Thread Number: 5232
Maytags How expensive were they ?? 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 112966   3/2/2006 at 20:50 (6,626 days old) by harvestgold (Deland, Florida )        

I just spoke to a friend of mine that was a native of Iowa and asked him what brand of washers and dryers he had when he was growing up ?? I just figured that maytag would be the Brand most Iowa`s bought !! He said Oh no only the rich people bought those machines !!! Even his relatives din`t buy Maytags cause they were too expensive they all bought Kenmores or Norge . Just how expensive were maytags compared to other brands ?? Were they the cadillac`s of washers an dryers ?? any input on this ?? Harvestgold !!




Post# 112967 , Reply# 1   3/2/2006 at 20:54 (6,626 days old) by dadoes (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
In my area, back in the day, a Maytag was about $150 more than a Whirlpool or Kenmore of equivalent features.

Post# 112972 , Reply# 2   3/2/2006 at 21:00 (6,626 days old) by magic clean ()        

My parents had an Avocado A606S washer & matching gas dryer circa May 1973. My dad the accountant, recently tossed a few shoeboxes filled with old sales receipts. We found the sales slip; that washer and dryer was nearly $850 with delivery and install.

Post# 112973 , Reply# 3   3/2/2006 at 21:07 (6,626 days old) by hometechdoc ()        
with inflation

 If you factor in inflation, that would put the machines at well over $2000 in todays dollars. They were considered by most to be one of the best machines, but pricey.

I looked up in consumer reports over a period from the 60's to the 70's and they seemed to run about 35-50% more than other brands over the time period.

Post# 112983 , Reply# 4   3/2/2006 at 22:06 (6,626 days old) by kurtdixon ()        

It's interesting that they sold as well as they did. They really were good washers though.

Post# 112989 , Reply# 5   3/2/2006 at 22:21 (6,626 days old) by brettsomers ()        

my childhood washer was an avocado regular-tub two-speed model. it was a mid-70s model. my mother was a housewife and my father worked in a factory, a modest income. my mom once told me she bought the expensive Maytag because she believed/heard they lasted longer. this was a woman who only bought clothes at discount prices and clipped coupons and very budget-conscious. the washer lasted until approx 1995 when i think the motor may have seized. not a SINGLE repair ever.

Post# 113000 , Reply# 6   3/2/2006 at 23:16 (6,626 days old) by jetaction (Minneapolis)        
I Remember Hearing......

 jetaction's profile picture
Maytag's were always more expensive, by quite a bit. I heard several people say that they would rather have a bottom of the line Maytag because of the quality than pay the same price for a middle or top of the line in another model.

Post# 113009 , Reply# 7   3/2/2006 at 23:58 (6,626 days old) by toggleswitch (New York City, NY)        

toggleswitch's profile picture
my parents paid $250 for a Maytag A206 in 1965/66

two speeds
one cycle
three temps
three water levels
softener dispenser/ lint filter in aqua/turquise color

in the mid 60's that was a WEEK's pay !
Would you pay a weeks pay for a washer today?


Post# 113015 , Reply# 8   3/3/2006 at 00:41 (6,626 days old) by dadoes (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
in the mid 60's that was a WEEK's pay !
Would you pay a weeks pay for a washer today?

IWL12. Been there, done that.


The Whirlpool Supreme 80 we got in 1976 was $369. Total, including tax.
18 pounder
5 cycle (normal, gentle, knit, perm press, + super on normal)
5 temp
4 levels (which I changed to variable)
2 speed
bleach dispenser
centrifugal softener dispenser
self-clean filter

As I recall, a similar Maytag from the Lacks furniture/appliance store serving this area was in the upper $400s, if not pushing a bit past $500. And of course, Maytag didn't have a self-cleaning filter at that time, or 5 discrete cycles.

Post# 113055 , Reply# 9   3/3/2006 at 05:15 (6,625 days old) by erkjoey ()        

I found the original receipt from when my grandparents purchased this set. Oct. 1970. The washer was $359.00 and it looks like the dryer was about $100.00 dollars less. Its kind of hard to read the dryer price but the washer says $359.00. I know they had to finance them and paid them off within a year.

Post# 113059 , Reply# 10   3/3/2006 at 05:53 (6,625 days old) by polkanut (Wausau, WI )        

polkanut's profile picture
OMG are those harvest gold Maytag's drop dead gorgeous. Hang on to those babies for all they're worth. I'm so jealous of you, you're so lucky to have such a wonderful pair

Post# 113061 , Reply# 11   3/3/2006 at 07:09 (6,625 days old) by gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA)        

Yeah, seems to me they were always a hundred bucks or so more than other brands----but back in the day everyone who had any knowledge of appliances figured they were the best. It was mostly about quality level---steel parts instead of aluminum, porcelain cabinet, full bottom panel, horsepower of motor,etc.

