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Worse on Purpose

Whirlpool

American appliance maker and the largest US-based one. Sells across the price ladder under Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, JennAir, and Amana.

Status: Watchlist
Founded
1911
Website
whirlpool.com
HQ
USA
Manufacturing
USA,Mexico
Ownership type
Public
Status since
2026-06-08

Ownership

Public (NYSE: WHR), HQ Benton Harbor MI. Acquired Maytag in 2006 and closed the Newton, Iowa plants (~4,500 jobs). Owns the full nameplate ladder on shared platforms.

Why Watchlist

Plain mechanical Whirlpool/Maytag models are the best accessible, serviceable budget pick (top of Yale first-year reliability, repair-tech recommended, domestic parts), but they are ~10-year machines and the smart/French-door lines are weaker. Watchlist for the public-company pressure and consolidation role.

Related brands

See all 4 sister brands

Read the full investigation

Investigation · June 11, 2026

Your Appliances Got Worse On Purpose

One company makes the refrigerator you'll buy under four different names. Another sells the identical window unit under nine. GE is Chinese now, Frigidaire is Swedish, and Kenmore never built anything at all. Plus the few brands still built to last.

Read the full investigation

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