Found my white whale: Pre 2017 Speed Queen
A user shares excitement about finding a pre-2017 Speed Queen washer for $75 on the secondhand market, believing they've found a durable appliance for life. Most commenters engage positively with the find, though one raises serious concerns about Speed Queen's warranty service and product reliability that contradicts the popular perception of the brand.
Summary
The original post celebrates a successful marketplace purchase of a vintage Speed Queen washing machine acquired for $75. The poster emphasizes the speed of the transaction (listing was only 15 minutes old when purchased) and their enthusiasm about owning a appliance expected to last a lifetime, despite minor rust damage on the lid that they plan to repair. The post reflects a common consumer sentiment that pre-2017 Speed Queens represent superior build quality compared to newer models.
Community responses are mixed in substance though uniformly small in engagement. One commenter makes a lighthearted suggestion to draw a whale outline on the machine, playing on the 'white whale' metaphor in the title. Another commenter expresses shared enthusiasm, mentioning they own the same model paired with a matching dryer that came with their house, validating the poster's excitement about the find.
A critical counterargument emerges from u/Captainsnarkyshart, who dismisses Speed Queen as 'the most overrated garbage product on this sub' and raises practical concerns about warranty service—specifically questioning whether the company actually honors warranties when repairs are needed. This comment directly challenges the underlying assumption that pre-2017 Speed Queens are reliable long-term investments, though it received minimal community engagement (score: 1), suggesting limited consensus around this skeptical view.
The discussion reveals a potential divide between secondhand market enthusiasm for vintage appliances and actual long-term ownership experience with warranty claims.
About this episode
Found this on marketplace for 75 bucks. Literally ran out the door to pick it up. Listing was probably 15 minutes old. The seller messaged me while I was on the way that she was turning off the ad because so many people were messaging her. It is suffering from a little bit of rust on the lid, but I will remove it and either replace it or remedy it. Beyond excited to have a washer that will last me the rest of my life!
Key Insights
- The Speed Queen 'white whale' finding reflects a strong subculture belief that pre-2017 models are significantly superior, though this conviction appears to drive secondhand prices and desirability rather than verified durability data
- One commenter directly challenges the Speed Queen consensus on this subreddit, arguing the brand is 'overrated' and specifically questioning warranty honor practices—a practical concern that contradicts the 'lasts a lifetime' narrative
- Speed Queen's post-2017 design changes appear to be a critical dividing line in community perception, with pre-2017 models treated as collectible finds despite their age and minor deterioration
Topics
Transcript
[Original Post] (score: 27, upvote ratio: 83%, by u/taypat) Title: Found my white whale: Pre 2017 Speed Queen Link: https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1wxrdv3 Found this on marketplace for 75 bucks. Literally ran out the door to pick it up. Listing was probably 15 minutes old. The seller messaged me while I was on the way that she was turning off the ad because so many people were messaging her. It is suffering from a little bit of rust on the lid, but I will remove it and either replace it or remedy it. Beyond excited to have a washer that will last me the rest of my life! [Comment] (score: 1, u/Old_Soc) You need to draw an outline of a whale on the…
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