It’s the ultimate First World problem: how to stay in touch with your appliances even if you’re away from home. Well, Pilgrim, you git down on yer knees and thank the Lord Fixus because now you can do just that! Daf right, Nappy– Whirlpool, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Panasonic and Procter & Gamble are all test marketing this in Hotlanta even as you feast your bloodshot peepers on these hallowed photons. Read on…

Having completed a pilot program that tested how an Internet- connected kitchen can ease meal preparation, the Internet Home Alliance (IHA) is shifting its attention to the laundry room. IHA’s Laundry Time study, like the earlier Mealtime study, will investigate how “Smart Home” technologies can simplify and shorten the time required to wash and dry clothes in an average household. Consumer attitudes toward remote access and control of home laundry appliances also will be probed.

A test home in the Atlanta area will be equipped with devices that link washers and dryers to a home network that will enable owners to receive text messages on the progress of the laundering process through computers, cellphones or TV receivers. For in- stance, a family member can put a load in the washer and watch TV. When the load is completed, a “Wash Complete” alert pops up on the screen, instructing the person to move the load to the dryer and perhaps put a new load in the washer. A similar alert will appear when the drying cycle is finished.

Through instant messaging on computers, cellphones or TVs, consumers also will be alerted to possible problems with their laundry appliances. If the problem is that they failed to activate the machine, a remote access system enables the appliances to be turned on without walking to the laundry room. This latter feature also can be used while out of the home (through cellphone or computer) to activate a washer or dryer so the load will be completed upon arrival home. If the return home is delayed, the dryer can be instructed to fluff the load again to eliminate potential wrinkles.

Participating in the study are Whirlpool, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Panasonic and Procter & Gamble. Whirlpool is provid- ing each test home with front-loading regular-capacity washers and dryers, while Microsoft is providing the “Smart House” and remote-access control systems.

Results of the study will be published early next year by IHA, a home research group based in Boston.

For years, I’ve been saying that many of the high-end brands are overpriced junk. Finally, Consumer Reports has caught on to this (or Thermador and Viking are no longer able to pay their bribes to Consumer Reports), and is reporting this sad but very real truth. Moral of the story: You don’t always get what you pay for and spending more doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting better quality.

I wonder how long it’ll take ’em to figure out that Sub-(standard)-Zero is also a ripoff brand?

Washington, DC: A new survey by Consumer Reports shows that mid-range appliance brands are often more reliable than many high-end brands such as Thermador and Viking.

On Monday, Consumer Reports released highlights from its “Annual Products Reliability Survey.” The full survey will be published in the magazine’s May issue.

Thermador gas rangesHigh-End Brand No Guarantee
Interestingly, Consumer Reports found that high-end brands of major kitchen appliance are more prone to need repair early in their life-span. Thermador, Dacor, Viking and Jenn-Air rank among the least reliable brands of major cooking appliances as identified by Consumer Reports readers.

Consumer Reports found that 33% of consumers’ Viking gas ranges and at least 15% of Thermador, Dacor and Viking gas cook tops were repaired or had an unrepairable problem between 2002 and 2006.

According to the report, Whirlpool, Kenmore and GE “prove to be safe bets for major appliance shoppers,” having relatively low repair rates across a variety of appliances, including electric and gas ranges, ovens, refrigerators, washers and driers.

Results are based on more than 950,000 Consumer Reports reader responses to the magazine’s online and paper survey. Because consumers own more than one type of product in the same category, the entire Consumer Reports study contains more than 5.1 million product reports.

Thermador: A Host of Problems
There are reports that some Thermador Gas Ranges PRG366US are defective due to problems with the patented simmer control potentiometer, igniter switch and motherboard, which could result in safety hazards. Owners of Thermador gas ranges have reported to consumeraffairs.com that they have also had difficulty getting replacement parts through the company.

In 2002, BSH Home Appliance Corp. voluntarily recalled 2,460 Thermador gas ranges. The recall was initiated because of a burn hazard to customers caused by the venting of hot air below the small oven, which caused the metal surface of the door to heat up.

The Cost to Consumers
A new Thermador unit can cost more than $5,000. Range repair costs can be as high as $400, and units may require repeated repairs. Some repair services have advised consumers to purchase an extended warranty for their Thermador units – at an additional cost of $450-$500.

While the Consumer Reports verdict is clear, many consumers will probably continue to buy high-end appliances because of their status. As Laura Ries, principal in the Ries & Ries branding consultancy told Marketing Daily: “McDonald’s coffee came out better than Starbucks in another Consumer Reports survey – but the perception of Starbucks as superior is so firmly entrenched that McDonald’s would find it extremely difficult to overcome.”

By Anne Borden

Original article posted here.