UPDATE on the New KM Elite He5T washer I bought (that didn't work)

You may remember the other thread I posted about the brand new He5T Steam washer I bought that DIDN'T work after getting it home
(see the link below).

Here is the Readers Digest condensed version of how things happened:

2/21/10: I bought the washer from O.S.H. (a division of Sears) and got a $1050 discount (!!!) as it was a floor display and on close out (last years model).

2/22/10: I picked up the washer and brought it home. Attempted to set up and hook up the machine, only to discover it wouldn't work! It gave 3 different error codes. Called the store... then called Sears service when they advised that's what I had to do (that, or return it).

2/27/10: The Sears service tech come out and was here for an hour and a half. He finally determined the main computer and wiring harness needed to be replaced. So he ordered the parts and scheduled another service call for 3/15/10.
BTW, he really enjoyed seeing my collection, plus I was able to show him 4 different machines he'd never seen before!

3/14/10: I get a call from Sears saying the parts are back-ordered and would not arrive in time for the 3/15/10 service call. It was re-scheduled for 3/19/10.

3/17/10: I'm getting tired of the delays and "tired of going to the laundromat to do my laundry" (that's what I told them anyway, they don't need to know I have many other washers to use... Shhhh!) So I call Sears again to see if ANYTHING can be done to expedite this entire process and to MAKE SURE they understood I was NOT a happy camper! The woman was very nice and did what she could to help. She called the parts warehouse, or whoever runs it to check on these parts. She come back on the phone and tells me the parts won't ship out UNTIL the 19th... meaning I would not see them until the 24th or 25th! I tell her that's ridiculous and express my discontent again. She then says they could replace my defective washer with new one. (Now we're talking!) She checks the system, sees there are plenty of this same (WP built) model in stock locally and they can deliver one to me as soon as 3/18/10! I told her "Great, let's do that then!" (and after spending ONLY 40 minutes on the phone!)

3/18/10: This (pictured) was waiting for me when I got home from work today. YAY! And guess what? I hooked it up and it actually works with no error codes! YAY!

I ran the "Express wash" cycle (30 minutes) and so far, functionally I like it better them my LG. It's quicker to respond to needing more water and it ramps up and slows down more quickly from spin then the LG too. It also has a shorter pause time between direction changes when tumbling. AND.... when filling/adding water, the water pours onto the cloths in the drum vs. pouring into the outer drum, again, like the LG.

YAY!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO RevvinKevin's LINK


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Post# 423505 3/19/2010 at 01:21 (5,145 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)
Checkrate/Likes You may remember the other thread I posted about the brand new He5T Steam washer I bought that DIDN'T work after getting it home (see the link below). Here is the Readers Digest condensed version of how things happened: 2/21/10: I bought the washer from O.S.H. (a division of Sears) and got a $1050 discount (!!!) as it was a floor display and on close out (last years model). 2/22/10: I picked up the washer and brought it home. Attempted to set up and hook up the machine, only to discover it wouldn't work! It gave 3 different error codes. Called the store... then called Sears service when they advised that's what I had to do (that, or return it). 2/27/10: The Sears service tech come out and was here for an hour and a half. He finally determined the main computer and wiring harness needed to be replaced. So he ordered the parts and scheduled another service call for 3/15/10. BTW, he really enjoyed seeing my collection, plus I was able to show him 4 different machines he'd never seen before! 3/14/10: I get a call from Sears saying the parts are back-ordered and would not arrive in time for the 3/15/10 service call. It was re-scheduled for 3/19/10. 3/17/10: I'm getting tired of the delays and "tired of going to the laundromat to do my laundry" (that's what I told them anyway, they don't need to know I have many other washers to use... Shhhh!) So I call Sears again to see if ANYTHING can be done to expedite this entire process and to MAKE SURE they understood I was NOT a happy camper! The woman was very nice and did what she could to help. She called the parts warehouse, or whoever runs it to check on these parts. She come back on the phone and tells me the parts won't ship out UNTIL the 19th... meaning I would not see them until the 24th or 25th! I tell her that's ridiculous and express my discontent again. She then says they could replace my defective washer with new one. (Now we're talking!) She checks the system, sees there are plenty of this same (WP built) model in stock locally and they can deliver one to me as soon as 3/18/10! I told her "Great, let's do that then!" (and after spending ONLY 40 minutes on the phone!) 3/18/10: This (pictured) was waiting for me when I got home from work today. YAY! And guess what? I hooked it up and it actually works with no error codes! YAY! I ran the "Express wash" cycle (30 minutes) and so far, functionally I like it better them my LG. It's quicker to respond to needing more water and it ramps up and slows down more quickly from spin then the LG too. It also has a shorter pause time between direction changes when tumbling. AND.... when filling/adding water, the water pours onto the cloths in the drum vs. pouring into the outer drum, again, like the LG. YAY! CLICK HERE TO GO TO RevvinKevin's LINK

Post# 423522 , Reply# 1 3/19/2010 at 04:46 (5,145 days old) by SactoTeddyBear ()
Checkrate/Likes *Original Thread Posting: Thread# 27294:* Congratulations Kevin "RevvinKevin", thats great that the Woman at Sears would finally admit that they would replace your Washer, with a new similar Machine. I tought that I would check back at your original Posting and reference it to this one, in case others might want to go back to when you originally bought the Washer, that ended up being a Lemon. It certainly helps to keep onto something, when you aren't satisfied and to finally get results that you are hoping for, especially a Washer that is going to operate properly. Keep us Posted about how this replacement is doing. Peace and Kind Regards, Steve

Post# 423526 , Reply# 2 3/19/2010 at 06:08 (5,145 days old) by appnut (TX)
Checkrate/Likes Great work Kevin. Glad it got resolved. Thanks for the comparison to an LG.

