The latest was an Emerson.
I've had my Emerson for about 5 years I think got it at WM it has a turntable in it an works great and fits nicely on my cabinet

First, my original microwave was Amana - they were newish to home kitchens then and the price was over $600....does anyone remember those days :)? I was doing bookeeping at an appliance store and got a discount of about $200 on it, didn't have to pay full price. And I used it many years.

My last microwave? Kenmore, less than $70, does everything I need a microwave to do and has the built-in turn table, will easily hold a 9x13 glass pan. I've had it at least 5 years, it gets light but daily use.

I had the worst luck with microwaves from WalMart.

I went to Sears and bought one. I bought the extended warranty, even though I am TOTALLY against those darnded things. I have had it replaced once already for free.

I think I have had four microwaves. The first one back in the early 1970's was so big and heavy. After some years it gave out. I think it might have been a Kenmore. The second one was a Panasonic and then put it in the club house where it is today. Replaced it with another Panasonic. Then Amber and Mike gave me a white one, it is a Sharp. So I gave the one I did use to Cheryl and Kevin and it is still working. All but the first one have had turntables. They are not so expensive anymore.

Sue

Hi kathsgrdn,

Do you have a list of email friends?

Maybe get out a message to all of the ones reasonably close by asking if anyone knows of a redundant one ... 'cause they often come for free.

Yard sales (there'd be snow on the stuff, around here).

Estate dispersals?

I have an extra one sitting in a closet ... how far away are you?

But the one that I'm using (daily) is an old one, so I have no idea what its life expectancy may be ...

... maybe about as much as mine?

(In which case - I wouldn't need worry about a replacement, right?).

ole joyful

I'd strongly advise against buying an old-fashioned microwave. They're very limited in their use.

Instead, why not consider an Advantium. It's an appliance that cooks with microwaves as well as halogen light technology. Not only does it microwave, but it browns, bakes and broils. I can do a perfect casserole, bubbling hot, with a nice, browned crusty top--in 12 minutes. A REAL baked potato (not nuked) takes about 8 minutes. Cookies take 4 minutes. No preheating (you actually cannot preheat the appliance).

And longevity? I got my Advantium the year they were introduced--2000. And it's still going strong, even though I use it many, many times a day, for all sorts of things. For the money, it's a much better choice than a regular microwave. It does more, and is a quality appliance that will no doubt last longer for you than you're getting from the microwaves you've been buying.

Gosh I'm only on my 2nd microwave. The first was a Sears Kenmore (late 70's early 80's ?) lasted a longggg time. It died the day after Thanksgiving. We went right out & bought one to heat up all those leftovers! This one is a GE & I'm sure it's over 10 years old. We use our m-w every day usually multiple times/day.

Kath, check Consumers Report to see how they rate mw's. The usually do it every couple of years.

My first one was a Litton. It was about the size of a small truck! It had a probe which made it great for cooking turkeys, etc. I used it from 1980 to 2003 when I moved here. Too big for my kitchen cabinets, gave it to Goodwill.

Bought a small one, don't remember the brand and used it until 2004, when I got so interested in the Scott Peterson trial, I set it for 20 minutes instead of 2 minutes, and it caught on fire and was ruined. :Bought a GE and using it ever since. It has a turntable and probably all of them do now.

I also have a GE convection oven. I like it, but it has a rotisserie which I never use; it was a gift.

GE is a good brand.

Sue

Azzalea... wow, those are expensive! Cheapest I found was about $600. Looks interesting.. but I'd have a hard time paying that much for one.

The one I had you could grill things in too, came with a grilling rack and hardly ever used it. I think I'll stick with a plain microwave this time. I can't afford a $600 microwave.

The first one I ever bought was a Kenmore too, but sold it at a yard sale because I got orders to go to Germany. Then came about 10 or more that didn't last more than a couple years each. All junk, from GE to Emerson, to Panasonic. After reading reviews on Amazon I'm really disappointed in all newer made microwaves. Seems the only good reviews are ones that were just purchased so no way to tell if they are going to last any time. Most of the ones last less than a year.

I almost bought a new crockpot too, the dial on mine is broken. I can still use it but it's looking pretty rough. After reading a bunch of reviews for the same brand and others, decided not to buy one right now. They don't have a good track record for lasting either. Mine is probably 10 years or more old. What if I buy a new one and it dies in 6 months? I'd be really ticked off.

I've been very lucky. I've only had 2 microwaves and the second is still going strong. The first was a Sharp. I was very careful with the second to get exact dimensions, even the mounting drill-holes matched. The second is a GE. I can't strongly recommend it. I use it to heat water for coffee and re-heat leftovers. Nothing fancy. Oh I did use it to melt chocolate chips. And I clean it regularly so it stays looking nice. I like it but I'm not head over heels in love.

GE Profile or one of their high end lines, the one I had in my last house was wonderful. The one I got in this house is a new Kenmore and I do not like it, the front stainless panel around the door is coming unglued and pops off. It flickers all the time like it is about to die and it just does not cook well. I know it was not a cheap microwave but I will not buy a Kenmore for sure.

I love the GE Profile line and their other new line I think the Cafe? my new fridge is from the Profile line. My other house I had replaced everything with only Profile.
Explore the GE Brands

When I re do my new kitchen it WILL have the GE Advantium in it!! It does absolutely everything and it does it so well and it is beautiful.

Dad used to say, "Handsome is ... as handsome does!"!

