re crap'
I don't share the pessimistic view that 'thomas' has stated. It has been a truism since the beginning of the last century for people to bemoan the shift of various industries with the demands of the times, and the advance of technology. There was a great movement, familiar to we who are car lovers, to try and bring back the Model T all the way up to WW II. It was simple, very sturdy, made of high-quality materials, and put the world on four wheels. However, it also was very inefficient with its use of gas and oil, required massive amounts of maintenance, was uncomfortable, and wasn't suited for the highways we were building.
I see this industry in the same position that our car industry was in the 70's. Few who know would dispute that that decade was awful for cars in this country, due to demands for greater safety and particularly greater economy. The cars of that decade were characterized by a certain level of unreliability, lack of durability, problems with running, etc. I see this industry in that time.
We may complain about our washers and dryers not matching the simple reliability of those of a half-century ago; having bought my first set 40 years ago, I sure wish I had it back, avocado color and all. However, realistically we also know that the world is growing not only more crowded but more prosperous--and more people can afford home laundry. The efficiency level of our old machines wasn't good enough for today's world, and we should all realize it. I truly believe that in a decade or less, machines like the TL Speed Queen that I just bought will be gone, consigned to collectors' basements and ersatz museums. We will see much improved front loading washers--and I'm confident that detergents will improve also.
In the meantime, those who build a quality product may not command the majority of the market, but they will have a place. I need a new dishwasher right now and I sure wish there was an equivalent to my old Hobart/KA Superba of 35 years ago. However, it used buckets of water and today's manufacturers are being challenged, as with laundry, to clean with next to no water. In the meantime, I keep washing my dishes by hand...
I don't share the pessimistic view that 'thomas' has stated. It has been a truism since the beginning of the last century for people to bemoan the shift of various industries with the demands of the times, and the advance of technology. There was a great movement, familiar to we who are car lovers, to try and bring back the Model T all the way up to WW II. It was simple, very sturdy, made of high-quality materials, and put the world on four wheels. However, it also was very inefficient with its use of gas and oil, required massive amounts of maintenance, was uncomfortable, and wasn't suited for the highways we were building.
I see this industry in the same position that our car industry was in the 70's. Few who know would dispute that that decade was awful for cars in this country, due to demands for greater safety and particularly greater economy. The cars of that decade were characterized by a certain level of unreliability, lack of durability, problems with running, etc. I see this industry in that time.
We may complain about our washers and dryers not matching the simple reliability of those of a half-century ago; having bought my first set 40 years ago, I sure wish I had it back, avocado color and all. However, realistically we also know that the world is growing not only more crowded but more prosperous--and more people can afford home laundry. The efficiency level of our old machines wasn't good enough for today's world, and we should all realize it. I truly believe that in a decade or less, machines like the TL Speed Queen that I just bought will be gone, consigned to collectors' basements and ersatz museums. We will see much improved front loading washers--and I'm confident that detergents will improve also.
In the meantime, those who build a quality product may not command the majority of the market, but they will have a place. I need a new dishwasher right now and I sure wish there was an equivalent to my old Hobart/KA Superba of 35 years ago. However, it used buckets of water and today's manufacturers are being challenged, as with laundry, to clean with next to no water. In the meantime, I keep washing my dishes by hand...
IMO, that should be the starting point for warranties.
