Avanti WCR5403SS 24" Wine Cooler with Wooden Shelves on a Pull-Out Roller Assembly, Mirror Glass Door and Electronic Control Panel Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought the previous Avanti 54-bottle model. I had finally decided to write a review, but just found out it was discontinued (hopefully for the right reasons, which were many). So this review may not necessarily apply to this specific (and newer) model. However, the looks, size, and functions seem to be substantially the same.
PROS:
This Avanti wine cooler is good looking and functional. It has a decent size, which allows it to fit nicely almost anywhere in my apartment.
The transparent windowed door allows you to see your wines and mixes well with the rest of my home environment.
The wine cooler has electronic controls, which makes it very easy to use and set its temperature.
The cooler has different compartments that make wine organization easy. It even has a relatively bigger lower section where you can fit bigger bottles (e.g. average 750 ml champagne bottles).
CONS:
The cooler's performance was very disappointing. The fan/motor broke twice within a 13 month period. The first time it started making noises. At the beginning those noises would go away after a few seconds... these seconds soon turned into minutes. A few days later the vibrations and noise were unbearable and wouldn't stop, unless I unplugged it. Soon not even that did the trick. I just had to permanently unplug it. Period. When that happened I decided to call Avanti's customer service. It was poor. It took 3 calls to get them to agree to send someone over to fix the problem. A couple of months after the cooler was supposedly fixed the problems started all over again. This time Avanti argued the warranty had just expired and refused to come back. Fixing it will now cost $250! That just seemed wrong.So, after all my excitement when it first arrived, I am now the not-so-proud owner of an Avanti "wine display" that makes plenty of noise when turned on.
In summary, don't be fooled by the looks of the Avanti line of wine coolers. Unless Avanti has significantly upgraded the quality of its products and customer service, I would urge careful consideration of an alternative. Good luck!

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Haier HVUE06ABB 6-Bottle Wine Fridge, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this for my husband for Christmas (2007). It's been plugged in and working since late November (more below) with no problems. This is the first wine fridge that we've ever owned so, admittedly, I have nothing to compare it to. I read reviews about other smaller fridges and decided to go with this one because of its size and controls. We keep it on the floor underneath our bar/counter area. It's nice to have to keep those bottles of white wine cold and ready to go at a good temperature instead of being too cold and taking up room in your real fridge.
Only (very minor) complaint deals with the seller- as I said, I got this for my husband for Christmas. They sent it in its original box without any other box or coverings on the outside. It arrived and was on our front porch on a day when my husband was the first to come home, so...he got his Christmas present a little early. ;)
ETA: Have had this little fridge for 2 years now and it's still going strong. One feature I like: the inside light that turns on and off. It's nice to see what's in there without opening the door. In terms of storing bottles, you can't store fat bottles (like champagne) on the top shelf. But that's not too big of a deal. We just put them on the lower shelves.
E(again)TA: It's been three years now. Still no problems with it!

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Danby Built-In Wine Cooler (Black) (12.12"H x 23.69"W x 34.06"D) Review

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(More customer reviews)This product seems to work fine and looks good. It just seems very expensive considering other models I have considered. The biggest selling point for me was the size. It was the only one that fit the undercounter space I had. So, for that, I am grateful.

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Haier HBF05EBSS Draft Beer Dispenser Review

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(More customer reviews)It was 'ignaugurated' at a party I hosted, and the 5 gal keg didn't last long! (Of course, it was a good beer...locally brewed Pacific Coast Emerald Ale.)
Be prepared: After it's set up and you've had people over, you're going to be QUITE popular! Expect comments like "I'm going to be over at your place every afternoon." Haier America should realize their best marketing ploy is satisfied customers. I've had it two weeks and Haier may be selling 3 additional units soon.
OK, so what about the product rating, especially in light of all the negative comments provided earlier? Well, here's my take on it:
- Set up was fairly simple, if you discount the fact that one part was missing (see below).
- Quality seems to be adequate. They use quality parts, e.g., the CO2 regulator and dispensing valve.
- It's keeping my second (post party) keg perfectly chilled and pressurized. (Since the first keg only lasted several hours, we can't base much judgement on that.)
- It's wonderful to come home to a fresh, draft beer!
- Finding a place to refill the CO2 canister can be difficult. Most commercial places will only exchange (take your brand new canister and give you a used, filled canister). I finally found a fire extinguisher service that does refills after making MANY calls.
Does this make it perfect? Hardly.
My experience confirms that Haier America has poor customer service. I purcased the unit a week in advance of a party I was hosting. After getting it home and setting it up, I realized (according to the manual) that it was missing the washer that goes between the CO2 tank and the regulator. I called Haier customer service the following morning and was shocked by how they treated me. The basic tone of their response was "tough luck." I would have to follow their procedures which were: 1) fax or send via US mail my purchase receipt 2) Allow them two business days from their receipt of this to get back to me 3) After doing a 'confirmation' they would send me the washer within two weeks.
I was irate and told them so! I had purchased the unit specifically for my upcoming party and now would not be able to use it! Their reponse: "These are our procedures."
I did two things after this:
1) I located the manufacturer of the CO2 regulator and contacted them about the possibility of getting a washer. They informed me that the regulator was redesigned and did not need a washer. Haier was supposed to include an update with their user manual (they didn't, and customer service obviously wasn't aware of this change).
2) I located information on Haier America and faxed their CEO an scathing letter telling him what I thought about spending $500 for something and not being able to use it at the function I bought it for! Lo and behold, the next day I received a call from their corporate offices saying they would be overnighting me the missing washer. I explained I had learned it wasn't needed, but the woman calling me wasn't taking any chances. She overnighted it to me anyway. Moral of the story: Make your voice heard when you recieve bad service.
Anyway, my 'washerless' set up is now working fine and I'm loving the unit.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Haier HBF05EBSS Draft Beer Dispenser

