Laundry For My Subjects

Well here it is – Blog #2. Today I thought I’d pick a topic that I run across all the time. When I sell laundry, particularly front load, the question about mold and a musty smell inevitably comes up. When customers are researching new washers and dryers they find all kinds of posts on mold and musty odors inherent to front load machines. While it is a legitimate concern – there is an easy fix. I don’t know why, but it still amazes me that when people are NOT happy they LOVE to post it all over the internet, yet when someone is VERY happy with their purchase they simply take it for granted and rarely post their enthusiasm online. I do not know what the exact percentage is, but the negatives are a very small percentage of the total appliances sold. However, once someone has read something online it can be very difficult to dissuade them. So… back to the mold and must! When I am discussing the advantages of the front load washer (there are so many… greater capacity, never out of balance and let’s not forget they use a fraction of the water that traditional agitator models) I always tell the customer that if you just leave the washer door slightly ajar until the rubber bellow/gasket is dry – you can avoid that black mold and musty smell all together! I have personally owned a front load machine for eight years and have followed this simple practice and my unit is still in pristine condition. One more piece of advice regarding front load units is to be a little careful when taking clothes out of the washer. As a servicer, we see torn bellows routinely from catching sharp items such as zippers on the rubber. Sadly, this can be a costly repair as the part alone is generally in excess of $100. Nonetheless, I remain a HUGE fan of front load washers – they clean great and are truly efficient. When you are in the market for a new washer make sure you ask your appliance sales person about water rebates for your area. They can be significant! I would welcome any feedback and can be reached at TheApplianceQueen@gmail.com.

The Queen has spoken!

The Queen's Debut

Since this is my first blog entry, I thought I would introduce myself. I am the owner of a mid-size boutique appliance and plumbing fixture store. My title is “Queen of Appliances” (self-imposed obviously, but I do have a number of loyal subjects). Our store has been family owned and operated (by the same family) since 1955 and we offer service as well as sales. We carry a wide array of products and focus on giving true customer service by listening to the customer’s needs - and trying to balance their wants against their budget. We also endeavor to try and educate customers on product capabilities and/ or deficiencies. It is just a fact of life that we now live in a “throw-away society”. I sometimes draw and analogy to the old telephones that were leased from the telephone company. You could throw them against a wall and the wall would break – but if you picked up the receiver it still had a dial tone! Now – with the new phones you buy – if you drop it you need a new phone! (Boy! That shows my age!) It is, however, paramount that the customer (YOU) walk out of the store happy and satisfied that they got a great deal! There is an astonishing amount of product on the market and during a remodel it can be overwhelming for a consumer to make so many complicated and long-term decisions in a relatively short amount of time. By and large, appliances are still purchased infrequently and if someone hasn’t purchased new appliances in 10 to 15 years, a lot has changed, not only in styling but functionality. Also, customers need to understand lead times and delivery vs. installation charges. Most new appliances are very efficient and some qualify for energy rebates – depending on where one lives. There are always questions and comments on “bells and whistles”. Some customers are quite resistant to change, but when they get them home they are usually pleased with the new technology. I have been in this business for quite some time and I truly have a passion for appliances and plumbing fixtures (aka water appliances). So, one day I thought to myself that with this wonderful world wide web – I could possibly share some of my knowledge about the industry with others. And, while I do not have all of the answers – I will try to find them! I would look forward to hearing from individuals and creating an open dialog on all your appliance issues and can be reached at TheApplianceQueen@gmail.com


The Queen has spoken!