It's a lower price-line marketed in the U.S. through Sears. Pretty much the same as the standard-line F&P machines in terms of features, appears equivalent to the EcoSmart models.

Before you buy anything from Sears, shop other stores.

We checked out Sears a couple of times (and Great Indoors which is owned and operated by Sears) while shopping for W/D during the past few months. We purchased in March 09. We looked hard at F&P, Samsung, Miele, and Maytag.

Sears charged more for all these brands. Plus, they wanted twice as much for the same level of extended warranty than what Lowes charged.

In the end we purchased the Samsungs at Lowes. We paid less than what Sears was asking; plus we paid 50% less for the extended warranty. Plus we got an $85 gift card (the value of the delivery cost); they advertise it free delivery, but it's not really free delivery. You pay for the delivery and they give you a Lowes' gift card for the value of the delivery cost. Still, I shop at Lowes so I don't mind getting it back in the form of a gift card.

That's not a bad price but I wouldn't call it a superbargain either. I'm pretty sure that's not going to be the $800+ top load F&P dryer, rather it's the rebranded GE dryer they've used for a long time. It's been a good dryer, simple, basic and functional but the value isn't more than maybe $300 so that puts the washer at about $500 which is in the ballpark of many retailers selling the EcoSmart washers.

It's sad that more people don't understand the value of F&P. The more I see and hear of them, the more impressed I become.

Was just reading an article on them and they were courting Whirlpool to buy them out. Seems to me that would be a good acquisition for them but I imagine they have their hands full trying to straighten out Maytag. But they'd ad some nice technology that would blend well with their product mix.

I would tell you to steer clear. I may be a good value if this is what you want but the F&P models are not that great. Front loaders do a much better job at stain removal and not wrinkling the clothes all up. Also most can wash larger items like blankets, etc. They are worth the extra money but you can find low cost frontloaders as well. I wish I had stayed with a frontloader and will go back. Much less detergent and stain removal sprays. Best of luck to you. If you don't wash blankets and don't stain clothes the F&P will do fine though and they are dependable.

I have washed blankets in my F&P toploader any number of times. Also a twin-size overstuffed comforter, a lightweight queen-size comforter, and even a heavy quilted queen-size bedspread although that was a tight fit. I haven't had any particular problem with stains not coming out, either.

I would echo the other sentiments...steer clear of F&P and Sears (perhaps, more especially Sears than F&P). My 6 months old F&P AquaSmart died 6 weeks ago. A replacement set (an LG FL set since Sears apparently didn't carry the AquaSmart anymore...I'm not complaining, the new set is much nicer) just arrived at my house today. And, that all only happened after progressing our complaints all the way to Sears Holding Company's Executive Offices. Once we got to that point, everything has been wonderful, but the 3+ weeks we spent in call center he11 with A&E Factory Service and Sears has caused me to wonder if I will ever buy an appliance from Sears/Sears Outlet again...

Had an Elba washing machine 2years and have had to have repairs made on it 6 times.i think it is a piece of junk but my wife says don't worry about it we use machine a lot. This is the biggest piece of junk Sears sold us

I will never buy another washer or anything else at sears again. In the last several weeks I've sent 3 different washers back, the 1'st one a traditional top load GE , didn't work, 2'nd was the same GE, but was used, ( hey sears I bought a new washer) the 3'rd a kenmore (LG) FL'er again did not work. Sears must be selling factory mistakes, this was inexcusable, and I've lost all trust in them. Its really a shame that a store that used to have such a good reputation is now falling so hard. I remember when people trusted sears and the store was always crowded, now there never seems to be many people in my local sears. And many of the items on the shelves have refurbished stickers on them.Shouldn't those items be in sears outlet. Sears is dying, i'm just one of hundreds of people that have received broken products from sears. Its really a shame.