Oh my dog, the new Washer and Dryer Saga

 When I bought the condo, it came with an older Maytag stacked washer and dryer.  The washer and dryer are in the kitchen, in a small space this proves to be handy (it is unusual in homes in the USA for the washing machine to be in the kitchen.)  I know it was older, the color was discontinued at least 20 years ago, and I think longer.  It had served us well with just one service call.  Recently the timer on the dryer went bad, fortunately the dryer still worked, it just didn't turn itself off.  I decided it was time to buy something new.  

A couple of weeks ago we were out running errands, looked at an LG in Lowes, found no one really helpful when I needed to know the size, space is limited.  We stopped across the street at a local appliance store chain.  The dealer handles mostly better brands.  I told the Sandy the appliance guy what I was looking for and what my concerns are.  Most of the top load stacked machines are cheap, made for apartments, and not the most durable.  The full size front loaders can be stacked, but then the dryer controls end up 6 feet off the floor, and that can be a problem. The LG that we had looked at was a front loader, with controls for the washer and dryer in the middle, easy to reach. But a couple of people I know have had quality problems with LG. 

Sandy said, I have the ideal machine, but it is kind of expensive.  Speed Queen makes a front loading integrated stacked machine, washer on the bottom, dryer on the top. It was, well I will be blunt, and we usually don't talk about money, a little over $3,100, plus tax, plus delivery, plus $20 to haul away and recycle the old machine, all in just under $3,500. I have bought cars for less. I took the information, and the dimensions and went home to think about it.  That is a ton of money, and I am stingy.  I know the brand, they are very well made, made in the country, the machine may well outlive us.  After a couple of days, I decided to stimulate the economy, and went back and ordered it. 

Galloping Gertie was delivered, and before it finished running the first load I was calling saying this is not right.  It shook, it vibrated, it moved itself around the room.  They sent out a service guy, who spent about 5 minutes looked at it and said, the problem is the floor.  It will work fine.  He left, I ran another load, and I was afraid of the  machine. It got worse.  They sent out another tech, who leveled it, and adjusted the legs and said, if that doesn't fix it, tell them to replace it.  It was better, but still it moved 8 inches forward and 4 inches sideways running one load.  I emailed, I was too angry to talk. 

They replaced it.  Tech number 2, did the delivery and set up.  About 30 minutes into it, he cursed, called his supervisor, speaking in rapid fire Spanish about the loco machina. When the call was finished I went in the kitchen to check on the carnage.  He said, this is a new model, the guy who delivered the first one removed the delivery instructions, that had the location of the two new hidden shipping bolts, that have to be removed, or the machine tears itself apart.  He pointed to the bolts in a plastic bag and said, this one will work.  He was right.  It works.   It is fast, quiet, I hope it outlives us.