Rant: Modern household appliances are of poorer quality

[Cougsfan]

We recently replaced our microwave, toaster and dishwasher. They were all just a few years old, and all had issues. In fact it seems like most appliances we have bought in the last 15 years or so have an unusually high number of issues. We don't buy the cheapest appliances, we read and pay attention to the reviews. Some have lasted well, but in general they all seem far more highly prone to having issues. Unfortunately I have became on first name basis with our local appliance repair guy. He says you can't necessarily go by brand, or price, or where it is made. Some models of some brands are definitely better than others, but all of them definitely are of considerably poorer quality compared to decades past. He suggested that we consult with him prior to buying something so he can tell us which model of which brand he considers better. He also says the more "features" an appliance has; the more issues you are likely to have.

Its not like they don't know how to make a toaster that toasts evenly on both sides and will last for 20 to 40 years because they used to make them that way.

You always hear that "you get what you pay for." That is not necessarily true in the appliance industry. Expensiveness doesn't appear to correlate very well with quality. I have read you can actually buy higher quality appliances in Europe and Japan made by our same common name manufacturers, but those are not available in the States, some suggest because of reasons related to planned obsolescence. I am not much to buy into conspiracy theories, but this makes one consider that suggestion. What can consumers do when an entire industry appears to be immersed in the planned obsolescence mentality?

A side rant; The water filter on our newest refrigerator is a microchipped filter that raised the filter replacement cost from $20 to $50. Why do I need a filter with a microchip to tell me it is time to replace it?

 

[2manyrocks]

My understanding is that there has been a lot of mergers and consolidation in the appliance industry in the last 20 years. Some appliances are made by the same company, but only have different brand names on them. Would you like to pay $999 for Brand A or $1,400 for Brand B, but it's basically the same appliance with a different label.

 

[ponytug]

We recently replaced our microwave, toaster and dishwasher. They were all just a few years old, and all had issues. In fact it seems like most appliances we have bought in the last 15 years or so have an unusually high number of issues. We don't buy the cheapest appliances, we read and pay attention to the reviews. Some have lasted well, but in general they all seem far more highly prone to having issues. Unfortunately I have became on first name basis with our local appliance repair guy. He says you can't necessarily go by brand, or price, or where it is made. Some models of some brands are definitely better than others, but all of them definitely are of considerably poorer quality compared to decades past. He suggested that we consult with him prior to buying something so he can tell us which model of which brand he considers better. He also says the more "features" an appliance has; the more issues you are likely to have.

Its not like they don't know how to make a toaster that toasts evenly on both sides and will last for 20 to 40 years because they used to make them that way.

You always hear that "you get what you pay for." That is not necessarily true in the appliance industry. Expensiveness doesn't appear to correlate very well with quality. I have read you can actually buy higher quality appliances in Europe and Japan made by our same common name manufacturers, but those are not available in the States, some suggest because of reasons related to planned obsolescence. I am not much to buy into conspiracy theories, but this makes one consider that suggestion. What can consumers do when an entire industry appears to be immersed in the planned obsolescence mentality?

A side rant; The water filter on our newest refrigerator is a microchipped filter that raised the filter replacement cost from $20 to $50. Why do I need a filter with a microchip to tell me it is time to replace it?

We've been dealing with the same issue. Just realized that the reason the door wasn't closing well on the fridge was a bushing on the hinge had shattered and disappeared. Last week was the dryer, in which I found a flashlight that had been there at least fifteen years...

I like AppliancePartPros.com for their detailed exploded diagrams of appliances.

After a series of microwave issues, I bought a commercial (restaurant) Panasonic. It doesn't do popcorn/potatoes/pizza automatically, but it does just work.

You need the microchip on the filter to subsidize the manufacturer. I have been on the design side when sales comes along with that sort of idea to "increase revenue". Never been a fan. There are some hacks for some items to fool the system.

Meanwhile, my grandmother's General Electric toaster (1922) still toasts bread better than any toaster or toaster oven we have ever had. No microchip.

All the best,

Peter

 

[jaxs]

" I have read you can actually buy higher quality appliances in Europe and Japan made by our same common name manufacturers, but those are not available in the States, some suggest because of reasons related to planned obsolescence. I am not much to buy into conspiracy theories, but this makes one consider that suggestion."

That is true and you can see for yourself by looking beneath the hood of a motor vehicle built for use in Mexico. No EPA crap. The infamous Ford 6.0L diesel built for Mexico isn't EPA compliant and as the result a real beast that run's forever and gets 30% better fuel milage.

 

[5030]

Most of that stuff comes via container today.

 

[TractorTYMe]

My hot water tank is from 1949....something Hubermeyer from Seattle Ironworks, when it blows it will probably level the house

 

[kirkawilson]

After going through 15+ washers and dryers over the years, I bit the bullet and bought Speed Queen brand. They have turn knobs on the front and are "supposed" to be the last washer and dryer I will ever hafta buy. They have been flawless for 6 months now...only 19.5 more years to go.

 

[TugBarge]

After going through 15+ washers and dryers over the years, I bit the bullet and bought Speed Queen brand. They have turn knobs on the front and are "supposed" to be the last washer and dryer I will ever hafta buy. They have been flawless for 6 months now...only 19.5 more years to go.

This is exactly what I just did.

 

[jaydee325]

Son and close friend worked for a major appliance maker. Both say major appliances are designed for a 7 year life cycle.

