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Anyone have the most recent Consumer Reports magazine that features dishwashers?

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dianne

dianne

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Feb 18, 2007
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I am looking for a new dishwasher and I am overwhelmed by all the options and gizmos. The one I used, before it broke, was 12 years old and I know there have been many changes since then. I don''t subscribe to Consumer Reports and the current one out right now doesn''t include dishwashers. Anyone have the latest issue that does feature dishwashers? If so, can you tell me the month and year it was published. Think I can order old issues online?

OR...

If you have a copy, am I allowed to ask you what the top choices are? Is that allowed? Or could you scan the reviews and post them since it would be from an old copy? Admin, or anyone else, please let me know if this is against the rules.
 
I''m in the same boat Dianne. My 13 year old Bosch croaked a day after I cancelled the maintenance contract would you believe.

My plan is to spring for a Miele, but it would be nice to see some consumer reports I must admit.
 
Sba, I don''t know if Pricescope mods would have a problem with it, but I''m sure Consumer reports itself would (they don''t allow this info to be reprinted on other websites). If you need to look at the issue for free, I just go to the local library.
 
I just bought a new dishwasher!!!!! And....... I love it! As a good PS''er, I research pretty much everything. I spent hours on the consumer reports website. I will tell you what I found:

Don''t pay all that much attention to what CR says is good.

Read the reviews of what people said about them.

I was going to by a Samsung, until I read what people said. They gave it about 3 stars and no one liked it.

*Many dishwashers these days no longer dry dishes with heat. Although this is good for plastics, it sucks to not be able to wash a load and have it actually be dry when you unload. In effect, it makes your dishwasher
a big drying rack. This fact is not known/discussed by salesmen.

I ended up choosing KitchenAid KUDS301V. Consumer reports says it doesn''t come in stainless but it does. It has not center do-hicky that comes up from the bottom. It has a heater than can be shut off for
running plastics, and a potscrubber feature in the back for extra hard stuff. The top rack adjusts up or down, but even my 24oz glasses fit in the high position. I read somewhere that it didn''t have enough
silverware holders, but we have a family of 7 and I have found it more than adequate. I can fit an amazing amount of stuff in the bottom, all my pans The top rack and the bottom are adjustable as far as the racks
are concerned. The dishes come out amazingly clean. It was about 600. when we were done. Lowe''s wanted 719., but we found it on sale at Pacific Sales and we had Lowe''s give us the lower price.

Most reviews I read didn''t like the higher end models of kitchen aid, and some of them didn''t have all the great features this one did. Most everyone who reviewed this model loved it. It had 5 stars by people who
reviewed it. The other one people really loved was the Miele. They were between 1300-1500. They had silverware racks as a third shelf and you had to line up the silverware horizontally. But they did have some
awesome features. I just didn''t want to double the price. I was really tempted, but when it comes down to it I am pretty practical. The value/price has to be equal to me.

I am amazed at the differences in dishwashers. I have had many but this one tops them all. I didn''t know I could be so pleased with one.

The Miele doesn''t have a heater but dries the dishes with radiant heat. The inside gets super hot and then blows air inside the sanitized dishwasher that dries the dishes. That''s cool. But for me not double the price cool.

I also used the feature at CR that you can pick your features to narrow it down. Some of them I wasn''t sure I even cared. I wanted on that didn''t have wheels on the bottom rack that would come off. My old GE
did and it drove me NUTS. The racks on the Kitchen Aid are sturdy and heavy duty and the wheels are not easily removed. I didn''t want flimsy racks. I don''t know if Pacific Sales is everywhere, but the guy I
talked to there was really knowledgeable and told me about a lot of features I wasn''t even aware of. The only reason we didn''t purchase there was we had already purchased at Lowe''s but I wanted to check out
the Miele. We have bought the majority of our appliances from PS and they have been great. With a large family, I always buy the enxtended warrenty and we have got our monies worth out of every single
one. But I know it doesn''t work for everyone.

