Maytag Toploader Was A Whirlpool In Disguise

[Adamski]

Guys,

I was checking out a laundromat that I discovered in the Jennison area the other day. It was an older laundromat with an attached dry cleaning plant taking up about 1/3 of a small strip mall.

The place had 20 new Maytag toploaders. They had the familiar Maytag back contol panel (complete with the word Maytag on it) and the Maytag meter housing but that's where the similiarity ended. The basket was narrow and deep - not at all Maytag-like. The lid had Whirlpool style hinges. Obviously, the new Maytag toploader had the guts of a Whirlpool. Not that there's anything wrong with that ... or is there?

[Jefflange]

They took the most reliable best designed toploader and replaced it with a machine that will last 3-5 years.

[juleec]

Disposable machines. Eventually will cost more to repair than to replace. Before Maytag changed to cheap machines, one of the Maytag reps actually used the phrase "disposable" all the time when talking about other brands (my competition was Sears across the street). This was when I dealt in domestic machines. I guess the good old steel and cement just couldn't stand up against the plastic. It is all a $$$ thing. We all know that. Quality is just not the priority. I guess the enviromentalists don't care about the landfills being filled up with appliances. Hmmm?

[STOUT]

Like Julee I was also in a family appliance store for years. I left to go to greener pastures. Sometime I do miss it.
Anyway, We sold both Maytag and Whirlpool besides a few other brands. Maytag use to produce a sales brochure called the dependable story where it would show page by page with pictures of Maytag vrs the others. It even showed Speed Queen comparisons. Speed Queen top loaders are the closest to the Old dependable Maytag.
We were told like Julee most things now days are made form an accountants point of view. Which means how can we make this for less $? That holds true even in our commercial machines.

[laundrychris]

Correct me if i'm wrong but i believe whirlpool owns maytag. They were sold a couple years ago. Considering this your findings are not that surprising. I wonder how many "maytag" branded products are indeed still made by maytag? Their entire commercial/industrial line is made by someone else ( it used to be primus, but i'm not sure if it still is)

[Bluestreak]

The Whirlpool is not really that bad of a machine in my opinion. They have been selling these as domestic machines for about 20 years now and they actually seem to hold up pretty well. There are a number of repairs that are common on these machines but for the most part, they are very easy to work on.

I replace a lot of couplers, lid switches and pumps on the domestic machines. Any one of these repairs takes about 15 minutes once you have done it a time or two. The transmissions seem to hold up pretty well, and there is no under-water rotating tub seal to wear out like on the old Maytags and Speed Queens.

I do think the old Maytag was a more robust machine, but the Whirlpool gets some points for being extremely easy to work on. I can literally change out a transmission in one of these machines in 20 minutes in my shop. For laundromat owners who DIY repairs, this aspect of the Whirlpool design should be taken into consideration. I would MUCH rather work on these Whirlpool design machines, than anything I have seen in the Speed Queen line of top loaders.

[STOUT]

Originally Posted by Bluestreak

The Whirlpool is not really that bad of a machine in my opinion. They have been selling these as domestic machines for about 20 years now and they actually seem to hold up pretty well. There are a number of repairs that are common on these machines but for the most part, they are very easy to work on.

I replace a lot of couplers, lid switches and pumps on the domestic machines. Any one of these repairs takes about 15 minutes once you have done it a time or two. The transmissions seem to hold up pretty well, and there is no under-water rotating tub seal to wear out like on the old Maytags and Speed Queens.

I do think the old Maytag was a more robust machine, but the Whirlpool gets some points for being extremely easy to work on. I can literally change out a transmission in one of these machines in 20 minutes in my shop. For laundromat owners who DIY repairs, this aspect of the Whirlpool design should be taken into consideration. I would MUCH rather work on these Whirlpool design machines, than anything I have seen in the Speed Queen line of top loaders.

Robust true; Maytag's were designed originally to last 15 - 20 years. Whirlpool were designed to last 8 - 10 years. I know we also did service. True; easier design. Also true; part failure more often