I was just about to ask a similar question when Dee's post showed up. My BIL is considering a Craigslist purchase of a slightly used HE3t and its pedestal. This is a "divorce sale." However, the wife (who is selling the machine) and her movers had no clue about the need for reinstalling the shipping bolts. It was moved into her new home without them. I told BIL this was a no-no for the machine's suspension. So how could he tell that something got farkled in the FL from the move? Plug it in and run it through the spin? The machine is not hooked up to water. BIL is a mechanic extrodinaire, but FLs are a new beast for him. Is the suspension a reasonable repair to undertake with the technical manual and parts that run less than $200? Is there anything else that likely could have gotten messed up in the un-bolted move and he should check for? Help us, Obi Wans of the Laundry Room!

I'm glad I found this thread! I have wanted a Duet washer and dryer for three years now. We'll be buying a house / condo after the beginning of the year and was basing my desire for the Duet on my father-in-law's set that I've used. Sounds like the Duets were "de-contended" over the years to reduce their "cost" to produce. What a shame. I certainly have noticed FL washers becoming more popular over the last two years or so. After seeing people mention Bosch in this thread, I've decided to jump ship before I even board it. I've been looking through the Bosch and Lowe's web sites, although there are a number of Bosch dealers here in Anchorage. My two requirements in an appliance are A) Energy Rating and B) Noise. Our Kenmore (really Whirlpool) fridge was actually below the U.S. Energy Guide rating a few years ago. It was almost to the bottom of the energy usage on the Canadian guide, even. I don't mind mixing brands. Just as with employers, there's NO reward in brand loyalty. They can change design or build quality practically overnight to satisfy the holly stockholders. Now to go try to dig up some 'dirt' on the Bosch white goods. We use a Bosch dishwasher at work (residential level machine) and it's shockingly quiet. The prices are in line with Duet-class Whirlpool goods and the energy use seems quite low (not to mention attractive styling).

Sspye, we received our set yesterday and have run the first load (after the initial empty wash recommended by the manufacturer), and I find it awfully noisy when it's getting the water and even just the overall noise during the wash. I used to have a Siemens UltraSense Plus until we moved, and that was so quiet you just didn't know it was running except during the spin cycle. As for the dryer, I can't get excited about a dryer. I've only ever needed the normal option, so I guess I don't take advantage of any special features.

O.K. I get your POV, rpsinfoman. I happened to be at Home Depot yesterday and saw the Maytag Epic washer and dryer in black. You were right, they are the exact same machines as the KA Ensembles. However, they were not priced lower than the KA Ensemble washer and dryer. They were priced the same as the original price of the white or black KAs (not the floor model price I got) at Western Appliance. Home Depot didn't have the Whirpool Duets, so I couldn't compare the pricing there, but the Duets were definitely cheaper than the KAs at Western Appliance. Maybe Maytag is trying to raise the profile of the Maytag name? I also understand the "prestige" factor in a label. I was all set to buy a Kenmore DW and FD refrigerator, but my sister-in-law said I couldn't have Kenmore in my kitchen because it wasn't appropriate to the value of my house (her family is in real estate). I went to Western Appliance, and found the same appliances but with a Kitchen Aid label - and negotiated a lower total price than I was going to get at Sears, and my sister-in-law was happier with that choice! Very funny!