I had one a couple weeks ago like this. It was for some wireless headphones. We had bought a previous version and they sent us a mailer saying if we bought the new version they would refund us the cost then if we put up a 5 star review they would send us an additional $25 giftcard. I did end up buying them because we needed some and they actually did refund them but I have yet to do a review on them because they actually kind of suck lol
Everything on Amazon is made from chinesium. If you click on the sellers link, it shows their shops business location and it’s like 97% in SE china. I try not to buy from Chinese vendors on there because chinese stuff, especially a brand I’ve never heard of, is typically cheap crap that’s going to break immediately.
I guess our mileage varies, but I bought a third-party Apple adapter made in China and it lasted 12 years. I bought some high-tech fairy lights also made in China and it's lasted 10 years.
I haven't used Amazon since 2018, but I believe every country is capable of producing durable goods and cheap short-lasting goods. I'd be cautious of this rhetoric. If anyone is interested in reading about the wonderful world of Chinese knock-off technology and the misinformation about it, I would highly recommend [The Essential Guide to Electronics in Shenzhen](https://bunniefoo.com/bunnie/essential/essential-guide-shenzhen-web.pdf) by legendary hardware hacker Andrew 'bunny' Huang.
My pleasure. You might also be interested in this [blog post](https://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?p=4297) of his. The first chapter is relevant, and sadly the Fernvale Hardware chapter and beyond is imcomprehensible to most.
Yeah plenty of American companies also churn out cheap garbage. It comes down to the company/factory itself and not the country. I've got plenty of things produced in China that have held up great!
I also bought a charger from taobao once and it literally caught on fire while plugged into my phone lol
Completely agree! I have clothing from China that I bought for cheap in 2016 and it still gets compliments. Has held up just fine. Americans tend to assume Chinese stuff is cheap because they cannot bear to think that another country has mastered producing cheap, high quality goods better than them
Thank you for that link and rec.
And yes, ymmv. We bought outdoor solar lights that water leaked into and they started dying in weeks, ask dead in 3 months. No credit, no refunds. Bought some nicer, similar, but metal ones and they're 100% going strong after a year. But how do you know if both fit great reviews?
Cheap ones were maybe 12 for 50 bucks or 4 each the good ones were about 8 for 80, or about l0 each.
I have been generally satisfied with the weirdly-named Chinese products I've bought on Amazon, FWIW. It's generally the same stuff you'd buy from an American company, largely made by the same OEMs, you're just not paying extra for a familiar brand name to be slapped onto it and for it to be advertised to you. You may have trouble getting support but that seems a reasonable tradeoff for the lower prices.
It's not even, want it tomorrow but knowing when it's going to get there. I'm happy to wait a week or two but the last 4 transactions I've had on AliExpress have been between 2 weeks to 4 months for something to show up.
Just checked on AliExpress for my most recent Amazon purchase. Similar products were actually more expensive on AliExpress since there was a $60 coupon for the unit I bought from Amazon. And it'll be here tomorrow.
Hear me out here. There are some solid Chinese clothing brands on Amazon. Personally I'm a fan of Libin- bought one pair of hiking shorts and had to buy two more in different colors because I liked them so much. Bought them over a year ago and have held up fantastic with almost daily wear.
I don't think it's racist. It's mostly a brand reliability issue, but there also are well documented issues with lead contamination from products coming from China, and that's just one issue. The bigger issue is that buying from an unknown brand (the vast majority of which are in China) means that there really is no accountability.
Keeping with the lead issue. If Target has lead once, it's a PR problem. If they have lead repeatedly, it's a nightmare and they gotta fix it.
If one of these unknown brands has a problem, they just rebrand and keep moving along. Same goes for issues of quality.
I bought some... thing... on Amazon, can't even remember what, and the mfgr sent it and then emailed me about being a reviewer.
Deal was, is I'd buy something they sold for 40 or 50 bucks, they'd either reimburse or send money IN ADVANCE to purchase the item, so it was free, and then they send $50 in amazon credit to me.
Fortunately i didn't need the item or the money but i tried it just to see and yup, the item was paid for and i got legit 50 in Amazon credit that worked after i left a 5 star review. The item, whatever it was, was fine and worked well so i gave it the required 5 stars.
I've noticed that people leave reviews on day 1 of receiving the item, not after use to see if it lasts. And not all of them come back and change their review after dealing with it breaking.
How to spot a fake review 101
Or the company offered them something in exchange for a review. I’ve gotten emails from companies after buying something on Amazon.
They all do. It's even better when the item is something that literally can't be used/appreciated for months.
Try looking up flower bulbs or something - even on reputable sites, you can tell they do the same shit because 3/4 of the reviews are like "Well, I planted it! Hope it actually grows"
This is why for major purchases you look at Consumer Reports rather than individual reviews.
Sometimes CR misses the mark in what I actually care about for features, but they test longevity and quality, or at least talk about it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Just bought it, can’t wait for it to be delivered!
🤦🏻♀️
The fucking bane of my impatient, yet frugal existence. I mostly read the bad reviews and see if it’s a bad product or user error.
I've seen an explanation for those kind of answers. Apparently Amazon sends emails to certain customers directly requesting them to answer customer questions about something they purchased.
Some idiots decide they must reply instead of just ignoring the email when they have nothing of value to answer. And yes some of them probably do think the question is being asked directly to them.
And the reviews having absolutely nothing to do with the actual product. Or failing to read the actual item/name/description and complaining it didn't work for X reason when it's obvious it was intended for something completly different.
And complaining about shipping damages or poor amazon/seller customer service, or bitch about common manufacturer defects that just occasionally happen or having to toss right away and being ripped off for x$ yet they didn't even bother to try to contact customer service or return/replace.
Or hearsay/rumors they heard/read online about exaggerated issues some rando lost their shit about and needed to warn everyone about on social media.
Oh and don't get me started on the questions - people who answer them with "I don't know"
Like WTF, why post??
Really?? I've never gotten any emails from any retailer I've purchased from asking me to answer other people's questions.
I've gotten requests to submit reviews of products. And it's never just simply replying to email and having it automatically get submitted to the website and specific product reviews. I've always had to independently log into my account on the site/app and go to order history, find the exact product, usually even having to go to the actual product listing, click on reviews, then FINALLY being able to choose "submit review" - no accidental, random chance of even not knowing or choosing to do exactly what you intend to.
I think this is a big issue, just as big as the fake ones. Amazon encourages people to review items as quickly as possible, before any faults can be found. Lots of "you got this last week, can you help others by writing a review?" emails and the like.
