Poor product quality and after sales service

We found the FC 7 to be a good product when it works, with good cleaning performance and user-friendly operation. However, both product quality and after-sales service have been disappointing. This is our third FC 7 unit in as many years and all have experienced a gearing problem. The first unit failed just out of warranty and Karcher charged nearly half the cost of a new machine for the repair. When we received it back, the soap dispenser malfunctioned by emptying without use. We then purchased a second machine, which failed within the warranty period with a similar issue; after lengthy correspondence, Karcher agreed to repair it under warranty. However, the repaired unit was misplaced by the courier, leading Karcher to send a brand new replacement—which has now also failed with the same gearing issue. If you are considering buying this machine, please weigh your options carefully. At three uses per week and a one-year lifespan, the cost per use exceeds R60. Finally, I submitted this exact review to the Karcher website only to find it has been removed moments after submission.