Howard wrote:

I just walked into my kitchen to confirm that all the appliances
(refrigerator, dishwasher, electric range and microwave/vent are
Whirlpool "Gold". They are all just short of eight years old,
supplied by the builder with the new house. Total of one service call
to fix the microwave as part of a recall. Since the microwave
couldn't be used for about a month, Whirlpool offered to pay for a
tabletop microwave (up to $100 if I remember correctly). The recall
was handled very well and you got to keep the second microwave after
they fixed your unit. While there is a small premium for the "Gold"
series it isn't anywhere near the Bosch/Miele/Subzero price range. In
my case the quality isn't just marketing, its a reliable set of
appliances and great customer service.

Huh, well that's good to hear. I guess with all the junk we see these days,
especially the stuff from China, it's possible to lose sight of the fact
that not everyone does business that way, although the guy who started the
thread might disagree.