A San Diego couple says the new washing machine they bought in January 2025 never worked as it should, despite 21 calls to the manufacturer and multiple repair visits.
Trouble from day one
Anne and Don Wemple told NBC 7 Responds they struggled for nearly a year with a washer that failed to drain or spin properly, leaving towels and other clothes soaked and really heavy.
The Wemples recorded videos to document the problem, showing Anne pulling soaked towels from the machine. The couple said the videos were meant to support their claim.
Anne Wemple sent a video to show how wet the towels still were after the last spin cycle of her new washer.
For 10 months, Anne kept detailed case numbers from her calls as technicians came to inspect the washer.
“She tried to charm these guys who came in, and she knew them all on a first-hand basis,” Don said, smiling as he sat next to Anne. “And she still couldn’t convince them that there was a problem,” Don said.
Anne said the technicians never asked her to have a load of laundry ready for testing.
“And I said, ‘I would do that,’ and they said, ‘Not important because our computer says you have a fine washer,’” she said.
Don said he hated watching the issue weigh on her. He suggested a simple solution.
“She could go out and buy another $500 washing machine without breaking us,” he said.
“That’s not the point,” Anne responded to her husband’s offering. “I was born in the recession, and we don’t do things like that.”
Anne calls NBC 7 Responds
A friend encouraged her to contact NBC 7 Responds after watching a previous story about another family’s washer problems.
“And so she said, ‘Maybe you should call Sergio’…so I thought about it…and I thought about it,” Anne said.
NBC 7 reached out to GE Appliances to find out what was happening with the Wemples’ machine. The company responded that it would look into the issue.
The Wemples are all smiles after getting their washer replaced with a new one that works perfectly.
After NBC 7 Responds became involved, the Wemples said the situation finally moved toward a resolution. A replacement that worked like a charm.
“I was absolutely thrilled with everything you’ve done, I was absolutely thrilled,” Anne said. “I think you have a very important service. Because this was just a washing machine, but I know, I’ve seen what you do for people, that it’s much more serious.”
The couple began 2025 with a washer that never worked, but they say they won’t end the year with one.
“And I will do your laundry if you want to bring it,” Anne joked.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.