Yes, it seems like a nice machine. Can you tell if the heater works on any cycle besides the sanitary cycle?

Not easy to tell, but it does look like the internal heater comes on in Normal cycle if the water is too cold. Samsung calls it Automatic Temperature Control (ATC). I tried this just now with a Hot cycle and it does seem to kick in (our water heater is set at 120F).

Just used a couple of our old bath towels that have always had a persistent "funk" smell when they got wet. After a single cold/cold wash last night with Silvercare, today no funky mildewy smell after use. Again, amazing.

For those in OC in So Cal, look at this deal on a slightly dented/scratched set:

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/hsh/399698923.html

What I remember CR saying about the Samsung was good -- they just had reservations about the silver care feature and the expense of having to replace the bars. I was wondering if they would be a good thing in our warm, damp climate. It's so easy to get someting funky smelling -- especially with a couple of guys who go camping -- you know.

The expense to replace the Silvercare bars is $50 - $75 with a life of 3000 washes (estimated 10 years). That is not bad to be able to sanitize without super high temps or chlorine bleach. CR did find this feature effective.

By far, the Silvercare is the best feature of this Samsung washer for us.

That's not really a bad cost, especially when you compare it to other laundry treatments. And I don't even know that my current machine is going to make it to 10 years. That's a greater concern to me.

I think CR was looking at it as an additional cost on top or a premium machine. I understand their point, and I think I've herad some other concerns with Samsung, but if it's working for you -- that's what counts.

Probably only risk is EPA ban or controls put in place for silver concept. If yes, resale value would drop. I considered 3k washes cost non issue at $50-75.

On EPA issue, you might just buy an extra silver bar now or two now. Or just resign yourself to possibility of not using it at sometime.

http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/ion.htm

I wish Samsung had a VRT non-silver model. Sure they will have one soon, but really don't want to wait for it.

I have never, ever heard a person consider resale value as an issue in a laundry appliance. A range or built-in fridge -- maybe. A washing machine?

And here I was figuring that the silver bar lasts about 10 years and they say most washers and dryers aren't built to last more than 10 years now -- so you might not even need another one. And I really don't know the significance of the EPA saying Samsung will have to register the washing machine, but it doesn't sound like a ban. That article was nearly 9 months ago and they are still selling the machines....

We replaced an LG set (WM2277HW/DLG5988W) with the Samsung WF337/DV337 pair in our second floor laundry room. In our new build, the LG set shook the house - even on low. The Samsung set is FANTASTIC. The VRT technology really works. Our windows are saved! The Silvercare feature is really neat. I was more than a little skeptical, but am now a believer!

Last night I tested the VRT feature. Took TWO heavy full length bathrobes and many hand and bath towels. Pretty much stuffed the drum -- I know this is not recommended. In my old TL, the bathrobes always caused a large imbalance that made the spin cycle a loud banging affair. Had to drape the bathrobes carefully around the agitator.

With this Samsung FL, I let it go through the cycle. At each spin cycle, I can hear it speed up, start to vibrate, slow down, rinse, then speed up again. Each iteration brought a higher spin speed and less vibration. Soon it was up to full speed as the load balances. At max speed, vibration is minimal and the washer seems to have plenty of power to handle such a difficult heavy load.

VRT works and works well! Needless to say, the white bathrobes look as good as new.

Silvercare + VRT are wonderful features that really are effective.

"I have never, ever heard a person consider resale value as an issue in a laundry appliance. A range or built-in fridge -- maybe. A washing machine?"

If you buy a $3k+ new machine set and can't return, can't get it fixed and want something else, resale thought will cross your mind- quickly.

If anyone has access to CR, they had an excellent articles on nanotechnology and concerns. Also, manufacturers are moving aways saying their product uses nanotechnology. It is quickly losing the cachet unlike the enduring word "digital." Just brought my daughter a Nano IPOD. I think she is safe, however, it is digital too. LOL.

Before I saw CR article, I brought some Eddie Bauer Nanotex pants. Curious what it really added over usual WF, I did a Google. First hit was a group of protesters in front of Eddie Bauer's corporate headquarter. Dismissed it, until I saw CR article and quotes from Nobel Prize winners that helped develop it. However, still wearing pant and not really much better than old WF Dockers, IMHO.

On possible future bans/restrictions of Samsung, here is one from Germany. Also, some rambling from local communities in California.- http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=1037.php

" BUND wants Samsung to stop selling the new washer in Germany. Similar pressure by consumer activist organizations in Sweden already forced Samsung to take it off the market there. Consumers who already bought the appliance were told by Samsung to use the silver cycle "carefully". "

If something doesn't work and it can't be fixed, I wouldn't be trying to sell it to someone else.

