The part -- I don't know the name of it -- that keeps the dishwasher door from flopping open when you let go of it, an internal cord or rope of some kind -- broke the other day. We called Sears (it's a Kenmore) and bought a one-year warranty for $229 which included the cost of the repair. The guy came today and fixed it. The repair would have been $168, so we got the warranty for an extra $61. Given the age of the dishwasher, over eight years, I think that's not a bad thing. The warranty is good for up to $500 for any repair and if a repair goes above $500, we can instead choose a $500 credit towards the purchase of a new dishwasher.

I asked the repair guy what he thought of our GE oven and cooktop, remembering the calumny with which GE products have been greeted on this board. He said that in his experience the GE cooking appliances hold up well but their dishwashers not so much.

--fleg