Pressure Washers, Electric, Karcher

Jul 03, 2004 8 Replies

This is probably going to lead to a lot of blunt responses from folks who are happy with their Karcher electric pressure washers but here goes anyway. I write in in the spirit of sharing this info with others just as others have shared theirs with me, mutually helping one another out.



I have been researching electric pressure washers for a few weeks now.



Overwhelmingly, folks have recommended Karcher as the best brand, but there were a few posts from folks who were very unhappy with the Karcher machines they bought. I did more searching online and found a _lot_ of folks unhappy with Karcher.



Going to the Karcher site, I found the single best, most reputable hardware store in my community listed as the local Karcher service center and sales point.



I figured that if I was going to buy a Karcher, I'd buy it from them because I could return it to them if I had a problem with it either while is was still under warranty or later.



The fellow who manages that section of the hardware store told me that they have repeatedly asked Karcher to remove them from their web site because they no longer service or sell them. Asked why, he said that the quality of these machines is not what it was once was. Time was they made a solid, quality machine. They are now turning out junk and he said the store got sick and tired of seeing the Karchers they sold come back in for repairs the day they sold them. They therefore dropped them from their sales line.



So, I suspect if you are one of the Karcher happy customers, chances are that you bought your unit years ago.



The store manager was even nice enough to tell me that if I was determ "No assembly required. Comes with heavy duty brass quick connect, convenient storage caddy, corrosion resistant metal axle, new vario lance that adjusts pressure on demand. Features NEW 360 deg. otating handle, NEW detachable hose, NEW "Anti-Pinch Trigger" and turbo spray wand attachment for the toughest cleaning jobs.



Internet/Catalog # 165019 Store SKU# 360722



Price: $179.00/ea"



And, if you have a problem, you can take it back and not be stuck with shipping back a forty- or fifty-pound unit for repairs or refund.



Any other suggestions for quality electric pressure washers?



Bob


I bought one from Harbor Freight for a hundred bucks 3 years ago. I have been happy with it though there are times that I wish it pushed more water. Quality? The price was right and it works for me. I do not use it every day.

Another thought is to check out rental places nearby, see what they have and if they have one you want, TRY IT for a day.

The rental cost will be a wash [pun > This is probably going to lead to a lot of blunt responses from folks

Who knows what you buy today, Outsourcing to china, mexico etc etc . You never know where or by who anything is made anymore. It seems everyday a cheaper product comes online. In many areas there has been no increase in prices for 15 yrs . Many products have dropped in price . But inflation hasnt. Cost cutting is our new way of life. Disposable crap. Husky , get real , its no better, probably worse.

snipped-for-privacy@webtv.net (m Ransley) wrote in news:23301-40E7DE8A-425@storefull-

3135.bay.webtv.net:

We bought a Karcher electric several years ago. While it can't compare to a gas-powered much higher psi pump, it certainly gets the job done for us and has never had a problem.

why did you even bother to expend the energy to make this reply?

Allow me to reword it: Kids, these days! No respect. Back in my day we smelted ore and made our own tools. Dang feringers everywhere. Saudi's own the president, chinese own business. Never was like this when we had Polk!

Well...the fellow I mentioned who manages the section of the hardware store that used to sell and service the Karcher units and who made the decision to drop Karcher because of the poor quality of their recently-manufactured units was the one who suggested Husky over all the other units available. That's from a guy who deals with these things for a living.

One of my neighbors has a Karcher he bought five years ago and it has been problem free. Wonder what decisions Karcher made in the meantime that led to their nosedive in quality?

Count yourself lucky you have an older unit.

Thanks for the input, bob

The electric Karcher I purchased last year says it was made in France.

Oh, man! Is _THIS_ going to elicit a few strong responses or not??? Let me start the ball rolling: "Never buy anything made in France with more than two moving parts."

:->

bob

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