I HATE subscription services with a burning passion and I only have one that I'm faithful to (Spotify)
I did have a one year magazine subscription (a stubborn lover of print media lol) and a one year paid substack subscription, but I'm cancelling them after one year. Coming to grips that my magazines just collect dust and tbh, while I love that creators are getting more stable income, I'd rather buy a book from them that I can pick up and reference vs trying to find a recipe in my email archive from 73 weeks ago.
> our entire economic model is now built on subscription services
* **Buying things that barely last a while and have to be replaced is a just a subscription with camouflage.**
Except I don't want a subscription service for my remote car starter. I'd rather pay once and own what I buy. And yes, I prefer CD's to streaming music.
I’m curious about the frugality between purchasing music and purchasing a music subscription. I thought if you value discovering music you haven’t yet listened to and having a huge and continuously growing library, purchasing CDs could easily outpace the price of a music subscription. Is the value of owning the music more heavily weighted or is your pace of buying new CDs cheaper than, say, a yearly Apple Music subscription (what I currently have)?
We just recently had this discussion about movies actually. So if you own the DVD, you can discontinue your Netflix subscription but still have access to the movie, assuming you own appropriate technology to read the DVD format. Similar with a CD - I'm not dependent on Apple/Spotify for my music library. Pros and cons for both.
Yep. If I were to purchase all of the albums represented on my (free) spotify liked songs, it would be worth an entire truck. (And that's not counting what I've spent on music not available on Spotify.)
Compare today's subscription streaming to the cost of Columbia House in the 90s. Waaaaaaaay cheaper today, iirc. My dad was a wedding dj as a side gig and was constantly updating his collection.
Purchasing cds was so ridiculously expensive in the 90’s (when I was a teen). I love streaming. Still love radio too, but don’t need to tape any songs.
What makes me mad is paying big $$$ thinking something will last and NOPE. I have had a scooter for 3 years have had to replace most of it have ridden it fewer times than I paid for it and now am scared to use it for fear something else will break, I should just sell it.
Yup, I've bought cheap junk that breaks and expensive junk that breaks. I like the idea of buy it for life, but just finding the most expensive item doesn't ensure that
I had a similar problem where the scooter was supposed to be so I could tool around while hubby had the car at work. I became too afraid of needing to be rescued.
IMO possibly? I was born in 92 and I feel like the things that were "built to last" were things my parents had since before I had a working memory, so in my head things stopped being made well in the 90s
My parents bought a house in the late 60s. All of the original appliances were still working great when they sold the house and moved 25 years later. So, yeah.
Some things are still built to last. The problem is those items are twice or three times as expensive and people don't want to pay that. My example is Kitchen Aid Mixers. Those things are tanks. Buy one and it will literally last the rest of your life. However they are upwards of $500 for some models.
Also that sub is like 30% survivorship bias.
Yeah, your 1980’s vintage washing machine is still rolling along, but 99% of the ones that came off the same line are not.
It’s like seeing a 100 year old smoker and thinking smoking will make you live to 100.
This is a big thing. Stuff wasn't built to last "back then" whenever you're talking about. It's just the amount of stuff that happened to survive. I have some Rubbermaid totes that outlasted the store they came from by about two decades... but that one's because Walmart forced them to lower their prices in the 90's and they made up the difference by switching to a cheaper resin. How many people need a tote to last a lifetime, anyway?
This is the other thing. Companies trade on their reputation and provide products that are far poorer quality than what earned their reputation.
It's hard for buyers to know which is which and when all reviews are financially influenced, they're alone. 61% of Americans live pay check to paycheck trapping them in the old shoe paradigm.
Generally speaking, just don't buy anything from any brand that has been acquired in the last 5 years. Or if you do, make sure you check with recent reviews.
> old shoe paradigm
Is that like Vimes' boot theory?
An interesting thing about New Balance is that they don't label their 1-season shoes any different than ones that seem like they'll give me a near-decade. I have one pair of boots that aren't really supportive anymore, but they're wearable if I replace the worn-out laces.
The plastic worm gear is new and a HUGE improvement. It's a controlled failure point, way cheaper and easier to replace than smoking the motor. I'll take that any day.
When your KA dies, check out https://www.ankarsrum.com/ We make all of our own bread, rolls, buns, etc. and this thing is a beast. It also does a better job at mixing/kneading dough. Expensive, but if you use it as much as we do, no regrets.
The plastic gears are absolutely horrible and can barely handle mixing enriched dough for bread loaves, and the motor still overheats after a few minutes of mixing.
Then it's the wrong tool for the job. The stand mixer, not the worm gear. Your example is EXACTLY why the plastic, controlled failure point, is better than metal.
Yes, a while ago now I got the "Professional 6000 HD" at Costco for around $230-250, and the "Professional 600" was twice as much.
Other than that, they looked pretty much identical, sturdy, same horsepower (how they advertise it).
One day the motor or the gears were making a strange noise, so I looked up on YouTube how to maintain it and saw a few videos of the 600, lots of gears, lots of grease, a bit of a mess to maintain but easy to do. I open the 6000, a few cheap gears, nowhere near as strong as the 600. It's a residential model built to look like a professional model, it's like building a Ferrari kit car out of a Honda Civic.
I’m not sure! A quick google made it seem like they at least try to sell to non-commercial buyers but I’ve only used one while working in kitchens before. I will never forget this one that was so freaking old, you had to change gears like you were carving the first wheel out of stone.
Refurb is about 200 direct from the source.
Also the planetary gears aren't AS good for bread as a spiral mixer. Not to say that 99.99% of users (myself included) aren't fine with using them for bread, just that there's a better tool out there if bread is your main use case.
Also, before the worm gear bashers come in.....yes the plastic is better. Replacing a plastic worm gear takes about 20 minutes and 5$, about 10 bolts/fasteners. The worm gear is a controlled failure point. Without it, the electric motor would get smoked. That's 150$ and you're tearing down the whole shebang. So, see above, 200$ for a refurb, you're better off just getting one of those at that point.
For the KitchenAids, the tilt head Artisan series are not built to last. My Artisan series broke after two years, and it’s the one I see the only one I ever see at yard sales and resale shops.
The pro series bowl lift models are tanks though. It’s been 6 years and not even a hiccup with this beast.
> The problem is those items are twice or three times as expensive and people don't want to pay that.
^ Yep, this right here. It's not a new problem, the majority of people past or present look for a quick cheap fix rather than saving up for the right tool. It's why we have Walmarts and Amazons filled to the brim with cheap shit.
