I stayed away from Samsung because of this and another fourm and went with Electrolux and I'm very happy. Some people have good luck with Samsung and some don't but I've read too many horror stories about Samsung here and on another form so I didn't want to chance it. You hardly ever read any bad reviews on Electrolux.

I really think word of mouth is good. Before I bought a Speed Quen I found every post I could find wherever they were. I joked to my husband that i felt i had read everything on the internet but i believe that it helped me make the best decision for myself.

The thing to remember about CR magazine (and I have subscribed for 35+ years) is that they test the machines over 'X' period of time and then they are done. The forums here have people who live with the machines, week after week, month after month, year after year, and have different experiences. Also, some people use too much detergent, not enough, and then there is the water quality issue for dosing. CR's subscriber surveys will give you an idea of "reliability" but I have not received a survey from them (to fill out) in years. So take that with a grain of salt. I read the forums here for "real life" experiences.

Thanks, Cavimum, that makes great sense. I also have been a long time subscriber, but I do sometimes question their rating criteria. If you follow their suggestions, you really should only buy a basic Honda or Toyota, for example. And yes, those are very great, very reliable cars no doubt, but they don't consider a fun factor, a speed factor, how it rides, how it handles (other than the cone test), etc, etc. So as I read ratings of other items, I do wonder, are they trying to get me to buy the "Honda" of the bunch? LOL

They are very reliable. They tell you why something did well in their ratings and why they may have given it lower marks. They aren't telling anyone to buy, or not to buy any product (unless there are safety concerns.) They simply advocate awareness and the encourage the wise use of consumer power.

On the down side CR is not interested in how long a machine lasts. A Speed Queen rates low because their long term reliability is not valued.

It is true they do not publish numbers that show what percentage of machines are still in service X number of years after purchase, but I think their reliability ratings probably correlate somewhat to the lifespan of the machine. Of course, based solely on my experience and anecdotal stories, it seems like you can expect ~7-10 years out of a washer if you are lucky. The old agitator my mom has for rags and super dirty things has been in use for around 30 years. Aside from a couple expected maintenance items, it shows no signs of slowing down. I highly doubt my new, expensive washer and dryer combo will see 1/3 of that lifespan.

Do you do the type of laundry that requires great versatility in the washer either by personal preference, household members like pets or sick people, or occupational needs like heavy work clothes or camping equipment, are you comfortable with lots of electronic technology? How many people will be using your laundry equipment? Does it need to be idiot proof? I don't think Consumer Reports pays enough attention to function factors that should influence your decision. There are good and bad in all the washer models and makers. Some rave reviews and others who have really regretted the purchase. It is true that the greater the level of electronics, the more there is to break. When I looked at the Samsung, I saw a lot of plastic and hinges that didn't look very strong. Yes, there were many attractive bells and whistles, but the reliability and failure rates were also high. It's true the average life of any washer is about 10 years in the best of circumstances. The speed queen, mieles and askos were too small for my household. That left the Whirlpool/maytags, Electrolux, GE and LG. Features were very comparable at most price points. So were the reviews. This forum taught me to look for service providers locally. Electrolux and GE don't have any in my area. Take a look at Reviewed.com and automatic washer.org for other opinions. I ended up with an LG to meet both the function and the budget. I've been pleased.

Poppy - that is an excellent set of questions to consider as you are looking at washer options. I have made the decision to purchase the Samsung WF56H9100AG. I needed a washer that could fit king size comforters, large dog beds and other bulky items. With the Samsung's 5.6 cubic feet tub, it was a very attractive choice. It also got high reviews from CR - was one of only 5 recommended FL washers. In my previous home, I had a Samsung set in my previous home and after 6 years it was still going strong. In my current home, I have a Maytag that is rather atrocious. It does a fair job washing, but it makes so much noise you can hear it on the opposite side of the house. The problem is worsening and according to online reports, it sounds as though the bearings are about to give out. So, Maytag/Whirlpool got scratched off the list.

It's being installed tomorrow and I'll update everyone with a report on my first wash.

Best of luck AtomicJay007.

Please report back with a review.

I think they are suspect. When I was looking at refrigerators CR really knocked the frdge on top bottom freezer, as not the preferred configuration or some similarly opaque language. What I notice is that almost everyone in my age group (mid 50s) has ended up with the refrigerator on top because they recognize that they are in and out of the fridge all the time and they really don't need the freezer at eye level as they may not even use the freezer on a daily basis ... If CR is dismissing an entire class of products they need to really give you a reason for it- like it doesn't work, or it needs more repairs, or it's noisy… "preferred configuration" or whatever the language was, was never explained. The impression left with the reader was that fridge on top models are bad fridges, but nothing could be further from the truth. You need to really carefully think through their reviews, they are artfully written (and that is not a compliment).