The Haier HBF05EBSS Kegerator with Stainless Steel Door is the only full-size keg beer cooler with the ability to be turned into an all-refrigerator with two shelves. In addition to coming complete with all the all the necessary draft beer equipment to pour fresh draft beer straight from the keg, this kegerator can easily be converted to a regulator refrigerator. The Haier Kegerator with Stainless Steel Door is designed for home use so it designed with quiet and energy efficiency in mind. 2 1/2" casters make this unit very easy to move from your bar to your patio. This unit also comes with an attractive metal safety rail to help keep mugs and glasses from sliding off. This unit comes with everything you need except the keg. You will need to get the CO2 tank filled locally. You should look up gas suppliers in your local yellow pages to find a place to get the tank filled. A full CO2 tank should last about 5 to 6 kegs.

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Haier HLP23E Electronic 1-1/2-Cubic-Foot Touch Pulsator Top-Loading Portable Washing Machine Review

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(More customer reviews)I live in a one-bedroom unit in a massive apartment building with 6 laundry machines in the basement. I did not buy this unit from Amazon but rather from a Chinese electronics dealer in my area. Haier is very popular in China and the machine came highly recommended by the dealer.
The dealer delivered it to me, set it up and away we went. I have had this unit for about a month and here are my comments:
1) The unit is quieter than a traditional laundry machine.
2) I have had no problems with balancing the machine or with water intake. It fills quickly so long as there is high water pressure. The machine balances itself by stopping and starting until the clothes are balanced.
3) The high water level can accommodate a lot of clothes. I do about 3 loads a week: shirts/undies, pants, and towels.
4)It uses a lot less soap than traditional washers (about half I would say)
5)The regular wash runs for about 45 mins which I found excessive. The quickwash runs for about 22 minutes and I find that my clothes are perfectly clean. I only use the regular wash for very soiled items.
6) My unit came with casters so I had no problem. You may also buy casters at the hardware store... the casters are fairly standard.
7) Hooking it up to the sink did require a trip to the hardware store but it was easy to find the adapter as I brought the intake hose with me.

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Ideal for small apartments or homes with limited space, this portable washing machine connects to a sink in just five easy steps with the included quick-connect sink adapter. The appliance features a 1-1/2-cubic-foot tub that can accommodate loads both large and small, plus an electronic control panel with an LED display for simple operation. Choose from four wash cycles (soak, wash, rinse, or spin); four water-level settings (very low, low, medium, or high), depending on the size of the load; and six cycle programs (standard, heavy, gentle, quick wash, wash, or spin). It also provides a power "on/off" button, a "start/pause" button for starting or pausing the wash cycle, function indicator lights, a beep to signal the end of the cycle, and automatic shut-off after about 10 minutes. Leveling legs make it possible to stabilize the unit even if it sits on uneven ground, and its see-through top lid allows for checking in on the wash cycle at a glance. To ensure safety, the unit will not operate with the lid open. Accessories include a power-cord clip, a water inlet hose, a drain-hose outlet plug, a gooseneck drain hook, a drain hose clamp, a lint filter, and a water filter--both filters can be removed for cleaning as needed. Fully assembled, the CSA-approved washing machine measures 19-11/16 by 21-1/8 by 34-23/32 inches and carries a one-year warranty.

