Is it just me or do all your appliances have a really short life these days?

@thea09 (18305)
Greece
July 13, 2009 3:21am CST
It is so frustrating. The fridge constantly ices up. The CD player has died. The car CD player has died. The car air conditioner is kaput. My hairdryer blew up yet again. The washing machine had to be replaced. The DVD player won't play. The toilet flush need constant repair. Do all these things happen to you too on a regular basis? I know it's a ploy to make us keep buying new things as they are cheaper to replace than repair but it is so frustrating. With the economy as it is only the essentials get fixed and for now other things aren't getting replaced. The car is the worst, no music while I drive and no cold air when the temps are regularly in excess of 30 degrees. Tell me your frustrations with 'things'.
3 people like this
9 responses
@kaz_man (292)
• Australia
13 Jul 09
Yes I agree with your question. The appliances are really short in life. I guess the companies only care about money and making shareholders happy, not the actual customers. Before, TV's were efficient and last more than 15+ years guaranteed. now they probably have a life span of 1-5+ years. And also Cellphones, or mobile phones, my old phone is still working, but I updated it to a newer phone, it broke within a year. Its annoying most appliances break after the warranty finishes.
2 people like this
• India
13 Jul 09
yea i really agree with your question.the appliance are very very short in life .the things which are in regular use now are efficient.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
13 Jul 09
Hello kaz-man, short life span does seem to be the norm now. I am going to tempt fate now by saying the TV has been going strong for nearly 6 years! You've now reminded me that the mobile had to be replaced too. The list is never ending.
1 person likes this
• India
13 Jul 09
Well, it does happen to nearly everyone, you are not alone. But, as i see in my home, these problems are generally experienced with relatively new items i.e. there are some things more than 10 years old and they perform well but some things purchased just a year ago do not work. Looks like, in stiff competition now a days, the companies have decreased quality to give things at low prices. Happy Mylotting!!
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
13 Jul 09
Hello, I know I'm not alone in this, and as you say the newer the thing the more likely it is to break quickly, but some of these things aren't that cheap to replace these days either.
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
13 Jul 09
What I have been noticing is that the more complex an item becomes; the more it has a tendency to break. In other words, the more parts you have and the more complex it is; the more likely it is that one or more will break. My ink jet printer has lasted almost 4 years - all it does is print. My husband's ink jet printer, fax, scanner, copier only lasted a year before something went wrong with it. My husband drives my little 1997 Geo Metro and in the last 2 years, the only thing it needed other than a new set of tires and the occasional oil change was a new starter. If you are not familiar with these cars - it has a 3 cylinder engine, no power steering, and very little that is non-essential (it does have a cdplayer/radio); it also gets over 40 mpg. My friend's 2007 Chevy Malibu just got back from a recall and it has to go back to the dealer for "realigning and restoring the door"; the door was not properly aligned and it bent the door frame. Her car has all the "options" - power steering, power doors, etc. etc. etc. Since she bought it new, it has been in and out of the shop several times. Right now it is under warranty; but, when that warranty runs out the constant repairs will either cost her a fortune or she will be trading in the car to get one with a new warranty. Fewer parts, fewer failures, and fewer repairs/replacements.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
14 Jul 09
Hello speakeasy, interesting response. I'd forgotten my printer broke and I now live without one. Now tires I consider don't break, I expect to have to replace 2 of them each year and the other 2 the next year, but if you saw the road I live on you'd understand. I am familiar with cars in that I expect it to move but the nice man at the garage does the necessary. My locking mechanism on the steering wheel is waiting to be fixed but said nice man is taking weeks to bother to get round to fixing it but has left me with a temporary fix probably in the hope that if I can get by he won't have to charge me for the expensive repair it actually needs. If the temp repair fails he will no doubt respond immediately to my emergency call!
• United States
14 Jul 09
They definitely do NOT make things like they used to... They want you to have to go out and buy new stuff. Cars are a real good example, not only are they not as well-made, they have made it alot more difficult to repair your own vehicle. My BF's car has a bad window on the driver's side; we have to wait to repair it, way too expensive right now
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
14 Jul 09
Spot on Bohemian, I certainly can't afford to replace the defunct air con and heating system in my car at 600 euros, instead we suffer and hence the car now being referred to as the 'sweat bucket'.
@jules67 (2788)
• Philippines
14 Jul 09
I agree with your sentiments. Today, some of the products have low quality. In just a year or worse, less than a year, the appliances that you purchased already malfunctions. I believe that they are not anymore giving customer satisfaction with the product that they purchase. I hope that makers or manufacturers will adhere to the policy that quality products have long life. It is frustrating that after you have paid for it, it is already broken.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
14 Jul 09
I agree Jules, very frustrating. You wouldn't believe how many kettles I've gone through in the last few years, but then again they appear to be an unknown quantity out here and hardly used in the majority of households.
@myx_03 (540)
• Philippines
14 Jul 09
We better take care of the things like appliances.. Even the famous branded appliances has a short life if we don't take care of it. We have a washing machine and it's almost 5years and its still doing good.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
14 Jul 09
Good point I suppose myx, if I had the slightest idea how to take care of electrical things, and the car is at the mercy of the constant red mud dust infiltrating each of its orifices.
@Fortunata (1135)
• United States
13 Jul 09
Yep. So far, vacuum cleaner, coffee maker...Guess you get what you pay for me, at least in my case, lol!
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
13 Jul 09
Excellent - two things I don't own so can't break down on me. Bad luck for you though. Actually I've had so many cafitieres break on me that I've just given up on them and now use a brik instead. Much cheaper.
@uicbear (1900)
• United States
13 Jul 09
You know, I can't complain right now. Most of our gizmo's and gadgets have been working pretty well (imagine me knocking on wood). I think the biggest problem is that companies look to cut costs so much, that they use inferior materials that just don't stand up to the wear and tear of everyday use. I stick to buying well known brands for quality, even if they cost more, and I've found that they last alot longer.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
14 Jul 09
Hi uicbear, I had no idea American's used that expression about wood, good one. i suppose I'll have to agree should have bought quality in the first place, mind you I did with the toilet seat having seen everyone having broken plastic things, didn't work though, the expensive wooden one still broke at the hinges!
@abanerji (1026)
• India
13 Jul 09
well, it is the ordeal of all those who are buying and using products. buying a gadget means spending on its maintenance.the more gadgets one owns the more one is found in the repair shop.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
13 Jul 09
Hi abenarji, I agree with you but the point is it never used to happen, things used to have a good shelf life.