Everything's a piece of junk!

14 years ago

OK, so maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but at the risk of sounding old and curmudgeonly, I'd just like to vent my frustration at how crappy so many things seem to be constructed nowadays. Not even taking into account the way that obsolescence is built in to so many things we purchase today, the mere fact that items, especially electronic/electrical have such a short life span is just infuriating.

When we moved into our house 7 years ago, there was no central air conditioning. The house was cooled by window units alone, and they did a fine job. Due to the untimely death of our floor furnaces (coupled with the fact that no reasonable replacement is even manufactured anymore), we ended up installing a central heat and air conditioning system a few years ago. Our master bedroom is an attic conversion - a large space, it's the majority of the attic which was finished out in 1948 - and unfortunately the way that the room is configured prevented us from installing as many vents in the room as we really needed. So we augment cooling in the bedroom with a window air conditioning unit.

The window units that were in the house when we moved in had been around forever. I'm not sure exactly how old they were, but they were old. Decades old, and still working. We either sold them or gave them away to others who needed them, except for the one upstairs in the bedroom. When that one finally died, we bought a brand new Whirlpool which gave out about a year later. We looked into having it repaired, but quickly learned that just like so many other things today, it's not at all cost-effective to repair when replacement with a completely new unit costs either the same price - or less (but we did pay a repair guy $75 to come out and tell us that - ugh!). That unit also failed and was replaced under warranty. Over the weekend, the most recent unit ceased blowing air, a clear indication of a problem with the motor. It was 5 years old. We also learned over the weekend that Whirlpool no longer makes window air conditioners. Gee, I wonder why?

We've had problems with our big screen tv so many times that I've lost count. We never buy extended warranties on items - but bought the tv through a friend who was working for a big box electronics store and he was somehow able to finagle a good discount, so we sprang for the warranty. Thank goodness, because we've had the repair folks out numerous times. A couple of times, they've even Fed Ex'd the replacement parts directly to us and told us how to make a simple repair. Still - you'd think a tv that cost thousands of dollars would function properly without needing to have parts replaced every 6 to 9 months, wouldn't you?

The lighted medicine cabinet that's been in our bathroom since the 1950s finally croaked a few weeks ago. The electricals just died - but it had worked exactly as it was supposed to for 50 years! We replaced it with a vintage-style cabinet that looks very similar, made by Broan. What do you wanna bet we'll be replacing it again in a matter of a few short years? I've completely lost faith in the way that most things are made these days.

My brand new cell phone keeps turning itself off. I've recently read online reports of this happening to certain Samsung phones - it's an issue that can only be resolved by (yep, you guessed it) replacing the phone completely.

I'm just really struck lately by how incredibly shoddy - and therefore disposable - so many new products are. To think that there are items in my house that have been perfectly serviceable for decades - and compare that to the new replacements I'm finding today that are dead in such a short span of time ... well, it just kinda makes my blood boil. No wonder our landfills are brimming over. ::sigh::

OK ... I'll try to stop ranting now.

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Comments (22)

teacats
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
That is exactly the reason that there are so many multi-million/billionaire CEOs and Boards of Directors right now!

Products -- along with their Expiry dates -- are simply NOT designed/planned/manufactured to last -- at all. The bottom-line means Money and More Sales Mean MOre Money.

Just think -- your hard earned dollars (repeat that as many times as you need to replace items) are keeping them in that fabulous lifestyle.