Post# 423553 , Reply# 3 3/19/2010 at 09:00 (5,145 days old) by brastemp (Brazil)
Checkrate/Likes Hi RevvinKevin, this is my favorite front load washer (i love fronts with automatic soak cycle).. I would to like to buy one, but I live in Brazil and I think this is impossible. Made some videos please!!

Post# 423598 , Reply# 4 3/19/2010 at 14:43 (5,145 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)
Checkrate/Likes Amazing story, I was wondering to myself the other day how this story ended. Glad you got a working machine now, that Express wash really does move through it's paces pretty quickly. I also like the water raining down on the clothes rather than just appearing magically in the drum with no fanfare or drama. I'm sure it makes no difference in the overall performance, but it's a psychological thing about seeing the water. Love that blue!

Post# 423614 , Reply# 5 3/19/2010 at 16:30 (5,145 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)
Checkrate/Likes *I will thoroughly test it this weekend!* I'm not sure how many of the cycles I'll use, but I'll give a full report. Steve: As I wrote in the original thread, the staff at the STORE where I bought it (OSH) originally told me they would swap it out for a NEW equivalent model (meaning the new LG version) because that's all OSH had in stock. But again as I originally posted, that all changed. Of the 5 or 6 times I called the Sears 800 customer help number, I had not gotten that "far" (to that part of the Cust Service department). It never even donned on me Sears would have PLENTY of this exact same model still sitting in their warehouses! Eduardo: I do have the ability to shoot video now (all I have to do is figure out how to edit it and make it look all fancy! LOL). But the door has a smoked or tilted plastic front over the glass, making it difficult, but not impossible to see in. Bob: I will make more mental notes comparing the KM He5t to the LG. One thing I can say now is: as I mentioned, Express Wash on the KM was 30 minutes and was as follows: Wash, drain & spin, rinse, drain & spin, rinse, drain & final high speed spin. According to my friend Russell, who borrowed the LG for about a month, the "Quick Wash" (23 minutes??) did a wash, drain, rinse, drain, rinse, THEN drain AND spin. He said there were NO spins until the final spin. Gansky: Yes I too am happy that, nearly a month after buying it, I can actually now use it to wash clothes! Though to be completely honest, I was looking forward to this service tech returning to complete repairs on the first machine. wink

Post# 423617 , Reply# 6 3/19/2010 at 16:45 (5,145 days old) by mark_wpduet (Lexington KY)
Checkrate/Likes Thanks! I've been wondering what was happening with your washer as well. Does your machine have a skincare rinse? When you get a chance, can you tell if it uses more water than the regular old extra rinse? I've been wanting to know this for a LONG time and no one can answer this. LOL

Post# 423618 , Reply# 7 3/19/2010 at 16:48 (5,145 days old) by mark_wpduet (Lexington KY)
Checkrate/Likes PS..... I've seen some vids on youtube when people make washer videos. They use a waterproof flashlight. I think put the flashlight towards the top of the inside of the door and close the door onto the string to hold it in place. Turn out the lights, and record..I think it shows up better on camera that way. Not sure how it would work with those STUPID tinted windows. I think it's crazy that they tint the windows on those machines; still, it's a BEAUTIFUL machine and I LOVE that color! Plug it into a surge protector!

Post# 423619 , Reply# 8 3/19/2010 at 16:52 (5,145 days old) by redcarpetdrew (Fairfield, CA)
Checkrate/Likes Kevin, all you have to do is cut a hole in the top of the outer tub and sit a desk lamp there... If anything, it will give that tech a reason to return. Win-Win! RCD

Post# 424964 , Reply# 13 3/26/2010 at 10:12 (5,138 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)
Checkrate/Likes *TINTED WINDOW SHIELD* I generally take the window shields off so you can see better inside. All these newer electronically controlled washers have surge protectors built in them don't waste your money.

Post# 424611 , Reply# 9 3/24/2010 at 13:44 (5,140 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)
Checkrate/Likes Hey Mark, thanks for the surge protector suggestion, that is an EXCELLENT idea! Also you asked about the "Skincare Rinse" I did run one cycle with the this option selected and while I did not sit there and watch E V E R Y second of the cycle (1 hour 14 minutes ia a looong time), I did NOT notice any higher water level during the rinses I was there for. I'll try again this weekend and pay closer attention.

Post# 424702 , Reply# 10 3/24/2010 at 23:41 (5,140 days old) by mark_wpduet (Lexington KY)
Checkrate/Likes Kevin......If it helps I think it's the LAST of the two or three rinses.I think the first two rinses are just normal low level. Again, I've never seen it but that's just what I have heard. I don't blame you...I can only watch for so long before I get bored with it.

Post# 424720 , Reply# 11 3/25/2010 at 01:41 (5,139 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land)
Checkrate/Likes *I don't blame you...I can only watch for so long before* Yeah... ESPECIALLY with that dam tinted window! LOL Kevin

Post# 424728 , Reply# 12 3/25/2010 at 04:20 (5,139 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield, East Midlands, UK)
Checkrate/Likes *Monitoring it* Kevin, I think only the most devoted of us could sit for more than an hour watching a front loader doing its stuff. The easiest way is to film it, get a tripod for your camera if you dont already have one, (and I appreciate the problem of a tinted door) and you can quickly check through the action when the film is downloaded. And besides I expect you will have enough to distract you with those wonderful Bendixes and Lady Kenmore DW Al

Post# 424983 , Reply# 14 3/26/2010 at 12:51 (5,138 days old) by autowasherfreak ()
Checkrate/Likes *I think only the most devoted of us could sit for more than* I can only watch my FL'er for about 5 or 10 minutes, but I can watch my Maytag 806 go through the whole cycle.