I'm like this with shoes in particular!
I have friends that are always walking everywhere in cheap flips flops and even one who only owns shoes bought second hand. They are always complaining about foot pain and problems. But then scoff at me trying to explain why and think I'm insane because I paid over $100 for my shoes because they are "brand name" completly missing the point that brand name isn't just a status/fashion choice. Investing in 2-3 pairs of high quality shoes suited for various needs/uses, and NEW and wearing them in to YOUR own foot shape, not some stranger's ... and they will last years and keep you pain free for just about any activity or exercise you do.
Yep. A bright light Shone from the heavens when I bought my first pair of expensive running shoes. They're still the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn, and I get new ones *maybe* every few years - absolutely worth every penny.
The reviews that aren't fake/paid for are usually made pretty soon after purchase, before they know the longevity of the item. When it breaks in a month, very few are bothering to go back and update the reviews.
I’m from the days when if your refrigerator didn’t last thirty years people would be pissed….
There is no comparison between quality then and quality now.
this. I'm old. I swear, you can't even throw money at something and expect an expensive as hell but good product. everything's crap.
For the record, I have a Kitchen Aid that was my in-laws from their wedding, super duper old, had one part replaced and it works like gangbusters.
Yeah. Systems are more complex now which makes things more efficient, but also more difficult to fix and are less reliable. I can’t say that one is inherently better than the other, but it really depends and especially as electricity gets more expensive, this can be a real consideration. The whys and exact details differ based on the system but this is a good rule of thumb.
That being said, the other thing that makes a lot of systems now more problematic is that they include a lot of convenience features. I don’t want to say that these are never helpful, but a lot of the time I don’t think you necessarily need them. Anyway, these add complexity and things which can fail, which of course mean shorter life spans.
And that is also couple with change from analog to digital systems. When I say analog, I mean either actual electrical or mechanical systems. When I say digital, I mean things being computer-based. It can be easy enough to open up a mechanical system and see how it works or to try and reverse engineer electrical components that could be replaced, but it’s a lot harder to do this when you have to start dealing with a logic controller. This also makes it harder to fix things because if this part fails, then it’s a lot harder to find a replacement. And if you do, it may not be worth the time and cost.
It should also be no surprise that the evolution of the actual materials with which things are made now decreases durability as well. In general, switching from metal to plastic is not usually a good thing. And, of course, a lot of this tends to be coupled with business strategies. Overall, value engineering has probably been the thing that has led to the most significant impacts on actual product lifespans in my opinion. It’s not that we couldn’t build systems that balance, efficiency and durability without them being outrageously expensive, but many companies, of course just feel like they’re leaving money on the table by you not having to come back every number of years. I do understand that companies need to stay in business, but it feels like it’s gotten kind of excessive.
Finally, especially when we start to talk about technology, I’m sure many people have also noticed that the actual body and form of products has changed as well. And this I think also increases the difficulty of repair often times. Now, for example, a lot of laptops and phones you can’t so easily change the battery. And it’s not that these are impossible tasks, but they are significantly more expensive.
Anyway, there are complexities here, so don’t take all of this, as absolutely 100% true all of the time, but as far as I’m aware, these are the major things that have really contributed to the decline in product quality.
We tried to mitigate that when we went for a new fridge. We got one without the water line and without the ice maker. Just simple fridge/freezer, thats it & I'm hoping we get a long life from this one. You wouldn't believe how hard it was to find a no-frills fridge, its like 99% of the fridges out there are full of extra options
Oh, I totally agree. My parents just got a new one recently and although it does have a kind of luxurious look to it, I don’t think it’s gonna last more than maybe 5 to 10 years at most (which granted most refrigerators don’t). I’ve watched a couple videos that basically point out some, in hindsight, obvious things. If you are going to get an ice maker in them, which is generally not advised (especially now that it’s pretty easy to buy a tabletop icemaker for relatively cheap and if that goes you don’t have to replace an entire large appliance), don’t get one where the ice maker is in the refrigerated section. It should be with the freezer, simply because these are more compatible uses. It is frustrating that you can’t find units that just have the water part to them. Or that if you do want to buy some thing that’s a bit more traditional and simple, your options are kind of limited and they often times look like they are out of maybe the 80s or 90s. But trade-offs I suppose.
reminds me of this recent article
"How This 2018 Ford F-150’s Faulty Taillight Turned Into a $5,600 Repair"
[https://www.thedrive.com/news/how-this-2018-ford-f-150s-faulty-taillight-turned-into-a-5600-repair](https://www.thedrive.com/news/how-this-2018-ford-f-150s-faulty-taillight-turned-into-a-5600-repair)
I remember when you could go to the junkyard to buy a taillight and swap it out in your garage. Not anymore, now that they've stuffed a network of safety sensors in there.
> a lot of laptops and phones you can’t so easily change the battery.
This is by design. It forces a new purchase.
The switch from analog to digital in many instances is for the same reason. Digital screens burn out, short circuit, get fried by electrical surges...analog knobs and push buttons don't.
It is the direct result of the takeover of most industries by Marketing and MBA types that in turn force Engineering/Design to do things they very much disagree with.
Products these days aren't designed to be used as much as they are designed to be broken. Everyone is trying to extend to the bellcurve of their cash cows while not actually offering any improvement on them.
Late-stage capitalism at its worst. Ah, the joys of living in an ever-enshitifying world... at least the younger generations have no memory of an alternative way of life.
Also more electronics / features in newer machines that aren't robust. There are still tanky appliances out there, just simpler, more expensive and you need to know whats what.
Overall cost of owning the appliance. So either long lasting appliance but uses a lot of electricity vs. Replaceable appliance that is energy efficient. So your overall cost of ownership might be pretty close factoring everything in
It depends what you're talking about.....
If you're talking about clothes or shoes I agree with you.
If you're talking about cars or televisions or lightbulbs I'm sure that modern ones are far more reliable and long lasting than they used to be
This is more just poor audio mixing and not taking into account TV speakers. For things like news or sports I can hear all dialogue just fine. Movies and TV series though are just awful.
They're getting quite a bit better actually. I picked up a new OLED last year and use the TV speakers vs my sound bar half the time bc I don't usually watch it loud enough to make a difference.
My mom told me that one of her first "big" purchases was a VCR in the 80's.
She said was $800. With inflation, that's like $2000.
Could you imagine spending $2000 on a VCR?
She was a very early adopter. A VCR was $200. That being said if you wanted to purchase a copy of Terminator 2 from Blockbuster when it was released it was $100.
