Poor quality appliances

[JoeP]

(a little vent for monday morning!)

We've had 80s vintage appliances that gave us 20+ years of service. When they finally die or become too expensive to repair, we buy new ones: typically the same brand, but other times we get brands/models that are more on the "premium" end of things and highly researched.

New Maytag washer: after 2 years wouldn't spin fully, got replacement tub with large hole in, second tub ok. Extended warranty.

New Maytag dryer: after 2 years belt jumped the blower fan, scary buildup of CO in house! Extended warranty.

New Kitchenaid dishwasher: in just 6 months unresponsive to any input, it has power at appliance. Manufacturer's warranty, service coming tomorrow.

What's going on? We used to just buy an appliance and dismiss the warranty because nobody ever needed them...it just worked! Then after 15 years or so, we'd have to call for repair or fix it. Now, that extended warranty is something to seriously consider, but it shouldn't be!

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Isn't it frustrating? Maddening! It's most maddening with large appliances since you pay a lot for them, but I see the very poor quality in so many things.

Last week we were looking for an oscillating lawn sprinkler. We've been through three of them, even though we rarely use them. The moving parts are made of plastic which wears out fast. Some do not work right out of the box. I talked to my mother about this and she confirms that she had one lawn sprinkler for a 3 acre yard for 20 years and then took it to a second home for another 20 years until she moved into an apartment. Six kids plus all our neighbor kid friends played with that sprinkler and it kept on working. Now, I think we have to consider it about a bi-yearly purchase if we were to use it regularly....This goes onto my mental list of things to look for at estate sales.

We have a god-knows-how old air conditioner. New would be more energy efficient, but I dread replacing it. It just keeps on going, like magic.

[bjl584]

Metal components last longer than plastic ones.

But, to make a major appliance in this day and age out of all metal parts and pieces like in the past would cause it to be priced out of most peoples' ability to pay.

We do the same thing here at work with alot of what we manufacture. We are always looking to save on cost and increase margins, but quality often suffers. A molded piece of plastic isn't going to stand up to heat, pressure, and general wear the way a machined piece of metal will. But, it's 10 times cheaper to make it out of plastic.

[disneysteve]

I think it is a combination of factors.

1. I'm not sure what the official name for this is but let's call it mental inflation. What do I mean by that? You bought a dryer 20 years ago and paid $250. When you go shopping today, you have that figure in mind as what you paid for your last one so you look in that same general price range, maybe $300 or $325 knowing costs have gone up. However, adjusted for inflation, $250 twenty years ago would now be well over $400. If you aren't looking in the $450 range, you are unlikely to be comparing similar quality.

2. Companies have gotten cheaper, charging more for less, using plastic instead of metal is a perfect example. And it isn't just manufacturing costs. It is also shipping costs. A washer made of all metal pieces costs a lot more to ship than one made of mostly plastic parts.

3. Technology. Although technology gives us all kinds of new and fancy features, it also gives all kinds of new things that can go wrong. Computer chips don't last forever. A simple mechanical device will last for decades if not longer. A high-tech electronic device might only last 5-10 years. Our dependence on tech is a problem. In our 2000 minivan, there are at least 2 bad computer sensors that I know of that I just refuse to fix because they aren't vital to the vehicles operation and would cost hundreds to replace. But if a chip dies that affects operation, I'll have no choice.

[JoeP]

I recall growing up that things sometimes broke early in their lives, obviously, but the cause was likely abuse. Anyone who grew up in the 70s or 80s can probably recall the first question coming from our parents when we told them that something broke: "OK, what did you do?"

Now, you can do everything right, follow maintenance schedules to the letter, be well within the usage guidelines...and STILL have something break due to factors you cannot control: quality and complexity. And good luck repairing it yourself! As Steve points out, a component that affects operation is a show-stopper.

[woodie96]

JoeP,
Check to see if you have a control panel lock feature. It locks the control panel from being inadvertently turned on by leaning against the dishwasher.
Mine, also about 8 months old, would not do anything. Until we held the control panel lock button for 5 or so seconds, then the lights blinked...and walla....

Just a thought

[JoeP]

JoeP,
Check to see if you have a control panel lock feature. It locks the control panel from being inadvertently turned on by leaning against the dishwasher.
Mine, also about 8 months old, would not do anything. Until we held the control panel lock button for 5 or so seconds, then the lights blinked...and walla....

Just a thought

Tried that, at least a few times, sometimes holding it for 10 seconds just for grins....nothing. Also I shut off and turned on the circuit, and then verified power at the dishwasher power unit. Nothing.

My guess is the door switch or control board. I'd rather have warranty fix it so that if it fails again, I have documentation.

[disneysteve]

Last week we were looking for an oscillating lawn sprinkler. We've been through three of them, even though we rarely use them..

The one solution we have found to the problem, at least in several instances, is to really buy better quality. Of course, better quality means more money, but if you figure the cost of replacing something cheaper 3 times, it evens out.

We probably had 4 or 5 different sets of pots and pans in the first 15 years of our marriage. We finally bought an "expensive" set of Calphalon commerical stainless steel. I think we've had them for 5 years now. They still look brand new. The handles aren't loose. The cooking surfaces aren't scratched. The lids haven't broken. They clean up in a snap. We spent less for that one set than we spent for the combined 4-5 previous cheap sets so maybe they weren't so expensive after all. We will probably never have to replace them.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Of course, I'd buy the quality oscillating lawn sprinkler if I could find one. I don't think they are made any more. Even professionals rarely would use one as there are much less wasteful, less disease-promoting ways to deliver water. I have an area that is normally drip irrigated but we had such an early spring that things were up ad growing before I could get it set up for the year. Now I'm stuck with watering otherwise.

[GREENBACK]

The one solution we have found to the problem, at least in several instances, is to really buy better quality. Of course, better quality means more money, but if you figure the cost of replacing something cheaper 3 times, it evens out.

I've always gone this route. It is unneccesary at times and sometimes the cheaper(less expensive) product will last almost as long but in the long run I believe it's more frugal to look first at quality and then price. I hate buying a piece of crap that has to quickly be replaced regardless of what it is.

[snafu]

Maytag started to outsource production off shore in 2004, stopped new product development, shut down plants and sold their branding to Whirlpool in 2006. It's important to do research for major purchases and compare warranties as well as merchandise. I'm find that even price is not always the best indicator or quality/function. Apparently we're considered a dinosaur if we haven't accepted Marketing and Consumerism theories of a disposable society. It doesn't work - don't even try to repair even if it's as simple as a button on a shirt. Throw it out and buy another is the current mantra.