Kenmore doesn't make any appliances (never have).
They're made by a number of different manufacturers.
May depend on if they liked their old dryer, find out who made it by the model number.

Who Makes Sears Kenmore

I know Sears doesn't actually make anything with their brand name on it. And, I know that they change source manufacturers from year to year. That's one of the reasons I'll never buy a Craftsman Power Tool.

I know some of the "higher" end stuff is made by Whirlpool. For the purposes of this discussion, I really don't care who makes what.

That said, does anyone know of any issues with the current lower end Kenmores?

I would look for one which is made by Whirlpool. And I personally like the drop-down door, as it's much more convenient than the ones which open to the side. Have you checked out Consumer Reports? I always do research there before buying a major appliance.

Here is a link that might be useful: Consumer Reports

I've earmarked that webpage for future reference. Thanks again. :-)

Issues with them? Not that I know of. Any particular reason it has to be a Kenmore? Roper and Inglis are low priced, well made units and you may do better looking elsewhere than Sears. Look for clearance models too. I bought a Whirlpool Gold dryer at Best Buy for $300. Could have gotten a Roper or Inglis a little cheaper ($50-$100) but decided to spend the extra for the quality of build, extra size and features.

GE makes some good low-buck units too. But if you're adamant about buying Sears, check capacity of the dryer and do some comparing.

Thanks for all the input.

As I said in my original post, my In-Laws are looking for the dryer. I tend to stay away from Sears for anything beyond Craftsman hand tools.

We recently purchased a new Duet dryer from a great local source, but they will have none of that.

dodgeman, I had meant to say, I would look for a Kenmore which is made by Whirlpool. Kenmores are made by different companies.

Dryers are pretty simple machines in concept. They all accomplish the task exactly the same way. There are differences in quality of components used (motors, bearings, materials, etc.) but these are difficult to discern.

Controls are another thing. Regardless of "quality" otherwise, I recommend a unit with dryness sensors. They are quite common, even in lower price ranges, and make things much more convenient than without. Otherwise, just get something large enough to handle a full washer-load and you'll be fine.

In any event, do suggest using the change-out as an opportunity to clean out the vent. No dryer will do what it's supposed to with an obstructed vent and they are VERY commonly ignored. In fact they need regular (typically yearly) maintenance.

Great points, asolo. Yes, sensors in dryers are a necessity imo, as they prevent energy waste.

Also - large families who do mega loads of laundry each week may need to clean their dryer vent more often than smaller families who only do a load or two per week. I spent years averaging 10 loads a week, and dear hubby found my dryer gave optimum performance when he cleaned it thoroughly at least every 3 months.

I've always cleaned the lint filter after every load, and I also have a very long dryer brush which gets down to the very bottom of the dryer - I got it a few years ago and have used it once a day, after the last load for that day. Even so, the 3-month rule was pretty much mandatory for us.

Now that I have a much-bigger washer and dryer, we may not need to do that every 3 months, but we'll most likely do the thorough cleaning at least every 6 months.

We also learned, thankfully not from experience, that insurance companies have strict requirements about such things when deciding whether or not they will cover a house fire which starts in a laundry room.

HI from the UK - great drying weather today.

Sunday was our fabulous English village's open Garden Day spent visiting neighbours gorgeous backyards to see their foxgloves, fab roses, clematis's, lavender, ginko trees, hollyhocks .... I could go on and ........

Yes, they all had outside drying facilities and, no, we do not live in a shabby area but in what is in the top 5 best places to live in England (according to a recent national TV programme).

There is no snobbishness here about having common sense and, where possible, using good old sunshine to dry your laundry. Indeed people using a dryer in fair weather would be considered a bit "soft" and having more money than sense by most people over here.

Don't be fooled into thinking hanging out laundry is complicated or hard work - just check the weather - throw it on the line or umbrella type dryer (OK be a bit tidy with things that need ironing)- let it dry - bring it in.

Being out in the fresh air is relaxing and hanging out gives you some light exercise into the bargain.

I do have a dryer & never dry laundry indoors on radiators I only used my dryer about 6 times last winter.

You know you can do it --- like millions of very busy people do all over the world and think of the $$$ you will save.

(sorry if you already hang out - grandmothers - eggs)& yes I know for peole with allergies drying outside is impractical.

Bye for now from across the pond

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good idea, although sometimes it's hard to hang the laundry on the line when the snow gets up to 12" or more, and the temperature drops below 0F here in Wisconsin USA

HI regus patoff - true - you do have to use your common sense - I would certainly use my dryer in bad weather - but washing goes outdoors the rest of the time!!

sylvia55, I do not understand why so many HOA's here in the States do not allow the use of clotheslines. Umbrella clotheslines could easily be used on a deck when a regular deck umbrella was not in use and could not in any way be perceived as an 'eyesore'. In the early '70s when I was a newlywed, virtually everyone I knew had a clothesline, and there were no restrictions against them anywhere.

We've had a clothesline every place we've lived - thankfully, that's never been a problem for us - and I know firsthand how much that helps on utility bills, plus the scent of sun-dried clothes is just plain heavenly to me. For those who have allergies, clothes can be hung indoors. A friend of mine dries the great majority of her laundry in her garage, on a retractable clothesline.

It not the clothesline that could be an 'eyesore'

Of course not, regus, it's the laundry that is considered an eyesore by some people - but laundry can't be hung out without some sort of clothesline/dryer, and it's not unusual in the States for them to banned by HOA's, though this is not true at all in the UK and Australia, even in the 'best' neighborhoods.

I don't understand why they are banned by HOA's here - it seems people associate them with poor neighborhoods, maybe? Personally, I can't think of many things more beautiful than sheets billowing in the breeze.

When people did hang out laundry regularly, they rarely put undies on the line, but usually dried them indoors, not only for esthetic reasons but also because they are usually delicate and direct sunlight could damage them (as can dryers too).