Lowe's Home Improvement - Am I overreacting? or......

[knitwits1975]

Now please keep in mind that being a tool guy, a woodworker, and a serious DIY'er, I've been a steady customer of Lowe's Home Improvement for several years. I saw a recent advertisement on television from Lowe's that I really found irritating. Toward the end of this commercial when they pitch their appliances to us, they also pitch delivery and haul away service, which is great, except they show this old vintage Maytag Dryer (I think) as if to be carted off like the other junk. I've seen too many of us search to find and painstakingly restore these American classics, and this was in mint condition. What a rotten shame that this society has fostered, even encouraged this practice of the disposal everything (for lack of better words) for so long, of course, maybe I've gone off my rocker. I Do Have a feeling that there's probably not one of us on this website that wouldn't love to have it. It Would Go with My A606 I want to restore. Anyway, Please Share Your Thoughts.

 

[andrewinorlando]

Knitwits - I have to say, I totally agree with you. There is no sense of nostalgia and the quality that went along with it these days. Most people don't appreciate what was. I find it amusing that all of the recent so-called new technology evident in many of today's appliances can trace their roots back to the 60's or 70's, and even the 50's in some cases. I guess the saying, "what's old is new again" would apply here? I'd rather just have the old and be done with it. Oh how I miss my old KitchenAid dishwasher.

 

[thirtyater]

I too see that commercial daily and wish for that old Maytag that is being hauled off by Lowe's!

 

[toggleswitch]

Sadly you don't know what you have till you lose it...
More more more and new new new does not equate to happy happy happy. Some can even say less is more.

I am personally offended by the messages that advetisers give in trying to mold/change behaviors. I am further offened that the average American consumer falls for it.

Drink this beer and you will be popular with the ladies. (Doesn't work for me and beer bellies dont appeal to everyone....) Buy this SUV and you will have status. Send money to Oral Roberts and you will be redeemed. Wear this and you are sexy.

I mean L H Mercy spare me.

 

[pulsator]

Maytag? Actually...

that is only part Maytag, (You gotta look REAL close!!!!) the dryer is actually a modern GE with the Maytag dryer panel cut out and pasted in place of the GE's.

 

[goatfarmer]

Well,I do my part to save unit's from Lowes,and other places,but I'm only one person,with limited space.The one's that aren't saved make the rest of them more valuable.

I try to get by Lowes at least twice a week or so.
kennyGF

 

[maytagbear]

One suggestion-

Stop watching television.

I only watch tv when I am in the hospital, or visiting people who won't turn it off.

I do have a tv, but I only use it as a monitor for video and my internet reciever.

I get news from newspapers and NPR.

I read books and magazines.

By not watching tv, I save lots of wear and tear on my nerves.

Just a suggestion.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[Whirlpool2000]

TO ANDREWINORLANDO
I TOO MISS MY OLD KITCHENAID DISHWASHER. THE PART I NEEDED FOR REPAIR WSN,T MADE ANYMORE,SO I REPLAED IT.I AM SORRY I DIDN,T TRY TO FIND IT SOMEWHERE.

View attachment 8-29-2005-19-18-59--Whirlpool2000.jpg

 

[dalangdon]

I feel the same way when they have those terrible TV programs where the most pitiful character gets a new house. Whenever I've seen those programs, which is not often, they seem always to be tearing down a nice old house in order to build some hideous McMansion.

And those home decorating shows are just as bad. I saw one recently where they totally trashed a very nice stone fireplace by facing it with some cheap looking marble slabs.

 

[appnut]

The latest issue of CR has a chart/table as to when to repair & replace things. All the appliance categories say to replace at age 6 or so. Pretty disgusting.

 

[DADoES]

OMG. That's ridiculous!

 

[gansky1]

Unbridled Consumption

6 years?? For many, that seems to be a long time. I often pick up machines less than three years old. Maybe this country needs to pay $5 a gallon for gas for a while.

 

[Designgeek]

We'll be getting $5/gallon gas in a couple of years, and maybe people will sit up and think.

Here's another vote for taking good care of things so they last as long as possible.

Problem is, the economy works on the basis of constant growth, which also means constant turnover. This is a systemic fatal flaw, like an automobile with a stuck accelerator and no brake.

All of this is going to turn around after the oil peak; if only it could happen without a major recession... sigh....

 

[toggleswitch]

There was an article in the Brit version of Time magazine a week or so ago, that if 1/4 of all the roofs in the USA had solar panels on them our need for crude oil woud be ZERO.

What exaclty is Uncle Sam waiting for? He should pay for them gladly and pay for their replacements every so many years.

The security of the nation demands it.

The oil-men wont like it? TFB. Well horse-breeders and blacksmiths were not too happy with Ford, either.......

 

[foraloysius]

Hmmm, actually I would love to pay $5.- a gallon! Recent research showed that in Holland gas is the most expensive, we pay over $6.60 a gallon. Solar power is not the solution to everything I'm afraid, especially not for cars.

 

[dalangdon]

Alternate energy.

It was amazing to see all the wind turbines in Iowa when I was back there a few years ago. IMO, it's a great dual use of the land.

A US president had solar panels put on the White House, to encourage the use of solar, but a subsequent president had them taken down. I'd tell you who they were, but I don't want to start a political fight, and it's not that important. I only bring it up to show why we haven't made any significant progress in the intervening years. The powers that be have had no interest, and don't want to alienate their corporate donors.

 

[westytoploader]

Quote: A US president had solar panels put on the White House...

I read an article and needless to say I was quite surprised as to who it was! Although in 2002, Bush had 167 new photovoltaic (9 kW) solar panels put in on the White House's primary maintenence building, and two solar thermal systems to provide hot water and heat the pool/spa. The panels also supplement the complex's water supply.

They went solar again!

 

[westytoploader]

And it seems like it's time to slide on over to the Super forum...

 

[knitwits1975]

Well pen pals, I appreciate your comments. It seems like these retailers as well as the automotive industries, and even household industries, such as the appliance industry, have all had an agenda for many years to consume the consumer. We buy our goods, and they have a certain amount of good life in them, and then they start to crap out. and the manufacturers are counting on the consumers to get fed up with the costly repair bills once the auto or whatever else has outlived it's reliability, and say to hell with it, and trade it in. Because this stupid thing is eating you ALIVE, and NOTHING is made to last. Unfortunately, the lion's share of vehicles are much too complex for the lay person without years of training and $20,000 worth of tools and equipment to handle. It's just a frustrating situation. I'm just elated that I'm not the only one who feels this way.