My brother in law has been a subscriber for many, many years. He says that long ago you could read the reviews and trust what they say. He says not so much now. I think when you are looking for something you need to read as many reviews as you can find and not just depend on CR.

practigal... would you provide the information where CR "knocked the frdge on top bottom freezer, as not the preferred configuration" [sic] please?

I bought a fridge-on-top model specifically on the recommendation of CR. It's been a very good model. Just to check my memory I just looked up their buying guide and here is all they say about these bottom-freezer models...

"Sales of bottom-freezers are growing fastest as a group.
Widths run from 30 to 36 inches for most. Claimed capacities can
approach 30 cubic feet or so though usable space doesn't quite match
that of comparable top-freezers.

Pros:

Bottom-freezers offer the convenience
of an eye-level refrigerator. Some now have the in-door ice and water
dispensers that debuted on side-by-side models..

Cons:

You have to bend to reach the
freezer--but you'll typically use the refrigerator much more often.
Bottom-freezer fridges cost more than top-freezers overall."

Did I miss where they 'knocked' the bottom freezer type? I don't think they are suspect at all. In fact, they are very direct and upfront.

Consumer reports takes no advertising dollars. They collate and discuss options and features. It offers
reasonable pros and cons. And, thankfully, it includes price as a metric and a concern.

User reviews are subject to manipulation and are only relevant when you've already compared and narrowed your search. If you aren't aware that manufacturers pay people to write reviews, you are woefully uninformed. And, if you think you are well-equipped to discern the manipulation, then you have no idea of the power and scope of the psychology behind advertising.

I defend CR because they are the last unbiased protection from companies
who would take financial advantage of uninformed consumers.

This commenting thing isn't really a forum is it? CR tries to be as objective as possible, and therefore removes almost all subjectivity. This is fine for some appliances, or goods, but less so for others. Appearance, ease of use, etc matter.

As for their laundry room ratings. I am very happy with my recommended washer/dryer. I probably would have bought a different one if I did it again, one with self leveling feet. I'd go Maytag if I had to do it again, but my LG works great. The turbo wash, or acela wash in the Kenmore really does work better. If I put a bunch of sheets and towels in, sometimes the water doesn't circulate fast enough to get everything wet. The turbo wash has jets that spray the top of the clothes heap. It gets everything wet and probably rinses them better too.

For some people CR is right on target. Others disagree. I think we are all entitled to our own opinions and should do what we feel best. After all, whatever appliance you buy will be in your own home and you will be the one living with it.

CR does inject opinions in their ratings. They will ding a washer based on its capacity but not everyone needs 5+ cubic feet. This is an opinion on CR's part and has nothing to do with washers' ability to clean. It is one thing to state capacity and it is another thing to use this criteria as one of the rating parameters. As mentioned above, top and bottom refrigerators is another example of injecting opinion that they use to rate.

If you have access to CR online you also get the benefit of how the readers rate their product which is very insightful in that with some products there is much disagreement in what CR states and the readers experience and opinion.

So I've finished the first load with my new Samsung. I can attest that the tub is enormous. I put two large (queen size) heavy blankets in the wash. When I placed them in the tub, it looked like I'd thrown in a couple of t-shirts compared to my old washer, which would have been about 3/4 full. The machine is virtually silent. I was waiting for the spin cycle to start so I could hear how loud it would be, and never realized that the spin had come and gone. It's that quiet. There are a lot of wash options, but I only used the "normal" option for this wash. I will play around with the steam and turbo features later. It claims to have a self cleaning cycle that does not require the addition of any cleaner. I'm curious to see how that goes.

So far the only negative I've found is that door won't stay partially open. I usually like to prop the door open 2-3 inches so it can properly dry inside but the door on this machine will only stay wide open or fully closed.

I'll give more reviews as I use the machine more.

I too always leave the door open on the washer. I can't stand that mildew smell that comes from keeping the lid/door closed.

Does the door have a spring? I know you shouldn't have to, but maybe a wooden dowel or just a pencil could be lodged in there. I have a high capacity/high efficiency top loader, but the way my laundry closet is designed, I wouldn't be able to leave the door all the way open on a front loader and still be able to enter my bathroom lol. Propped, yes. All the way open? Nope.

I hope the machine serves you well.

I to subscribe to hard copy and online versions of CR.

CR lost some credibility with me years ago when I was watching how Electrolux did in the ratings. Although the 70 and 60 series are pretty identical (just the user interface is different) the two were rated widely apart.

Then in the next update they dropped significantly in the line up when the model line didn't even change.

I've also heard of the "incentive" to manufactures from the US government that offered tax breaks to meet or beat "Energy Star" guidelines.

Why else would manufacturers program their washers to use so little water.

There has to be something in it for them to be this stingy with water usage.