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Haier XQJ50-31 Agitator 1-2/3-Cubic-Foot Portable Washer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you are like me, you are scouring these reviews trying to decide if this is the right product for you- if it will arrive safely, be easy to hook up, and work as promised.
Since this is a fairly large purchase for most, I thought I would add my own review, as a person who seriously debated buying this machine based on the reviews about damages and other difficulties. After much consideration, I finally ordered and received this washing machine and there are a few things I can tell you.
Firstly, it is going to come with some dings, almost guaranteed. As another reviewer mentioned, the tub is free floating inside and there is absolutely nothing to stop it from swinging into the metal housing during shipping. And you have to know it will get bumped hard enough in shipping to swing that tub around at least a little. It would have taken a dollar's worth of styrofoam to secure the tub inside, it is a shame they don't take care of that little problem. So, just resolve yourself to this idea and you won't be disappointed. Fortunately, the dings are only cosmetic, and you might have only a few, or you might have a lot. My machine arrived dinged up, but works perfectly. Most of the dings were caused by the tub pushing from inside out, but there were also a couple of indentions obviously from things hitting the box during shipping. Though I am making a thorough description of the damage, overall, it was not devastating.
Secondly, it's not that hard to hook up, and I found the instruction book adequate. The first thing you must do when you receive the machine, after you unpack it, is to lay it on its side an put the casters on. There are two stopper-type feet, and two adjustable level feet on it, out of the box. The adjustable level feet come right off. The stopper type feet will require a pipe wrench to remove. Don't even think you can do it with your hands or a cheap pair of pliers. They won't budge. But get yourself a pipe wrench and turn counter-clockwise and they will begin to unscrew, no problem. At this time, it will help you to have an electric screwdriver handy to mount the bottom (noise cancelling) panel. You can do it by hand if you want, but if you are doing it alone it will be difficult for you to hold it and put the screws in. Also, the electric screwdriver has a little more force, so if your frame is slightly dented, you can almost correct it by forcing the screws into the correct position.
Voila! Once you put the machine upright, it rolls very easily! The next task is to roll it over to the sink and set up your connections. Personally, I don't see any benefit to having a Y adapter if you only have one faucet. The hot and cold water are going to mix together before going to the intakes anyway, so what is the point? I hooked up only one hose, to the cold water intake. (There is a screw-on plug included for the other intake if you choose to hook up only one.) When the wash cycle begins, I have the hot water on, then after the tub fills I turn the hot water off, and the cold water on for the remaining 2 rinse cycles.
Next, the quick-connect adapter for the faucet is not difficult to install. You simply unscrew the aerator off your faucet, and add the quick-connect version which screws right in to replace it. Then attach the other piece of the quick-connect to the end of the cold water hose you just installed on the back of the washer. Now this hose will clip on to your faucet in one motion. Just push down the white piece, slip it over the piece on the faucet, and release. It makes a tight, reliable connection. If you leave the faucet piece on (you can still run water through it) then each time you want to wash, all you have to do is click the quick-connect on and you are ready to go. So, no worries about that part, it is a snap.
Now, the drain hose is another thing. It is too inflexible, and too short to be convenient. If you use this hose, be sure to use something to weight it so it remains in the sink when the water starts coming through! It is made of slick accordion plastic which does not stay in place easily. Myself, I went and bought some thick black rubber tubing in a longer length. A hose clamp is included, be sure to use it to secure whatever hose you might choose to use. If you don't clamp the hose on tightly, you will have a flood as soon as the pump kicks in.
OK, so that's what you can expect once the machine arrives. It seems like a bit of work, and all in all it will probably take you an hour and half before you get your first wash in. But that's where it pays off. This little machine washes just beautifully. The clothes are very clean after the generous wash and two rinse cycles. It spins them very well, so the clothes dry in 6-8 hours after you hang them up. (If you are an apartment dweller with no dryer, do a search on the internet for a "gull-wing clothes drying rack" for a neat solution for drying.)
I have to agree that the design on the detergent drawer could be much much better, but it works. It also has a fabric softener dispenser and a bleach dispenser! The electronic panel is just plain cool, as well. Like another reviewer, I hope it lasts a long time. There is also an available soak cycle which you can add to any of the regular cycles, which is very handy. When it comes to washing, this machine is A+. I really could not be happier with its performance. The tub actually holds much more than I anticipated-- I would guess about 2/3 of a "normal" washer.
I found this machine a good investment, considering the cost and inconvenience of going to a laundromat. If you are living in an apartment without hook-ups and are spending hours in the laundromat, this will change your life in a good way.
I will try to come back after some months and comment on the long term performance, but I am not anticipating any problems.
**UPDATE**
6 months later, and I am still very happy with this machine. Thrilled actually, not to have seen the inside of a laundromat for a good long while.
The only issue I have had is that if the machine is not on a nice level piece of flooring, it will have balance issues. Once I recognized what was causing the problem, I had to memorize the "sweet spot" on the floor in front of the sink where the machine has to sit precisely in order to avoid any balance problems. My kitchen floor is anything but level. As long as it is in the zone, it can hold an amazing amount of clothes and spin clean without a hitch. If it is not level, I can have even a small amount of clothes in it and it acts up by refilling itself over and over because it thinks the clothes are out of balance and it is trying to correct it by adding water (self-balancing feature.) So if you are having similar trouble, experiment moving the machine 3-4" this way or that, until you find the place it likes and it will perform like a champ.
Using my drying rack and opening the windows to create a cross-breeze in the house, the clothes are dry in 5-6 hours. There are other bonuses to this method. Not putting them in the dryer is also causing less wear and color loss to the fabrics, and stains do not set...so if you miss one, you can get it out the next time without the dryer having "cooked" it in forever. Then there's the simple environmental and cost savings of not running a dryer as well.
Thumbs up for this machine, dings and all. Kick your feet up in your favorite chair while the washer is working and think about how great it is not to be in some sweaty laundromat full of college kids.
**UPDATE**
Just wanted to say- it's been nearly 5 years since I received this machine from Amazon and it's still working perfectly. It's been my only machine and I use it weekly. The casters make funny noises now due to the locks on them slipping, but after years of service...that's easy to forgive.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Haier XQJ50-31 Agitator 1-2/3-Cubic-Foot Portable Washer

