But it is this combination of reliability and quality service that make the dishwasher worth paying for. It's how appliances used to be. You buy one, and it lasts for 20 years, and maybe you need it to be serviced a few times.
We bought a Miele dishwasher. We've been able to clear clogs ourselves following instructions. It actually cleans the dishes properly, and the door pops open to allow drying when the cycle completes.
Stuff made in China starts going on the fritz. If you get the expensive brands made in China, it means they last one or two years instead of 3 to 6 months. We have a higher-end American brand washing machine (not Miele). It's control panel is starting get squirrely. The machine is fine, but the electronics are starting to fail, and the repair cost for replacement boards is a significant percentage of the cost of the machine. Enough that we'll probably go with Miele when the board fails altogether.
If Miele makes a healthy margin, that's good in my book, because they make products that are worth the money. I'm tired of buying cheap disposable crap. I don't want to buy a toaster every year because they burn out every year. I refuse to go through the circus of buying a dishwasher or washer/drier every 5 years anymore.
We actively search for products that last, and that have good service. We actively avoid, as far as is possible, products made in China, because the quality, and verification of quality is no longer suitable. Buying stuff made in mainland China, even with an American or European brand-name means that it is cheap in the very short term, and costly in both dollars and time in the long run.
If a company can make a profit and not engage in the outsourcing idiocy we've seen in American brands, than they'll get my money, even at a premium.
Speaking of toasters, recently came across someone complaining they had to keep buying new ones. It dawned on me, look at what a place like Waffle House uses. Thus, I'd recommend a Waring toaster. No way a corp like Waffle House is gonna pay hundreds of dollars for toasters that need replacement every few weeks. To be fair, Waffle House is using WCT800 models, I'm not sure the WCT702 model is built to the same standard. It does give me some comfort to see they only make 6 models, and seem to mostly focus on commercial use.