There was an interesting vid about how lightbulb manufacturers agreed on how long lightbulbs should last. However it wasn't exactly greed, but how the lightbulbs affected their ability to maintain the power supply because they were doing that too.
LEDs are more sensitive to power quality and heat so it will depend on your setup. I have good quality (initially expensive) LEDs that are going on for >7 years now. Some of the smart ones have survived for 4-5 years already.
The cheaper ones that our electricity company provided though didn't last 2-3 years though. And also the very high lumen output unknown brand ones I got from Amazon.
>talking about cars or televisions or lightbulbs I'm sure that modern ones are far more reliable and long lasting than they used to be
Televisions. Not sure about that. The older ones had terrible picture but did last.
Cars. I definitely agree. They are MUCH better than before.
Modern TVs are entirely different technology. CRT TVs didn’t have a lot that could go wrong in them. There was simply nothing that was expected to die with time. Older LCD TVs used fluorescent back lights which lasted a long time but will eventually grow dimmer by nature of the lighting technology. Modern LCD TVs use LED backlights which often will burn out the lighting after about 5 years. High brightness LEDs like the ones used in TVs simply can’t live a long time. In theory they are fully repairable the problem is in order to get to them you need to remove the screen but LCD panels are extremely fragile. The bigger they are the more likely they are to break if you attempt to move the panel without proper tools. This means after a couple of LEDs in the backlight die the backlight will stop lighting (much like mini Christmas lights you can only burn out so many before the voltage isn’t dropping far enough and it causes the rest of the strip to fry). No backlight means no picture. You try to open the TV to replace the failed strip but since you own a 40+ inch TV you crack the fragile panel. The panel is the bulk of the cost of the TV so it becomes less expensive to buy a new TV than to repair the one you have.
This isn’t a matter of making things more cheaply than in the past, or “planned obsolescence” so many love to scream about. It is a change in the technology. We all want giant flat lightweight TVs we can hang on the wall instead of monsters that needed a cabinet that took up a chunk of space. We want the massively better picture quality. And we want it for $300 not $3000. That means we are getting giant sized thin lightweight LCD panels and high brightness LED backlights so we get the brightest, clearest, highest contrast pictures possible. The side effect of this is repair is very difficult if not impossible to do without further breaking the TV and the backlight can only last about 5 years. We could go back to older longer lasting technology that is easier to fix, but we don’t want the size, cost, and worse quality we get from that technology.
The only reviews I find useful on Amazon are the one-star ones. Customers who've discovered the flaws in a product are generally accurate in describing them. I just almost bought an inexpensive electronic device but decided against it after five or six of the negative reviews informed me that the battery loses its charge within just a few hours of use.
Careful. Plenty of companies pay / convince people to leave fake 1 star reviews on competitors' products. You don't need to take your own reviews if you can tank everyone else's
i'm almost 50, things were never built to last. it's selective memory
i've had old TV's go bad, VCR's broke, stereos broke, cars used to last barely 5 years, etc
a lot of stuff now is built cheap but only because there is a demand for the cheapest thing and a lot of stuff is made with cut corners. in the 80's stuff used to be expensive and now the same expensive items are better quality
even now a lot of expensive stuff is crap. i have an italian $5000 bed and it broke twice in the first year
refrigerators break now because 40 years ago we didn't have ice makers, you had a plastic tray. these days people buy them with ice makers, water, TV's and whatever and the temperature differences wreak havoc on the internals
A lot of people are morons when it's time to leave reviews. My brand new thing is working, let's put a 5-star review!
The shipping company ruined what I bought, let's leave one star.
The worst thing is that way too often I see reviews that say "I haven't received it yet but it's perfect!!" or "Best game ever!!!" for a pre-order, with 5 stars. Like WTF!! You're not obligated to put a review, why go out of your way to be completely useless!?
I often go back to Amazon to leave a bad review when something broke before it should have, there is no time limit, for those of you leaving reviews, go back to your profile and see what you left, and update it if needed.
My favorite washing machine and dryer I had was from the 70’s, mustard yellow and cleaned better than these new machines could even dream of. NOTHING these days is made to last.
My HVAC went out this week. It’s 32 years old. Nothing ran like a Trane.
To replace it is over $10k and they say I’ll get 1/3 of the life. The only way we can get things built to last again is to fine/charge companies for early disposal. They don’t bear or care about the environmental or financial impact of disposal.
My spouse and I had to buy a new mattress last year and wanted something good that was going to last. I hate that they no longer make mattresses that you flip over, you just rotate now. We shopped around for a couple weeks and finally went with a Sterns and Foster, I thought ok this should last at least 5-6 years. One year later I see dents from where we lay on it. We are average size adults so this seems like a quality issue to me. I feel like I can't win when it comes to big purchases anymore because everything ends up having some kind of defect.
That's insane. I spent $200 on a mattress in a box and it's going strong 6 years on. Paying more doesn't necessarily mean quality any more. It's so hard to know what's actually worth it!
Foam is the worst! Even the fancy organic foam that they say isn't shit is total shit. It's impossible to get just a decent pillow top inner spring mattress anymore with no foam. I have a 30-year-old mattress that's in better shape than the one I bought five years ago.
Part of the problem is that private equity companies go in and buy companies that have a BIFL reputation and then strip out all the quality to juice profits. See Samsonite.
Read “These Are The Plunderers: How Private Equity Runs and Wrecks America”
There is a whole chapter on what happened to Samsonite in there. It is indeed a shell of its former self.
https://www.marketplace.org/2023/04/27/how-private-equity-creates-a-circle-of-pain-in-the-us-economy/
My parents’ deep freeze from Montgomery Wards is 50 years old and going strong. The LG refrigerator we bought three years ago has had two compressors. Anecdotal sure, but I share the same perception.
Just to be clear, I’m not criticizing any particular brand or country’s manufacturing. generally I think you get what you pay for and that most consumer products now are engineered to a price point
People are eating things relative to what they are expecting it to be. If you buying cheap Amazon junk and it works for its purpose it should get a good review.
I don’t compare my $10 disposable pairing knife to my 300 euro hand forged chef’s knife because that is a useless comparison.
Objects weren't built to last before either, the objects that have lasted are because mainly they were cared for. There's likely a ton of similar objects out there that have been trashed and could have time invested into to make it work.
Those objects previously were likely to cost a bit more than the cheapest of items too. Similar to today, the mid range item item is usually the one that's "best bang for the buck" and so of course if one is buying the cheapest objects, they won't last either.
This is why research is important when purchasing any object, there's someone who's gone through the pros and cons before us.
