Zanussi, AEG, or John Lewis own brand

[admin]

I have been shopping around for a washer dryer, and went to John Lewis department store.

AEG, Zanussi and John Lewis own brands are so similar, so they are all made by the same company, quite obviously.

I can only buy what I can afford, so I won’t be buying Miele or Bosch, so it looks like one of these three mid range machines. Rest assures, I won’t by buying Candy, Hoover, Hotpoint or any of those other budget brands.

So, are AEG machines better than Zanussi? To me, they look like the same machine with a few minor differences in the programmes. The John Lewis models look almost identical to some of the Zanussi models, and they come with a two-year guarantee, which is quite reassuring and gives some “added value”.

Any opinions?

[don]

Re: Zanussi, AEG, or John Lewis own brand

Hi
Quite right they are in effect the same machine they all come under the Electrolux banner. For example the new Zanussi washers are also badged Electrolux.

The John Lewis version with it`s two year guarantee is indeed a good buy, however the Bosch range IMO are a better machine for not much more money and they also come with a two year guarantee.

Don

[admin]

Re: Zanussi, AEG, or John Lewis own brand

Thanks Don, in fact the John Lewis own brand machine has a 3 year guarantee, I guess that’s a bit of an incentive to potential customers to go for their own make.

The Bosch may well be a better brand and I already own 2 Bosch appliances, but the washer dryer costs more than I have to spend, and I’d rather not go over the £500 limit.

People reckon that AEG are a good brand, but as you say these are all effectively Electrolux models, so would there be any advantage to buying an AEG machine rather than a Zanussi or a John Lewis machine?

[kwatt]

Re: Zanussi, AEG, or John Lewis own brand

happy shopper wrote:People reckon that AEG are a good brand, but as you say these are all effectively Electrolux models, so would there be any advantage to buying an AEG machine rather than a Zanussi or a John Lewis machine?

In real terms, probably not.

A washer dryer is a compromise and, generally not a very good one when all’s said and done so I would normally advise people to spend the money getting a decent washer rather than a washer dryer. In fact, I doubt there’s many engineers here that would recommend one unless there was absolutely no alternative, you have to ask yourself why that is. 😉

In effect all these machines will most likely have the same actual “workings” if you like with variations on the control systems (maybe), slight functional differences (such as spin speed etc or what buttons are there) and the cosmetics. It’s akin to the differences between Vauxhall Vectra and an Opel Vectra in the end, same idea really.

K.

[admin]

Re: Zanussi, AEG, or John Lewis own brand

Thanks for your reply. I have had 2 washer dryers previously, and I’m quite happy using a washer dryer, they have served my needs well. I have a small household, no kids, so my needs are not the same as for a family. I don’t have the space, don’t have the luxury of a utility room or whatever, so I’m after something that works for me.

I think it’s a bit of a myth that a washer dryer is a compromise. They are basically a washing machine with a small drying capacity as an add on. I don’t think there is any compromise with the washer function of a washer dryer, they are just the same as any other washing machine in that respect.

The drying capacity is smaller than that of a seperate tumble dryer, but I would only occasionally use the dryer function anyway. Maybe once or twice a month, perhaps. I’d miss having the dryer facility if it wasn’t there.

I’ve been happy with my previous washer dryers. They wash, they dry, and they’ve given good service. Yet I’ve known people who have bought a washing machine (not a washer/dryer) and they’ve had the engineer out 3 times in the first 6 months. I had my previous washer dryer for several years without any need to call an engineer. So you pay your money and you take your choice.

[kwatt]

Re: Zanussi, AEG, or John Lewis own brand

Yep, in those circumstances a washer dryer is fine.

But you don’t have to deal with the calls from customers telling us that they don’t dry towels or jeans, they take ages to dry anything, they leak and all the other failings in respect to the dryer. The trouble being that, unlike yourself who has obviously realised the limmitations of the machine, most people do not see that, only that it should do the job.

It’s no myth, the dryer in a washer dryer is totally inferior to even a seperate 6lb dryer in overall performance and energy useage. Therefore, it is a compromise as you must compromise performance for the benefit of space.

From a service point of view, there is no washer dryer that I am aware of, that a customer can clean out the fluff build up from whereas in a proper tumble dryer this is less of an issue with regular cleaning. Then that “fluff” gets wet, congeals, dries out and hardens blocking the condensate chamber. Which is great for us as we get loads of calls every year to go clean them out. 😉

That’s only one example though of typical WD issues.

K.

[admin]

Re: Zanussi, AEG, or John Lewis own brand

Just for the benefit of other potential washer dryer customers, I have found that my previous washer dryers have indeed dried towels and jeans, sometimes to an excessive degree when I have overestimated the time required. This time I am going for a model with different drying settings and an auto-sensor.

The drying capacity is half the size of a tumble drier, admittedly, but then I rarely have enough for a full load just for washing anyway so I can’t see myself needing to dry a 6kg load.

I’m not aware of ever having the fluff build up problem on the previous machines I have owned, but then I’m not a heavy duty user of the dryer facility anyway, so pehaps that is the reason.

I haven’t had leaks from either machine, only when my first machine reached old age and that was well past it’s life expectancy by then. In my experience, most leaks relating to washing machines have come from the connections at either end of the hose, rather than the machine itself.

In general though, I try to line dry or use the airing cupboard, rather than tumble dry. It’s only in winter or when it’s raining that washing doesn’t dry off, so I finish it off in the dryer rather than allow it to stay damp and get that horrible smell.

[admin]

I have a Hotpoint CDT80 Tumble Dryer that keeps coming up with error code F15 machine still works ok having been stopped & then re-started.

Anyone out there any ideas??

The machine is only 6 months old

[Martin]

Pendolino wrote:The machine is only 6 months old

You have posted this in the wrong place however I would strongly advise you to ring Hotpoint on 0870 9066066 and get an engineer to fix it under guarantee :lesson:

[Author]

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