Interesting!
Video: Are today's washers made to break?
- Thread starter moparwash
- Start date
Help Support :
Everything made after 2010 is designed to break and fail. There’s a big difference in the quality of appliances built in the 2000’s vs the 2010’s, same thing for cars. Technology has improved since the 2000’s but the quality and quality control has a bit to be desired since some things are broken right out of the box or develop problems soon after. 21st century engineering simply CANNOT compare to 20th century engineering and design.
I've been following his YT channel for a while.
today's washers
Let me tell you. Yes they are! They don't clean well either. I'd take a Whirlpool direct drive, GE filter-flo, or even a Speed Queen Classic.
Let me tell you. Yes they are! They don't clean well either. I'd take a Whirlpool direct drive, GE filter-flo, or even a Speed Queen Classic.
smartdrive1100
Well-known member
100%
Everything has been made to break for years!
Appliances, cars, etc.
Lightbulbs where also made to break so the companies would get more sales and it worked!
I also think the little coupling in the whirlpool DD was something that was made to break so that people would throw it out and get a new machine but that’s just what I think.
Everything has been made to break for years!
Appliances, cars, etc.
Lightbulbs where also made to break so the companies would get more sales and it worked!
I also think the little coupling in the whirlpool DD was something that was made to break so that people would throw it out and get a new machine but that’s just what I think.
No surprise here:
85% of today's appliances are cheap, flimsy junk full of China parts that are meant to break and can't be fixed. Of course, a DD washer is better in every way than a VMW. The DD is one of the best TL machines ever built and the VMW is garbage at best.
WK78
85% of today's appliances are cheap, flimsy junk full of China parts that are meant to break and can't be fixed. Of course, a DD washer is better in every way than a VMW. The DD is one of the best TL machines ever built and the VMW is garbage at best.
WK78
When I see those stamped steel transmissions and all that cheap plastic Im glad Im still using an antique Maytag with its cast iron spinning weapon of a trans and steel tubs etc.
I am pretty sure a majority of those Whirlpool VMW washers have gone to scrap in the 12 years they have been in production. Not really environmentally responsible to make disposable machines that can’t make it past 5+ years without major repairs or a complete overhaul. It takes A LOT of energy to process steel than it is to make appliances that will last 15 to 20+ years. Whirlpool should have continued making the direct drive washers since some of the VMW washers have the same EXACT capacity as the direct drives did.
repairguy
Well-known member
Reply# 4
Of course the little coupling on a direct drive washer was designed as a weak point to break in order to protect the motor or gearcase from overload conditions. Although washers were thrown out for this failure and it was an inconvenience when it failed it was much better than the heavy duty version of the coupling which would not fail so it rounded the shaft on the motor, gearcase, or both instead of the coupling failing sending the machine to scrap for sure.
Of course the little coupling on a direct drive washer was designed as a weak point to break in order to protect the motor or gearcase from overload conditions. Although washers were thrown out for this failure and it was an inconvenience when it failed it was much better than the heavy duty version of the coupling which would not fail so it rounded the shaft on the motor, gearcase, or both instead of the coupling failing sending the machine to scrap for sure.
The DD motor coupler is equivalent to a belt. Yes, people toss out machines for failed couplers for being alarmed at the unhealthy noises that may occur but it's as crazy to to do that as it is to trash a car for a bad battery.
The online parts source I typically use has couplers for $11. Non-OEM items can be found for less than $8.
Melvin, are old-style couplers without the metal insert still available, as either OEM or non-?
It's easy to keep beating a dead horse, i.e. that modern machines are not as good as older ones. As this is an appliance site, members have more thoughts about appliances than the average consumer. I remember a fellow member telling here that a relative had bought a new house (we're talking mcmansion here, with a 5 car garage). When it was time to replace the washer he told his wife to go buy the cheapest washer available, which was a very basic toploader (IIRC a Kenmore with temperature settings in the timer) for $199.- back then.
A good quality machine like the ones of yesteryear would cost around $2500.- now. No regular consumer (not with a special interest in appliances) is going to fork out that kind of money for "just" a washing machine. A lot of regular consumers don't even know what brand their washer is.