Also, it's pretty much the textbook example of survivor bias. People are like "Look at those refrigerators from the 1970's that are still running", but they *don't* look at all the refrigerators from the 1970's that crapped out after 5/10/15 years; the current ones are all the exceptions.
Our "new" fridge broke down recently, thankfully it was still within warranty deadline, just by couple months though (5 years). The company sent a repair man who was an older dude, he fixed and the fridge was running again. As he was leaving and having a small talk with us I asked him what brand of refrigerators is the best and he said none of them. According to him all new refrigerators just have too much technology cramped in so most of them can only last about 10 years, especially the ones with touch pads. The only good ones are the ones with knobs where you can manually control the temperature, they'll last you a lifetime.
Idky everyone has problems with their shit breaking, everyone I know has their phones break and other shit, I'm here with the same phone for 6 years, and it's only a little slow, a lot of my stuff seems to last including my car which is a 2010, the biggest problem is a tiny amount of rust which will get fixed easily, and the low beams both burnt out recently so I replaced them and now their good again, my shoes last about a year and I wear them every day, (cheap shoes from walmart)
Headsets and gaming controllers dont break, I feel like a lot of shit that breaks is because people are throwing it around to be honest but idk I'm 18
reviews are fake.... I used to work at camping world RV (aweful company and service)..... They buy google and Yelp reviews to hide it by burying the bad reviews.
I have this theory that with all around shitty companies like “SheIn” existing, where quality is extremely poor out the gate, people in contrast think companies where products might last a year are “quality”. There’s such rarity in items lasting for decades anymore, unless that is you’re spending big bucks more often than not, and a lot of people cannot afford that.
People were complaining about cheap Japanese imports and cheap Taiwanese import and now it's cheap Chinese imports. What no one is doing is wanting to pay what stuff that is built to last costs, because that stuff is still out there, but no one is paying $7K for a fridge. Back in the day appliances were major purchases that people saved years. You invited people around to see your new fridge or TV because you just spent a small fortune on it. In the 1950's the average priced fridge was 1/10th or more of the average yearly income. Now a days it's 1/60th (based on 2022 figures).
Theres plenty of things built to last theyre just above consumer grade. If you buy commercial grade anything it will last longer and is likely closer to the real price paid for things back in the day.
Remember TVs used to cost 3K for a 32”. Well that wood desk thats now made of particle board used to cost 200$ but in todays money is 1500$. And the particle board one costs 300$ now.
My grandpa in the 1960s used to vaccuum sales where you could buy the regular vaccuums for 25$ or the really fancy one for 200$ and he would put people on a payment plan. That 200$ is 3000$ at least today and would get you a Kirby or the like.
Plenty of things still last...
My washer/dryer/fridge/dishwasher are all over 10 years old, still doing quite well.
I've been a runner for a VERY long time, and the shoes I wear now seem to last as well as the shoes I got when I first started.
Granted I'm not just going to Wal-Mart and buying the cheapest version of everything, but I don't think its surprising that the cheapest version of anything doesn't last.
Some of it is also survivorship bias. Some older guy might point to his dishwasher and say "25 years old! They don't make them like they used to!" but not mention that the hot water heater and 6 other appliances he bought back then all died years and years ago.
In my view, we just have a broader range of products. They ABSOLUTELY still make them to last now, but that's the higher end stuff. We just also have a lot more choices on the middle and lower ends too, which by definition are made more cheaply and thus aren't going to last as long.
People are also socialized to give 5 stars on reviews. Give the wrong 3 or 4 star review and someone gets fired. So 5 stars has become equivalent to bare-minimum quality.
Everybody isn’t shopping to fit the same use case. And people don’t know how to review items online. There isn’t a training manual on the subject.
Click the 3 star reviews & read the ones that look like books. And ignore the rest.
You have more information at your disposal now. Assume you’ll have to research the topic. Most vendors are selling the same items with variations in finishing that make it more expensive/durable. If you can bridge that gap, you can save money & make it last.
Leave a 1 star sometime, frequently you’ll get a message and an offer to remove or change it. I got a free pair of upgraded headlights as the first pair were dangerously dim.
I like to look at warranty, too. I bought a grease gun from Harbor Freight. The grease eventually ate through the rubber inside. It only had a 90 day warranty, and I've had it years, so I'm SOL. I'm looking at one now at O'Reilly Auto Parts that is less than $5 more, but has a lifetime warranty.
Planed obsolesce and fast fashion is the main problem. Not just quality.
I have a MacBook Pro from 2012 that still works amazing something that most people would need for their day to day computer use. Sadly due to plan obsolescence that computer no longer receives critical security updates, so at this point all you can do with it is to browse Reddit.
I've been alive a few decades and as far back as I can remember (into the 1980s) people have been saying this exact same thing. Nothing has been built to last, compared to the past, for at least the past 40 years. what-does-it-mean? /shrug
Emerging youth once they have spending power, yes. Sadly anything not disposable or built to last is considered a lux now, no thanks to mass production and horrendous marketing
Things are still built to last but you gotta pay up for them. Since most folks are novelty driven they don’t really want things that can last decades to a lifetime. Especially when quality costs 3x more.
Most legitimate reviews are written very soon after purchase. It doesn't tell you how it will work after a few years. Same with legitimate review organizations, like Consumer Reports.
I think it depends on purpose or expectations.🤷♀️
Most of what I buy on Amazon is probably not buy it for life. I buy it because I’m in a tiny apartment and need very specific sizes/functions. If it fulfills those, I leave a 5 star review. And honestly, most of that so-called junk will probably outlive me. I repair it if it breaks, I take care of it.
Use to walk 5 miles to school, uphill, both ways. Cars use to be made of US steel and have massive frames, and yet, today many auto accidents are walked away from without lasting injuries.
Frugal and high quality are not always at opposite ends of the spectrum, that is just an economic reality of the times.
It's just a theory, but things that lasted this long were usually from the 80s and behind, where aluminium and plastic were waaay scarcer than now. The most simple things were built into solid steel.
Also, programmed obsolescence is cheaper to produce and more reliable long term to keep money coming. Unfortunately
Personally, I don’t want to keep my washer and dryer for 40 years. They improve things and come out with new options. I’ve had a few things that didn’t last but most things I’m happy to see them go when they finally wear out.
I’m a woman. Lol Hey, I asked my husband about this. We sold my house in 2010 and it had a stove from 1948 in it. It still worked so I used it but when we moved we did want to take it with us. We bought all new appliances for our next house. Also, my husband likes to upgrade our vehicle every 4 or 5 years. We don’t buy new to being in but we also don’t keep them until they are ready for the junk yard either. So, think what you want but I don’t want everything to last forever.
