[hosebergine]

Hi all, the next job on our task list is shopping for a fridge/freezer and a washing machine. Anyone have any tips, good places to try (we're in Auckland), good models/brands, etc.

Feeling sheepish as I didn't put in buying appliances to my budget - we left ours in our UK house for the tenants so I ridiculously assumed they did that here. Anyway, all tips greatly appreciated. If it helps, in the UK we went for Bosch on most things, we were happy to pay a bit more for better reliabilty. Don't know the NZ market well enough to make that judgement

[Sam B]

I would steer clear of top loading washing machines, they are the norm here, and some people love them, but we had a really bad experience with ours, very hard on clothes and didn't get anything clean. I looked up makes on consumer websites and then ordered from Bond and Bond online.

[925dancer]

Well, there is always good old Fisher and Paykel. Good quality, Kiwi products so cheap parts if you ever need them and they do seem to be of good quality. There's a shop out Panmure way I think called The Appliance Shed. I think they are reasonably priced, a colleague with a city apartment portfolio uses them all the time (city apartments seemt o be the only places with these two items included!).

Failing that there's always Harvey Norman, Farmers, Bond and Bond. You could just go to Glenfield and go to all the big home shops in one go.

[nickiware]

Always ask for discount even in the big shops, we managed to get 10% off and extended warranty

[925dancer]

Oh yes, go for a front loader, I HATE top loaders, they destroy clothes, particularly underwear :mad:

[M-Squared]

We have a Bosch washing machine and dryer, for when it's needed. Front loading. Never ever ever get top-loading, it will ruin your clothes!!

We have a Mitsubishi fridge, weirdly enough. Nice stainless steel and dead good. :D

We got it from Harvey Norman and they are good for bargaining yay! :D We picked out the fridge we wanted and ordered it (for a couple of hundred less). Then went back 2 days later to pay and they were having a sale, so we (cheekily, I thought) asked if we could get some more money off. I was expecting an "are you KIDDING?" as we were already paying less, per our contract. But they knocked off even more cash! :D

[M-Squared]

wow, 4 responses in 4 minutes! :nice1

[hosebergine]

faster than a spin drier!!

[IanW99]

faster than a spin drier!!

You can of course still buy Bosch in NZ if you want to :)

Ian

[Mgee]

Hello peeps,

I know everyone advises against buying a top loading washing machine, but
do you mean the American style top loader
http://www.appliancist.com/haier-top-loaded-washing-machine.jpg

or the European style top loader

http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=4254902.jpg

where the drum is in the same position as in the front-loaders but the access is from the top through a hatch on the side of the drum? This type of top loader is really popular in Northern Europe and according to my own experience, as good as front loading ones. I'm guessing you are talking about the American type ones and that they're the ones sold in NZ?

[nickiware]

To be honest I had an american style top loader in NZ f&p, it was okay, nice big drum, knitted tops got stretched and didnt seem to clean as well as front loader

[Silverwing86]

We've always found consumer.org (http://www.consumer.org.nz/reports/fridge-freezers) very useful for information and comparisons. I do believe there is a fee to get access to the test results database, or you can join up for a fee and get free access to the reports.

We bought a Fisher & Paykel fridge/freezer (http://www.fisherpaykel.co.nz/refrigeration/?productUid=A0BA0ECE-F0D0-2B98-FC8D55E461DF9A3C) (from Noel Leeming, but this may not necessarily be the cheapest place to buy) with Internal Ice maker and integrated Water Dispenser (chilled and filtered), and we like it very much indeed !

What's particularly great about it is that the Water Dispenser does not take up extra room on the inside of the fridge door and the Ice maker is also neatly integrated within the freezer so doesn't take up any more room than the drawer that holds the ice cubes (picture of the interior on the F&P website doesn't actually show that drawer, but you can see it on this one (http://www.fisherpaykel.co.nz/refrigeration/index.cfm?productUid=B92AA357-C033-D117-425DE0BA5994B4A6&image=inter&section=), it's exactly the same principle).

Sorry, can't advise on a washing machine or dryer as we brought those with us when we came.

I would concur with the advice to haggle, especially if you're a 'cash buyer', as it can be a very satisfying experience ;) !

Good luck !

Cheers,
Silver

[IanW99]

...
http://www.aijaa.com/v.php?i=4254902.jpg

where the drum is in the same position as in the front-loaders but the access is from the top through a hatch on the side of the drum? This type of top loader is really popular in Northern Europe and according to my own experience, as good as front loading ones. I'm guessing you are talking about the American type ones and that they're the ones sold in NZ?

Thanks for posting that, never even heard of this type of top loader.

The american style top loader is the normal one in NZ.

Ian

[Mgee]

Hi Ian,

I've seen them in France, Germany and in the Nordic countries, but never in the UK so far. I've had a top loader like this for most of my adult life, and it doesn't really differ from the front loader much. Funnily enough, when I was a kid these top loaders used to be the norm and the front loaders became popular only after the dryers appeared as it's not possible to stack a dryer on top of the European style top loader.

From Wikipedia:
"It should also be noted that while 10% of European washing machines may be top loading they are not of the same design as North American machines. Rather than washing the clothes with an agitator, they also use a horizontally mounted drum. The clothes are loaded through a hatch in the drum wall. Their design is mechanically identical to that of a front loader. These machines are particularly popular for small apartments as they take up less floor space than a conventional front loader and for historical marketing reasons are more popular in certain EU countries. For example they are quite commonly found in French houses while they're practically unheard of in the UK and Republic of Ireland." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washing_machines)

And it seems that this type of a top loader is slowly finding its way to the UK market as well:
http://householdappliances.kelkoo.co.uk/p-washing-machines-washer-dryers-146601/whirlpool-awe6517-18359168 I found this page when searching for a picture of the European style front loader.