Actually I think it is quite a miracle that manufacturers can make a machine that works for a reasonable amount of years for the prices they are getting for their products. For instance some members here speak highly of their Amana or Roper basic toploaders. $629.- for the Amana is around 25% of the price a really good machine would cost. A lot of consumers find that more than enough for a washing machine.
I think modern machines are not made to break, the margins are just too small for the manufacturers to make a machine that really lasts long. They are just selling what the market is asking for. So don't blame the manufacturers but the consumers.
A good quality machine like the ones of yesteryear would cost around $2500.- now. No regular consumer (not with a special interest in appliances) is going to fork out that kind of money for "just" a washing machine. A lot of regular consumers don't even know what brand their washer is.
Actually I think it is quite a miracle that manufacturers can make a machine that works for a reasonable amount of years for the prices they are getting for their products. For instance some members here speak highly of their Amana or Roper basic toploaders. $629.- for the Amana is around 25% of the price a really good machine would cost. A lot of consumers find that more than enough for a washing machine.
I think modern machines are not made to break, the margins are just too small for the manufacturers to make a machine that really lasts long. They are just selling what the market is asking for. So don't blame the manufacturers but the consumers.
mark_wpduet
Well-known member
well I started following these forums in 2005 when I bought my duet...and I can totally remember everyone saying (anything made today is JUNK) in 2005! In 2005, it had to be made in 60s 70s 80s or 90s...that anything made after 2000 was pretty much junk...
but that all being said....it's true...everything is cheapening...cutting corners...designed to fail...really good for the planet isn't it? Mandate it for energy and water usage so it's green...and hope it doesn't fall apart.. Makes total sense.
but that all being said....it's true...everything is cheapening...cutting corners...designed to fail...really good for the planet isn't it? Mandate it for energy and water usage so it's green...and hope it doesn't fall apart.. Makes total sense.
repairguy
Well-known member
Reply# 9
Glenn I haven’t found the older style couplings minus the metal inserts to be available anymore. Every now and then I find one that is NOS and snatch it up.
Glenn I haven’t found the older style couplings minus the metal inserts to be available anymore. Every now and then I find one that is NOS and snatch it up.
"I simply am stating the facts"
Sean, I didn't mention you because my comment wasn't addressed specifically at you, but apparently you thought my comment fitted you.
BTW, I haven't read any facts from you in this thread, just opinions.
Sean, I didn't mention you because my comment wasn't addressed specifically at you, but apparently you thought my comment fitted you.
BTW, I haven't read any facts from you in this thread, just opinions.
I work in a store that's half appliances and half grills - mostly Weber and Napoleon with a few other brands
I had a customer today who spent almost 1,800 Euros on some Napoleon grill. We don't even offer a washer that expensive and if we did, no one would pay that amount of money.
It's crazy to me how much money customers spend on these grills that are realistically used for maybe only 1/4 of the year. Similarly, people are willing to spend a little more on ovens. I guess it's because they actually <span style="text-decoration: underline;">want</span> to BBQ and eat. It's an enjoyable thing to do. Fancy coffee machines or food processors would also fall in that category.
But washers and dryers? Eww, yuck. That's a chore they want nothing to do with. So they gravitate towards the cheapest white box they can find that'll spin their clothes in a circle, while having great energy efficiency... because, well, energy needs to be saved. Never mind that gasoline is crazy expensive; people are still speeding down the highway like lunatics. But washing laundry, yeah, that's where the big savings are at.
Now, some customers will say that their old machine lasted 20 or 30 years. But it is generally accepted that their new purchase won't last as long. Maybe I should do an experiment and tell them to purchase a commercial machine for upwards of 2,000 Euros, which might last them that long again. But really, no one would do that. The vast, vast majority of people rather junk a cheap machine every so often that to make an investment in high quality.
To add to what Louis said about margins: well, by selling that one grill, I have probably generated more revenue than by selling ten washers. While a grill might have a margin of around 30% or more, appliances are usually around 5 to 10 % (if that).
I had a customer today who spent almost 1,800 Euros on some Napoleon grill. We don't even offer a washer that expensive and if we did, no one would pay that amount of money.