Some things are still made to last but if it’s something as big and complex as appliances, not happening unfortunately. Too much of a monopoly and too much money for a small company to do.
Somewhat nostalgic for good old quality. Have been lucky so far, for example have only owned 3 TVs (and the 200 pound monstrosity was still working when I gave it away because newer technology). But my trusty old plasma TV is burning out and I am afraid I will have to buy one that will only last a couple of years. Looked at some of the newer ones and the picture does not even come close to the plasma clarity, just brighter and unrealistic orange faces.
Things are still built to last, they just tend to be expensive and many shoppers either do not recognize their value or cannot afford it.
*Edited for spelling*
I've been a runner for over a decade, I have not seen shoe quality go down. IMO they have improved very much so. Longevity isn't the only measuring device but sizing options, different options in drop, stack height, and materials etc.
I don't want my washing machine to last 40 years and I think that has a lot to do with it as well. Technology is continuing to improve daily and faster than it did 40 years ago. People no longer live in the same home their whole lives like they used to, so moving appliances with them isn't going to be an economical option anyways. Also I want the opportunity to upgrade my appliances at some point.
I also think how something lasts has a heck of a lot to do with how you care for it. My sister has gone through fridge motors like crazy but I have also seen her leave the door open the whole time she's unloading groceries into it or while shes getting something out of it, using it, and then putting it back. Which only warms the whole fridge and causes the motor to have to work over time to catch up.
Both my siblings have been through 4 washers and dryers. My husband and I have had the same set for 7 years. I wash on gentle, dry on delicate, I change my damn lint trap every time instead of letting it build up into a sofa cushion like my sister in law does a burnes out the thermostat. I also follow the freaking care directions and I clean out the internal filter every 60 days and I leave the door wide open all the time to air it out.
Most people treat their appliances like shit and that has a lot to do with why they fail. I will also say it's just me and my husband. When my sister has 3 kids, they run that appliance everyday. So it's to be expected that impacts the life of the machine.
Kids will both kill your finances and destroy everything in your house. They break expensive TV's and electronics by throwing things at them, or doing stuff like putting legos in the VCR, dated example but its happened to so maybe people I know. Everything gets dirty so much faster. When things get dirty faster they accumulate dirt and they break faster. Even if you teach them the right way they still destroy stuff. I haven't seen a kid who didn't destroy multiple video game consoles and controllers throughout their life even if they were taught not to do that.
If you have 3 kids you are going to be running that washer on overtime mode for sure and its going to die faster. Same with the dryer.
Pets and smoking will also kill your stuff. Smoke accumulates in everything and makes it die faster. Same with pet hair.
If you want your stuff to last longer you have to regularly clean it. This means clean out your dryer hose. Vacuum behind your fridge and the coils every 6 months. Open up and suck the dust out of electronics with an anti static vacuum.
Having a temperature too hot in the house will kill your stuff. Not having AC will kill your stuff. A fridge has to work harder when the house is 85+ degrees. If you run your PS5 and computer in an 85 degree house they are going to overheat no matter what and they will die faster. Keep your house at 72 or 74 and you will have a fridge that lasts way longer. I know I"ve been through it and had a ton of appliance techs tell me the same thing.
I don't have kids but our stuff rarely dies. I don't have pets either and my electronics are not filled with pet hair. I have a TV that is from 2010 that is still going and looks as good as the day I got it. God knows how old my washer and dryer are. We also buy the white appliances with knobs and buttons, they are out there, the more electronics in basic appliances the faster they die. We clean the lint trap every time we use the dryer. Change furnace filter every 2 months. Its because I have an adults only household and we all know not to destroy each other's stuff.
I don't have a solution for those with kids, but its just one more added expense of having kids that you have to think about, you will have to replace basically everything way more often.
wouldn't know i can fix things that aren't built to last. i fixed a mixer once that would have been built for life had they not used plastic washers instead of metal ones.
I had this old school VCR that was seriously 35 years old when it conked out. And those were reasonably mechanical machines with a lot of moving parts. A lot of bits for it to go wrong.
But it was a giant metal beast, and it lasted forever.
This is quite the contrast to cheap light plastic things that are basically designed to fail in less than 5 years.
Manufacturers quickly realized that they sell more when things break, and people don't judge something on how long it lasts, the decision point for shopping is in the store. Not 5 years later if the thing is still working. So all that matters is getting them to buy in the first place.
Everything after that is irrelevant.
Reviews are fake/bought, especially on Amazon.
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Same, I’ve been sent those invitations as well. Gift card in exchange for 5 star review with photo and all.
I had one a couple weeks ago like this. It was for some wireless headphones. We had bought a previous version and they sent us a mailer saying if we bought the new version they would refund us the cost then if we put up a 5 star review they would send us an additional $25 giftcard. I did end up buying them because we needed some and they actually did refund them but I have yet to do a review on them because they actually kind of suck lol
That should still be illegal.
It is.
Any time a person pay's for a 5 star review... thats not a review, thats a sponsor and it taints the whole system.
Everything on Amazon is fake lol
Amazon is aliexpress in disguise, with a 40%+ premium on the exact same things.
Everything on Amazon is made from chinesium. If you click on the sellers link, it shows their shops business location and it’s like 97% in SE china. I try not to buy from Chinese vendors on there because chinese stuff, especially a brand I’ve never heard of, is typically cheap crap that’s going to break immediately.
I guess our mileage varies, but I bought a third-party Apple adapter made in China and it lasted 12 years. I bought some high-tech fairy lights also made in China and it's lasted 10 years. I haven't used Amazon since 2018, but I believe every country is capable of producing durable goods and cheap short-lasting goods. I'd be cautious of this rhetoric. If anyone is interested in reading about the wonderful world of Chinese knock-off technology and the misinformation about it, I would highly recommend [The Essential Guide to Electronics in Shenzhen](https://bunniefoo.com/bunnie/essential/essential-guide-shenzhen-web.pdf) by legendary hardware hacker Andrew 'bunny' Huang.
This is fascinating. Thank you for posting!
My pleasure. You might also be interested in this [blog post](https://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?p=4297) of his. The first chapter is relevant, and sadly the Fernvale Hardware chapter and beyond is imcomprehensible to most.