Jan (in one of her less-than-sunny-moods on this HOT HOT HOT day) at Rosemary Cottage
cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Remember when your mother's washer and dryer, refrigerator, etc. bought mid-century were expected to last 20 years...and often actually surpassed that? When microwaves frst came out, we had the original model of the Radar Range. It lasted more than 30 years. Now I am lucky if I get 10 years from an appliance. Luckily, no issues with the flat screen LCD tvs--yet!
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DLM2000-GW
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
No argument from me, Jen! I feel your frustration.

cyn I replaced my Maytag w/d after 27 years - NOT because they didn't work but because the enamel was wearing off the washer tub! And about that Amana Radar Range...... still have mine from 1983, still works - it's now old enough to look cool and vintage! (well to me anyway!)
User
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
the fact that so much of our manufacturing is now outsourced doesn't help either. NO QC control at all.
golddust
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I agree! Nothing is built to last anymore. Well, cars are far more reliable and safer than they used to be...
greenthumbfish
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Yep, I cringe every time I hear an ad describing brake repair on "parts that are designed to wear out".

Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot!!!!!!
Shannon01
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
So right that things bought 20yrs ago are still working yet the new ones break so fast. I bough cheaper end wash/dryer for first house, left them for new owner and bought fancy front loaders for new house. Spent probably 4times as much on new stuff and dryer broke just after warrenty period. Several parts needed replacing, luckily we are handy and do our own repairs. The only real time we bought a warranty was for our big screen tv. Needed adjusting immediately and guy had no clue what to do, dh tried to explain how to do it, because we are handy, but repair guy still did not know what to do. We had him leave and did it our self. When we sold the tv years later we cleaned the lenses ourself and the pic was like new and is still running.

I really do think things are outsourced, etc. Folks just don't care about their products. And the customer service for issues stinks too. That is why when someone does their job and well I make effort to let them know I am contacting management.

And another thing, even if the product is good the installers do such a crappy job. Watch Holmes on Homes. It amazes me. And I seem to always hire folks who sound good but turn out bad, which is why we do everything ourselves. We cannot even trus the dealer to do repairs properly under warranty. It is a shame.
sweeby
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Honestly, I try to fix things... But it's so darned expensive to repair stuff (if you even can) that I often end up buying new when I'd honestly, much rather not... I just had some new heel tips put on two pairs of shoes -- $24 per pair! If they hadn't been my favorites, I just couldn't have done it...

The system's broken when repairing things costs so much. And as AJ said - no wonder our landfills runneth over!

Can anyone think of a way to make durable quality and repair-ability more economically viable?
paint_chips
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I'm on my 3rd or 4th blender (motor burns up), probably the 4th sandwich grill (non-stick coating starts flaking off!), 2nd griddle (non-stick coating again), 2nd microwave...

And everything always breaks at the one moment that I desperately need it to work!
cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Heard on the news tonight about an M.I.T. professor who figured out how to make a battery for his hybrid vehicle that would enable the car to get 100 mpg. No bank will back him with a loan to manufacture it in a factory in the US. Too bad. We need that sort of technology being made here rather than in China.

dlm, I always bought Maytags, too, as did my mother. They were great!
neetsiepie
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Interior parts are made of plastic. Cheaper to manufacture, cheaper to ship, more profit in the pockets of the company. Ever notice how LIGHT everything is anymore? That's why. They can load up a shipping container with more product and spend less on fuel costs.

And, of course, plastic is not durable. It wears out. They use the barest amount of solder to hold connections in place (again, cost cutting measures) so things go on the fritz fast.

And yes, cyn, DH just heard about that battery too, and he's fuming. Well, honestly, we can change the world with our voices and our votes. Our pocketbooks too.
nicole__
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
My first microwave by Kenmore lasted 20 years! My LG microwave is 3yrs old & burned up. My last one was a Panasonic & it lasted 3 years. My new Cuisinart microwave will arrive tomorrow. Wish me luck. I agree this new stuff is junk!
THOR, Son of ODIN
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I hear ya!

Low Cost holds greater sway than quality.

And it is not just appliances... even worse is that (what passes for) food products are cheaper and lousier too.

-Lena
golddust
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hey, my Sharp microwaves never die! I have given my old ones away as kids move out. Now I have a fancy built in, high speed oven/microwave that has been trouble free for six years.

