Stop buying new appliances and repair them instead, government adviser says

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support :

So true...

European nations already mandate cradle-to-grave programs for appliances and cars wherein a fee is imposed at purchase to cover cost of disassembly and recycling at the end of life, and every part is marked with appropriate recycling symbols to facilitate the process. We are way behind Europe in many aspects of sustainability, and we need to catch up. Corporations here are fighting it tooth and nail.
 
Oh I don't know ...

"But if appliances last longer and are made to be repaired what will happen to demand for new ones? And what will happen to the workers that build the new ones? "

The same thing that "happened" to workers from the '20s through the '70s when appliances were built to last a lifetime: THEY WILL KEEP MAKING THEM.

Interesting how during this golden period of appliance manufacturing -- before the notion of planned obsolescence -- the demand for workers building new stuff was at its historic HIGHEST.
 
Thank you!

 

I have been questioning the logic of continual replacement and the quest for energy efficiency for years.

 

The answer to the question what will manufacturers and workers do if they made a longer lasting product is obvious, make parts to repair what they've made and generate a greater need for more appliance repair people.  The folks that lose are in China and Mexico.  Most better built appliances weigh more and get shipped less!

 

I think one significant factor that keeps manufacturing abroad are our environmental regulations compared to Mexico or China.  As much as I love my vintage appliances, I don't believe they were created without any environmental waste.  In fact, I bet the lack of porcelain finish and chrome in modern society is a direct result of regulations.

 

I see only two ways of reversing this new is better mind set.  You either keep preaching to your friends, like we all do here or you tax the hell out of cheap imports and let that balance the true cost of goods.  It's sad though that China owns so much of the US.  We don't have a lot of leverage anymore.
 
Oh you beat me too it, daily mail running the same story...

I commented here are my comments:

richardc1983, Leeds, United Kingdom, moments ago:
When my 2 year old hoover washing machine broke down due to a drum bearing failure to have it repaired would have been the cost of a new machine. Tubs are now welded at the factory so only the whole tub can be replaced rather than individual components. All to keep manufacturing costs down and use of plastic is high. During the 2 years I had the machine it was repaired under warranty several times for new motor and timers and door hinge that snapped. I replaced the machine with a 30year old Hoover 1100 Electronic A3110 that an old lady was getting rid of as she was moving into a home. The machine cost me nothing, ive had it 6 years now in that time its only needed a new water pump it had the original in and carbon brushes for the motor. The parts are still available for the machine and cost me about £15 for the pump and the brushes cost about £5. Modern machines you would have to buy a whole new motor and then they are fiddly to replace due to all the electronic parts inside. You have to question the whole usage of water and energy vs the cost of replacing a whole machine that ends up going to landfill. Which is worse on the earth? I personally think they should go back to making machines like they used to, my "new" machine is now 36 years old and still going strong. It does a wash in half the time modern machines do them and cleans better. Yes it uses more water and probably electric but I don't think the average home would see much of a saving from new vs old. If your buying a new machine every few years at say £300 a time don't you think the penny's your saving on water/electric is lost anyway because your buying new each time. Modern machines are not meant to be repaired.. they are designed to be thrown away which is disgraceful really.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...tml?login#readerCommentsCommand-message-field
 
Production in China and Mexico

is due primarily to lower labor costs. Even so, there is still tremendous pressure in those locations to provide the cheapest possible product.
 
Kind of along the same lines.

When we bought our house a little over 5 years ago, we had to replace the furnace and a/c unit. The a/c unit was gone and the furnace had it's copper removed by someone while the house was sitting vacant in foreclosure. Trane used to have a good product so we purchased a Trane system. Furnace and a/c. Today we had to call the repairman for the 4th time, in the 5 years we owned it. It just upsets me that a unit I purchased has failed 4 times and needed new parts and or repair, and it is supposed to be from a company that had quality stuff.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top