I saw an announcement in the Jan 2005 issue page#9-Maytag was going to compensate FL Neptune owners-It was on Sept 10 Maytag settled on a class action lawsuit.They were going to pay $500 to folks that replaced their Neptune with another brand-or they were going to issue $200-$1000 toward the purchase of a Neptune TL machine to replace the broken FL one.The settlement covered Neptune FL machines bought from 1997 to 2004.the announcement also gives instructions on how to get "compensated" if you had a misbehaving Neptune FL machine.

Here's the links to some additional information:

http://www.consumerreports.org/main/detailv4.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=512331&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=162697&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=333135 and http://www.maytagfrontloadsettlement.com/

Mike

Thanks for the interesting reading.
I can say that I know a few Neptune owners, from the first batch. They were lucky. They did have problems. However they got just that right tech, right part, knew what he was doing.
It is a machine, and you have to get it just right. Maytag paid the bill in full, no questions asked. They love the machines.
I think the problem for any appliance company right now is they can't get good techs. They are people that don't have a clue what is wrong, and they tell you they can't be fixed. Any machine this new, in this day and age, can be fixed.
I am sorry, but it is my experence. Some of them will come into your house, and flat out tell you; "I don't know nothing about that machine." Yep, happend to me. I just was very kind to him, and told him what to write on his ticket. And went and got a brand new machine, on his word.
It is really hard in this day and age to find a good worker, that takes an invesment in his / her job.
Some are serious, some not.
Brent

I do know someone in my area that has a Neptune washer. She is unhappy with it(guess the local Maytag place can't help her)and wants to replace it.She owns the local Rainbow Vac dist here.I will pass the info on to her-the Class action suit may help her out.I can agree with Brent-Aucoin-that techs are harder and harder to find.Fewer people want to fix appliances.-and it seems some makers want to discourage you from fixing it-even though it can be-the appliance makers(and salesmen) want you to buy a new one instead.It seems there are fewer good salesman as well-the machines are marketed thru the "big-Box" stores and YOU have to pick a machine with little or no guidance-its just "Get me that one"you say to the store person.You have to be informed before you shop at such places.Their salesmen know nothing.

Tolivac, you are so right. When you go into a "Big-Box" you have to be ready to tell them what you want. They really do not know what they are selling. When we need to buy something major I do a lot in internet surfing, the opinion sites, manufacturuers and so on. I then go to the store ready with thte model# I want. I am fortunate, we still have two local family owned appliance stores that I can go to. one is a Maytag/Frigidaire store and the other sells GE. We did want to get a Duet but did not want to go big-box. I know about 7 friends that have Neptunes and none have said anything nice about them. I hope they all get their money.

I do the same thing-figure what I want at such a store and get it-Tell the "Go-For" saleperson what I want and he go's for it.There is an appliance store here-not a whole lot better than the big box store-in fact it has a lot of similarities to them.Was a pain to get something fixed under warrante that I bought there.It just seems that stores "big Box" or other-they lack SERVICE to the buyer.They are unwilling to provide it-more than just selling him an appliance.At some Big Box places you just grab the item off their big warehouse shelves-no salesperson needed.The clerk at checkout grills you about service plans-even for a $30 clock radio!I pass-explain to him that a clock radio is an established-reliable peice of machinery.when I said-lack service-that whats KILLING Sears.They are becoming a Big Box place.

IIRC Circut City or perhaps it was another "Big Box Store" fired nearly all or most of it's higher paid/senior sales people and replaced them with the drones that pass for sales people today.

The higher paid staff treated their sales jobs as careers, that is they knew their stock, kept up to date on technological advances, keep customer mailing lists and so on. In short they did what any professional salesperson would do to build a "relationship" with a customer and keep that customer for life.

Today it seems most appliance sales people in all but some local/smaller appliance dealers are there to answer basic questions and process orders. Normally I know more about an appliance than the salesperson, and they end up asking ME questions. Also means have to bite my lip when over hearing some poor person/couple being sold a load of flannel regarding an appliance by some sales person. Usually will get the "it's none of our business look, let's go", and can only tell these poor people/person will be so sorry if they listen to that salesperson's line.

However in defense of appliance stores and salespeople many report that the margins in appliance sales are very low. Also that many people come in to look at appliances, take up the salesperson's time and go off to shop via the Internet for a "better price". If customers want great service, they should be willing to support the little guys and thank him/her in the proper way by closing a deal. I'd be discouraged too if all people did all day is treat me as a reference library.

As for those exteneded warranty programs, there really ought to be a law. Stores like Circut City and Best Buy make HUGE sums of money selling these programs and their value is of little use unless the customer reads and understands what they are getting.

Launderess

I can understand about shoppers coming and trying a machine and buying it somewhere else.Happens a lot in the so called Hi End Hi-Fi buz.And becuase of that some companies won't sell their appliances or equipment over the 'net.If it was bought thaT way-the maker won't honor any warrantee.Hi End vac companies won't authorize internet sales of their vacs.
Sometimes the extended warantee plans are helpfulI used them for my Rear projection TV and my laptop computer.they can make sense for expensive items.-and those liable to break-such as a laptop computer.I used the plan on my computer-its out now having the screen backlight replaced.Best Buy-where I got it-says the repair won't cost me anything else.But I will say no to the plans for something like the radio.Had them offered to me for DVD machines as well-the cost of the plan was MORE than the DVD player.Passed.
I do try to build a "relationship with consumers in the sale of TriStar vacuums.The customer even refers me to his freinds.Same thing with the fellow who does the sales full time-I do it part time becuase of my job at the transmitter plant.Its kinda fun and interesting.