher in question. Salesman told us it was Whirlpool. Confirmed when I saw an almost identical Whirlpool elsewhere. Watch out, this one had a recall. No problem getting it done though, Sears took care of us. They replaced the whole pump assembly. Always ran great for us though.

Good Points
-Very adjustable. Upper rack adjustment is great. Fold down tines, etc. Upper rack removable.
-Cleans really good. I've had to rewash about 2-3 dozen dishes in it's 2 year lifespan. I run a load every night (Family of 5 + dog here). Has 3 arms. Upper arms are fed in back, no tower to load around.
-Many cycle options. Delay nice. Sani cycle nice as well. Sensor cycle can save water and time.
-Quiet. Not as quiet as the Bosch or Jenn Air, but quiet enough. You barely hear water whooshing in the background. We looked at the others, but they are smaller inside.
-Built in disposer.
-Huge inside. Tall tub design is great, can stack lots of pots and still clear the middle arm. No center tower, upper arms fed in rear.

Bad Stuff
-Could use more Fold Down Tines
-Plastic interior. SS would be nice. Certain foods or food left in a long time can create a funk. There are dishwasher/plastic cleaning detergents out there, they do the job just fine.
-No Cutlery or Stemware holders.
-Was recalled, but Sears notified us and took care off the whole process. Got repair slip, repairs wer estimated at $438, almost the cost of the unit.
-Might be isolated to mine, but sometimes the detergent door latch doesn't properly engage after filling. It's easy enough to manually push the latch when closing, though.

Hope that helps!

Tom

BTW, the ebay unit is the same. The Whirpool from Best Buy has different racks and utensil holders.

 

[Accipiter22]

the thing i like is the ratings are based on actual consumer's...reports...you can't BUY a rating from them, like with JD power and Motortrend and other garbage publications like that

 

[0]

Get a Bosch.. We love ours. Sometimes we don't even notice its running, its so quiet.

 

[BAMAVOO]

Originally posted by: Alprazolam
They paid a nice amount of $ for that review.

This is a true statement.

 

[BAMAVOO]

Originally posted by: Accipiter22
the thing i like is the ratings are based on actual consumer's...reports...you can't BUY a rating from them, like with JD power and Motortrend and other garbage publications like that

WRONG!!!!
And I can't reveal how I know.

Thanks

 

[Budmantom]

We just bought that dishwasher.

 

[glenn1]

I actually own the dishwasher in question. Salesman told us it was Whirlpool. Confirmed when I saw an almost identical Whirlpool elsewhere. Watch out, this one had a recall. No problem getting it done though, Sears took care of us. They replaced the whole pump assembly. Always ran great for us though.

Good Points
-Very adjustable. Upper rack adjustment is great. Fold down tines, etc. Upper rack removable.
-Cleans really good. I've had to rewash about 2-3 dozen dishes in it's 2 year lifespan. I run a load every night (Family of 5 + dog here). Has 3 arms. Upper arms are fed in back, no tower to load around.
-Many cycle options. Delay nice. Sani cycle nice as well. Sensor cycle can save water and time.
-Quiet. Not as quiet as the Bosch or Jenn Air, but quiet enough. You barely hear water whooshing in the background. We looked at the others, but they are smaller inside.
-Built in disposer.
-Huge inside. Tall tub design is great, can stack lots of pots and still clear the middle arm. No center tower, upper arms fed in rear.

Bad Stuff
-Could use more Fold Down Tines
-Plastic interior. SS would be nice. Certain foods or food left in a long time can create a funk. There are dishwasher/plastic cleaning detergents out there, they do the job just fine.
-No Cutlery or Stemware holders.
-Was recalled, but Sears notified us and took care off the whole process. Got repair slip, repairs wer estimated at $438, almost the cost of the unit.
-Might be isolated to mine, but sometimes the detergent door latch doesn't properly engage after filling. It's easy enough to manually push the latch when closing, though.