I guess in my case it's either importing my European top loader to NZ or buying a front loader when we get there.;)

[victoria24]

as mentioned before, dont be shy to haggle. the more you are spending, the more they should want your business. dont forget that at harvey norman, the prices have a built in portion for if you take their interest free credit so you can knock that chunk off straight away. look out for vouchers, coupons and sales :)

[M-Squared]

Top-loaders, by design, use a ton more water as well. Front loaders only have to fill halfway up, maximum.

[Ngeru]

I'm pleased to say at least now there is a better choice of front loaders than there was when we arrived and the prices are now comparable with top loaders in a lot of cases. They were way more expensive and I had been scared to look as we're still clinging on to the one we brought over.

Just had a look at Noel Leeming they have 8kg F&P Front Loader on Special $1399 ($200 off til 11th August)

http://www.noelleeming.co.nz/kitchen-laundry-appliances/washing-machines/fisher-paykel-wh80f60w1-8-kg-front-loader-clothes-washer/prod97402.html

or a similar Whirlpool 7.5kg Front Loader for $999 ($100 off)

http://www.noelleeming.co.nz/kitchen-laundry-appliances/washing-machines/whirlpool-wfs1071aw-7-5kg-front-load-washer/prod44052.html

[victoria24]

in defense of the top loader which i refute.. water is free down here :nice1

[M-Squared]

Don't you pay council rates? Plus there's the environmental impact of using excess water... :p

[KerryS]

I loved my top loader and I miss it now I have a built in front loader instead. Mine didn't have the central agitator in the drum, which is what can ruin clothes. I hate that the cycles on the front loader are so slow, and that when I drop socks or whatever on my trip from the laundry basket to the washing machine (which I invariably do), then I have to wait until the next wash to put them in - I can't just lift the lid and throw them in after I've started the machine. Yes, I could just walk through the house and do a quick check, but I liked the option of being able to throw something in mid-cycle.

I have this fridge http://www.fisherpaykel.co.nz/refrigeration/?productUid=8C7F6178-9441-C27F-8608CF8503E0B7E2 which I wouldn't recommend to anyone. The doors make it very irritating to get something out, especially if it's in the salad drawers at the bottom, as they are one long, split drawer rather than two individual ones. Very annoying.

[hosebergine]

You've all come up with great tips chaps - we're off to look at Noel Leeming first, just to get an idea of prices and the range available. Just been to look through a rental where they had Miele washers and I was green with envy. I expect they are bank breaking, as they are in the UK, but I can have a drool over them anyway!!!

[IanW99]

in defense of the top loader which i refute.. water is free down here :nice1

It also depends on the area you live in, some areas have water meters and other areas have to have water delivered if they use it all up.

Ian

[Ngeru]

in defense of the top loader which i refute.. water is free down here :nice1

It may well be free just now, whilst the tanks are full. Maybe a different story in the summertime when they're running low and being economical with water would be even more important.

[Familyofmonkeys]

I loved my top loader and I miss it now I have a built in front loader instead. Mine didn't have the central agitator in the drum, which is what can ruin clothes. I hate that the cycles on the front loader are so slow, and that when I drop socks or whatever on my trip from the laundry basket to the washing machine (which I invariably do), then I have to wait until the next wash to put them in - I can't just lift the lid and throw them in after I've started the machine. Yes, I could just walk through the house and do a quick check, but I liked the option of being able to throw something in mid-cycle.

I have an 8kg Ariston front loader bought from Hill & Stewart, with a drum that is tilted backwards very slightly so you can interrrupt the washing at any point to put in the lost sock :)

We also found that Hill & Stewart were prepared to bargain the lowest with us when we wanted a new washing machine. We just quoted already discounted prices we'd negotiated at Noel Leeming and Bond & Bond, and they gave us another $200 off the price after I plonked a crying baby on the counter while they thought about the offer i'd just made :laugh

[broadsword08]

for my ten cents you would not catch me buying f&p whatsoever
90% of all broken appliances i look at are f&p... sure they have a large market share but they just dont seem to last
parts are available - electronic control boards are dear

[victoria24]

the water thing is a bit of a red herring in isolation as you have to weigh it against the cost of heating the water in front loaders. I'm just saying that I pay for hot water incrementally but not water. I'm not going to stick it on for a laugh to use more water but equally, I don't want to pay more than I have to. if we were all going to be environmentally friendly to the core, we'd wear the same clothes and wear them in the shower which would be fed by the water butt that collects the rain and isn't heated to save electric which is powered by either coal or gas!

[M-Squared]

Neil, there are degrees to being environmentally friendly :p

Actually this thread has just reminded me - if there's anyone coming to the meet-up at Aotea Lagoon next Saturday who has a top-loader, please PM me as I have a box of Persil washing powder that I bought by mistake and opened up 2/3 of the way before I realised it was for a top-loader, d'oh!

[cappuccino]

Just a word of advice after my recent UK bought washing machine experience. I suggest you purchase extra parts like belts etc in the UK because they are quite expensive here.

My washing machine was brand new and after shipping was kept in storage for 1 year before I used it. This caused the band to 'shape' and as soon as I started using it, the belt started to jump off. I have just gone through an expensive experience of purchasing a new belt and have someone come to fit it (I can fit it myself but was hoping the engineer could find out why it was constantly jumping off/tighten the motor levers etc).

The only funny thing was that on the phone the engineer thought I was talking about the BOLT not the BELT and he suggested I superglue it into place!!

[grady bunch]

I went to The Appliance Shed (large yellow thing) on North Shore and then went to Hill and Stewart, Albany with their prices, they promptly knocked off a few hundred dollars and did free delivery. Bought Fisher & Pykel, as cheaper to repair than European makes. They love to haggle here!!

Great service though.

The Gradys