Don't Buy Maytag - EVER

I've signed up on Epinions JUST to share this problem.

This "dishwasher" (should be called "dirt rearranger") is 9 months old and still under the manufacturer's warranty. After about 5 months of use it stopped effectively washing dishes. I started scrubbing the dishes by hand before putting them into the dishwasher...this worked for about 2 weeks.

I finally called Maytag service. One tech. came out twice and couldn't find a problem (except for the fact that the dishes were still dirty). Another tech. came out 4 TIMES and made a different suggestion each time, including running dishwasher at highest and hottest setting, trying new detergent, "cleaning" dishwasher with a special solution provided, using rinse-aid, then NOT using rinse-aid. I did all of these. None worked. Each time the tech notated that the "dishwasher" appeared operational but that dishes were still soiled. The 4th time he came out he said he'd done all he could do and that I should call a Maytag Solution Specialist - I did.

After being shuttled around on Maytag's service line, transferred to 3 independent service providers who do not service my area (city of Chicago), getting hung up on, getting told by a service scheduler about how she is a low-income, single mom of 2 kids and that she washes her dishes by hand (to which I replied "so do I"), getting hung up on again, I finally reached Duane, a "solution specialist". Duane told me that my problem was hard water (again, I live in the city of Chicago and have municipal water which is not hard), that hard water can leave spots I told him that spots are not the problem, food remaining on dishes and fingerprints remaining on glasses are my problem. I asked him if I needed to purchase and install a water-softening system in my home for the dishwasher to work properly. He said "I can't tell you that, Ma'am". Duane also told me that the tech's. notes say that the unit is operational and that he has to believe the tech. I asked if he didn't believe the part in the notes about the dishes still being soiled. I was told that they would not send another tech. out, even if I payed for it. I asked if his solution then (he is the "solution specialist") is that I just chalk this up as a very expensive loss and just go out and buy a new dishwasher. He said "ma'am, you know I can't say that" to which I replied "then what's the solution?"; "Ma'am, our notes say the unit is operational. There's nothing more we can do to help you".

My husband is now involved and has learned from "Tasha" that their Standard Operating Procedure (indicated nowhere in any Warranty materials available to the public) is that after an undisclosed number of service calls a customer account is "flagged" and that they'll no longer send out a service tech.

Sadly, this is the condensed version of the story.

We will be writing letters to every Maytag location we have an address for seeking resolution. In the meantime, we will be buying a new dishwasher.