Not my fault

My work was good and the solution was logical but it turns out that somehow the basket in our washer is warped.  I've seen some entries on Reddit or somewhere that it is a thing that happens in Samsung washers.  Cheap bearings or something like that. 

It is not repairable.  The guy that came out to look at it was, I think, kind of grateful I'd already done something that he would have had to try before declaring it a loss.

I'm deciding now whether to swap the rods back out and return the new ones to Amazon for $42.  We'll see.

Meanwhile I was also convinced by Reddit to go to an appliance store rather than a big box.  I've got the cash and the model I'm looking at is actually cheaper at our local appliance place.  I'm looking at LG.  Maytag and SpeedQueen are the top of the line but are in the $2000+ range and would probably outlive me.  I'm looking at an LG that costs less than $700. (I think it has wireless and a phone app, though... !!!).

I know a lot more about washing machines now and have a good connection to fix dryer, dishwasher, and refrigerator if they have a problem.

New machine bought and scheduled

I got an LG model WM4000HWA.  It is a front loaded washer which I've never had and only used at the laundromat.   But we bought it at an appliance store.  Really nice guy runs the place and he recommended it.  If we'd wanted to wait or wanted to go elsewhere we could have gotten a top loader but I liked the guy.  Small businessman but big enough that he's not going out of business.

LG has it listed over $1k but most of the places land around $650.  I've got it tax, title and license delivered and the old one gone sometime tomorrow or Saturday morning for $676.56.  I'm happy.

It does have ThinQ interface for troubleshooting and Smart washing.  No dumb washing around here.

All in all we did OK on short notice.

I just paid off the CC this week, a day early, before the washer charge hits.  I'll pay it off next Friday and will only need a couple of hundred from savings, if that.  Just as good to get it out of the way so it won't confuse me with the TV.  

On our way back we drove through one of the worst thunderstorms I've been in.  And of course there were a bunch of people without their lights on but the flashers going.  

If you have to have your flashers on to drive, you should pull off the road.  One of my favorite sayings about driving:  "Don't be nice, be predictable".