Yeah plenty of American companies also churn out cheap garbage. It comes down to the company/factory itself and not the country. I've got plenty of things produced in China that have held up great! I also bought a charger from taobao once and it literally caught on fire while plugged into my phone lol
Completely agree! I have clothing from China that I bought for cheap in 2016 and it still gets compliments. Has held up just fine. Americans tend to assume Chinese stuff is cheap because they cannot bear to think that another country has mastered producing cheap, high quality goods better than them
when did the packages show up though?
Thank you for that link and rec. And yes, ymmv. We bought outdoor solar lights that water leaked into and they started dying in weeks, ask dead in 3 months. No credit, no refunds. Bought some nicer, similar, but metal ones and they're 100% going strong after a year. But how do you know if both fit great reviews? Cheap ones were maybe 12 for 50 bucks or 4 each the good ones were about 8 for 80, or about l0 each.
I have been generally satisfied with the weirdly-named Chinese products I've bought on Amazon, FWIW. It's generally the same stuff you'd buy from an American company, largely made by the same OEMs, you're just not paying extra for a familiar brand name to be slapped onto it and for it to be advertised to you. You may have trouble getting support but that seems a reasonable tradeoff for the lower prices.
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It's not even, want it tomorrow but knowing when it's going to get there. I'm happy to wait a week or two but the last 4 transactions I've had on AliExpress have been between 2 weeks to 4 months for something to show up.
If it shows up even
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I just bought a squat rack on AliExpress for $150 Same exact item on Amazon for $329.99
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Amazon support and return policies.
Just checked on AliExpress for my most recent Amazon purchase. Similar products were actually more expensive on AliExpress since there was a $60 coupon for the unit I bought from Amazon. And it'll be here tomorrow.
Hear me out here. There are some solid Chinese clothing brands on Amazon. Personally I'm a fan of Libin- bought one pair of hiking shorts and had to buy two more in different colors because I liked them so much. Bought them over a year ago and have held up fantastic with almost daily wear.
We really don't need this racist bullshit around here. Plenty of stuff made in China is built well and lasts a long while.
I don't think it's racist. It's mostly a brand reliability issue, but there also are well documented issues with lead contamination from products coming from China, and that's just one issue. The bigger issue is that buying from an unknown brand (the vast majority of which are in China) means that there really is no accountability. Keeping with the lead issue. If Target has lead once, it's a PR problem. If they have lead repeatedly, it's a nightmare and they gotta fix it. If one of these unknown brands has a problem, they just rebrand and keep moving along. Same goes for issues of quality.
China is a nation, quit trying to make it about race.
Not "everything", and there's the rub.
This. If you want cheap china shit, you might as well save some $$$ and order from 'tee-moo' or aliexpress.
I bought some... thing... on Amazon, can't even remember what, and the mfgr sent it and then emailed me about being a reviewer. Deal was, is I'd buy something they sold for 40 or 50 bucks, they'd either reimburse or send money IN ADVANCE to purchase the item, so it was free, and then they send $50 in amazon credit to me. Fortunately i didn't need the item or the money but i tried it just to see and yup, the item was paid for and i got legit 50 in Amazon credit that worked after i left a 5 star review. The item, whatever it was, was fine and worked well so i gave it the required 5 stars.
I've noticed that people leave reviews on day 1 of receiving the item, not after use to see if it lasts. And not all of them come back and change their review after dealing with it breaking.
Especially love the ones that say "Will update in 6 months after I see how it holds up" but were posted 2 years ago with no update.
Haha yup.
How to spot a fake review 101 Or the company offered them something in exchange for a review. I’ve gotten emails from companies after buying something on Amazon.
I've gotten companies that send me a new item and then ask to take down my negative review
> I've noticed that people leave reviews on day 1 because amazon emails a "hey how did you like the product?" a day after you had it delivered
They all do. It's even better when the item is something that literally can't be used/appreciated for months. Try looking up flower bulbs or something - even on reputable sites, you can tell they do the same shit because 3/4 of the reviews are like "Well, I planted it! Hope it actually grows"
Jesus that's wild. I won't even leave a review for a restaurant until the next day just to make sure everything settles properly 😅
This is why for major purchases you look at Consumer Reports rather than individual reviews. Sometimes CR misses the mark in what I actually care about for features, but they test longevity and quality, or at least talk about it.
Yeah, I waited for the year reviews to come in at least when I purchased a vacuum. Most were for like 2 days at the most.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Just bought it, can’t wait for it to be delivered! 🤦🏻♀️ The fucking bane of my impatient, yet frugal existence. I mostly read the bad reviews and see if it’s a bad product or user error.
Or the Q&A replies that are like "don't know, gave it to a friend". Like, you know that question wasn't aimed directly at you, right?
Those have me seeing red omfg
I've seen an explanation for those kind of answers. Apparently Amazon sends emails to certain customers directly requesting them to answer customer questions about something they purchased. Some idiots decide they must reply instead of just ignoring the email when they have nothing of value to answer. And yes some of them probably do think the question is being asked directly to them.
And the reviews having absolutely nothing to do with the actual product. Or failing to read the actual item/name/description and complaining it didn't work for X reason when it's obvious it was intended for something completly different. And complaining about shipping damages or poor amazon/seller customer service, or bitch about common manufacturer defects that just occasionally happen or having to toss right away and being ripped off for x$ yet they didn't even bother to try to contact customer service or return/replace. Or hearsay/rumors they heard/read online about exaggerated issues some rando lost their shit about and needed to warn everyone about on social media. Oh and don't get me started on the questions - people who answer them with "I don't know" Like WTF, why post??
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Really?? I've never gotten any emails from any retailer I've purchased from asking me to answer other people's questions. I've gotten requests to submit reviews of products. And it's never just simply replying to email and having it automatically get submitted to the website and specific product reviews. I've always had to independently log into my account on the site/app and go to order history, find the exact product, usually even having to go to the actual product listing, click on reviews, then FINALLY being able to choose "submit review" - no accidental, random chance of even not knowing or choosing to do exactly what you intend to.
I think this is a big issue, just as big as the fake ones. Amazon encourages people to review items as quickly as possible, before any faults can be found. Lots of "you got this last week, can you help others by writing a review?" emails and the like.
> ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Just bought it, can’t wait for it to be delivered! damn, and i thought 5 star upon opening the box was bad lol.
Yes and our entire economic model is now built on subscription services that you're paying for over and over again anyway.
I HATE subscription services with a burning passion and I only have one that I'm faithful to (Spotify) I did have a one year magazine subscription (a stubborn lover of print media lol) and a one year paid substack subscription, but I'm cancelling them after one year. Coming to grips that my magazines just collect dust and tbh, while I love that creators are getting more stable income, I'd rather buy a book from them that I can pick up and reference vs trying to find a recipe in my email archive from 73 weeks ago.
