The Karisma is meant to fit in between a semi-automatic and
a fully-automatic washing machine. I believe that the guys over at Samsung rightly figured out that the most cumbersome task while doing one’s laundry in a semi-automatic was transferring the wet, heavy and soap water-laden clothes from one tub to the other.
So the ingenious Koreans devised a single tub semi-auto and lo you have the Karisma.
I bought the Karisma in Aug 2000 and am using it regularly ever since. I have had to call the technician twice already. Once there was an electrical failure in the washing machine due to which it was not functioning. The technician from Samsung came promptly and repaired it. But the next day we realised that he had bungled up a connection somewhere because we could get a mild shock from the body of the machine!!
I did not waste time ringing up the customer support people again. A couple of stern words and the guy was at our door step in a jiffy.
Though the warranty was still valid, the technician charged me Rs 100 per visit explaining that every visit to the customers place entailed a charge in itself, regardless of the warranty of the appliance ! I did not retort only because I was too relieved to get the machine back in working condition! Doing one’s laundry manually is something I detest to the fullest
The machine is indeed a bargain at Rs 9, 700. But if you can
cough up another 2 to 3 K, I would any day suggest you consider buying a fully automatic machine. Even the lower end ones, like BPL ABS 45 or Videocon are much more convenient than a semi-auto one because it saves you the trouble of having to stand by and tend to it each time it finishes a task.
The ’’Fill it, Shut it Forget it’’ convenience of a fully-automatic machine would make much more sense than this Karisma.