Smart Investment of $40

United States
June 25, 2016 12:18pm CST
About fifteen years ago I bought two whole room air treatment systems from Amway. They were not cheap, but have been wonderfully effective and helpful for me. I have allergies and asthma, breathing clean air is a necessity. So when the filters need replacing, I get on the phone and order new ones. They are not inexpensive either. When I called a few weeks ago, I was told that the filters were in short supply, as this particular system has been replaced with a newer model. I increased the number of filters I ordered and now have enough to last me about ten years. This morning I realized that a part on the outside of one of the systems was beginning to show its age. This is a filter which fits on the back of the machine and covers the intake. I called to order replacements for both filters. The agent had trouble finding the number for part. But then I suggested she look at my purchase history, since I replaced this part once before. It took her a fairly long time, since she had to scan through years of purchases to find it. But she did, and I ordered two for each machine. This way, I am covered for the ten years I expect the inside carbon and hepa replacement filters I bought earlier to last. This is the best $40 I have spent in a long time. How do you stretch out the longevity of appliances at your house?
21 people like this
19 responses
@rebelann (110603)
• El Paso, Texas
25 Jun 16
Good question. Usually I buy small area heating units in case I need extra heat in our winter or fans for our long summers .... usually what I do is keep either in a plastic bag while not in use to prevent dust build up but right now I need to replace a fan, they don't make them to last that long anymore.
3 people like this
@rebelann (110603)
• El Paso, Texas
26 Jun 16
Very true @ElizabethWallace I just hope that attitude changes one day.
2 people like this
• United States
25 Jun 16
No, they certainly do not. Most things are built to fall apart. It's the way businesses stay in the black now. Sad.
2 people like this
• United States
26 Jun 16
@rebelann If teachers were allowed to teach values, like they did in the past, and not just answers for a test, then there is a chance.
1 person likes this
@Lucky15 (37346)
• Philippines
25 Jun 16
I read the manual and look for..how to do this and that..caring tips. So far..well..ahmm
3 people like this
• United States
26 Jun 16
That's a good idea. Most people don't bother reading the booklet that comes with an appliance. You and I are probably the only ones who do. LOL
2 people like this
• United States
26 Jun 16
@Lucky15 Me neither, but evidently that doesn't bother others.
1 person likes this
@Lucky15 (37346)
• Philippines
26 Jun 16
@ElizabethWallace don't want to be clueless. Lol
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
25 Jun 16
In many cases I would be inclined to take the easy route and replace the whole item l. I realise that it may not be the ideal solution and that many people may not be able to do this, but it suits me.
2 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
26 Jun 16
@ElizabethWallace At that price I would be doing precisely as you have done.
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Jun 16
As I mentioned to another friend, it all depends upon cost. The new units cost $2K each. So keeping the ones I have in replacement filters makes more sense.
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Jun 16
@Asylum It sure makes more sense to me.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
25 Jun 16
the only appliance I ghave to do with is the 'AC unit in my room and the housekeeping dept is fresponsible for any filtets as im in a retirement center lol c
2 people like this
• United States
25 Jun 16
I like it when things are done for me too.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
25 Jun 16
@ElizabethWallace but I hjave not seen anyone check if the unit is working properly at all in all the time I have been here Im in a retirement centertat tajkes iost of my soic aiul security and 'ssI payments to pay the high rent ajn board so Im paying in a w ay to have them maintian things proplerly nothing here is freel.
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Jun 16
@Hatley True, but nothing anywhere is free.
@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
25 Jun 16
Wow. Amway. I haven't heard that name in ages. I actually joined up with that company back in the early 90's. What a joke. There was no way to really earn money with then. It was a pyramid scheme. But they dod have good products. I first saw the Phantom vacuum in Amway. Then it became popular for awhile. I looked Amway up not log ago and found they are online now. I will not bother with them anymore though. I didn't like the people that worked with them. Too egotistical.
2 people like this
@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
26 Jun 16
@ElizabethWallace Look, When I got into it years ago, there were people there that did not care about nothing but the bottom line. Maybe that was the chapter here. I don't know. But it wasn't a pleasant experience for me. That's why I left. I hate fake people. I cannot stand them. Not one that I met were honest. And also the prices on some of their items were way too high and still are. Not all their products are superior to others. I had a few customers and I never lied to them. If I thought something was too much money I would tell them not to buy. But there were some products that were real awesome. And well worth the money. I went to a few meetings and it wasn't about making things better. It was how to screw more people out of money. That just did not fly with me. I am not knocking anything here. I am telling you my experiences with this company.
2 people like this
• United States
26 Jun 16
@inertia4 Your experience was with a support group, not the company. The company does not hold events or put on home meetings. Your support group sucked. Mine was dishonest and manipulative at the top. When I came back from South Africa, I had lots of knowledge on how to help people make money, but you cannot build a business without the upline. I could not stand being in the same room with the people to screwed me over so badly. So I am done.