I am fairly sure that crooks101 didn't mean it that way. It is not about selling a broken washer, but about selling a washer that doesn't work in a specific setting or doesn't fullfill somebody's specific expectations without being broken. Something like a vibration problem doesn't mean that the same washer won't work on a concrete floor. In crooks101's case, the Miele didn't use the heater on the normal cycle and Miele won't "fix" it. There are many Miele owners who don't care about that issue though.

I agree, however, that a good return policy is always better than having to sell an appliance that is almost new. After several years of using a washer, I wouldn't be too concerned about its resale value anymore. And you can still sell something that is broken if you disclose the problem and somebody wants it anyway for spare parts or so...

"If something doesn't work and it can't be fixed, I wouldn't be trying to sell it to someone else."

ROFL. Silly response.

Thanks, looser, of course that is it. lascatx has some bone trying to pick with his lame responses, IMHO.

Lascatx, I bit on the first one, this is the last one.

Know back to the thread's real purpose, please.

crooks101,
thanks for posting the article about the SilverCare technology controversial in Germany. I didn't even think about looking it up, but I kind of figured that something like that won't go over too good there. Samsung claims that the release of the Silvercare washer in Sweden was just haltet temporarily for a few months and that they resumed selling it in Spring 2006.
It will be interesting to see what kind of decisions are going to be made in Germany and ultimately worldwide.

I doubt if the machine will really get banned in US nor will Samsung withdrawal from marketing. -- that would be just asking for a lawsuit. If this pesticide issue get well-know or they have to put a warning label on machine, it will just fade away over time with new high-end VRT no-sliver option being brought to market.

Imagine in store. Hey, honey, let's get this one, its saves a lot of energy by using cold water and pesticide to really kills those dust mites -the bugs might wash-in, but always wash-out.

So Samsung has two marketing strikes against US machine - using pesticide per EPA and nanotechnology, or so it claims. Nanotechnology concerns, I think, was not expected. See CR issues a month or so ago. Some manufactures are quietly dropping their bragging about using nano.

rlee777

I hope you have better luck with your Samsung Silvercare than my sister did with her set.

She was very happy with it until after about 8 months it started shutting down randomly during the wash cycle.

She had to wait two weeks for a service visit only to find out the tech couldn't fix it and agreed to replace it with another. Her family had to wait another four weeks for Samsung to deliver another washer even though the store she got it from had more in stock.

As it turned out she was given a reconditioned unit and it also didn't work. (Some problem with the door latch system.)

In the end, (after two months) Samsung gave her a store credit to buy a new set at Sears.

Yep, all mfrs have their share of lemons. Our previous TLs were Whirlpool super capacity rated highly in CR. Whirlpool TLs are known for their reliability. 2 1/2 years of ownership and the washer developed a bad motor bearing -- outside of the warranty.

This time around we purchased a 4 year warranty extension to cover anything that might go wrong.

Still extremely pleased with our purchase -- latest test was to wash some smelly old running shoes that had a lot of sweat and wear. Not only did the mesh uppers come out amazingly clean (with Sears HE Oxiclean), but the Silvercare took ALL the odors away. The dryer did a great job with the drying rack to dry out the shoes without tumbling.

BTW, these Samsung washers are very popular in Asia and the Middle East and I can see why.

I actually believe Samsung is one of the better brands. Like I said, my sister was very pleased with the performance.

She had planned to either get the washer fixed of take a replacement. It's the way Samsung handled the situation that turned her off to the brand.

After such a long wait for repairs to be made and without a working washer, she was just sick of dealing with the situation and couldn't bear the thought of "what if?" the new one fails.

I see one post on here about the effectiveness of the VRT and lack of vibration on the second floor laundry room. Does anyone else have theirs installed upstairs? Is the vibration truly minimized? I am so concerned about this issue.

I had nearly bought the LG model that has all the bells and whistles but then I started reading online about front-loaders in general and how horrible they shake houses when installed upstairs. I have had many front-loaders, but always downstairs where the subfloor is a concrete slab, so this hasn't been an issue. My new house has the laundry room upstairs by the bedrooms.

I am hoping the Samsung with VRT actually prevents issue so I can proceed with buying the unit.

jkulas, I have the LG 2487 that was not initially set up correctly by the "extremely proficient" guys from BB. It shook to high heaven!!! Once I leveled it correctly my problem went completely away. My laundry room is on the first floor over a crawl space. I know that the fl's generate different centrifugal forces and what not, but I think the problem is more w/shoddy construction than the fl's or the issue is 50/50. That would be a travesty to only have one washer out several that was the ONLY one to work in 2nd floor applications.
Good luck w/your search....a word of caution though. Make sure your Samsung or LG whichever you decide have service readily available in your area. Have fun!!!!