No need to transport heavy loads of laundry to and from the laundromat with the help of this portable washer. It makes it easy to wash work or weekend attire, baby clothes, delicates, and other small loads from the comfort of home, without taking up a lot of space--perfect for apartments, beach homes, or other small living areas. The compact unit features a 1-2/3-cubic-foot stainless-steel tub, a fabric-softener and bleach dispenser, a removable lint filter, and user-friendly soft-touch electronic controls with an LED display. Simply fill with items to be washed, add soap, close the lid, and make a selection. Choose from three water levels based on the size of the load (save water by choosing a lower level for smaller loads); four wash cycles--heavy, normal, gentle, and quick; and three wash/rinse temperature options--hot/cold, warm/cold, and cold/cold. Other highlights include a load balance system, quiet operation, a delay-start option from 2 to 24 hours, an estimated time-remaining display, cycle-status lights, an end-of-cycle signal, and adjustable leveling legs to balance the machine if placed on an uneven surface. When finished, the washer can be moved to an out-of-the-way place like a corner or closet thanks to its heavy-duty smooth-rolling casters. A quick-connect sink adapter comes included. The CSA-approved washer measures approximately 22 by 21-5/8 by 37 inches and carries a full one-year warranty.

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Haier HVF024BBG 24-Bottle Single-Zone Wine Cellar, Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Purchase date: Purchased the product from amazon.com in December 2008.
Price: Several web sites were selling the unit for three hundred dollars including amazon. When amazon reduced the price by thirty-six dollars I made my purchase.
Shipping: With the free Super Saver Shipping, the cellar was delivered by UPS in 3 days.
Packaging: The packaging is minimal. There is thin Styrofoam packaging covering each of the four corners and a square piece covering the top. Plus a piece of Styrofoam is inside the door to protect the glass door from the wire shelves. Cardboard covers the four sides and the top. There is no packaging at all covering the bottom of the cellar and there is no Styrofoam covering the sides.
Delivery: I was most concerned about damage to the glass door and the compressor - which were not damaged. UPS delivered the cellar by using a dolly with a very long blade that was wider than the cellar. I believe this helped avoid any damage to the bottom of the cellar. (Remember there is no packaging for the bottom.) But, unfortunately, there was damage to one of the sides. I did not notice it until UPS was gone but there was a small tear to one of the sides of the cardboard - small enough that it looked like normal wear and tear of shipping and not significant enough to be a concern. But there was a small dent in the side of the cellar. If there were even a thin piece of Styrofoam covering the sides, the damage would have been prevented. I took the easy way out and decided to just keep the cellar.
Cooling: The cellar lets you set your own temperature or you can use the white wine button (which uses a temp of 47 degrees) or the red wine button (which uses a temp of 57 degrees). The compressor turns on when the temperature is 3 degrees more than your setting. It turns off when the temperature is 2 degrees less than your setting but the cellar does continue to get colder. I keep the cellar in a room where the temperature is in the mid 60s and the cellar continues to get another 3 to 4 degrees cooler. So, all together, there is an 8 or 9 degree temperature variation.
Noise: Some of the reviews of various cellars I read complained about the continuous running and noise of their cellar. But this cellar is extremely quiet. I do not notice when the compressor is on. And when cooling, it's on for only a couple of minutes.
Vibration: Since this cellar uses a compressor for cooling I was concerned about the amount of vibration that it created since it can disturb the sediment in the wine bottles. But the compressor in this cellar is bolted to a bracket on the bottom of the unit and there are rubber bushings in between the compressor and the bracket. I did, however, feel a very, very small amount of vibration when the compressor is on. To measure the vibration, I put a glass of water on the cellar and found, to my relief, the water was completely undisturbed. I also watched for vibration when the compressor turns on and when it turns off. The water in the glass does show some vibration - more so when it turns off than when it turns on. But this is probably less vibration than when you open or close the cellar.
Warranty: The manual states the warranty for parts and labor is 12 months from the date of purchase. The compressor, condenser and evaporator have a warranty of 5 years from the date of purchase.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Haier HVF024BBG 24-Bottle Single-Zone Wine Cellar, Black

