Three years ago we bought a fancy schmancy top load clothes washer. We had mixed feelings about the purchase as the previous washer was bought in 1970 so lasted almost 40 years. We are some what technically challenged so you want to keep it simple.
We read the manual very carefully and got comfortable with the new machine. It was a water saver and supposed to clean clothes better with less wear and tear on the clothes. It did these things.
One thing my wife washed once a year was all winter jackets. This was highly successful in the two previous years. Now I'm going to remind you that she has read the manual over and over again. This year she thought there was something different. The amber lights on the options did not come on. She checked the book and sure enough there is a diagram showing that amber lights should come on. She was puzzled as she couldn't remember clearly from the last year. She tried to set the washer and it wouldn't go. She read the manual again and found the same thing.
So it's it's under warranty and she phoned the company. She told them the problem and they read the book and they said , "Yes, the circuit board is shot." They would call a repairman to replace the circuit board.
Today the technician arrived. He checked the washer. He said I don't think there are amber lights at all and he explained the process. However, he said I have the part so let's put it in and see what happens. Of course, you guessed it , "No amber lights with the new circuit board. "
What my wife found is that there were two completely different sets of instructions in two different places in the manual. Therefore she was right to look for amber lights even though there weren't any. She was also correct in starting the machine by the instructions and it wouldn't go.
So maybe it wasn't technology that did the trick to us but it sure fooled the people who wrote the manual.
We were a little embarrassed when we called a technician and there was nothing wrong. The technician could see how we got into the problem and was not at all perturbed that he had been called.
Our manual has now been corrected so that mix up doesn't happen again..
Manuel? What's a manuel?
ReplyDeleteMy dear Red.
ReplyDeleteHaven't you heard of marketing experts?
The "MRs" of this world. Just like the "PR's, the HR's and the PC's" - all self-opinioned and overpaid nits!
Very important people, who regrettably haven't a clue of what they are writing about.
That's why politicans surround themselves with them.
I am pleased to learn that your technician and of course your good lady wife had far more brains.
Your caged "bunnies and leverets" have not arrived, but they have been stamped as "RTS"- thats return to you. You may dispatch them into the wilds of Alberta.
Now of course we go to Plan C - Elk and Moose exports. Please start working on this enterprise. You will require more land, of course. (And they will not eat your rhubarb or tomatoes!) Actually I do not like rhubard. Terrible stuff. My father, who you are the spitting image of, loved the bloody stuff! Hmmm!
Yours most cordially
Colin ( CEO of Moose and Elk enterprises)
Brisbane. Australia.
Okay you will not be able to return the bunnies as they would not survive and guess who would be in do do for not accepting the poor things.
DeleteAs for elk, deer and moose? I can't run fast enough to catch them. If I shot them it would be game over.
What about those dang kangaroos you have hopping about?
In the interest of saving money and paper, they often print several sets of instructions in one booklet. Annoying at best, confusing for certain! Glad you had a decent tech who didn't try to make you feel "slow"! I think we were better off with less gadgets!
ReplyDeleteWell, yes and no on the gadgets. They can give us more power but they can also create some problems.
DeleteI hate appliances with large manuals. Our new one even came with a DVD! I find I rarely use anything but 'normal' on my front loading washer. I keep the door open when not in use because it will get moldy! Those who have small children cannot use a front loader. It was the only style that would fit in my small laundry room.
ReplyDeleteYes, normal is about all we use and we do keep the door open when no in use.
DeleteUsually most people try to get the machine going without reading the instructions. I would be like your wife and read the manual and wonder where I went wrong. Sounds like a normal thing to me to read manual first and then it should work, RIGHT? The repairman was indeed a splendid fella to be so nice, where the book was confusing. When the manual is ???? then you end up with ???, so glad all is straightened out. Aah, do not mind the great technology all around us, however lets get the instructions right at the beginning, eh. Great post.
