Only time I pd HD for installation, was a washer/dryer on the third floor. Didn't even have them make the connections, it was worth it to get them up the stairs.

Answer provided in post #3.

I could have handled the install myself, but I'm at the stage where I can afford to pay to have it done as my time is worth more, and besides, the old one goes away...no advertising or selling.
My first call was to my friendly local appliance dealer, that I've dealt with for over 20 years. No go...most appliances are backordered till ?? Big Box stores get the lion's share of production, which is trying to catch up after last year's shutdown.
My entire point is...why the hell do they send out a dishwasher with the shortest hose available assuming that's what the job requires? Give each truck a couple each of 4, 6, and 8 ft. hoses. Avg retail is about $20 per, with about 50 cents variance from shortest to longest.
Solves problem of pissed customer, and having to run a truck with two men back again, having been paid once An option on hose length on ordering might be another idea.

I have rentals and I do all that myself.

install washer/dryers, water heaters, dish washers

You're describing the ones that plan to make a career out of the job.

I try to never go to HD...........

Steve

lol.....

All Home Depot installers are independent contractors. And the contractors who take the home cheapo account on are boneheads who can't make it on their own

Was gonna say the same thing. In our area every contractor is busy as heck with more work than they can handle. There is no reason for anyone with basic skills to be doing HD work.

I've never bought an appliance from HD, Lowes or any other retail place preferring to source out a discount contractor dealer. So no bad experiences even with independent installers.

And I still hate the HD.

Tough crowd

I'll bet the HD delivery contractors get paid a fixed amount for delivery/install.
E.g. $150 for a washing machine. I don't see that they would have a system to charge a different amount for each delivery, too complicated. Therefore, the "installers" want/need to spend the least possible time at each delivery and will look for any and all reasons why they completed the task. For example - the new hose was too short, so no install, but they still get to claim to HD that they completed the job. The delivery business is likely to be an extremely low margin business, they have to cut every possible corner just to barely make it.

At my HD they don't stock appliances. They have models to show, then you order and get within something like 1 week or maybe longer at this point. A very large appliance store (Western Appliance) went out of business near here. I bet they couldn't compete with HD and I guess Lowes.

Shouldn't all appliances come on caster wheels - so they can be moved around easier?

This is something I want to make happen at my place at some point. Install casters on all washer, dryer, stove, and fridge.

My dishwasher , which I never use, is wedged down underneath a counter so no clearance there.

Think how much easier it would be to maintain cleanliness around them if you could slide 'em right out!

Because that would make too much sense?

Had that happen with the last washer-drier delivery. Needed longer hoses and that took me making an extra trip to the store. They dumped them in the basement and would have left them in the driveway if I hadn't complained. Those two made highway workers look like tri-athletes. The kid claimed he was an engineer but I think he was yanking my chain. It actually turned out for the best because it allowed me some time to repaint the floor and a bit more finished. Plus it was good practice for next time. At least they didn't scratch or dent it like the last time.

I think unless you install some heavy duty locking casters, you may find your washing machine across the room straining on the hoses. ;):D

All fridges have one-direction rollers now. I do have my old Wolf range on casters in place of the back legs. When I want to move the 400 pound beast I put a 1/4" sheet of plywood in front and use a HF light weight floor jack to slightly raise the front and I can drive it around like a pallet jack.

IT IS a good idea to be able to move appliances. My clothes washer is so heavy that when it gets crooked by an out-of-balance load, I can hardly get it back in shape.

I may take your idea and install some locking casters on the one that is soon to take the old one's place. Really fantastic idea. Much easier to sweep under it as well!

How about 2 HD casters on the back of the washer (good quality casters like blickle) and legs on the front? (and use the floor jack to move it around)

OR, could you engineer something that works like a mobile tool base where you flip a lever and hinge the casters up so it rests on the floor on the base, not the wheels?

Well the Wolf is commercial so it came with NSF 6" legs. On a clothes washer you'd have to equal the height of the rear casters somehow.

I think we're all SOL when it comes to the dishwasher. Best thing to do with them is place them on a thin piece of galvy sheet metal. Then you can put more in front if you want to pull it out. I've seen plenty of grease and oil used to facilitate moving footed appliances. Better to make a mess on sheet metal than your nice floor.

I have these too.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon...._AC_SY355_.jpg

I always leap frog two half sheets of quarter inch ply to move any appliance. I'll bet I've fixed or replaced a hundred floors over the years from Home Depot appliance installers who thought they could pivot a fridge or walk a dishwasher on a kitchen floor without protection

If we're going the caster route......the next thing to consider is longer ducting for the clothes dryer and a longer plug in for the electric stove. Mine plugs into a floor elevation receptacle so hard to reach without climbing over the range and reaching downward in an inverted position - not very practical.

Every household has it's own appliance configuration and variables so YMMV.

Bottom line is I'm tired of fighting battles that can be overcome with a bit of creative engineering.