Too bad they won't exchange your Electrolux washer for a new one.  The "Lemon Law" may apply if it's the same repair that's been required each time.

I have a Frigidaire front loader made by Electrolux and in six years it has had two repairs:  The door (really the hinge) and the pump, which was noisy (most FL pumps are) but not failing.  Both repairs were made just before the extended warranty expired.

Unless Hetch Hetchy fills up this season, I'd think twice about reverting to a top loading machine.  With the current water crisis in our area, my conscience won't let me go back to a top loader, but if you think a TL machine is a better fit for your household, SQ is a good choice that offers long-stroke washing action and a tub that fills to the top with water.  Try to get the model number and pictures of the control panel on the used machine and post them here.  If you don't use much besides the "normal" cycle, an entry level model might be fine for you. 

Personally, I think SQ washers are lousy at rinsing.  When I had an Amana, which at the time was a SQ clone, the "Extra Rinse" switch was always in the "On" position.  The entry-level SQ doesn't offer an extra rinse option, so keep that, and the additional water use should you get a model with that option, in mind.

SQ dryers aren't the greatest compared to other makes.  They use a thermostatic control rather than a moisture sensor and you'll have to adapt to them or you'll be dealing with extra-crispy clothes.

I hadn't seen your reply before making my post above.

I don't know of any machine that offers a hot rinse.  The "warm" setting on my Amana was barely tepid.

Others here can advise if there's a flow restrictor on the hot water inlet.  If so, it can be drilled out or perhaps removed in order to get a truly warm rinse.

As I suggested above, see if you can get pictures of the 10 year old machine and post them here.  I'd be hesitant to buy something like that sight unseen, though.

No current SQ top load models offer warm rinse.  They are all cold rinses. I suppose you could let it run through the whole cycle, then restart the machine for a warm fill on wash and then turn the timer dial to rinse once it fills up with the warm. 

I agree that the ebay machines are not a good idea.  They are HE machines and require HE detergent.  That tells me they don't fill all the way.  They also don't even have the fabric softener dispenser at the top of the agitator.

The lid verbiage also says the regular cycle uses a series of agitation periods and pauses.  That is not how a normal non-HE washer functions.

I would not trust these machines.  They may look OK, but likely have not received the best treatment.  Buy a new pair.

multiple "furniture stores" also sell appliances....and service what they sell!  I would ask them about their service department. 

My sister & brother in law live in Petaluma.  They bought a SQ front loader 2 months ago because they live on a well and are concerned about water consumption.  They bought theirs foom Asien's Appliance in Santa Rosa. 

The only place I found somewhat near you that clearly indicates they do sales and service is Bay Appliance in Oakland.  You may have seen them in your searching.

Since SQ machines are rarely if ever sale priced, I don't think it matters much where you buy.  The important thing is that you buy from a dealer who will also service the machine if needed.  That rules out mega-stores like Airport since AFAIK they don't service what they sell, and the machine wouldn't be priced much lower if at all compared to a smaller dealer.

Keep us posted, and don't forget to wipe out the tub thoroughly with a rag before you do anything else, then fill the tub with hottest possible water and plenty of detergent and run for a full cycle before doing any laundry in it.

Here's the link:

Both the washer and the dryer listed on Ebay are Alliance machines, the labels are shown in a photograph.  But as others have said, they are still 10-year machines.  They look as you suggested - taken from military housing; not fancy, but durable (no end-of-cycle signal on the dryer; no dispensers on the washer).

You can go to SQ's website and search for dealers and repair locations based on your zip code.

lawrence

I don't know if the 2015 SQ models are available yet.  If they are, I suggest the dryer be a 2015 so you'll get a moisture sensor instead of a thermostatic dryness control. 

If you're going with standard mechanical controls (knobs) you might be able to swing a close-out deal on a 2014 washer.