Aug 09, 2002 11:12 AM
20391 Views
(Updated Aug 09, 2002 11:21 AM)
I have been using an IFB Senator Washing Machine for about 2 years now. I bought it on impulse, without planning or budgeting for it: the old washing machine I had while still a bachelor was working fine. Oh yes, you had to ignore the fact that its heater element could never be satisfactorily replaced, it's plastic top had warped years ago when I had forgotten to switch off the the heater and left it on overnight, the body had sprung tiny leaks and the water drain pipe was self-affixed, a makeshift replacement for the original one. Never mind - 'Chalta Hai'. The wife too never insisted on a new washing machine and the succession of housemaids naturally never had a say in our choice of washing machines: how dare they???
But the day dawned when we were shopping for a bicycle (the kind that has 4 wheels - 2 of the usual kind and 2 of the small variety on each side, so that toddlers don't fall off) for our then 4-year old. And next to the cycle shop was Pankajsons, with a choice of washing machines staring us in the face. We decided to step in out of curiosity...
The better half did not have a clue as to the merits and de-merits of any of the displayed models. Neither did I, except that any one of them beat the pants off my bachelor washing machine, any which way!
The salesman at Pankaj was good. Pretty soon, we were both wondering just how on earth we had managed to get along without a 'proper' washing machine... To cut a short story even more short, this was one of the happy occasions when both of us decided that we needed an expensive gadget, at the same point time. But which one of the array of washing machines???
I preferred the IFB over the cheaper Godrejs, Videocons, Samsungs and LGs because a colleague, Raminder Singh, used to wax eloquent about the IFB. I mean, really wax eloquent. So much so that I suspected he loved his IFB more than his wife or 3 year-old!
But the problem was that I stay at Gurgaon, while Pankajsons was at Delhi. ''No problem, Sir'' the salesman assured us, he would have it delivered home within 3 hours. Going against past experience on such tall claims, I actually believed him.
Ah, but we did not have the 25K needed for the washing machine! ''That's alright Sir, if you have an American Express Card, we will give you a 1% (or maybe more, don't remember now...) discount!''. By jove! Here we were, without a 'proper' washing machine and this angel-like salesman offering a DISCOUNT for using my AmEx card! Before he could take his next breath, I proffered my AmEx card and the transaction took place.
The Washing Machine arrived in time and was set up 30 minutes thereafter. The wife took a crash-course on Washing Clothes the IFB way from the chap who delivered the machine and set it up. His last piece of information while taking leave of us was the phone numbers of the IFB Gurgaon sales and service office - something that had skipped out minds in our newly-induced anxiety to buy the machine!
Till date, we have never required the number. It must have changed when all numbers at Gurgaon changed, but we haven't really bothered to find out the current number. The IFB Senator gives the cleanest of washes, is extremely rugged yet silent, does not consume too much water or detergent or even electricity and is gentle on clothes as well. I do not know about other technologies like 'Tumble Wash' and 'Cascade Wash': this technology works just perfect for us! So the bachelor washing machine now holds all our soiled clothes proudly, until they are emptied into the IFB.
After 2 years, I know I do not love the IFB as much as Raminder Singh. I cannot wax eloquent quite the same way that he used to (he left the organization - the country as well, while I continue to plug away for the same organization). But I do recognize the solid value for money that I have got from this product. I have absolutely NO reservations in wholeheartedly recommending the IFB Senator to friends!
The Bottom line here is that for quality and peace of mind, you ought to be prepared to pay a little more. If not, try your luck with the Godrejs, Videocons, LGs or Samsungs.
