2012 Kitchen & Laundry Appliance Satisfaction Study Results
Two recent studies by J.D. Power and Associates indicate that the manufacturers of kitchen and laundry appliances that ranked highest in 2011 continue to rank highest in customer satisfaction again this year. According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Laundry Appliance Satisfaction StudySM and the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Kitchen Appliance Satisfaction Study,SM Samsung is the highest-ranked brand in overall customer satisfaction with clothes washers, dryers, and refrigerators. Bosch achieves the highest score for dishwashers, and Kenmore Elite ranks highest for ranges, cooktops, and ovens. All of these manufacturers are repeat award recipients from 2011. Notably, Samsung clothes dryers have ranked highest for 4 consecutive years, and its washing machines for 5 years.
These two studies measure the performance and reliability of the various kitchen and laundry appliances, as well as their features, ease of use, styling/appearance, price, and warranty.
Features and price drive Samsung's high scores. Performance and reliability are the most-often-cited reason customers purchase Bosch dishwashers. Kenmore Elite's high scores for cooktops, ranges, and ovens is due to the brand's highest performance in all categories, especially product reliability and price.
J.D. Power offers the following tips for consumers shopping for kitchen and laundry appliances:
The 2012 Laundry Appliance Satisfaction Study and the 2012 Kitchen Appliance Satisfaction Study, in their seventh and eighth years, respectively, of publication, are based on responses from customers who purchased a washer, dryer, dishwasher, cooktop, range, oven, or refrigerator in the past 24 months. The studies were fielded between January and February 2012.
These two studies measure the performance and reliability of the various kitchen and laundry appliances, as well as their features, ease of use, styling/appearance, price, and warranty.
Features and price drive Samsung's high scores. Performance and reliability are the most-often-cited reason customers purchase Bosch dishwashers. Kenmore Elite's high scores for cooktops, ranges, and ovens is due to the brand's highest performance in all categories, especially product reliability and price.
J.D. Power offers the following tips for consumers shopping for kitchen and laundry appliances:
- Keep budget considerations in line with how long you plan to own your appliance. If you plan to keep an appliance for many years, it might be worth spending more money up front for a brand that's likely to perform better and last longer.
- Look for brands and models that provide the features and the level of user-friendliness that you need, but avoid paying extra for "bells and whistles" that you're not likely to use or that might result in unwelcomed complications.
- Ask the salesperson to demonstrate the functions that are most important to you.
The 2012 Laundry Appliance Satisfaction Study and the 2012 Kitchen Appliance Satisfaction Study, in their seventh and eighth years, respectively, of publication, are based on responses from customers who purchased a washer, dryer, dishwasher, cooktop, range, oven, or refrigerator in the past 24 months. The studies were fielded between January and February 2012.