The family of my best friend were "Appalachin" mountain folks who (like so many others) settled in an area east of downtown Atlanta called "Cabbagetown".(These folks tended to have large families). A poor working class neighborhood where many folks worked at the old Fulton Cotton Mill.

In those days the Atlanta Gas Light Co. sold Maytags (at inflated prices) and allowed their gas service customers (nearly all of Atlanta) to charge the appliances to their account-----and pay them off as best as they could----$2.00 or $5.00 a month forever if need be! NO ONE could beat those terms! Sooooooo-

Many of those folks in Cabbagetown had a BOL or MOL Maytag and SWORE by them. I used to go with my friend over to his Grandparents place over on Woodward Ave. and we would wander the neighborhood looking for kids we had played with before. Of course, I would have to be "nosey" and peep into the laundry area----and almost always saw a BOL Maytag.

They were more expensive alright, but even the poorest folks thought they were getting a good deal by purchasing them and history has proven them right.

Post# 113063 , Reply# 12   3/3/2006 at 07:11 (6,625 days old) by harvestgold (Deland, Florida )        

Wow Guys Thanks really appreciate the info hard to believe that maytags cost that much back than, sure was a lot of money to spend on an appliance that harvest gold set is awesome i have the same set (Not as nice condition) paid $40.00 for both what a steal !!! as soon as i get them cleaned up i`ll post a pictue i think maytag had such beautiful soft color tones all my friends go crazy when they see my avocado green and harvestgold sets side by side i also have a coppertone washer looking for a coppertone dryer any leads !! I think the coppertone color was not as popular than the green and gold of that era

Post# 113139 , Reply# 13   3/3/2006 at 14:21 (6,625 days old) by bobbyderegis (Boston)        

My aunt's A408 cost $600 in 1978, bought in an appliance store in Utica, NY. They were very expensive, but it was an investment to be had for years, not like today's cheap disposable appliances. She still has it, only the water valve has needed replacement. And the DE606 dryer stands beside it!
Bobby in Boston

Post# 113143 , Reply# 14   3/3/2006 at 14:29 (6,625 days old) by hoover1060 ()        
I just called my mom...

 Her 1977 A608 washer and matching dryer were $825 for the set. The washer was suffering from a sticky timer when the set was replaced in 1996. The dryer had a new element and had the motor replaced once, but was running fine when replaced.

I paid $440 for my Amana LWA40A in 1998, Reg/Perm press/Delicate cycles, 2 speeds, 3 temps, 3 water levels with SS tub. At the time a Maytag with the same features was $150 more.
I love my Amana!
Mom's 1996 Maytag is a POS compared to what the 1977 machine was..

Post# 113153 , Reply# 15   3/3/2006 at 14:52 (6,625 days old) by bobbyderegis (Boston)        

Amen, Jeff. You cant beat an 08 pair. Seems like your Mom got a very good price.
Bobby in Boston

Post# 113178 , Reply# 16   3/3/2006 at 17:47 (6,625 days old) by cehalstead (Charleston, WV)        
Maytag price/value

 Regarding the comment about people thinking that a BOL Maytag set was better than a TOL "other brand": very true in the 60's and 70's, maybe the 80's; and unfortunately, people still think this and are very disappointed with the Performa and Atlantis series that salesmen push/ed on them, relying on Maytag's past....

Post# 113189 , Reply# 17   3/3/2006 at 19:32 (6,625 days old) by bobbyderegis (Boston)        

IMHO, the only thing going for Maytag at this point in history is it's past.
Bobby in Boston

Post# 113193 , Reply# 18   3/3/2006 at 19:40 (6,625 days old) by hoover1060 ()        
I was quite upset...

 When mom bought those 1996 Maytags, especially since she got schnockered into a BOL one speed washer the sales man. When she discovered that we went back to try to exchange, and this meatstick talked her back into the one speed machine.
At least the 1977 set was spared the landfill for a while anyway, I sold them to a guy I worked with at my summer job for $100, and last time I saw him(1999) he was still using them.
I wish back then there would have been a way for me to keep them.

Post# 113215 , Reply# 19   3/3/2006 at 21:08 (6,625 days old) by alr2903 (TN)        
I always wondered.........

 Our high school home ec. dept, now this was in the 1970's had maytags. was wondering if Maytag had programs or grants for schools to provide machines, what a great way, to get the loyalty of future consumers. Of course they were TOL. Very similar to Erkjoeys, tags. Erkjoey those sure are some beautifully maintained Maytags thanks for sharing the picture with us. alr2903

Post# 113216 , Reply# 20   3/3/2006 at 21:34 (6,625 days old) by rinso (Meridian Idaho)        

In 1969, my then wife and I purchased a Maytag A806 Washer and a DG806 gas dryer. Cost of the washer was 469.95 and the dryer was 429.95. Quite a high price in those days, they are both still working flawlessly and show very little aging.