2 people like this
• United States
26 Jun 16
Okay, I have to set a few things straight. A pyramid scheme is a multi-level marketing business in which there is no product. It is like a ponzi scheme where money is made from signing people up. This is illegal and not done in the Amway business. You must buy and/or sell products for profit to be created with Amway. The company was not popular "for awhile", it was and still is a multi-billion dollar business and operates in many many countries. Now as for making money, I did, but it required an enormous amount of time and effort. Make that a super duper enormous amount of time and effort. I was talked into helping open the business in South Africa. I was very successful, but the profit I should have earned ended up in the pockets of the people I trusted. My bad. As with many businesses or jobs, the people you work with can make or break your success and/or profit. As for me, I am a terrible judge of character. The people I trusted did not have the integrity I thought they did, but they were people who mentored me and did not work for Amway. As you can see, I still use many of the Amway products. They are very good value for money and do not cause me allergy problems.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (202882)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Jun 16
I'm not as good at maintenance as I should be. With my vacuum cleaner, I DO occasionally take out the filter thingy (basically a little sponge) and wash it, as instructed. With my blenders, I just run 'em dill they die of "ice-induced exhaustion" and then buy a new one. All of my stereo gear gets periodic treatments with generic De-Oxit, which basically cleans electrical contacts.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (202882)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Jun 16
@ElizabethWallace Oh, I vacuum the fan on my computer too. It gets dusty around here, due to the woodworking.
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Jun 16
@TheHorse That's a good idea.
• United States
25 Jun 16
You probably do more than most people.
2 people like this
@maezee (42003)
• United States
25 Jun 16
I have heard of these types of machines but never bought one. Did you feel an improvement in the air? (Not sure if that is something noticable/measurable). I personally do not know how to stretch out the shelf life of appliances (if I find out, you'll be the first to know) :)
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Jun 16
It is very noticeable. When I taught, I put one in my classroom and one at home in my bedroom. The first day it was on at school, I didn't tell the kids. One boy walked into the room, took a few steps, stopped and said, "What have you done? The air feels lighter and easier to breathe." He was not the only one. Many of the students with breathing problems spoke up immediately. Works for me too, plus my doctor said it is very wise. It keeps allergens out of the air.
@BelleStarr (61050)
• United States
25 Jun 16
I don't have any that I need to extend, I do wash the filters on my AC units but all my major appliances are really old about 20 years from when we rebuilt our home after the fire and so far so good!!
2 people like this
• United States
25 Jun 16
I replace my water filters and the one for my HVAC every three months. At least the air filters for these machines last a year or two.
1 person likes this
@marlina (154184)
• Canada
25 Jun 16
That was smart of you to order all these, so now you are okay for quite a long time.
2 people like this
• United States
25 Jun 16
That is what I thought. The new ones cost about $2K each now.
@jaboUK (64363)
• United Kingdom
25 Jun 16
I haven't got any appliance like the ones you mention, but when things wera out I usually just replace them.
2 people like this
• United States
26 Jun 16
It all depends upon cost. These systems cost me about $1K each new. Now the price has doubled. So I want them to last for a long time.
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22412)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
25 Jun 16
Sounds like you have an eye for a bargain... and if one of the units expires, you can out the surplus filters up on eBay for a tidy profit in a few years' time!
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Jun 16
That's true, but I despise eBay. Well, I like the results, of course, but the process frustrates me.
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
26 Jun 16
You have a birds' house indoors??
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
26 Jun 16
You are wise to do that. We remodel often, so never had to stretch out the longevity of appliances. I hope our new kitchen lasts forever, because I'm so done shopping. My hubs is in charge of replacing filters, getting the furnace, hot water heater, well, and softener systems checked or repaired.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323043)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jun 16
That was a good idea to get in a supply of parts. We try to maintain stuff we buy. With the help of the internet, Vince is pretty good at fixing small problems in appliances too.
2 people like this
• United States
26 Jun 16
Both filtration systems work well, but if there were no filters, it wouldn't matter.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (133476)
• Roseburg, Oregon
26 Jun 16
That is great you were able to get replacement parts and not have to buy new.
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
27 Jun 16
We have a central system in our home to take care of this and it is great. Longevity and appliances are too words that are not often in the same sentence.
@Inlemay (17715)
• South Africa
27 Jun 16
Cool, very cool
@andriaperry (116876)
• Anniston, Alabama
26 Jun 16
Nothing that has lasted 15 years, except the refrigerator, that was smart to get all you need before they were sold out.
@sj3011 (623)
25 Jun 16
Haha..in India these types of people are known as Baniya.
• United States
25 Jun 16
I looked up the meaning of this word. It doesn't seem to make sense in this case. What did you mean?