<THE prologue>
Two sundays back, an instinctive weekend shopping urge made me pull my dad to the nearby CMH Road.I had got a bonus and I simply had to blow it up !I declared to everyone I met, that I badly needed a washing machine, urgently !
With a lot of purse empowered energy, we walked into Pai Electronics.Lo...they had an array of washing machines.I quickly declared that I was interested only in front loading as I have seen a IFB slog it out for 15 years at a friend’s place.Samsung, Tromm, Electrolux, IFB were being offered.
<THE story>
I don’t have much respect for Korean brands so I dismissed the former two and critically assessed the latter two.I was told (by both my friend and the salesperson that IFB isn’t the way it used to be), so I chose Electrolux.My dad liked it too and we were told that it would cost us 16K.We finalised and headed to the cash counter and the manager there says that it’s a mistake and that it would cost us 18k.I was enraged with this change of product price and walked out in a huff.
We headed to Vivek’s down the road and saw the whole store splashed with Haier products.I knew Haier was a world#2 from their ads but somehow wasn’t convinced about their prsence and quality.Just as we gazing around, tucked away in one corner was a beauty(revealed later) with an outstanding finish.I immediately walked over and enquired the price but found it 4K more expensive than Haier.
The store manager convinced us that Haier was a great brand at a reasonable price and I quickly completed the purchase.He told us that the quality would be great as it’s a new brand and they had to establish themselves by providing a good quality machine and service (don’t fall for this ever!) I swiped my card and went back home.
Late in the evening, the world # 2 arrived !I immediately couldn’t resist removing the cover as I am a brand lover and relished digesting all the tit-bits and facts that come in the manual and machine.I must admit that my heart missed a beat when I found the place of manufacture as China on the sticker.I am scared of chinese as they are low price but not dependable.We had to wait for another day before the service guy came over for the demo.
Unfortunately there was no power and he completed his job by explaining the features.Later that evening I switched on the machine and all it lasted was one spin and then it stopped.I called up the service guys and they came the next day.After changing four fuses, watching the machine rock violently and throw up soap from it’s front door , I decided to fling the product back to Viveks.My chinese nightmare had come true.I must say that Vivek acknowledged my anguish very professionally and promptly promised to replace the product.
<THE climax>
The next day I walked into Vivek’s again(this time with my uncle in tow) and straightaway headed toward the beauty I saw the other day.The store manager was surprised that I chose a premium brand and my uncle, that I chose an unheard brand.Yes.....it was a Siemens.
I prompltly paid the extra 4K and asked them to send the machine the same day.Viveks were very good on this front and replaced my Haier with Siemens the same evening.The next day I waited with bated breath for the technician to arrive and he finally stepped in at 2 pm.The machine was unpacked and he explained the feautures.It was fully german he said and I could contain my joy that it was non-chinese.
He asked me to bring clothes and quickly loaded it with detergent and connected the inlet pipe.A phone interrupted my rapt attention and I asked him to switch on the machine after it ended.Lo...he said it was already running !! Silently but powerfully the motor trudged on to the spinning state and finally at full blast of 1000rpm spun my clothes dry ( with hardly a sound).I was ecstatic !!...this was a great machine.The wash quality is excellent though I must concede that it takes almost 1.5 hours to do the job.
<THE end>
Technically, the Siemens machine is far superior with it’s aryan motor and will put to shame any other machine in it’s class.It’s expensive though it ’s worth every penny.The wash quality and performance is outstanding.Go for it !!