Elegantly store and display up to 24 bottles of wine at the proper temperature with this attractive single-zone wine cellar. The unit supplies three chrome storage racks and two half-depth racks for keeping the bottles organized, plus soft interior lighting to help showcase the collection. Electronic controls allow for easily setting the temperature from 45- to 65-degrees F, while the dual-function LED display shows the selected temperature and the current internal temperature. In addition to the adjustable electronic thermostat, the unit provides an automatic setting and indicator lights for red and white wine. The wine cellar's flat see-through glass door comes with a blue-gray tint, graphite trim, and a heavy-duty brushed metal handle. Other highlights include a lock and key to keep items secure, a graphite matte work top, rear venting, and leveling legs that can be made longer or shorter to balance the unit if it sits on uneven ground. The wine cellar measures 23-1/2 (21-3/4 without the handle) by 20 by 30-1/2 inches and carries a one-year parts-and-labor warranty with a five-year warranty on the compressor.

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Haier HLP140E 2-3/5-Cubic-Foot Compact Tumble Vented Dryer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have only had this dryer for about 10 days now, but I'm very happy with it! There is one other review for this dryer and in it they say it takes a long time for the clothes to dry... this is true. But I think it's to be expected since this dryer can simply be plugged into any outlet unlike a normal dryer. So, smaller dryer... less power... longer drying time. The reason I'm giving this unit 5 stars is because if getting out the laundry mat is as important to you as it was to me, then the extra drying time is more than acceptable. Also, this dryer is VERY QUITE, simple to use and set up. For the first 5 loads I just had the machine sitting on the floor near a window - I didn't even have the hose out the window. It did get my apartment a little warm and humid (not since I've put the hose out the window of course), but I'm just making the point that it is very easy to set up.
How long does it take to dry clothes? I'm still trying to get all the drying times down myself. But I'm having much better luck using the timed dry instead of the auto dry. On auto drying it does seem to take hours before it finally stops. So I've just started to try and figure how long certain things dry. For example, my sheets (fitted bottom and the top sheet) I'm drying now between 60 or 90 minutes. On both times the sheets are close to dry and hanging them up for a little longer is enough. I guess this review is a little premature since I don't have the dry times down yet. But I have the feeling 90 minutes will dry most stuff about 90 percent.
I think once I make the adjustment and get things organized drying will not be a hassle at all. And for me the extra fiddling I have to do while drying in my apartment is so much better than having the hassle of organizing taking everything out of apartment, waiting, digging up quarters, using a machine that has been used 10,0000 times instead my nice new machine.
UPDATE! THE SOLUTION! March 18, 2009
I have owned now the Haier Washer and Haier Dryer now for 5 months and I still am incredibly happy with my purchase. Even with the very long drying times with the dryer I love not having to go down to the W&Ds in the apartments laundry room.
But there is a solution to the long drying time with the dryer: Not long after posting my review C. Mok posted this comment (note: the spin dryer is very small 24 inches high, 14 inches in diameter - $134.00 + shipping - and only one company seems to sell them in the US):
C. Mok says:
May I suggest complementing your electric dryer with a small spin dryer? I bought a spin dryer on a whim when I remembered those were the only things used in Asia when I was there during the 80s. It has worked really well along side my small portable washer in my small apt. I hang dry most of my laundry except when I'm in a hurry. The spin dryer cuts drying time in half easily. Most spin cycle on washers go about maybe 600 - 800 rpm. The little spin dryer spins at 3000rpm. On a small wash (2 bath towels) it can spin out over a quart of water (over 32fl oz) in less than 2 minutes. That is a significant amount of water to evaporate using normal dryers. This will shorten your drying time and also save your clothes from heat damage from the prolong drying times. The only catch is trying to balance the load in the small spin dryer. I find it easiest to load all the heavy cotton clothes on the bottom and the lighter synthetic clothes on the top. Then give it a good shove and compress everything tightly down. Thats has worked really well for me. Check out [...]for a small spin dryer. Good luck!
I finally bought the spin dryer to work with my Haier dryer about a month ago and now washing and drying is very similar to using normal sized machines. Now there is just a very short middle step. I'll give examples of some of the basic loads I do each week.
Whites (socks 10-12 pair, underwear 10-12 pair, t-shirts 2-4):
