Hi, I bought Simense A0716 model i.e. 2020EX for Rs 20, 000/- just 15 days back. I would like to share my expeirence.
Deciding between Semi automatic and automatic
I had semi auto and wanted to get rid of hassels of changing clothes from one drum to another, emptying and refilling water and remaining engaged with the operation. So wanted to buy an automatic one.
Deciding between Top Loading & Front Loading:
I had top loading semi automatic voltas w/m for last 10 years, it finally took its last breaths and we had to replace it. I got inclined towards front loading machines when I experienced its superior wash quality during my 3 months stay at Hotel Hindustan International, Kolkata. i observed that my White arrow shirt which got pale and dull during 5-6 months of its use and wash at my home, has come out just like new in its very first wash at the hotel. I enquired with laundary man about the kind of w/m and detergent they use and they said its front loading machines and normal excel / henko etc detergents. That experience plotted the idea of buying a front loading machine. The rationale was that I would feel to buy new cotton shirts every 5-6 months because of its dullness and dirtyness. After this front loading machines, the usefull of the shirts should increase to double ! and its a clear cost saving there !!
Front loading is also advantageous in saving water consumption, detergent consumption to half, I don’t know about electricity consumption as it uses heater also to heat up water.
Factors giving superior wash quality by front loading:
Hot water wash, laundry style washing in front loading and use of good detergent provides a superior quality wash.
Deciding between brands in Front loading:
I considered haier, IFB, LG, Whirlpool and Simense in front loading. Quickly eliminated Haier for its chinees name, Whirlpool for its almost non existence in this segment, LG for its non expertise (just my opinion) in this segment. Left with IFB and Simense. I was explained by all most all the dealer the qualitative superiority of Simense over IFB and its Bosch tie-ups. I was also explained visible quality differences in the two machines at dealer’s shop.
IFB Elena V/s Simense A0716 i.e. 2020ex
Initally I was inclined towards IFB Elena for its basic & simple features and reading some of the reviews about Elena on Mouthshut. With that frame of mind, I went to the dealer and then evaluated other models.
Elena v/s A0716 is a wrong comparision because of the price bracket. More meaningful would be to compare A0716 with IFB elite or so. But then I was quite convinced about the quality of Simense in the first place and was happy with features it provides on the machine.
A0716 i.e. 2020ex features:
14 wash programmes include cotton at 30, 40, 60, 60 stains, 90 degree, wool at 0, 30 degree, delicates at 40 degree, easy care at 30, 40 degree, rinse, spin, empty etc ( may be I am missing one programme here) it has quick wash option and no spin option as well, on top of it it has led indicators showing what machine is currently doing. and all these controls are electronic i.e. not mechanical. All these makes this machine uncomparable with Elena as it has very few wash programmes and only 60 degree temperatur settings. The time take by all these programmes varies from 90 minutes to 120 minutes or more, I have not tried all of them. A quick wash can definately shorten the time.
Purchased:
It carried a price tag of Rs 22900/- and dealer offered me for 22000/- in navi mumbai. I check with mumbai price i.e. Vijay Sales which was not willing offer any lower price then this even during diwali festival season. However in Navi mumbai I finally bargained for Rs 20, 000/- with a diwali gift from Sumaria.
Delivered:
the machine was delivered next day of my purchase and installed on next day of delivery. It was a quick response from siemense, I must say. The guy installed it and explained its programmes and provided a demo of how to operate it and care to be taken that of machine and clothes, how to load it etc. It actually is very easy and can be operated by even a child of 6-7 years. All one has to do is put it on any of wash programme as explained to you normally on cotton at 40 degree, load machine with clothes leaving around 6 inch of free space in the drum, fill the detergent, ensure proper water inlet and outlet and go....what comes out is a real surprise.
I get the same quality of wash which I expected from it, old clothes look shines new and dirtfree. Happy and satisfied with the wash quality.
will it continue ?
so far as wash quality is concerned, it should continue to deliver like this. As the machine carries two years of warranty, don’t have to bother for atleast two years. I put a trust on siemense quality. After sales service is yet not experienced as yet not required. So I am not presuming anything there right away.
Addendum Paresh on 25/12/2007
after a year’s use, twice a day for a family of 6+1 (kid), this is delivering and how !, with same amount of satisfaction, go ahead and buy it. There is no price drop either since then, while others did have reduced prices a bit. Quality beats everything else.
paresh