Regulatory Capture and Washers

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This does make me Angry too,again as I say before-both the companies and Gov't are DESTROYING your freedom of choice!!This crap needs to stop!!!The water and enrgy crap is way OVERBLOWN!In the meantime if I want to buy a washer---the swap shops will be my first stop-and bet these OLDER machines WILL be in demand!If you buy the new FL machine-will it last 5 to 7Yrs-maybe 10?Don't think the machine will pay for itself in water or energy costs over that period.Give me a TL machine that is less expensive-and will last longer.
 
Vote with your wallet

My opinion? Just vote with your wallet.

GE, Whirlpool, WCI are just part of the problem. Whoever buys the crap from these manufacturers are the problem. If they build crap and nobody buys it, then maybe they'll reconsider building crap.

Whomever can build a machine which actually *works* and doesn't shred clothing due to low water levels, will sell the most machines. (In theory)

I'm hedging my bets on Alliance Laundry Systems..
 
It's a shame that...

...in a land that has historically referred to itself as 'the land of the free', that it would appear the statement 'only as free as we want you to be when it comes to choice' seems to hold true with respect to certain things.

 

Qualin, on the note of a machine that works. Well, may I respectfully suggest that any European machine will wash a full load clean, with your choice of cold/30c through to nearly boiling point, use very little water and most definately will NOT shred clothes. If you want a top load machine, well, then you can have a tumble action one that will do the same thing....

 

Or you can buy a Fisher and Paykel machine with a wash plate....they seem to work well, appear to be reliable and clean well - especially with liquid detergent of which so many on here appear to be fond of....and they certainly won't cause any more wear on clothing that a centre post agitator machine.

 

BUT

 

If you want a new machine that was built like your mothers Maytag or Whirlpool from 1965, then you're almost out of luck in every country. Europe has Miele and VZug, the US has Speed Queen. So either put up the cash those manufacturers charge for their respective machines or stop moaning about it. Don't forget that the $300 or so your folks paid for their machines in the 50's, 60's was worth a huge amount compared to today. Effectively, if you spent USD$300 on an appliance in 1965 and then wanted to spend the equivalent today, you would need to find USD$2070.

 

If and when you have done that, you can have a grumble about quality and cost!

 

As an example, I paid out AUD$1250 for my mothers ASEA in 1988. In 1968, she paid about AUD$250 for her Simpson. That was roughly the same value when you apply CPI....well sod me if she didn't get the same life out of both machines - actually longer out of the ASEA as it's still working while the Simpson has been junked.
 
Ronhic,

I completely agree with you.

I've seen washers as cheap as $300 in the stores. The only way that is possible is if the washer is made with cheap labour and they've cut costs everywhere.

I can see how manufacturers would try to do anything they could to "punish" those who buy a cheap machine.. They buy the $300 special, it lasts 18 months, breaks down, so they just buy another one... and another... and another... since they're so poorly made to begin with.

What the consumer doesn't know is that if they buy a new machine every 1.5 years at $300 a pop, They just made that manufacturer $3000 over the span of 15 years. In the eyes of the management, that's a lot of profit. Shareholders love to see high sales figures too.

In the interests of business, it's not economical to sell machines for $2000 each which last for 20 years. It is very profitable to sell $2000 machines which last for five years.

The sad part is.. Over 15 years, the consumer spending $2k per machine would blow $6000.. nearly double the amount of the person who keeps replacing his or her BOL $300 machine.
 
Interesting

Oh yes, this does make our group angry, doesn't it. I only hope that someday soon, this falls apart and people wake up to what is happening.

Thanks for posting, Peter.

Malcolm
 
It just may be a hit piece against big business using government to boost their income, but the government plays along. That is infuriating. All cloaked with saving the environment tree hugging. Crock o' $hit...
 

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