I've been fortunate, I guess, in that my microwave(s) have lasted for a long time.

It's time that they build appliances, cars, etc. to last for a long time.

Again.

They did it 50 years ago - they can do it now (and make them energy efficient into the bargain).

ole joyful

The price has come down a lot on the Advantiums--when I got mine, they were about $1500 (but I got mine free--GE was promoting them, and handed them out to some folks they knew were active in the cooking contesting field) and required about $500 worth of electrical work.

If you're buying a new microwave every couple of years, and if an Advantium is going to last you as long as mine has (12 years and counting), then $600 only works out to $50 a year.

The oven on my range broke a while back (burners still worked). I didn't bother to replace the range for about 2 years, because with the Advantium, I really didn't need to, it got us by just fine.

But it is more expensive than a WallMart microwave, of course.

I've had a Sears, Panasonic, an LG and now a Cuisinart. Love my Cuisinart. The insides are metal so it doesn't hold smells. My tea does NOT taste like popcorn. :0) Delivered to my front door...$50. It has a 3 year manufacturers warranty.....did I say I really Luuuuuuuuuuuv it! lol

If your interested I can look up my receits and see where I got it....

Here is a link that might be useful: It's this one.....

Update....mines 2 years old and the price has gone up.....here's where I got it...the shipping is still free.

Someone got a great deal on a Dyson yesterday on Woot...I wonder what they carry for microwaves?

Here is a link that might be useful: Cuisinart....still a good buy...free shipping...

If I wanted a countertop microwave to heat beverages and reheat food I would get a $50 - 100 MW from Target. Or even better, a Kenmore from Sears. If you want to actually cook in one & it needs to fit a certain space an Advantium would be a good choice. I currently have a built-in GE Profile that is installed above the oven. It was about $135 six years ago. It works fine.

I have the same Cuisinart Nicole has. Got it at BB&B with a 20% off coupon. I love the looks of it and the stainless interior is easy to clean but I'm not as enamored with its performance. It takes me a little over 3 minutes to boil a cup of water. I've been to friends and theirs takes 1 minute. Just saying. Mine is about 3 years old.

It's a Panasonic, it's a microwave/convection oven and we bought it in 1986! Like Beeohio, this is my second one, bought my first one in 1975.

I prefer the Sharp brand. I had one that was only a couple of months old and I moved to a place that had a built in microwave so I gave mine to a friend. He used it for over 8 years before replacing it. I bought a Sharp when I moved here 6 years ago. I really like it. I probably got it at Target or WalMart.

We have a Panasonic Inverter and love it.....we got it at Costco about a year ago for about $150.

Panasonic. They seem to have the best electronics. Sears micros were made by Panasonic a few years back. Not sure if they still are. I have one of the the Inverters also. Bought it at Target for under $100.00 around 5 years ago. One of the larger models (biggest turntable) but it has a much smaller footprint than my old early 80's Panasonic which which still going strong.

I have a Maytag and love it. It doesn't have a turntable but instead it glides back and forth. On a turntable you can't put the 9x13 cause it turns but you can in this. It works just as well as the turntables.

I have a Samsung and it's great, except for the breaking handle. It's very powerful and we got it at Lowe's. Woody's glued the handle and it'll probably last another couple of years, then I'll just buy a new handle or door, if it is still working well. Of the 3 appliances we bought almost 3 years ago, all Samsung, the micro is the best one.

And it has a turntable, but I can shut that feature off if I'm using a big dish.

My DH came home with an Amana microwave as a surprise in 1980. We finally gave it away 6 years ago when we did a kitchen remodel, and it was still working.

This thread is timely for me. We arrived at our Maui condo to find that the *handle* is broken on our GE Spacemaker (M/W + Exhaust Fan that is mounted over the range). It's 10 years old and works just fine.

The bottom of the handle has broken loose from the door. Maintenance here says it would cost over $100 to replace the handle: $70 parts (for a cheap plastic handle and some screws) plus $40 labor. Drives me nuts to think it, but we'll probably be smart to replace the whole unit!

There all made by either Panasonic or Sanyo....they just put different bells and whistle on them and change the labels....LOL

After looking on-line and reading tons of reviews, and then going to Wal-Mart, Lowes and K-Mart today I finally bought a Panasonic Inverter. It's a lot bigger than it looked in the store, though. My last one was big but this is huge. My kids said it's almost as big as our regular oven-lol. I kind of wish I had bought a smaller one but now I can heat up 3 or 4 different dishes at one time. I hope this one lasts. I'm keeping the box this time and receipt, just in case.

chisue- if you get some epoxy or something like that, the kind that is sort of like putty, you can probably fix that handle and buy yourself some more time. You can open the liner on the door and access where it is supposed to be attached and fix it yourselves for about $4. :) We've done it several times, seems like the handle is always the weak link on microwaves for us and we are NOT abusive, it's just they are usually crap.

Kath, good luck with your new inverter! I keep boxes and receipts together, or I put the receipt in the instruction book, with tape or a staple or paper clip.

Just last month I spent what felt like way too much time researching a SS OTR microwave. After scouring Consumer Reports and the web I went with a GE based on the the price, brand repair history, and model offered features.

DA

flamingo -- After a day spent looking at replacements...I'm going to try mending the existing handle myself. I don't know how to open the back of the door, but I can try to "Gorilla Glue" the handle back on from the outside and see if it will hold. What do I have to lose, right? Thanks for the encouragement!