Consumer Reports recommendations are LG heavy

I just bought a new range using CR's reviews to help guide me. Reliability is a top concern for me, so I avoided Samsung which CR gives a quite low"predicted reliability" score 3 out of 5. It rates LG higher at 4 out of 5. I bought a GE model, which CR rates at 5 out of 5.
CR's score includes many other things other than predicted reliability, and it gives LG top scores in areas other than reliability. Bottom line is to assess what's important to you and go from there.

Curiousah wrote: ↑ In the market for both a range and a washing machine.

My Maytag brand range and washer both purchased 4 years ago, both broke again this week.

All of the top recommendations in both categories in ConsumerReports.org are LG brand. Is this because they're actually awesome or is there something else going on to influence these ratings? Asking because anecdotal reports from family don't suggest LG awesomeness.

Only 4 years, nothing is made worth a darn anymore. I still have my 22 year old Whirlpool range, haven't had one issue with it.

Shocking that an appliance can fail in four years. I've had washer/dryers running for over 20 years in rental properties where they are used excessively/abused. Most of the time the door switches or thermal fuses go, but they can be replaced for $10.

If you use these excessively, get commercial quality appliances. They cost more but are able to take more ab/use.

I own LG fridges and they have been fine for over ten years. However, I personally would not buy a modern front loading washing machine with electronics because they have a more limited lifespan than older appliances without electronics.

Curiousah wrote: ↑
All of the top recommendations in both categories in ConsumerReports.org are LG brand. Is this because they're actually awesome or is there something else going on to influence these ratings? Asking because anecdotal reports from family don't suggest LG awesomeness.

CR doesn’t have advertisers to appease and buy there own review items so they shouldn’t be bias, but in the past few years they’ve had “sponsorship” deals with manufacturers in which they help with development of new products based on there subscriber feedback.

I’d recommend LG washer and dryers, I’ve never found a reason to buy a kitchen appliance. Between cost, design, and features there’s never been a good reason to buy one over a Whirlpool design. LG does have one of the best repair programs though, flat fee and everything’s in stock.

If you want absolute reliability look for items with the least electronics. A Huebsch washer/dryer and a blue star range.

batcave wrote: ↑ Shocking that an appliance can fail in four years. I've had washer/dryers running for over 20 years in rental properties where they are used excessively/abused. Most of the time the door switches or thermal fuses go, but they can be replaced for $10.

If you use these excessively, get commercial quality appliances. They cost more but are able to take more ab/use.

I own LG fridges and they have been fine for over ten years. However, I personally would not buy a modern front loading washing machine with electronics because they have a more limited lifespan than older appliances without electronics.

Probably because products that were built 20 years ago are for duration. New products are built for upgrade

Huebsch / Speed Queen replacement parts are super expensive as well btw!

smartie wrote: ↑ Probably because products that were built 20 years ago are for duration. New products are built for upgrade

The washer/dryer and fridge at my parents' place are from the 90s and were made in Canada. They tell me they don't want to purchase new ones since new ones would only last five years lol.

Not saying appliances made in other countries nowadays must be bad, but they're built in countries with cheap labour for upgrading later on (planned obsolescence) as you said.

3express wrote: ↑ The washer/dryer and fridge at my parents' place are from the 90s and were made in Canada. They tell me they don't want to purchase new ones since new ones would only last five years lol.

Not saying appliances made in other countries nowadays must be bad, but they're built in countries with cheap labour for upgrading later on (planned obsolescence) as you said.

Your parents are right. I'm probably your parents age and I have the same sensibilities. Also, why buy appliances or anything else for that matter if there is nothing wrong with them or they can be easily repaired? My washer and dryer are from 1995 or so and they still work fine. I think if they became unrepairable, I would buy used appliances from the same era.

I think many just want new things for whatever reason and they discard things that could be easily repaired.

Kenneth wrote: ↑ I’d recommend LG washer and dryers, I’ve never found a reason to buy a kitchen appliance. Between cost, design, and features there’s never been a good reason to buy one over a Whirlpool design. LG does have one of the best repair programs though, flat fee and everything’s in stock.

I have heard good things about LG washer and dryers.

But I hear their fridges are the absoluter worst with the inverters being hot garbage. And its a shame, because they flood the market and are feature rich. Reading online there are all kinds of stories about how yah, they warrantee is good, but unless you're in Toronto, getting a repair or replacement can take weeks to months and parts can take forever. I have a friend who purchased one of those fancy $4k fridges with the window door and knock feature and the inverter died after 6 months. They live 2 hours from Ottawa and after 6 weeks of using a bar-fridge, had to go out and buy a whole new fridge because they were still waiting on a repair.

I have LG washer and dryer, purchased back in March 2011. Heavily used and never had a problem.

I too have a LG washer, purchased in 2013. It's been a workhorse. Never had a problem with it.

Kenneth wrote: ↑ CR doesn’t have advertisers to appease and buy there own review items so they shouldn’t be bias, but in the past few years they’ve had “sponsorship” deals with manufacturers in which they help with development of new products based on there subscriber feedback.

I’d recommend LG washer and dryers, I’ve never found a reason to buy a kitchen appliance. Between cost, design, and features there’s never been a good reason to buy one over a Whirlpool design. LG does have one of the best repair programs though, flat fee and everything’s in stock.

If you want absolute reliability look for items with the least electronics. A Huebsch washer/dryer and a blue star range.

This hasn't been my experience. The control board for my LG dryer was out of stock no longer in production when it broke 5 years in. I wasted lots of time and money through the flat fee program and got nothing out of it.

Curiousah wrote: ↑ All of the top recommendations in both categories in ConsumerReports.org are LG brand. Is this because they're actually awesome ..........

No appliance manufacturer is entitled to be described as "awesome" these days. "Less mediocre", "average", "sort of OK", "adequate" and "whatever" are adjectives which best describe today's appliances. And those are words for the better appliances. Different words apply to the poor quality appliances/makers.

smartie wrote: ↑ Probably because products that were built 20 years ago are for duration. New products are built for upgrade

I heard the same thing in the 90s...