Complaint Review: MIELE - Nationwide

     Very unfortunately, we own ten Miele appliances, ranging from ovens to washing machines.  We were stupid enough to believe that there is a relationship between quality and price.  In the case of Miele, there is a relationship.  However, the Miele relationship is: The higher the price, the lower the quality and the poorer the customer service.  Miele appliances are outrageously priced.  The only problem is that Miele appliances are garbage.  They do not work.  And, to make matters worse, Miele does not care about their customers.

     Let's start with the Miele dishwasher.  The dishwasher does not and never has worked properly.  The automatic closure mechanism did not work, and the soap dispenser did not open.  Finally, and only after threatening to write bad reviews of Miele, Miele agreed to replace the dishwasher.  The new dishwasher still does not work properly.  Miele says it is now out of warranty, so Miele wants over $100 to inspect the dishwasher plus the costs (parts and labor) of any needed repairs.  The problems started while the dishwasher was under warranty and the problems (which had never been successfully repaired while the warranty was in effect) continued until the warranty expired.  So, there was a problem that Miele unsuccessfully attempted to repair while the dishwasher was under warranty, Miele did not repair the problem, and Miele is now claiming that the problem can only be fixed if we pay outrageous amounts to have it fixed.  By the way, the dishwasher sells for over $2,000.  It might be useful as a $2,000 Miele end table.

     Next, let's go to the washing machine.  This is similar to the situation with the dishwasher.  The washing machine does not and never has worked properly.  The door closure mechanism did not work and the water did not go through the soap dispenser so the cloths were washed without soap.   Finally, and only after threatening to write bad reviews of Miele, Miele agreed to replace the washing machine. Nonetheless, we have continued to have problems with the washing machine, and Miele has taken the same position with respect to fixing the washing machine as it did regarding fixing the dishwasher.  We have to pay to have Miele try to fix the problems that were first manifest while the washing machine was under warranty.  The washing machine sells for $2,000.  I might be useful as another $2,000 Miele end table.

     In addition to the foregoing, the Miele steam oven did not work.  Finally, and only after threatening to write bad reviews of Miele, Miele agreed to replace the steam oven.

     Finally, let's go to the Miele oven.  The oven does not and never has worked properly.  The oven cooks unevenly (one side of something being baked will burn and the other side will be undercooked) and the oven makes a loud noise when the convection oven is used (it sounds like the fan is hitting something).  Finally, and only after threatening to write bad reviews of Miele, Miele made several attempts to repair the oven.  Miele could not repair the oven and refused to replace it while the oven was under warranty.  Despite the fact that we are still having the same problems with the oven that we were having while the oven was under warranty, Miele now wants over $100 to inspect the oven plus the costs (parts and labor) of any needed repairs.  The problems started while the oven was under warranty, the problems were not fixed while the oven was under warranty, and Miele wants to charge exorbitant amounts to fix the problems that Miele did not repair under warranty.  The oven sells for about $5,000.  It might be useful as a $5,000 Miele coffee table.

     Is it not rather absurd that three out of seven (three of our Miele appliances have not been installed yet) very overpriced Miele appliances had to be replaced because they were seriously defective and that three out of seven of our Miele appliances still do not work.

     The foregoing problems only apply to seven of our ten Miele appliances.  The other three appliances have not been installed yet, so we do not know whether they will work.  Based upon our past experience with Miele, we would expect that about half of their appliances will not work and that Miele will do nothing to fix the problems with their appliances unless one battles with Miele.  Even then, Miele apparently waits to fix their appliances until they are out of warranty, even though the problems manifest themselves during the warranty period, so Miele can charge outrageous prices for repairing what should have been warranty problems.

     We strongly recommend that anyone interested in purchasing high end appliances look at brands other than Miele.  Miele is very much overpriced for appliances that do not work, and to make matters worse, Miele's customer service (we call it customer disservice) is nonexistent.  Be smart.  Avoid Miele.