Are New Appliances Always Doomed? Why A Grass Roots Movement Could Change Things

[Chetlaham]

This video makes an excellent case as to why modern appliances are so lack luster in reliability. It explores 6 potential causes: Cost, Compliance, Corporations, Computers, Complexity and Conspiracy. And also proposes a solution of customers buying appliances based on reliability along with people demanding changes within the laws which govern energy efficiency.

Personally I agree with all the points and solutions offered in this video. My honest opinion is that the only way things will get better is through a grass roots movement where people learn, act and shop for simple, dependable, well built appliances. He mentions that doing such could actually bring back old proven designs.

I am all for this. However we must first get the word out and do it in such a way as to bring about a growing movement.




What do others think? Agree, disagree, thoughts?

 

[vacerator]

I've seen him. Eh. So many others too and they don't know half of what members here know. I don't agree with telling shoppers to avoid certain features or brands which differ very little between each. Things are what they are. You need appliances to clean, chill, cook and freeze. Choices are vast. News of performance and quality travel from the consumer to others. I highly doubt that corporate deciders care what we think.
We complain about the price of food, fuel, utilities etc. We don't choose to walk, go hungry, or wash garments in a stream on rocks, but you can if you want to.

 

[Zoey]

Thanks! I learned a lot from that video about today's appliance market. He also consulted off the record with a former appliance engineer from a major company.

He explains in a fair amount of depth how government regulations, changing consumer preferences, and market forces have contributed to our present situation of increasing complexity, reduced reliability and serviceability, unaffordable replacement parts, and planned obsolescence.

One thing I found particularly interesting is retail price trends. He shows a 1991 Lady Kenmore washer with a $555 list price. With inflation that would be over $1300 today. That seems to go a long way towards explaining why a machine like the Speed Queen TC5 costs as much as it does. I guess maybe I should keep fixing my 2003 Kenmore direct drive.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

The thing I see adding an admission to these abundance of fallacies is all these Out of Warranty Service Plans and Protection Programs…

Ways to collect all your money if something breaks before it breaks and then when it does no one can fix it…

If you do give them enough money to buy you a new appliance will they actually do that?

Chances are if that’s the official agreement and these shady contractors make any kind of good on it, the new appliance you replace the old one with might be just as bad and you’ll all along be enrolled in this false or unsure protection for that!

Maybe it will prove to be a lemon even sooner but you’ll not have invested enough to be given that new one you’d been promised like before…

 

[pierreandreply4]

i would say sometime a little wisdom is needed (poll to follow) buying a washer depends on one needs or features

 

[phillymatt53]

The thing I see adding an admission to these abundance of fallacies is all these Out of Warranty Service Plans and Protection Programs…

Ways to collect all your money if something breaks before it breaks and then when it does no one can fix it…

If you do give them enough money to buy you a new appliance will they actually do that?

Chances are if that’s the official agreement and these shady contractors make any kind of good on it, the new appliance you replace the old one with might be just as bad and you’ll all along be enrolled in this false or unsure protection for that!

Maybe it will prove to be a lemon even sooner but you’ll not have invested enough to be given that new one you’d been promised like before…

I get all those annoying tv commercials that advertize joining their home appliance or automobile repair "NOW, before it breaks down!" crap.

It always references that one powerful thing that's used universally in all advertizing.
It's called Fear.
Classic subliminal messaging used to sell anything these days..... from Snake Oil, to Snot-rags, to Toilet Paper.
Along with a sneaky crafted message that if you DO join and pay a small fixed monthly fee, you won't have to "worry" about having to pay a lot to replace/repair your broken-down hunk of crap with another one.

It seems to me, that if you live within your means, use Common Sense, and put money aside for any potential issues, you won't have to rely on these goofy commercials.
Of course, Common Sense is in short supply these days.
A good part of that is the constant brainwashing of society to spend money on things, anything, so that your bank account droops down like a ghetto thug's pants.
Thanks to the "convenience" of Amazon, smartphones, and the internet sales sites.