I didn''t mention but the top rack of my dishwasher holds about double the cups/glasses that the old one did. It basically has four rows for holding them and I can still fit small plates and bowls in the center.
It does not have the hidden controls in the front but a panel. The front is stainless, but the panel is grey plastic or acrylic. We have an open plan kitchen and family room and the thing runs so quiet you can
barely hear it, some times I hear water trickling like a little brook-soothing. Ok, that''s enough of this book! Good luck!
 
Diane, I forgot to mention that you don''t need the old issue of Consumer Reports. Go online and I think for 12 bucks you can get a yearly subscription. But they do renew automatically so bear that in mind.
I have found it to be well worth it. When then review new models all the information is updated. If I knew you I would just let you look up my account, but obviously can''t do that here.
 
Date: 4/17/2010 2:02:26 PM
Author: luv2sparkle
Diane, I forgot to mention that you don't need the old issue of Consumer Reports. Go online and I think for 12 bucks you can get a yearly subscription. But they do renew automatically so bear that in mind.
I have found it to be well worth it. When then review new models all the information is updated. If I knew you I would just let you look up my account, but obviously can't do that here.
Click to expand...
I just subscribed to Consumer Reports on line. (Not the magazine) It's $26.- a year.
 
You could also check out a copy at your local library.
 
Gailey: Wow...sounds like my luck to cancel the day before the darn thing breaks! I am so sorry. I hope some of the responses here will help you, as well. Please let me know what you decide and I''ll post my final decision on here, as well. Good luck!!

part gypsy: I thought it would be ok since it would be a past issue that I may no longer be able to get....however, I think you have a valid point. Thank you for the suggestion of going to the library.

luv2sparkle: What great information! Now, did you just do a general seach and find these reviews? I have looked a bit online, especially Lowes, but found that not all models have a review. I''m a little disappointed that you were not impressed with the information found in CR....but I LOVE the price you paid for the KitchenAid! I am trying, like you, to be practical and although some of the newer options may sound cool...do I really need them, ya know? If I have to pay extra then I want it to be for something I will really use. I was shocked to see how expensive some models were. I really wanted to stay in the $700 range...I''m leaning towards the Kenmore Elite stainless steel model# 13123, which happens to be on a great sale now at Sears--and their reviews had 4 out of 5 stars. How very kind of you to consider letting me use your CR account but I totally understand you can''t do that. Congrats on finding a new dishwasher, at a great price, that you love!!

gemgirl: Thanks! I''m still debating whether to subscribe.
 
Dianne, I looked at the review at Consumer Reports online. I first read what consumer reports said, and then clicked on the model and you can see reviews from people that had those machines. I did this
a couple months ago when I purchase a new front loading washer and dryer as well.

I am sorry, I thought it was less, but another poster said it was 26.00 per year now. We have had it awhile so I guess I had forgotten. I still think it is worth the money.

You can look online and there will be other reviews but I found more/more helpful ones at consumer reports. I found them to be a bit more specific.

For instance the Kenmore 1374(2) is rated an 80. 83 being the highest rating. 193 people have reviewed it, and the average rating is a 2 1/2 stars. That is what I mean by CR recommends it, but then you
can go and see what people who have bought it have to say. I have found those ratings to be most helpful. I read them all. I always keep in mind that with any appliance there will be people who have
trouble with it. I look for percentages. If there are only a few, and the rest of the reviews love it, I am okay with that. I also take into consideration the number of reviews. Miele only had a few, but every one
was positive, glowing in fact. Since that is pretty much the most expensive model, I took that into consideration and I looked at it. It was great but I didn''t want to spend the money. In retrospect though, I
thought there was not that much difference in dishwashers. But I was wrong, the one I purchased was far better than any I have ever owned and I usually stay with high end appliance. (The ones I had were
builders upgrade, and new five years ago).

Hope this helps.
 
luv2sparkle: I am totally cheating and taking your research and checking out the dishwasher you chose. I see that Sears has a 40% discount on their KitchenAid appliances and, as of this coming Thursday, the state I live in will give an additional 15% discount for Energy Star appliance replacements. I have pulled the details of the KithenAid you have and it does include all the features I was looking for like stainless steel tub, nylon racks, adjustable top rack, and heated dry. If this model can handle the dishes of your family of 7, then it should be just fine for DH and me. I hope to find it in stock at a store today so I can see it for real versus online. Thank you so much for all the information you have provided!!
 