Old days of 20 year or more appliances are long gone. Nobody makes money if things last that long.

Complain all you want, you are not going to change anything. Just budget for more frequent replacments.

 

[cbg8670]

I totally agree..bought some whirlpool appliances year ago not been impressed

 

[Jims1025R]

My washer & dryer (Sears) are 30+ years old, and going strong. I will repair, with no intention to ever replace.

My daughter gave us a GE fridge/freezer for our garage, when they replaced theirs with new. This one is about ten years old. I had to reverse the door swing - should be no problem right? No - problem! The hinges don't reverse to the other side. They look like they do, and nearly fit, but when you put them on the other side, they damage the door. Darn... So, I order the proper left hand hinge kit $110. I go to install it, and one of the two hinges in the kit (middle) is right hand, ('same as the one I just took off - and not reversible), the top hinge is correct left. So I call the parts guy I bought from - "Geeze..." he says... "I'll get you another kit, it should be right...". A week later: "You won't believe it, they have four more kits in stock, I had them checked, they all have the wrong middle hinge, there are no left hinges available at all.". I can't return the kit, 'cause I need the correct top hinge I do have. So, an hour on the milling machine, and lathe, and the right hand middle hinge now fits and works correctly on the left side, and I have a correct right top hinge which cost me $110. GE is off my appliance list forever - just for being stupid!

Our brand new Bosch double oven blew a glass when my wife set it to self clean - I replaced the glass, I clean it myself now.

My other daughter's brand new Samsung top of the line oven closed shutters and locked the door when she set to self clean (well, at least it did not blow the glass!). But, after cleaning, the shutters would not open, nor the door unlock. Once away from the wall, I found the motor for that, wound it back by hand, and she manually cleans it.

So, rants on new appliances justified! Old appliances rule!

 

[Hay Dude]

Well I had 2 Bosch dish washers from the early 2000’s that would wash dried concrete off our dishes. One broke and we could not get parts. Replaced with Kitchen Aid. Would have been better off letting the dogs like the dishes clean. It’s a pile of crap.
The other Bosch is still hanging on, but the switches are glitchy.

We want to remove the Kitchen Aid and give it to someone we don’t like as a gift.

We are looking at Meile and Bosch, but haven’t done anything yet.

 

[2manyrocks]

The only thing our last dishwasher was good for was using it as a drying rack for the dishes we hand washed in the sink.

 

[oosik]

I have Sears( Kenmore ) washer and dryer that are both 20+ years and still going strong. This could also be because it's only me here and I don't do laundry every day.

Now - talk about longevity. My toaster is Kenmore. Was given to the wife and I as a wedding gift in 1964. Still works as well as the day we received it.

 

[tacticalturnip]

After going through 15+ washers and dryers over the years, I bit the bullet and bought Speed Queen brand. They have turn knobs on the front and are "supposed" to be the last washer and dryer I will ever hafta buy. They have been flawless for 6 months now...only 19.5 more years to go.

I have never heard of them, so I appreciate being filled in; I've bookmarked their website, for the inevitable.

 

[Jstpssng]

" I have read you can actually buy higher quality appliances in Europe and Japan made by our same common name manufacturers, but those are not available in the States, some suggest because of reasons related to planned obsolescence. I am not much to buy into conspiracy theories, but this makes one consider that suggestion."

That is true and you can see for yourself by looking beneath the hood of a motor vehicle built for use in Mexico. No EPA crap. The infamous Ford 6.0L diesel built for Mexico isn't EPA compliant and as the result a real beast that run's forever and gets 30% better fuel milage.

That has notyhing to do with making them obselete. That is so that we don't go back to the "good old days" when cities were overcome with smog.

 

[MossRoad]

Speed Queen washer and dryer here, too.

We're on our 2nd microwave.... since 1985! 1st one was a wedding gift. Gold Star. Has a big timer dial and a cook and defrost button. That's it. Still works! But wife wanted something from this century, so we got a new one last year. It works much better and is larger.

As for dishwashers, there was one here when we bought the house round 1995. It died. Replaced that. It died. Replaced that. It died. So on our 4th in 28 years. They are about 4-5 hundred bucks and last about 5 years. So a hundred bucks a year comes out to about 37 cents a day. For something that gets used daily, I don't think that's too bad.

 

[jyoutz]

After going through 15+ washers and dryers over the years, I bit the bullet and bought Speed Queen brand. They have turn knobs on the front and are "supposed" to be the last washer and dryer I will ever hafta buy. They have been flawless for 6 months now...only 19.5 more years to go.

We did the same after our last “high end” washer died. We immediately noticed how much heavier the Speed Queen machine is compared to the one it replaced: more metal/ less plastic. And actually still made in USA. I was shocked when I called customer service to buy an accessory to be speaking to someone with an upper midwestern accent in Wisconsin who actually understood my questions.

 

[jyoutz]

I have never heard of them, so I appreciate being filled in; I've bookmarked their website, for the inevitable.

They are the primary source for commercial laundry equipment and only sell a limited quantity of homeowner models, but they are all commercial grade. No big box stores sell them; they are carried by independent appliance stores. Their website has a search function to find dealers in your area.

 

[Dwellonroof]

I purchased a Samsung basic top freezer/fridge and it quit working 1 year and 2 weeks later so tech came out 3 times to deem it nonrepairable.