Sharp microwaves are the best! My LG washer/dryer set has also been trouble free. I research like crazy when I need to buy anything now. It's a buyer beware market now.
ljwrar
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
What a timely post. Two years ago, my old Maytag washer died. The dryer still worked perfectly, but I replaced it because I want to stack the w/d and move a freezer into the laundry room. Our plans got delayed so we haven't stacked the units yet - and the dryer broke yesterday! So now I'm getting a repair bill on a relatively new dryer that replaced a working one!

When I moved into my current house, I brought the Maytags with me. I gave the 1970's w/d already here to a friend for a rental unit. Those old units are still working.

Lisa
User
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I still have my Mom's Maytag washer and dryer. The dryer takes a long time to get things dry...it gets hot and the vent is clean but I think I am going to buy one of those things to run through the whole vent tubing and give it a good dusting out inside.I wanted to stack new ones too but after reading this I am never gettin rid of these...they are over 30 yrs now. I also have her Sharp microwave and it is over 25 yrs old. Even I am better than I was 25 yrs ago LOL....we are all like fine wine I do believe. As a matter of fact I have had several friends say they have no idea what the world is going to come to when all the folks our age retire....sigh...Dh had his last day teaching at the U on Friday. He says you just wouldn't believe the conversations he has had this past year with students compared to 20 and 30 years ago. So I guess if you have something old that works you better hang on to it.

As an aside I also usually only go to vintage and second hand stores for clothes. It is the only way to get real made in the USA cotton and linen etc. Also AJ, I use Etsy for the same reason LOL. c
Faron79
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hooooo Boy....I could ramble for DAYS on this topic!

But, on the Washer/Dryer point...
We got our first GE washer-dryer combination in 1990.
* The washer did fine until ~a year ago!! 20 years...I'm not complaining.
* The Dryer? Stiiiiiiillll going.....

A dear HS-classmate friend from my hometown got a W/D pair last year. One of those taller, cool-looking front loaders.
( I THINK it's an LG...??)
>>> Something went wrong on THE FIRST LOAD OF CLOTHES!!!
He wasn't too happy, and had troubles getting it fixed.
Wow....

Yeah...there's SO MUCH crap out there nowadays.
BUT...all most people seem to care about now is the initial price.
Thanks Walmart...

A story I LOVED relative to my Walmart slam:
Snapper's CEO was discussing having some of their line in Walmart. WM had approached HIM I think????
Anyway...when he found out about how WM wanted to cheapen his equipment, he basically said "Screw you, I'm not cheapening my stuff that much"!

Faron
natal
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Faron, that reminded me of the cheap Murray mower dh bought at WM. It lasted longer than any other. Go figure.
User
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hair dryeres.... growing up we had the same one foreeevver. It was a cheap, Con Air. When it died Mom replaced quite a few while I was still at home. I've replaced at least three of my own! It doesn't seem to matter how cheap or expensive they are either. The cheap $20 dryer lasted longer than the professional pricey one. Yes, we kept the lint thing clean.

Cell phones are also ridiculous. "I'm sorry, we can't fix that. You'll have to buy a new phone." What?
Oakley
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Count me in. Remember the mantel clock I had on my mantel? I've been wanting one since I was a little girl. I finally bought one with beautiful chimes. Now it sticks and it's impossible to take it apart and fix it.

That's a $100 down the drain. I don't know of any clock fixers around here either, and it would probably cost the $100 to fix it!

Would a cheapie alarm clock look good on the mantel? lol. We do need a clock there.
newdawn1895
14 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Made in China not in America anymore!
patty_cakes
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Yep, a throw-a-way society it is. Along with animals, an unwanted child even gets thrown in a dumpster. Loyality, integrity, honesty, and other good virtues seem to be a thing of the past. When, how, and why did this become a way of life?

As for the subject at hand...I HATE resin. It's taken the place of metal, ceramic, wood, glass, and other materials.

Everything's a piece of junk!

Comments (22)

teacats

cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)

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