Wow, good review. Thanks for all the input, looks like this one will do just fine

 

[DrPizza]

All tests are inherently subjective; consumer reports is pretty fair, but you should also look at the way they tested things. IIRC, people raised a stink between the two over-priced door-to-door vacuums... Rainbow and Kerby... for whatever reason, CR tested the vacuums using sawdust or something - one of rainbow's weaknesses due to the water filtration, and the sawdust floating or something like that. Thus, the test itself was biased against one brand by using something that wouldn't be encountered every day. The Rainbow people accused CR of doing the test that way on purpose to cause a bias.

 

[chambersc]

Originally posted by: glenn1

I actually own the dishwasher in question. Salesman told us it was Whirlpool. Confirmed when I saw an almost identical Whirlpool elsewhere. Watch out, this one had a recall. No problem getting it done though, Sears took care of us. They replaced the whole pump assembly. Always ran great for us though.

Good Points
-Very adjustable. Upper rack adjustment is great. Fold down tines, etc. Upper rack removable.
-Cleans really good. I've had to rewash about 2-3 dozen dishes in it's 2 year lifespan. I run a load every night (Family of 5 + dog here). Has 3 arms. Upper arms are fed in back, no tower to load around.
-Many cycle options. Delay nice. Sani cycle nice as well. Sensor cycle can save water and time.
-Quiet. Not as quiet as the Bosch or Jenn Air, but quiet enough. You barely hear water whooshing in the background. We looked at the others, but they are smaller inside.
-Built in disposer.
-Huge inside. Tall tub design is great, can stack lots of pots and still clear the middle arm. No center tower, upper arms fed in rear.

Bad Stuff
-Could use more Fold Down Tines
-Plastic interior. SS would be nice. Certain foods or food left in a long time can create a funk. There are dishwasher/plastic cleaning detergents out there, they do the job just fine.
-No Cutlery or Stemware holders.
-Was recalled, but Sears notified us and took care off the whole process. Got repair slip, repairs wer estimated at $438, almost the cost of the unit.
-Might be isolated to mine, but sometimes the detergent door latch doesn't properly engage after filling. It's easy enough to manually push the latch when closing, though.

Wow, good review. Thanks for all the input, looks like this one will do just fine

Except "-No Cutlery or Stemware holders."!!!!

What dishwasher DOESN'T have a place to put silverware!

 

[Pabster]

Um, No.

Consumer Reports is bought off right and left.

Many of their "Best Buys" are anything but.

 

[SecretShadow]

Consumer Reports is either

A. Purchased marketing for their more well reviewed products

or

B. A construct of hype and bandwagoning.

Either way, its crap.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Seems many people confuse Consumer Reports with other magazines. Consumer Reports accepts no advertising money where others (eg, Consumer's Digest) are nothing but advertising.

 

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: BAMAVOO

Originally posted by: Accipiter22
the thing i like is the ratings are based on actual consumer's...reports...you can't BUY a rating from them, like with JD power and Motortrend and other garbage publications like that

WRONG!!!!
And I can't reveal how I know.

Thanks

Hahaha, yeah lets all listen to this guy! :roll:

I love how people jump to conclusions that CR must be "bought" because they disagree with some of their rankings. The truth of the matter is that no one has ever presented any conclusive evidence that their test results are biased, bought off, influenced, paid for, or otherwise compromised. All these jackasses like BAMAVOO can do is make unsubstantiated claims.

 

[BAMAVOO]

Originally posted by: Triumph

Originally posted by: BAMAVOO

Originally posted by: Accipiter22
the thing i like is the ratings are based on actual consumer's...reports...you can't BUY a rating from them, like with JD power and Motortrend and other garbage publications like that

WRONG!!!!
And I can't reveal how I know.

Thanks

Hahaha, yeah lets all listen to this guy! :roll:

I love how people jump to conclusions that CR must be "bought" because they disagree with some of their rankings. The truth of the matter is that no one has ever presented any conclusive evidence that their test results are biased, bought off, influenced, paid for, or otherwise compromised. All these jackasses like BAMAVOO can do is make unsubstantiated claims.

I am a Jackass because I know what I know. It is you jumping to conclusions thinking you know my claims are not real. I can't tell you and that is that.