How bad is the $300 trade depot dishwasher?

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richms

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#320398 9-Aug-2025 12:35

My dispenser in my 30+ year old dishwasher is crumbling away because its old plastic so I need to replace it before it totally breaks.

This has come up at trade depot for $299

https://tradedepot.co.nz/12-place-astro-dishwasher-60cm-white/

How crap is it? Only expect a few years from it, but has anyone got one and know if it will actually clean dishes or is it like a dishdrawer where you basically have to clean it yourself before you put it in and the machine only rinses off sauces?

Richard rich.ms

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#3401238 9-Aug-2025 13:33

don't know about that dishwasher in particular, but I have a $400 comfee dishwasher from trade depot (had for approx 2 years) and it is better than some more expensive name brands. It's a little noisier than more expensive models but my kitchen and living areas are separate so it doesn't matter.
I imagine this dishwasher will be similar noise wise so you probably wouldn't want it if your living and kitchen areas are combined

Bung

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#3401241 9-Aug-2025 13:59

If you're just looking for a few years use soap/rinse aid dispensers haven’t changed much in 30 years and are about $75 in NZ. I'd be surprised if you couldn't get one that fits your machine.

richms

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#3401243 9-Aug-2025 14:26

significantly rusty fasteners and other bits looking brittle mean that it's probably going to have something else break with any disassemble attempts.

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mattwnz

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#3401290 9-Aug-2025 15:01

Considering my parents nearly 3000 premium brand dishwasher baskets started rusting after about 4 years of usage if you can get a at least 2 years use out of a 300 one you are probably doing good. Plus there is the warranty and cga

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#3401294 9-Aug-2025 15:11

Slightly off topic; but we've been happily using our F&P Twin Drawers for 10+ years now with no major complaints. So they're not all bad.

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#3401324 9-Aug-2025 18:46

jamesrt:

Slightly off topic; but we've been happily using our F&P Twin Drawers for 10+ years now with no major complaints. So they're not all bad.

We are on our 3rd one over 20 years, we leave the old one when we have sold & shifted house and buy a new one for the new house.

Been really happy with them

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johno1234

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#3401349 9-Aug-2025 21:55

richms:

My dispenser in my 30+ year old dishwasher is crumbling away because its old plastic so I need to replace it before it totally breaks.

This has come up at trade depot for $299

https://tradedepot.co.nz/12-place-astro-dishwasher-60cm-white/

How crap is it? Only expect a few years from it, but has anyone got one and know if it will actually clean dishes or is it like a dishdrawer where you basically have to clean it yourself before you put it in and the machine only rinses off sauces?

You’re packing it wrong or using bad detergent. I rinse food off dishes and have no problems with dishdrawer cleaning performance.

farcus

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#3401359 9-Aug-2025 23:12

richms:

My dispenser in my 30+ year old dishwasher is crumbling away because its old plastic so I need to replace it before it totally breaks.

This has come up at trade depot for $299

https://tradedepot.co.nz/12-place-astro-dishwasher-60cm-white/

How crap is it? Only expect a few years from it, but has anyone got one and know if it will actually clean dishes or is it like a dishdrawer where you basically have to clean it yourself before you put it in and the machine only rinses off sauces?

Just realised the one in your link is also a Comfee brand - so midea / vogue.
Also , if your current dishwasher is 30 years old then this one should be no nosier.

robjg63

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#3401448 10-Aug-2025 12:23

Well you could say that if you opt for the 3 year+ extra warranty, it is covered for a 'non arguable' 5 years for $388.

That $388 is $77.60 per year or $1.49 per week (if my maths can be trusted).

If it breaks its totally up to Tradedepot to make it good.

Yes yes - CGA and all that - but lets just ignore that for the sake of ease.

At the standard purchase price ($299) and no extra warranty, its $2.88 per week (based on it being scrap after 2 years).

Dont know what your budget is - but the first option is pretty good.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

timmmay

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#3401474 10-Aug-2025 14:32

Extended warranties tend to cover it breaking once only. Three years would be within the bounds of expected for consumer guarantees even at that price I'd expect, and it has a two year warranty included.

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#3401522 10-Aug-2025 15:05

Regarding the warranty if you buy from them consider its likely to be Disputes Tribunal or chuck it out (which is probably ok if you get some use from a $300 dishwasher) - after dealing with Trade Depot for a repair, I honestly can't put into words how terrible the experience was - would rather deal with a used car sales yard for a return than go through that again.

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#3402010 12-Aug-2025 10:51

timmmay:

Extended warranties tend to cover it breaking once only. Three years would be within the bounds of expected for consumer guarantees even at that price I'd expect, and it has a two year warranty included.

I had an extended warranty (4 years I think) on a Samsung dishwasher that broke after 3.5 years. Samsung themselves gave me a full cash refund for the purchase price when they could not source parts in a timely manor. They even picked up the broken one.

richms

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#3494948 24-May-2026 15:43

Just got around to using the $300 one in earnest as the hot glue repair on the old ones plastics has come off for the last time. I had run a couple of test goes with it to check that it was functional but with its location its not easy to load.

Noisy as. The back is just a single layer of metal, so it sounds like someone pouring a bucket of water over rocks the whole time its running.

And its cleans badly. I put in a normal load for me which included the bottom tray from the combo airfryer/oven thing that had 2 premium patties worth of beef fat in the corners of it.

The end result was everything was covered with a thin layer of beef fat. Same costco tablets, and its plumbed into hot water as that is all that works over in the old laundry area at the moment so no problems with it not dissolving stuff. I wasnt stupid enough to use any eco option on it.

Also its drying abilities are worthless.

Richard rich.ms

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#3494952 24-May-2026 16:05

They all do pretty much the same thing - spray hot and (hopefully) detergent laden water over the dishes for a long enough time for it to soften and soak off the dirt. So if not getting clean dishes then maybe one or more of: the water is not spraying (something blocking the spray arms from spinning) or the detergent all got rinsed away in the pre-rinse (tablet in the basket) or the packing of the dishes doesn't allow the water to flow over them.

I am OCD on dishwasher packing. It has to look like it was done by a Scandinavian architect. The kids appear to just pour a bucket of dishes into the machine and press start. Their wash sucks.

Eva888

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#3494953 24-May-2026 16:07

richms:

Just got around to using the $300 one in earnest as the hot glue repair on the old ones plastics has come off for the last time. I had run a couple of test goes with it to check that it was functional but with its location its not easy to load.

Noisy as. The back is just a single layer of metal, so it sounds like someone pouring a bucket of water over rocks the whole time its running.

And its cleans badly. I put in a normal load for me which included the bottom tray from the combo airfryer/oven thing that had 2 premium patties worth of beef fat in the corners of it.

The end result was everything was covered with a thin layer of beef fat. Same costco tablets, and its plumbed into hot water as that is all that works over in the old laundry area at the moment so no problems with it not dissolving stuff. I wasnt stupid enough to use any eco option on it.

Also its drying abilities are worthless.

Maybe wipe out the air fryer with a paper towel so it’s free of fat before putting it in the dishwasher. Apart from dirty dishes it will clog the drains and likely the outlet and hoses and you might wake up with a greasy flood on the floor if done too often.

Is it possible it’s faulty and missing a cycle so doesn’t dry, however if there was greasy residue on the dishes they may not dry well. Hope it improves next round.

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