Consumer research group Canstar Blue recently surveyed 1,250 adults who have purchased a new washing machine in the last three years, finding Miele, Fisher & Paykel and Samsung are the laundry suppliers most loved by consumers.
Samsung and Fisher & Paykel were jointly awarded Canstar Blue’s 2015 Most Satisfied Customers Award for top loaders. It’s the third time in five years that Fisher & Paykel has achieved the accolade and the second time for Samsung. In front loaders, Miele had the most satisfied customers for the second year in a row.
“The winning brands this year have consistently stood out from the crowd since we launched these awards for washing machines in 2011,” said Canstar Blue spokesman Simon Downes. “Once again there was no separating Samsung and Fisher & Paykel – having also shared the award for top loaders in 2012 – while Miele continues to impress in an extremely competitive front loader market. Congratulations to all three winning brands.”
Canstar Blue also surveyed 500 adults who purchased a new clothes dryer in the last three years and Fisher & Paykel came out on top for the second time.
“Consistently scoring well in all crucial research categories, it’s been a very successful year for Fisher & Paykel,” said Downes.
The survey also looked at consumers’ habits in the laundry including factors impacting purchase decision and which is the preferred model: top or front loader.
Those who bought front loaders were more satisfied than those who bought top loaders in six out of seven post-sale research categories, but those with top loaders were more convinced that their model was easy to use.
The survey also found that energy efficiency was the most important factor for 43 per cent of consumers who bought front loaders, while price was still the most important factor for 56 per cent of people who bought top loaders.
Canstar Blue found that consumers who bought front loaders paid an average of $628, while those who bought top loaders spent an average of $600.
The majority of buyers were replacing a broken machine, however those buying front loaders were more likely to be upgrading to a newer or better model. Overall, respondents had their old machines for an average of 8.75 years.
Appliances Online shared some of its sales data with Canstar Blue, reporting that 64 per cent of washing machines sold on its site were front loaders and almost half of the washing machines it sells are either Samsung or Fisher & Paykel.
Peter Harris, COO of Appliances Online said that more and more consumers were conducting research before purchasing a new appliance.
“Our sales experts have found that customers are increasingly buying front loaders because they’re more energy and water efficient, compact, delicate on clothes and provide more options thanks to multiple programmes. Government rebates have also incentivised consumers with rebates,” he said.
In dryers, price was the most important purchase decision for 47 per cent, beating energy efficiency (39 per cent). Canstar Blue found that consumers were spending an average of $414 on new clothes dryers and had used their old appliance for an average of 7.4 years. The majority of adults bought a new dryer because their old one stopped working, and one in five were looking to upgrade to a newer or better model.