<p>I’d like some advice from CC’ers before I call Lowe’s. On 2-1-07, I bought the most expensive top-loading Whirlpool Cabrio. It has a center agitator with “wings” at the base. The wings are flexible and slightly raised off of the agitator bottom.</p>
<p>We are having a terrible time with strings (especially the knot at the end) getting caught under the wings. That piece of clothing then doesn’t move and all the surrounding clothes get tangled and woven. </p>
<p>Four of our family members wear pajama bottoms that have strings. DS’s athletic shorts have strings. I just spent 20 minutes trying to unravel the latest mess. </p>
<p>Should I call Lowe’s and explain the reason? Should I go in and buy a different machine and then tell them? Help.</p>
<p>Well, I like to do things like that face to face, so I would go in with a copy of your receipt and talk to them about it at a time that you know they won’t be busy. I doubt this is the kind of thing that they routinely take an applicance back for, but the manager probably has some discretion. If you’ve been a regular customer, he’ll probably take it back if there’s any way he can. If you buy a new washer first though, he won’t as be motivated to help, since he already knows he’s keeping your business.</p>
<p>I hate the hassle of returning things, so I’d probably just use a safety pin to pin the strings inside the waistband any time I went to wash it.</p>
<p>I can’t offer return advise, but I can offer washing advice. I’ve used mesh laundry bags for years (my mom & grandmom owned a lingere business for over 60 years).</p>
<p>I use them for socks; “delicates”; and ANYTHING with a drawstring. They are also amazing for stuff that’s washable but you’d rather not dry in the drier. They allow you to “fish out” easier.</p>
<p>They are made in various sizes, and I find these (see the link) will hold 2 drawstring pj pants or one drawstring sweatpant perfectly.</p>
<p>They will ABSOLUTELY take it back. Explain the problem and tell them you want to replace it with another machine with a different configuration. Don’t be apologetic – it’s not working for you. By the way, in my circles, I’m known as the queen of returns.</p>
<p>Lowe’s is really good about this, but I agree w/ sjmom…start with the store manager, or you will find yourself repeating your story over and over…</p>
<p>They will take it back. They might require you to pay a restocking fee, which I would fight on the grounds that the machine was eating your clothes (not just that you changed your mind about the color or something). They might want you to pay for the truck to come and get it, if you don’t buy something else from the store. If you buy something else, they should just come out and swap it out.</p>
<p>I think the store should take it back. And I agree that a call or visit to the manager is the first thing to do. And don’t be apologetic about it. </p>
<p>When I have to argue to return something, I always take the position that consumer items have to operate for the purpose for which they were intended. So a washing machine that ruins or doesn’t clean clothes (with strings) or shuts down during washing or otherwise interferes with washing because of certain clothing items (with strings) is defective.</p>
<p>We took back the very high end maytag and went for a sear machine. I just did not like the job it did. This was a few years ago but I’m am sure in there is not going to be a problem since you had it such a short time.</p>
<p>They’ll take it back. I recently bought a platform bed from Macy’s. The stupid thing arrived with NO ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS, and I spent like hours and hours trying to figure it out. None of the holes would line up… I had boards, and a bag of nails, and no clue. Finally I was able to determine that the majority of the required holes were not pre-drilled. I was sooooo upset. They sent UPS to come pick it back up, and they refunded my money. So I bought another platform bed from a different manufacturer, and different retailer. </p>
<p>MaryTN I don’t think you have to go there. I think you just call them, tell them it’s unsatisfactory and to come pick it up. They’ll send a truck or whatever and you don’t have to deal with it. Maybe you can even just do an exchange for a different model, perhaps they can deliver a new washer and pick the old one up in one trip.</p>
<p>Gosh…I’m so glad to see this thread. I’m looking for a new washer and dryer and have been most tempted by the Cabrio since it has the largest capacity. Now I think it’s back to the front loaders for me.</p>
<p>Just for fun, I looked at a few consumer reviews online for the washer, and no one’s mentioned the problem yet. I bet eventually they’ll want to engineer around it somehow or issue some kind of disclaimer so people know before they buy it.</p>
<p>Here’s a link for Epinions.com with some reviews that address this exact problem with the Whirlpool Cabrio. Lowe’s should take it back since you’ve had it for only 2 weeks. Read the return policy on your receipt paperwork and follow their procedure. Your feedback on this machine would be good to add to the Epinions site.</p>
<p>The problem is with the agitatorless drum. They’ve designed the machine so that the bottom of the drum agitates the laundry rather than the standard center column, which is really a very important functional change. Clothes on the bottom are subjected to a lot more twisting action than clothes at the top of the load, and knots are more likely to occur.</p>
<p>Emboldened by your advice, I went to Lowe’s after church today. Everything worked out well. They are delivering a front loading “Duet” tomorrow and picking up the Cabrio. It took a Sales Associate, Zone Manager, Operations Manager, and the Head Cashier to figure out the process but everyone remained pleasant throughout.</p>