Can Haier really be so cheap?

[ea56]

Count me in that 5% also that expect an owners manual to be provided with an appliance that may cost several hundreds of dollars. When you are trying to figure out how to use a new appliance properly or have a problem with the appliance you don’t need the added aggravation of having to either get on your computer or tablet or try to read an online manual on a tiny phone screen.

Printing it out is an added expense and task for the new owner. Printer ink is expensive, the paper not so much. But lots of manuals can have 25 or more pages and thats a lot of printer ink used to print them. If consumers continue to accept this cheap skate tactic of appliance manufactures they’ll continue to find yet more ways to stick it to the consumer. We already have to pay for the fill hoses on new washers, these used to always be included with a new washer.

I have owners manuals for i939 and 1949 Westinghouse Electric ranges and they are so much better than what is provided these days, that is if you can even get a printed manual.

Eddie

 

[novum]

You should see some European manuals, when they are printed they often come in about 20 languages, sometimes with several books and pamphlets. It's often a bit ridiculous when it's for something that needs no serious instructions like a kettle.

 

[DADoES]

 
<blockquote>Cost of preparing, editing, publishing, binding and so forth of said manuals.</blockquote> Preparing and editing part also applies to electronic/.pdf versions, and there's "publishing" regards to maintaining a public server for access/downloading.

 

[launderess]

'Preparing and editing part..."

Yes it does, but as noted in one's post quality of written material on average has gone down over years.

It varies but often most of what's written wouldn't pass muster for high school English. Good part seems what many other things are today, some poor soul in a foreign country where English (at least in terms of grammar, style and usage) is not their native language.

It's not unlike when one reaches call center CSR in foreign countries. Yes, they speak English but are often reading from a script. This and or you ask specific information and response goes around the barn.

 

[rp2813]

This discussion has gotten me wondering.  Do new cars still come with an owner's manual (book)?  I'm thinking of Tesla in particular, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's accessed via the despicable screens that I'll wager have made everything more cumbersome, time consuming and distracting than just pushing a button.

 

[DADoES]

 
My Ford Fusion has a full printed/book manual and a few other booklets ... but that was 10 years ago.

 

[suburbanmd]

Every time I rent a current model Toyota there's a set of manuals in the glove compartment, usually still shrink-wrapped.

 

[ea56]

Re:#23

Oh yes Ralph, those cumbersome screens that make everything more difficult than just pushing a button! I know what you’re talking about. Just before the Pandemic I took our car into the Honda dealer to have the rear brake pads replaced and they gave me a new 2020 Honda Civic as a loaner. It had all that new fangled BS with the f’ing touch screens. Talk about making every one of the simple things like changing the radio station, adjusting the heater or AC way more distracting and complicated than necessary!

Call me an old coot, but I think all of this nonsense is just more crap to break down and WAY too distracting! A well thought out dashboard and controls should be able to be viewed easily, without the need for the driver to take their eyes off of the road and the controls should be able to be accessed and used by touch and feel again without the need to look away from the road.

Drivers need to be paying attention to the task at hand, driving the freaking automobile! Our 2007 Honda Civic has all the modern conveniences needed and I can drive it easily by touch and feel without ever needing to take my eyes off of the road.

I wouldn’t have one of these new cars if you gave it to me.

Eddie

 

[mattl]

I'm in the middle on this one.  Give me a logical dash,, no matter if it's a screen. My Volt has a touch screen but it's pretty logically laid out.  However, a cousin leased a Tesla and to me there was no logic to the setup.  Plus you had to look right to the center screen for anything including speed.  I want a speedometer straight on for easy viewing.

 

There are good designs and stupid ones.

 

[foraloysius]

When my mother bought her first automatic washing machine, the wife of the owner came over to explain how to use it. I bet there was a manual too.

I ordered a new car yesterday, I can tell in a few months if it comes with a manual.

 

[joeekaitis]

Our most recent majors . . .

 

. . . Frigidaire induction stove and Samsung front load washer came with paper documentation including separate installer's guide, quick start guides and full use and care manuals.

 

[combo52]

Printed manuals with new products

I just installed a GE French door refrigerator yesterday afternoon and put the optional icemaker kit in the freezer. Both the icemaker and the refrigerator came with extensive manuals, Jeff I just don't think GE likes you, lol.

My new Chrysler Pacifica came with over 750 pages of material in two different books took me about a week of time to get through them, they could've been about a third smaller if they just left all the warnings out about not sitting on the roof of the car and trying to drive it, etc.

John

 

[hobbyapocalypse]

all the warnings about not sitting on the roof of the car

It's interesting to see the changes in instruction manuals over the years. The ones for my Maytag wringer are little works of art, and every other paragraph isn't a safety warning with big exclamation points.

The 1955 manual hints at lurking danger in one line on page 12 where it says "The red release bar is for your safety and convenience."

In the 1964 version the safety precaution was expanded to about 6 lines and is found on page 1. Still no exclamation points though.

 

[countryguy]

My current car, a '21 Volvo XC60 came with a printed manual. It also has the manual available on the screen and is searchable. I just test drove a '25 Genesis GV70 yesterday and the sales person told me that a hard copy manual does not come with the car. I much prefer a hard copy manual over trying to read it on-line.

Gary.

 

[ozzie908]

A new Skoda Kodiaq

Has a screen which you can do everything on which takes ages to learn the short cuts though, It does have a manual but you can find out more by searching the database yourself.

It has warnings for everything including getting to close to a car and if you do not touch the brake every time you slow down it brakes for you.... Sadly not has yet has it been able to distinguish between cars and snow it puts the brakes on and sends you through a hedge !!!!!