topic Re: Nothing works anymore in Community Chat

Nothing works anymore

MoJoV — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 23:35:44 GMT

I bought a new washer last year....quit working in a month. The repair people said it was a design flaw by the engineers, they'd order a part. They did and it works.

Last week bought a new cooktop....the fourth burner won't turn on. Technician coming Wednesday, I HOPE. These days you never know. The woman I spoke with about it kept screwing up the numbers I was giving her. Just frustrating. Whenever I buy something new I keep waiting for something to mess up.

Thanks for listening.

Re: Nothing works anymore

blueroses47 — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 23:46:20 GMT

Things aren't made to last, that's for sure.

I keep wondering why my vacuums don't last even 5 years. I usually buy Sharks because I like their power and they are "sort of" reasonably priced, but even though I treat them well, and take care of them properly, things happen within 3-4 years, it seems.

I remember growing up with a Hoover that lasted well beyond 10 years, and did a good job.

Re: Nothing works anymore

skatting44 — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 23:50:27 GMT

Workmanship over all has declined in my opinion over the years, however since the pandemic , I wonder if slip shod work was done because of inexperienced or missing workers on various aasembly lines that make various products. That even includes some comments that Temptaions cookware items lately have had sloppy painting

Re: Nothing works anymore

Tuffcookie — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 23:57:44 GMT

OP, You're singing my song! I bought a new refrigerator in July. The very next morning, after delivery, I opened the freezer door (it is a side-by-side) and there was ice and frost outside of the ice maker and top part of the freezer. I set up a tech appointment for the following week. The tech came out and concluded the gasket on the freezer door was not installed properly. They can't just install a new gasket around the door. They have to replace the entire freezer door! It will take 6-8 weeks to come in and then they will call me to set up an appointment to install it!

Re: Nothing works anymore

judianne — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 00:16:04 GMT

l bought a Sears vacuum , the kind that you pulled around the floor with a long hose on it , about 40 years ago . lt still works well , though l have gotten a couple different ones since , we use this one for vacuuming out the cars. lt has so much suction , more than any new ones l have had . l worry about my newer appliances , can't afford to replace . My new 2000 dollar frig has a tiny spring that holds the flap for the door and of coare it broke right away , got a couple replacement for only a couple dollars and they broke too . l can replace the entire piece for $100 but it will just break again , will have the same issue , so we always have to push that little flap in by hand . Then got a new beautiful gas range $$$ . The knobs were plastic and broke , only replacement l can find are also plastic and 45 dollars each ! Then l had my counter top changed , After 5 years the seam where the corners come together lifted up , so the counter now has a ridge in 2 places , can't set anything there,it will tip over . lts awful . The installer said they are only warranty for 1 year ! ugh

Re: Nothing works anymore

queendiva — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 00:09:23 GMT

@blueroses47 : In terms of vacuums, I pay a little more for a Miele and it lasts for years.

Right now I have 3 Miele's: an upright that I got in 2000, a rechargeable stick vac that I bought last year to replace my Bissell Air Ram, using the 20% off coupon from BB&B dot com and a canister vac I scored at a garage sale last year for $10.00. It was in almost new condition.-score!

I admit that the upright is not used every day. I do have it serviced every couple of years to have it cleaned out, replace the belt and such. Will do the same as needed with the other two vacs.

I do not anticipate ever having to purchase another vacuum.

Re: Nothing works anymore

FiddleDeeDee — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 00:14:47 GMT

From what I have been told by many a tech; have read in multiple papers/magazines; online publication/discussion groups and friends/family about this subject:

items are NOT made to last in order to keep the money rolling in for the company; both the manufacturer and the repair companies. If you have something that never needs a repair or lasts a LONG time, then the only person who makes out on the deal is the consumer. Can't have that now, can we?

That's it folks. We blame it on poor manufacturing but the reality is, they're made this way on purpose.

Re: Nothing works anymore

MoJoV — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 01:52:02 GMT

@Tuffcookie wrote:
OP, You're singing my song! I bought a new refrigerator in July. The very next morning, after delivery, I opened the freezer door (it is a side-by-side) and there was ice and frost outside of the ice maker and top part of the freezer. I set up a tech appointment for the following week. The tech came out and concluded the gasket on the freezer door was not installed properly. They can't just install a new gasket around the door. They have to replace the entire freezer door! It will take 6-8 weeks to come in and then they will call me to set up an appointment to install it!

@Tuffcookie Is your fridge a Samsung? I've heard all kinds of bad stuff about those fridges. How frustrating to have that happen and have to put up with frost on a brand new appliance for months.

Re: Nothing works anymore

Tuffcookie — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 02:12:04 GMT

It is a Whirlpool, which I had prior to the new one. The old one lasted 20 years. This one is not starting out good!