After using the washing machine I put all clothes in the spin dryer. It is important to pack the spin dryer the way the manual suggests to prevent the dryer from bouncing around like R2-D2 in a bad mood. With small items like socks and underwear though, it's pretty easy, and after experience you will see what you can just drop and press in the SD (spin dryer)and what you need to wrap around. I does sound like this middle step is a pain, but after you use it a bunch of times, it's pretty easy and you don't give it a second thought. When you turn the SD on, it starts to spin, shakes a bit, then settles down and gets very quiet as it picks up speed. When you first use the spin dryer, you think, wow, i got ripped off! No water is coming out!.... But wait... after about 30 seconds water starts flow out. Dribbly at first but then... wow! With a full load, CUPS of water fill your water catcher. I have had between 1 and 5 cups of water (normally 2-3), depending on what I was washing. Once the water flow starts to slow down, you turn off the machine. It only takes 2-3 minutes.
I then take my clothes and put then in the Haier dryer and set the timer to 90 minutes. After 90 minutes the clothes are BONE DRY. I'm not sure how long it actually takes, but if the load is a little smaller there is a very good chance they will be dry after only 1 hour.
Darks: 2 pairs of pants, 6-8 T-shirts, 1 sweat shirt. In the SD, you do now need to put the pants in first, wrapped into the bottom of the machine, then the sweat shirt, then the shirts. Again, after 90 minutes - bone dry (as I said, they are probably done after 70 min? 80 min? I'm not sure because I just open it after the buzzer goes off.
Sheets (king size): OK, sheets are the only thing that I wash that can be slightly problematic. Because these are large items, they can make R2-D2 (the spin dryer) unhappy. You have to be the most careful here wrapping them into the spin dryer. In the Haier Dryer also, they can at times ball up. I normally wash 2-3 sheets at a time. Put them all in the spin dryer at once, then in the Haier dryer for 60 minutes EACH. I found that they don't ball up when you dry them separately. So yes, it would still take you 2 hours to dry 2 sheets.
The Washer and dryer are freakishly quite, but the Spin Dryer does have a lot of vibration at the beginning and end of it's 2-3 minute spin. Not a big deal because of the short time, but if you have thin floors and a neighbor under you, they might wonder what is going up every 45 minutes for 3 minutes while you are doing laundry. I suggest getting 1 or 2 thick squares of carpet.
UPDATE July 6th, 2009
I did just read the comment from someone who had problems ordering a spin dryer. I can't speak for that company other than mine arrived on time and in good shape and still works like new. I did go to the BBB link and did only see 1 complaint about the company.
For reasons I don't understand, I was only ever able to find 1 company in the US that sells a spin dryer. Maybe some enterprising individual might think of importing some from a country that uses them more and start a business selling them. I had a friend who told me that they are pretty common in Europe. (Note: I do remember I had to wait a month to order a spin dryer from the Laundry Alternative because they were out of stock. I'm not vouching for the company - just giving my personal experience.
November 6, 2009 UPDATE
I was curious to see how long I've had my washer and dryer to calculate how much I've saved in quarters (13 months x $20 = $260). It's been over a year so I thought I'd add a first year update. The washer, dryer, and spin dryer all work like new. Which is great, I'm not sure if I'm lucky or not, but in my case they are fine. I did make the decision not to use bleach early on. I'm not sure if that has made any difference.
As far as drying. I reread my review and while it is true, if you use the spin dryer before the Haier dryer your wash will be bone dry in 90 minutes, that is with a small-med load. If you fill the dryer to the max. It will take 2-2.5 hours to dry. I just make sure to do medium loads more often.
My mom told me a secret to drying sheets! I still dry one sheet at a time for 90 minutes, but my mom said, AND SHE WAS RIGHT, if you put in a DRY towel (I use a big one) the sheet does not ball up while it spins. This has made a big difference in drying sheets, which are a pain to dry. I also bought a retractable clothesline from amazon. So when I dry sheets, (I don't use the spin dryer for sheets because the sheets are so big they can make the spin dryer go out of balance), I hang one on he clothes line, and they dry 1 for 90 minutes. Then I take the one out of the dryer and put it on the clothes line and put the one one from the clothes line in the dryer. Sometimes I have to put a sheet in for another 30 minutes.
Also, you really do need pull out and clean out the filter after every load. It really makes the drying time MUCH faster because it allows the air to flow out of the machine. You have to clean the lint off the "catch" and also the black filter thingy. Someone posted that an improvement on removing the filter would make the dryer a lot better. I totally agree with that.
The bottom line is: It depends on your personality; which do you dislike more? Digging up quarters, piling up your soap on your clothes in a basket and making a bunch of trips to the laundry room once a week or setting up these crazy contraptions in your apartment and turning your laundry doing into an art form where you have to get creative and be a little unorthodox.