Post# 113233 , Reply# 21   3/3/2006 at 23:10 (6,625 days old) by petek (Ontari ari ari O )        

petek's profile picture
I know growing up Maytags were considered the cadillac of washers. It probably wasn't until about 1960 that most people even had an automatic washer. According to my mom she was the first in our neighborhood to get one in 1953, a Kenmore frog-eye with sud-saver. She had a kenmore automatic dryer as well but all I remember about it was the ultraviolet lamp inside. The frog eye finally croaked about 1973 just before I left home and she bought another Kenmore that died about 2000. Now she's got a Whirpool because she wanted to support the appliance guy store in her neighborhood.

Post# 113244 , Reply# 22   3/4/2006 at 01:20 (6,625 days old) by norgeman ()        
Maytag washers

 I had always heard that Maytags were the very best you could get during the 60's and somewhat in the 70's but in the 80's is when their quality started to fail. They started to live off their name. Another company that followed suite was Speed Queen. Speed Queen washer when they were made by Mc GrawEdison co. were a great washer. But when they were bought by Raytheon corp. they cheaponed them out so bad that they didn't hold up to what they used to be. My Aunt had a Speed Queen that lasted 21 to 22 years and did alot of wash daily, well at least 1 to 2 loads a day. Now she has a G.E. filter flow that she purchased in 1990, one of the last F.Fs. Why can't the manufactorers go back to building washers the way they used to when they were good and lasted at least for 15 to 20 years?

CLICK HERE TO GO TO norgeman's LINK
Post# 113280 , Reply# 23   3/4/2006 at 08:24 (6,624 days old) by bingwsguy (Binghamton NY)        

I have been following this thread since the beginning, enjoying all of the comments and seeing what things cost in the past. I think I posted a response in another thread comparing the "old" Maytag to an "old" Mercedes-Benz. They parallel in styling and engineering....both having a strong, confident presence, and being built to last with little more than routine maintenance. To know that a Maytag washer in 1969 cost $469.95, and today, almost 40 years later can still be purchased for that same amount is sad. In the 80's when the "Conspicuous Consumption" trend became widespread, many companies, not just Maytag, streamlined production methods, but also cut corners with quality of materials to keep costs down in an attempt to allow more people to purchase their products and more often. Unfortunately, many companies believed if they did not "jump on board" they would be out of business by the end of the decade.

The whole "create more jobs to keep the economy going" means building products with shorter life spans, so people will have to buy more often, therefor making it necessary for more people to work to make these products. Slippery slope the country is on I say.(Harp, Harp, Harp) lol

Having been in the Kithcen& Bath and Interor Design field for almost 12 years, I have had a lot of exposure to and experience with appliances, and a lot of clients are putting out $1000.00+ for washing machines. I bet if people were willing to pay $469.95 for a Maytag in 1969 to get a great washer, they would pay $1000.00 today for a Maytag if they were getting the same machine. Just my 2 cents. :)

Post# 113291 , Reply# 24   3/4/2006 at 09:47 (6,624 days old) by mikes ()        

When I was a boy, I always wanted my parents to buy Maytag appliances. But Mom and Dad were wedded to Sears, and to be fair, the Kenmores we had over the years were pretty solid. They included a Lady Kenmore washer from the early '60's; a "frog-eye" Kenmore gas dryer my dad bought when I started complaining about hanging up the wash; a "swept back" Kenmore gas dryer that replaced the "frog eye" when it finally broke down; and a BOL two-speed Kenmore my grandfather gave us when he moved into our home for the last year of his life.
I lived in apartments with or without their own washer/dryer sets for years until I finally bought a condo. The builder included a Roper (Whirlpool-made) one-speed washer and a gas dryer. They're still running strong after seven years; never needed a repair. I think the reason is because the Ropers aren't encrusted with geegaws and features that make them more repair-prone. They simply get my laundry clean and dry (I do about three or four loads a week). When (if) the Ropers finally break down, I'll consider a new front-loader. For now, I'll stick with my trusty Roper pair.

Post# 113295 , Reply# 25   3/4/2006 at 10:30 (6,624 days old) by rinso (Meridian Idaho)        

Erkjoey, That set of Maytags is absolutely beautiful, and very similar to the set I mentioned that I used to own,(and my ex-wife still has) except ours was/is shaded avocado green.

Although I was never a fan of Maytag's wash system and still feel is was a bit anemic, Maytag was tops in reliability and tasteful design.

Other machines of that period had control panels with multi-colored switches, placebo buttons, and were festooned with lettering and logos. They often looked more like a cheap multi-speed blender than a serious laundry machine. Until they entered their quality darkness period, Maytag's machines had beautifully simple, well-designed intuitive control panels. Maytags were a nice relief from machines that had their panels plastered with lettering bemoaning their features. Also, putting the functions on the timer knob and the push buttons instead of placing them all over the panel contributed positively to the quality appearance of the machine. But all good things must come to an end, probably due to cost, and Maytags succumbed to mediocrity by the end of the 1970's.


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