Re: Nothing works anymore

ValuSkr — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 03:06:43 GMT

@skatting44 wrote:
Workmanship over all has declined in my opinion over the years, however since the pandemic , I wonder if slip shod work was done because of inexperienced or missing workers on various aasembly lines that make various products. That even includes some comments that Temptaions cookware items lately have had sloppy painting

Are Temp-tations really hand-painted? I know Tara says they are. But, in the volumes they produce, how could that be done with a modicum of neatness and accuracy? Using a template, perhaps?

Re: Nothing works anymore

NEvans2 — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 02:17:33 GMT

I can attest that Samsung appliances do not last,parts are almost impossible to get and if you can get them they are horribly expensive. My husband can fix anything so we don't have to pay for service calls. When my Samsung dishwasher needed new plastic wheels,hubby went to Samsung web site to price new ones. They were $40 for a set of two. We needed 12. We were also having problems with the water draining out. We bought a new dishwasher. Our Samsung was only seven years old. We bought a Bosch and I love it. The next Samsung to go is going to be the fridge. Even the appliance sales people try to steer customers away from Samsung. Great electronics, crappy appliances.

Re: Nothing works anymore

drizzellla — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 02:21:32 GMT

Friday we went to Lowe's to look for a new kitchen faucet. After looking at the large selection we still weren't sure. A Lowe's employee came up to us and asked if we needed help. And we said Oh Yes We Do.

He showed us features of different brands. He was so helpful. THEN my husband said we are replacing a faucet that was almost 40 years old. WELL, the guy said. The faucet you have in your kitchen now is better made than any faucet on display.

And I must admit some of the display models had handles broken and parts no longer in alignment. I believed him.

He said since the only problem with our faucet was it leaked if not turned off a certain way, buy a new repair kit.

My husband bought the only repair kit Lowe's sold and he couldn't get the faucet not to leak. So we found a repair kit made by Delta (our kitchen faucet brand) at Home Depot. In 5 minutes my husband had no leak and a working faucet.

Re: Nothing works anymore

hckynutjohn — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 05:00:27 GMT

@MoJoV

In what country were they made? Haven't bought any of those things in awhile, but when new(yes this decade) all of them have worked fine for me.

Sorry you had all these problems, I had it with my brand new 1965 Ford, and my brand new 1985 Oldsmobile. The 1st year the dealer had it longer than I did. Fortunately they gave me a new loaner to drive. Probably because the manager was a friend of mine.

Older does not always mean better, and the above 2 vehicles were Made in the USA.

hckynut 🇺🇸

Re: Nothing works anymore

ScrapHappy — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 10:59:36 GMT

For the past 6 years since moving into this house, all we've done is fix and replace. My washing machine broke twice, each time needing a new mother board, our irrigation lines (sprinklers) hae sprung a leak at least 4 times (talk about cha-ching), one of the mine water lines running to the house cracked, had to replace furnace and 2 AC units (still have 1 furnance and 1 AC unit yet to replace), all new pool equipment (switched from chlorine to salt water) and that has broken at least 4 times in two years, just replaced 1 garage door....the list goes on and on.

Re: Nothing works anymore

Group 5 minus 1 — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 11:28:52 GMT

There is a book by Vance Packard called "The Waste Makers". Written after he wrote The "Status Seekers". Writes about how things fail so we will buy new.

Re: Nothing works anymore

Ainhisg — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 11:38:44 GMT

This is why I buy Plain Jane appliances with few bells and whistles. When they break, we just buy new ones. The funny thing is, is that they seem to last a long time. And my clothes and dishes are just as clean as anyone else's and my food cooks the same as anyone with a more expensive microwave. Our dryer is a brand called Roper and is as basic as it gets. It is 9 years old. Our washer IS a name brand but isn't a common one. It is a Fisher and Pakel manufactured in New Zealand. It is 18 years old! When it dies, I will likely buy the same brand or perhaps a Speed Queen. The microwave (8 years), dishwasher (8 years), fridge (7 years)? All GE or Frigidaire bare bones models. None of them have ever been worked on or had issues.

Re: Nothing works anymore

goldensrbest — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 12:02:22 GMT

There is a reason why this is , when we decdied we wanted cheaper prices,and did not buy American made products, we not only got what is now a fact, appliances ,clothes, and many other items lasted many years ,because it was good quality.

Re: Nothing works anymore

Rockycoast — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 12:57:21 GMT

Lack of Quality, durability of items has been going on for many, many years. Most household machines are only built to last 5 years or less. Some companies are worse than others, but still produce cr@p. Can’t make money off of the consumer if things last a long time.

Re: Nothing works anymore

phoenixbrd — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 13:08:31 GMT

@blueroses47 Several discussions about the short life of expensive appliances. Yes, I remember reliable Hoovers....and they weren't $700! (which I saw recently for a popular vacuum).

Re: Nothing works anymore

Jacie — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 13:22:02 GMT

The theory is called planned obsolescence. A built in, fall apart in xyz amount of time. Keeps us buying more and more.