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Designed for use on its own or to coordinate with any Haier portable washer, this compact dryer makes it easy to quickly dry clothes, sheets, table linens, and more, without taking up a lot of room--perfect for apartments or other small living spaces. The efficient 1100-watt tumble dryer plugs in to any 120-volt outlet and features a spacious 2-3/5-cubic-foot drum, a removable interior lint filter, and a user-friendly digital touch control panel. Simply add clean, wet clothes, close the door, and make a selection. Choose from four dry cycle settings, three temperature settings, and the drying time, from 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 minutes. A wall-hanging bracket comes included for exceptionally convenient out-of-the-way placement. Weighing about 54 pounds, the CSA-approved, rear-venting dryer measures 16-3/4 by 24-4/5 by 27 inches.

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Haier HLP21N Pulsator 1-Cubic-Foot Portable Washer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I haven't had any leak problems. The strange noise I was hearing puzzled me. I also envy anybody who can buy this machine straight through Amazon. you lucky ducks you ;-) I had to pay forty dollars for shipping.
Please let me know if you do hear strange noises. I am curious as to how many people get coins stuck inside the drum. It actually took me a while to figure out where the noise was coming from and took the bottom and back panel off, but the noise still continued. I'm not sure how the quarter became stuck in there, and still baffles me to this day. Please keep me updated with any concerns regarding noises. Hopefully, other owners or myself can help.
As far as the effectiveness of the machine, 5 stars says it all. To note, this washer machine doesn't have a drum spindle (not sure what you call the part that takes up space in most washers), so you can actually fit many more articles or clothing and/or towels inside.
Please let me know if this review was helpful.

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A nice alternative to lugging laundry to the laundromat, this portable washer makes it easy to wash up to 6 pounds of work or weekend attire, baby clothes, delicates, and other small loads from the comfort of home, without taking up a lot of room--perfect for apartments or other small living spaces. The compact unit features a 1-cubic-foot stainless-steel tub, a removable lint filter, and user-friendly electronic controls with LED indicators. Simply fill with items to be washed, add soap, close the door, and make a selection. Choose from three water levels based on the size of the load (save water by choosing a lower level for smaller loads) and three wash cycles--heavy, normal, and quick. Standard cycles include delicate, soak, and whites; special cycles include handwash, sanitary, and unique or exclusive. Other highlights include quiet operation, cycle-status lights, an end-of-cycle signal, and an adjustable leveling leg to balance the machine if placing it on an uneven surface. When finished, the washer can be moved to an out-of-the-way place like a corner or closet thanks to its heavy-duty smooth-rolling casters. An easy-installation kit with a quick-connect sink adapter comes included. Weighing about 43 pounds, the washer measures approximately 17-1/4 by 17-3/5 by 30 inches.

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32Bottl Wine Cellar Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The blue display light really makes it stand out. We have a lot of vintage wine from wine auctions and the bottles fit great!

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Vinotemp 12 Bottle Thermoelectric Wine Cellar - iCellar VT-12TEDI Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I had a Kitchen Aid countertop wine cooler which lasted less than one year. After researching all of the top selling 8+ bottle countertop versions, I purchased the Vinotemp from Costco. It lasted 18 months and stopped chilling. Since I regularly cleaned the fan and vent; I contacted Vinotemp. As the previous review states, they recommended purchasing a new control board. I spent $45 for the board including shipping and installed only to have the entire unit fail to reach any temperature below 79 degrees. It is my understanding that countertop coolers typically last 12-24 months due to the built-in obsolescence of the cooling units. I would not buy this size again and suggest investing in the built-in.

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Danby 166-Bottle Dual Zone Built-In or Freestanding Wine Cooler Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I did not buy this unit from Amazon (or the seller), but rather bought it locally. My first unit lasted about 6 months, and I thought it was great. Then it started to have issues. Temperature would reset itself to whatever it wanted. This was not good, but not the end of the world either.... Then it started to run constantly. I came down one morning to find condensation running off the front door, the temp read 39*F... Needless to say I had to turn it off right away. After 3 service attempts the unit was finally replaced. The replacement was not able to cool (just the cabinet with no wine) to anything cooler than 78* in ambient air temps of 77*...
I would highly recommend staying away from this product. I also found Danby very hard to deal with. The wait time was always over 30-minutes when calling their customer care.

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Avanti : BCA4422BL 4.4 cu. ft. Compact Refrigerator (replaced by BCA4561B2) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If this was more silent and the lock was more precise, I would give it 5 stars. The unit makes a faint grinding noise when cooling. The lock seems to be slightly misaligned and not a true key lock. The other side is, it works, and that's all I needed it to do. The box on delivery was somewhat damaged, but the unit seemed fine.

