John-Paul Stevenson rated Hotpoint Factory Outlet 3 stars
Edited 4 months ago
This review is for both Hotpoint service and the product purchased.
The initial service is excellent, easy to order, prices are good, products appear and sound good. We ordered late December and took delivery early January. Everything was spot on.
Product Review: Hotpoint GentlePower Washing Machine - White - 9kg - 1400rpm - A-30% - H8 99AD GPOWER UK
We’ve owned this washing machine for only a few weeks, and unfortunately, it’s already showing issues. According to the support team it is common for small items of clothing to often slip into the drainage system and clog the pump—a problem we’ve never experienced with any other machine in over 35 years of owning washing machines. This is why it will most likely be our first and last Hotpoint purchase.
Here’s our summary of the good, the bad, and the ugly:
The Good:
- Sleek design and relatively straightforward to use.
- Operates quietly and offers a wide range of features.
- Comes with a 10-year parts guarantee.
- The helpline staff are friendly, professional, and helpful.
The Bad:
- Small items can easily clog the pump filter, although using a wash bag for delicate items mitigates this issue.
- The system occasionally feels temperamental, and the durability of the door seal remains questionable—time will tell.
- The instruction manual is mediocre, leaving gaps in essential information.
- Customer service interactions frequently include attempts to up-sell insurance or other products, which can feel intrusive.
The Ugly:
- The extended warranty (£5.33/month) is aggressively promoted during every interaction, and it’s frustrating to repeatedly decline. While the 10-year parts warranty is reassuring on paper, it’s limited to parts only, with repair callouts incurring additional costs. Based on what was explained to me, this warranty feels less reliable than advertised unless you invest in the additional coverage.
- The insurance sales tactics, both online and over the phone, feel excessive. Registering the product and contacting customer support involves multiple prompts to accept the insurance, and opting out of sales and marketing communications requires deliberate effort.
I would give the staff five stars.
The saving grace of this experience was the professionalism and courtesy of the helpline staff, Ruqaiya and Sidra, who were a pleasure to speak with and genuinely helpful despite having to promote the insurance. Their assistance was excellent, and I’d recommend their customer service, though I cannot say the same for the product itself.
The overall experience, however, leaves us with little confidence in the reliability of this washing machine. We chose it due to its features and affordability at the time, but hindsight suggests that this may not have been the best decision.
Only time will tell. I will be adding to this over time.
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Dear HFO team, thank you for the response. However, it would have been nice if you had left some contact details. My information will be on your records, my name is not that common, although you did get it wrong in your reply.