It's crazy to me how much money customers spend on these grills that are realistically used for maybe only 1/4 of the year. Similarly, people are willing to spend a little more on ovens. I guess it's because they actually <span style="text-decoration: underline;">want</span> to BBQ and eat. It's an enjoyable thing to do. Fancy coffee machines or food processors would also fall in that category.
But washers and dryers? Eww, yuck. That's a chore they want nothing to do with. So they gravitate towards the cheapest white box they can find that'll spin their clothes in a circle, while having great energy efficiency... because, well, energy needs to be saved. Never mind that gasoline is crazy expensive; people are still speeding down the highway like lunatics. But washing laundry, yeah, that's where the big savings are at.
Now, some customers will say that their old machine lasted 20 or 30 years. But it is generally accepted that their new purchase won't last as long. Maybe I should do an experiment and tell them to purchase a commercial machine for upwards of 2,000 Euros, which might last them that long again. But really, no one would do that. The vast, vast majority of people rather junk a cheap machine every so often that to make an investment in high quality.
To add to what Louis said about margins: well, by selling that one grill, I have probably generated more revenue than by selling ten washers. While a grill might have a margin of around 30% or more, appliances are usually around 5 to 10 % (if that).
Not all blame is on consumers...
Dont forget all companies have profit margins. Its they who are really to blame for cost cutting because of high union labor costs, high insurance costs, high property value costs, some states tax you on machinery as property plus inventory tax, high material costs, etc. Most of it stems from the high operating cost of them doing business at that particular location. Hence why they relocate in the first place to either Mexico or China because its cheap labor and no insurance plus sourcing cheap parts from China. Its been a long snow ball effect the last 50 years of everything going up in price to manufacture a product. Companies did what they had to to survive and compete. Decades ago it was to move down South, then Mexico, now its China. I imagine it was pretty inexpensive for Maytag to produce that cast iron bear of a trans in Newton many decades ago. It finally got cost prohibitive. To keep costs down and value high they should have sent the tooling elsewhere to make it just as good but still at their old costs scale. Same with other parts as well. Most stuff made in China is garbage, however I have seen stuff made in China for companies like Honda etc that are still built to a high standard in their own factories.
Dont forget all companies have profit margins. Its they who are really to blame for cost cutting because of high union labor costs, high insurance costs, high property value costs, some states tax you on machinery as property plus inventory tax, high material costs, etc. Most of it stems from the high operating cost of them doing business at that particular location. Hence why they relocate in the first place to either Mexico or China because its cheap labor and no insurance plus sourcing cheap parts from China. Its been a long snow ball effect the last 50 years of everything going up in price to manufacture a product. Companies did what they had to to survive and compete. Decades ago it was to move down South, then Mexico, now its China. I imagine it was pretty inexpensive for Maytag to produce that cast iron bear of a trans in Newton many decades ago. It finally got cost prohibitive. To keep costs down and value high they should have sent the tooling elsewhere to make it just as good but still at their old costs scale. Same with other parts as well. Most stuff made in China is garbage, however I have seen stuff made in China for companies like Honda etc that are still built to a high standard in their own factories.
There are price-points that the market must meet.
There's no question that appliances were built more robustly in the 1940s, 50s, 60, 70s and 80s, even into the 90s. They could be then. They cannot be such today while maintaining the prices the average consumer is willing to pay.
It is what it is.
Yes, a washing machine should cost nothing and do it's job unseen. There is another side too, people who buy expensive kitchen appliances but never use them. Just to have them for showing off to their neighbours.
Yes, ofcourse companies have profit margins, if they didn't have them, they wouldn't be making appliances. For many years a lot of manufacturers were already buying parts from everywhere around the world. There used to be an appliance site where you could read about that. I think it was appliances.com, but not sure. That site doesn't exist anymore.
Yes, ofcourse companies have profit margins, if they didn't have them, they wouldn't be making appliances. For many years a lot of manufacturers were already buying parts from everywhere around the world. There used to be an appliance site where you could read about that. I think it was appliances.com, but not sure. That site doesn't exist anymore.