We just got a Whirlpool Quiet Partner II and love it. Our old one that came w/the house sounded like a helicopter with water gushing sounds. It was awful. This one, the first couple times I used it I kept checking to make sure it was really running. It''s loudest time is still quieter than the quietest time of the old one. It fits so much I only use it twice a week, compared to every other day for the other one.

My dad sent me a link on some study or something about dishwashers that was interesting. I can see if I still have it.
 
Dianne, I hope you like it as much as I do! One thing though, I have stainless appliances that have a touch of black on them. The dishwasher I got is all silver/stainless. I think there was an option for a stainless
bottom and black at the control panel. I think that might have matched my other appliances a tad better, but I am ok with it. Just something to think about.
 
Date: 4/19/2010 8:04:02 PM
Author: luv2sparkle
Dianne, I hope you like it as much as I do! One thing though, I have stainless appliances that have a touch of black on them. The dishwasher I got is all silver/stainless. I think there was an option for a stainless
bottom and black at the control panel. I think that might have matched my other appliances a tad better, but I am ok with it. Just something to think about.
Click to expand...
luv2sparkle: I am replacing my appliances one by one as they break and going with stainless. Mine are like yours, have the touch of black, and I am going TOMORROW to get "your" dishwasher. I am so glad you suggested that model and you obviously love it''s performance so you have been a great reference. I did notice there were two styles of stainless but I really appreciate you mentioning it. I could have easily overlooked that. I am so excited and things are working out for me to get a really good deal.

Lowes had a price of $799 with 10% off. Sears had higher original price of $849 but a much better sale (40% off) which Lowes will match. I will also get another automatic 15% rebate because my state (possibly all states) is participating in a program to encourage old appliances to be replaced with an Energy Star appliance. I also have $150 in Lowes gift cards I have been saving just for this purpose. After all sales, rebates, and gift cards my final purchase price will be.....drum roll, please.....$283!!! Of course, this is just for the dishwasher, not the installation, which is another $99...but if Lowes does the install they don''t charge sales tax so that gives me a little break on the install.

Did you buy an extended warranty? I hear they are a waste of money but I got one with my fridge 2 years ago and have already used it.
 
Date: 4/18/2010 12:41:50 PM
Author: packrat
We just got a Whirlpool Quiet Partner II and love it. Our old one that came w/the house sounded like a helicopter with water gushing sounds. It was awful. This one, the first couple times I used it I kept checking to make sure it was really running. It''s loudest time is still quieter than the quietest time of the old one. It fits so much I only use it twice a week, compared to every other day for the other one.

My dad sent me a link on some study or something about dishwashers that was interesting. I can see if I still have it.
Click to expand...
I usually hate those "me too" posts, but I have to say me too! LOL! We just got a Whirlpool Gold Quiet Partner III
and in the beginning, I would walk into the kitchen to see if it was on. I also use it only twice a week because it holds so much.
 
Date: 4/22/2010 8:40:51 AM
Author: gemgirl

Date: 4/18/2010 12:41:50 PM
Author: packrat
We just got a Whirlpool Quiet Partner II and love it. Our old one that came w/the house sounded like a helicopter with water gushing sounds. It was awful. This one, the first couple times I used it I kept checking to make sure it was really running. It''s loudest time is still quieter than the quietest time of the old one. It fits so much I only use it twice a week, compared to every other day for the other one.

My dad sent me a link on some study or something about dishwashers that was interesting. I can see if I still have it.
Click to expand...
I usually hate those ''me too'' posts, but I have to say me too! LOL! We just got a Whirlpool Gold Quiet Partner III
and in the beginning, I would walk into the kitchen to see if it was on. I also use it only twice a week because it holds so much.
Click to expand...
The one I bought has a Quiet Package called Whisper Quiet. It''s 52 dba''s....whatever the heck that means. I know it measures sound but don''t know just how quiet it really is. What is the dba rating on yours?
 
Instead of consumer reports, I usually use Consumer Search instead.

It's free and they take reviews from various sources (including consumer reports) and aggregate them which is realy helpful.

Here's what they have to say about dishwashers
 
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