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32 Bottle Dual Temperature Zone Wine Cooler Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)One good looking wine chiller. Absolutely love the steel capped racking. It can store up to 32 bottles evenly with 16 bottles in the right zone and 16 bottles in the left zone. This is a compressor free vibration-free thermoelectric powered cooling type unit. My personal preference given the absence of vibration which can wreak havoc on older wines with softer corks. It also minimizes the drying effect of compressor coolers. The shelves can be taken out so I can put in bottles of varying sizes, but it still looks the best with all the racks installed.
Solidly-built and beautifully designed, I'm surprised it doesn't retail for twice the price. That's why I love shopping on here! It keep temps very accurately and the dual-zones are a real must especially when the hubby likes sangioveses to my reislings.
It's a good size chiller for most needs and complements a contemporary setting perfectly. Thanks Amazon!

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Haier WDNSC145 Convertible Freestanding Full-Size/Tabletop Water Dispenser Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is my first Haier product. I've had this for a couple weeks and it has been working great. When you first turn the cold water switch on, it takes about 10-15 mins to get cold, but if you leave it on it's cold all the time. Same with the hot water, it takes about 5 minutes or so to heat up.
One problem i've noticed (minus the one star) is that when you have both hot and cold water switches on, both the hot water and cold water compete for ready access. This is not a big deal, so I usually just leave one switch on a time (usually cold since it gets the majority usage).
As far as heating and cooling quality, when it's hot, it's SUPER hot. When it gets cold, it's cold enough to condensate your glass, but not ice cold - still refreshing!
UPDATE: Here's something else I wanted to add. Unlike other water coolers, this one does not run constantly cold or hot. If you have the cold switch on, it will keep recooling the water in cycles (you'll see the cold water light go on every 20-30 mins or after use). Same with hot water. If you have the switch on, it will reheat the water in cycles (every 20-30 mins or after use). Another minor annoyance (-.5 stars), but again, it's tolerable.
Updated rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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Keep clean, refreshing drinking water readily available throughout the day with this two-piece freestanding water dispenser, which converts from a full-size to a tabletop unit by simply removing the base. The unit provides red and blue spout handles that make it easy to quickly differentiate between hot and cold water temperatures, and a child-safety feature on the hot-water faucet keeps little hands safe from burns (a tab must be pushed while simultaneously pushing the handle down to dispense hot water). The water dispenser's hot-water option allows for everything from tea, hot cocoa, instant soup, and noodles--great for a work break or quick lunch. Enjoy cool drinking water on its own, or add it to flavored drink mixes for instant lemonade or other favorites on a warm summer day. Other details include a compressor cooling system, an LED power-indicator light for the hot and cold water, a low-water safety device, a bottom storage compartment with a removable shelf, side handles, a dust cover, and a removable drip tray for quick cleanup. Designed for use with a 2-, 3-, or 5-gallon water bottle, the UL-approved water dispenser measures 15-5/8 by 13-1/4 by 36-3/4 inches.

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Haier 18-Bottle Capacity Wine Tower Storage Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)1. It looks cool with the silver metal accents, tinted glass, illuminated interior with a cool blue light, and metal racks.
2. It keeps the bottles at an even temperature regardless of the ambient temperature which as anyone knows is the greatest factor in wine stability.
3. It doesn't have settings for humidity or dual-zone temperatures, but quite honestly I don't plan on keeping expensive 100-year old bottles stored in this thing that require such exquisite delicacy.
4. It is super-quiet. All you hear is a fan that turns on and off occasionally. I have it next to my hi-fi system and there is absolutely no interference whatsoever.
5. If you want a good-looking wine storage appliance that has a small footprint and keeps your bottles cooler than your pantry and warmer than the fridge without extra hassles, then this is the product for you.

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With an 18-bottle capacity, this stylish wine cellar elegantly stores and displays a personal collection of the finest wines, keeping them safe and ready to enjoy. Its ultra-quiet thermal-electric cooling system avoids vibrations caused by compressor cooling systems. Such vibrations disturb the sediments in wine, disrupting the aging process. Without vibration, the stored wine can age naturally. The wine cellar features a double-pane insulated glass door and a recessed handle, giving the unit a clean, simple look. Nine full-width wire chrome storage racks keep the bottles organized, while the interior light helps showcase the collection. Other details include an adjustable mechanical thermostat for setting the temperature from 50- to 64-degrees F, rear venting, and leveling legs that make it easy to stabilize the unit even if it sits on uneven ground. The wine cellar measures 22-5/16 by 11 by 40-29/32 inches and carries a one-year parts-and-labor warranty.

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Vinotemp VT-15TS 15 Bottle Touchscreen Wine Cooler, Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If this was a bit less noisy, I may consider a 5 stars!
Other than that , it is convenient.... Yes. 15 bottles can get in but I keep the red bull and sodas in the lower levels.

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