I have a serious question. What has happened to America's pride in its brands? Things aren't different any more. You can't tell one from another. The designs and parts that make machines work are basically the same. Many times they are exactly the same.
Maytag set itself apart from the day it built its first clothes washing machine. That was in 1893 in Newton, Iowa.
By the time it sold its company to Whirlpool, the company was doing $4.7 billion a year in sales and 18,000 people worked for it worldwide.
Whirlpool makes washing machines, too, but their products were always less expensive and did not carry the prestige of a Maytag.
In fact, Maytag built its marketing plan on the idea that their machines were so reliable, the repairman had little to do.
Well after the acquisition of the Maytag name, Whirlpool discontinued making the Maytag signature models, and merely put the Maytag name on Whirlpool designed machines.
About four years ago, the Maytag name went further down the chain. This time it was put on washing machines that were made outside of the United States entirely.
We bought one of them, thinking it was the old reliable Maytag. Big mistake.
Two of the servicemen told me that our machine is a Korean product that Maytag put its name on.
The thing is a mess. Every mechanical part and every switch and timer has been changed out at least once by the warranty technician. It is still unreliable.
It doesn't fully extract the water from the clothes, and it frequently skips the spin cycle all together, leaving them sitting in a full tank of water.
The last time the serviceman came, he got orders from Headquarters. I overheard it when he was told, "Tell the guy we've already spent all we're going to spend trying to make his machine work."
Nevermind we have a warranty that states that they will replace a defective machine.
Many old American brands, long respected for their service and reliability, no longer are. The only thing that has remained the same is the name...a total intangible.
Why have we allowed American pride to float away?
Bill, I guess they will have to rethink their ad campaign before somebody sues them for false advertising.
BTW Just because it is made in Korea doesn't mean it is crap but the odds are pretty good. Look at their cars!
Quite honestly, I think the problem is ours. Even if the products are made in second-world or third-world countries, we could demand better quality. Why don't we?
Bill Roberts
Brian, don't let your in-laws out of your sight again. I can't stand any more of these shocking revelations.
Bill, if course the only reason Whirlpool bought that company was to buy it's good name for high quality. So what do they do, they sell junk at Maytag prices. America really needs to get a handle on this stuff. I'm like you. Stop buying it, and they'll "come to Jesus."
Miss Carole, how well I remember Zenith radios and televisions. They lasted forever and ever. Of course they were a bit more expensive than the common brands, but people were willing to pay for that reliability.
Billycherry
Miss Joanie
And isn't it insane that corporations buy a good name like Maytag knowing all along they are going to destroy what made the name good?
You are absolutely correct. Thanks.
Billycherry