Buying a fridge, freezer, and washer-recommendations?

We are getting ready to move for what I hope is the last time in a LONG while.  At any rate, we will need to purchase a new larder fridge(under the counter model) , small chest freezer, and washer. 
Does anyone have any advice as to what brands are better than others?  Best places to buy from?  I've looked at John Lewis and Comet online.
Thanks!

Hiya

I'd recommend the higher quality brands - Bosch, Smeg, Whirlpool etc in terms of build quality and reputation. However, like any product, just by going 'higher up' in the range doesn't always mean trouble free operation in the long run.

Comet are very keenly priced indeed and of course you have the option of extended warranties if you so choose. Our fridge went after only a year or so ( a Whirlpool) and we got it exchanged on the extended warranty and decided to go for one of the big US style fridges instead.

As for other places to buy from, check out Currys, Powerhouse on the high st. and of course check out www.kelkoo.co.uk, http://www.pricegrabber.co.uk/ for the best deals from online retailers - those will be Amazon.com, Ebuyer.co.uk etc etc.

Hope this helps!

Cheers! Dennis!! West London & Slough UK!!

I would definately recommend John Lewis who will match the price of any item you find in their store. ie comet has it for 350.00 they will sell at 349.00 and they deliver for free too.  As well as this they give you free two year warranty on electrical goods. They also have a completely unadvertised service called the three check system. This means you can pay for highly priced goods over three months on three post dated checks. (if a sales person has never heard of it ask them to check again) If you are multi purchasing get them to total the cost and pay with the three checks for all the items.

The only reccomendation I have is DON'T buy a Whirlpool.  The parts are so expensive and it wil break down.   Plus our washer repair man hated ours and used to b*tch about what a pain it was. 

And don't get a Servis.  Zanussi and Hotpoint are good brands and reasonably priced.  Oh and don't get a Kenwood, our dryer was purchased in November and has already broken down. 

I bought a cheapie Frigidaire, which I also wouldn't recommend. It hasn't broken down, but it doesn't seem to chill things very evenly. The top shelf barely gets cold (no dairy up there!) and the bottom shelf nearly freezes things (can't put lettuce in the crisper). Very annoying.

I love our Hotpoint fridge-freezer, it self defrosts and keeps everything just right.

The only reccomendation I have is DON'T buy a Whirlpool.  The parts are so expensive and it wil break down.   Plus our washer repair man hated ours and used to b*tch about what a pain it was. 

Funny I was just gonna plug Whirlpool! lol  We have a large Whirlpool fridge/freezer which we just love. No problems but we have only had it a year.

I love our Hotpoint fridge-freezer, it self defrosts and keeps everything just right.

We had to replace ours as it kept freezing up and all the food was defrosting. Guess its just luck of the draw.

We just had to replace our Indesit dishwasher and we have already replaced two Servis condenser dryers. I dont know why I am going through so many appliances here. In the USA we have had the same appliances for decades. 

Our repairman highly recommended Bosch products.

Guess its just luck of the draw.

We just had to replace our Indesit dishwasher and we have already replaced two Servis condenser dryers.

It must be luck of the draw, because my washer/dryer is Servis and it's been fantabulous! I know they're not supposed to be that great, but I've had mine three years and use (the washer part at least) most days.

It must be luck of the draw, because my washer/dryer is Servis and it's been fantabulous! I know they're not supposed to be that great, but I've had mine three years and use (the washer part at least) most days.

I have a Servis washer. Its my oldest appliance and so far so good!

Thanks everyone for the replies!      Looks like we are going to get either a Zanussi, Bosch, or Liebherr larder fridge.  Problem is that the space it has to go into is quite narrow. 
For chest freezer looks like the one that will fit will be the Zanussi. 
And Zanussi again for the washer. 
We will probably order the fridge and freezer from John Lewis and the washer from either Comet or Argos. 
Which store is better for delivery-Argos or Comet?  I would like to get all three items from John Lewis to make it simple, but the washer that I like from them is £100 more than a similar model from Comet or Argos. 
Off to go measure some more things this morning. 
Belindaloo-I love Mr. Bill! A favorite childhood memory was getting to stay up late to watch SNL with my Uncle.  Thanks for the smile this morning! 

Belindaloo-I love Mr. Bill! A favorite childhood memory was getting to stay up late to watch SNL with my Uncle.  Thanks for the smile this morning! 

Any time!

Bosch...Bosch...Bosch... did I say Bosch?

We have a Bosch washer that's a real work horse and a Bosch condensor that actually have outside drainage so no need to empty water containers.  Our fridge is a Samsung and has had no problems.

Our technicians over the last year.... have said what crap Hotpoint dryers are.  So.. that's their opinion.  We went through two of them before insisting and forking out more money for our Bosch... which would have been fine if the pipe had not burst to the washing machine causing the thing to get drenched. :-)

Whatever you do get an extended warranty for the first two years....

Lucky us our Bosch came with a free one and given our luck or lack of luck with appliances I think I might for the first time ever consider buying an extended warrenty... but I will check the total cost over possible replacement costs. 

Bosch service is amazing from the people on the phone to our technician.  (Has an aunt in Canada).  He's replacing 5 parts just to make sure there won't be any future problems. :-)

It's becoming increasingly difficult to say that brand X is better than brand Y to any degree of reliability these days.  Manufacturers are changing designs and outsourcing various stages of the manufacturing process so much that even an appliance which appears outwardly to be the same model can change in quality and reliability from one year to the next. 

Service technicians in any specific field are generally a good measure, as they see the common faults and soon learn the specific weaknesses and common failures for the model they see on a day-to-day basis.

you can go online and sign up for a month trial of www.which.com.  it's a consumer reports for the UK.  very helpful... you can search through their database for washers, dishwashers, mail-order seed catalogs, etc.... just remember to cancel the trial b/f the months up.