ReplyDeleteIt's a generation thing. Young people just start experimenting with the buttons. We had an excellent tech.
DeleteMost of the stuff works on the same principle.
The repairman was excellent. We knew him from before.
Deleteoops! i'm glad it was under warranty so you didn't have to pay anything for that knowledge! :)
ReplyDeleteYes we knew it was under warranty before we called.
DeleteI went through that we my front load washer. Instead of getting a new one I ordered the board, cost me $300 plus someone to install it. Terry couldn't do it because of the computer stuff. SO FAR, fingers crossed, it's working. But they don't make things to last anymore. My old washer, bought in 1971 is still working and my daughter is using it for her family of five.
ReplyDeleteHorrible the waste anymore.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
Yes the circuit boards are the big items.They sell both circuit boards together so they can put the big price on.
DeleteYour old washer did better that ours.
This is the kind of thing that happens to us, too!
ReplyDeleteI can so understand!!!!
I guess misery loves company!
DeleteThe technician probably enjoyed having a simple fix...Glad it worked out...
ReplyDeleteYes, changing a circuit board is simple but you have to take most of the panels off.
Deletei hate to read directions.My renter had a leak on a similar model and after the tech laughingily left,the hose was loose and tightened for $56.
ReplyDeleteYes , I asked this tech what goes wrong most often and he said people let things go through the pump and plug it.
DeleteRed I hear you in regards to technology, it can be extremely challenging sometimes and good for you for reading the manual, even if it wasn't the proper instructions. I play until things work and also pray that they'll work when I start turning dials or entering info!
ReplyDeleteCheers.
You are of an age where you can play with the buttons and it works. Not so with old guys.
DeleteI'm glad it all worked out.
ReplyDeleteWhen we retired and were moving we gave our washer and dryer to my daughter - they are still running and are quite old.
We bought the new high effecient set and I'm really not pleased with them. I'd love an old set of Sears Kenmore. :)
My wife would love to have the old top load back. Ours would have needed a major rebuild and then it's still old.
DeleteWell - caboosh eh?
ReplyDeleteHave arranged for AC33 ex-Toronto and Vancouver
to land in Fiji. Where the "bunny crate" will be
hasily off loaded with the doors open. The bunnies and leverets can then escape at high speed into the canefields. As Fiji is bunny free,it will be our gift to the children of Fiji. Hope AC33 can make a quick exit!
The kangaroo meat market for export has already been started. Anyhow I do not like kangaroo meat and eating the national emblem is deplorable, I think.
Elk and moose, well I didn't expect you to go chasing them! Anyhow, with land costs for their
upkeep too high, plan C will be abandoned.
Thus Plan D. Rhubard export!!! Start planting furiously, please.
Cheers
Colin (Brisbane.Australia)
CEO "Rhubarb Enterprises".
----
PS: Not sure if I put the comment back in???
Sorry if you get a double dose - ha ha!
I love rhubarb but I don't think I want to grow a bunch of the stuff. How about if I send you a bunch of seed. It would grow well in your climate!
ReplyDeleteGlad you got it figured out. We got the complicated front load washer/dryer a couple years ago whn we moved into our new house. The dryer didn't work, although brand new. It needed a cicuit board. We moved in a bitter cold February and they said that could have caused it to short out??? Anywho, it tool six weeks to get the part. We were hanging our clothes to dry in a bedroom, since it was February. We felt like the Beverly Hillbillies : )
ReplyDeleteLike your comparison to the Hill Billies.
DeleteThis part took a couple of weeks to get too.
Yes, it is always amazing that they can design sophisticated computer-controlled machinery, but can't seem to write the instructions in English.
ReplyDeleteHow true! the translation leaves a lot to be desired.
DeleteWell that's good and confusing. I'm glad you got it sorted out. What I find most disturbing is that you're already thinking of washing winter wear!
ReplyDeleteMy manager has to get things done early and ahead. She can also hang them outdoors in the summer.
Delete