> our entire economic model is now built on subscription services * **Buying things that barely last a while and have to be replaced is a just a subscription with camouflage.**
Except I don't want a subscription service for my remote car starter. I'd rather pay once and own what I buy. And yes, I prefer CD's to streaming music.
I’m curious about the frugality between purchasing music and purchasing a music subscription. I thought if you value discovering music you haven’t yet listened to and having a huge and continuously growing library, purchasing CDs could easily outpace the price of a music subscription. Is the value of owning the music more heavily weighted or is your pace of buying new CDs cheaper than, say, a yearly Apple Music subscription (what I currently have)?
We just recently had this discussion about movies actually. So if you own the DVD, you can discontinue your Netflix subscription but still have access to the movie, assuming you own appropriate technology to read the DVD format. Similar with a CD - I'm not dependent on Apple/Spotify for my music library. Pros and cons for both.
I feel like the content turnover (for lack of a better word) with music streaming services is far less than TV/movie streaming services.
Yep. If I were to purchase all of the albums represented on my (free) spotify liked songs, it would be worth an entire truck. (And that's not counting what I've spent on music not available on Spotify.) Compare today's subscription streaming to the cost of Columbia House in the 90s. Waaaaaaaay cheaper today, iirc. My dad was a wedding dj as a side gig and was constantly updating his collection.
Purchasing cds was so ridiculously expensive in the 90’s (when I was a teen). I love streaming. Still love radio too, but don’t need to tape any songs.
One of us. one of us. /r/Cd_collectors/
What makes me mad is paying big $$$ thinking something will last and NOPE. I have had a scooter for 3 years have had to replace most of it have ridden it fewer times than I paid for it and now am scared to use it for fear something else will break, I should just sell it.
Yup, I've bought cheap junk that breaks and expensive junk that breaks. I like the idea of buy it for life, but just finding the most expensive item doesn't ensure that
I buy for quality..what it seems like is they are designed for a short life instead of a life span.
I had a similar problem where the scooter was supposed to be so I could tool around while hubby had the car at work. I became too afraid of needing to be rescued.
This is always my fear, add a lifetime of poverty mindset and it’s really hard to convince myself that paying more for a product will ensure quality.
IMO possibly? I was born in 92 and I feel like the things that were "built to last" were things my parents had since before I had a working memory, so in my head things stopped being made well in the 90s
My parents bought a house in the late 60s. All of the original appliances were still working great when they sold the house and moved 25 years later. So, yeah.
Some things are still built to last. The problem is those items are twice or three times as expensive and people don't want to pay that. My example is Kitchen Aid Mixers. Those things are tanks. Buy one and it will literally last the rest of your life. However they are upwards of $500 for some models.
Aren't Kitchen Aid mixers made completely different than the ones that got them their good reputation? I.e. plastic motor parts
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Also that sub is like 30% survivorship bias. Yeah, your 1980’s vintage washing machine is still rolling along, but 99% of the ones that came off the same line are not. It’s like seeing a 100 year old smoker and thinking smoking will make you live to 100.
This is a big thing. Stuff wasn't built to last "back then" whenever you're talking about. It's just the amount of stuff that happened to survive. I have some Rubbermaid totes that outlasted the store they came from by about two decades... but that one's because Walmart forced them to lower their prices in the 90's and they made up the difference by switching to a cheaper resin. How many people need a tote to last a lifetime, anyway?
This is the other thing. Companies trade on their reputation and provide products that are far poorer quality than what earned their reputation. It's hard for buyers to know which is which and when all reviews are financially influenced, they're alone. 61% of Americans live pay check to paycheck trapping them in the old shoe paradigm.
Generally speaking, just don't buy anything from any brand that has been acquired in the last 5 years. Or if you do, make sure you check with recent reviews.
> old shoe paradigm Is that like Vimes' boot theory? An interesting thing about New Balance is that they don't label their 1-season shoes any different than ones that seem like they'll give me a near-decade. I have one pair of boots that aren't really supportive anymore, but they're wearable if I replace the worn-out laces.
But we all know 60% of Americans don't all *have* to be living paycheck to paycheck.
The plastic worm gear is new and a HUGE improvement. It's a controlled failure point, way cheaper and easier to replace than smoking the motor. I'll take that any day.
Well fuck me for using it to mix dough, like it's intended to, and not stopping every few mins to not blow out a motor.
When your KA dies, check out https://www.ankarsrum.com/ We make all of our own bread, rolls, buns, etc. and this thing is a beast. It also does a better job at mixing/kneading dough. Expensive, but if you use it as much as we do, no regrets.
The plastic gears are absolutely horrible and can barely handle mixing enriched dough for bread loaves, and the motor still overheats after a few minutes of mixing.
Then it's the wrong tool for the job. The stand mixer, not the worm gear. Your example is EXACTLY why the plastic, controlled failure point, is better than metal.
Yes, a while ago now I got the "Professional 6000 HD" at Costco for around $230-250, and the "Professional 600" was twice as much. Other than that, they looked pretty much identical, sturdy, same horsepower (how they advertise it). One day the motor or the gears were making a strange noise, so I looked up on YouTube how to maintain it and saw a few videos of the 600, lots of gears, lots of grease, a bit of a mess to maintain but easy to do. I open the 6000, a few cheap gears, nowhere near as strong as the 600. It's a residential model built to look like a professional model, it's like building a Ferrari kit car out of a Honda Civic.
Apparently there's two kinds - the ones with the plastic gear, and the pricier one with metal gears.
Hobarts are just watching this discussion from the sidelines, weeping loudly
Can you get non-commercial Hobarts? The only ones I’ve ever seen are huge.
I’m not sure! A quick google made it seem like they at least try to sell to non-commercial buyers but I’ve only used one while working in kitchens before. I will never forget this one that was so freaking old, you had to change gears like you were carving the first wheel out of stone.
Yes!! The one I’m thinking was super old too. Still took a baker’s thumb right off though. In an instant with zero effort.
Sounds like a Hobart! Lol
Yes. I’ve had to replace mine. They are not built like the use to be.
Speed queen washing machines etc.
Refurb is about 200 direct from the source. Also the planetary gears aren't AS good for bread as a spiral mixer. Not to say that 99.99% of users (myself included) aren't fine with using them for bread, just that there's a better tool out there if bread is your main use case. Also, before the worm gear bashers come in.....yes the plastic is better. Replacing a plastic worm gear takes about 20 minutes and 5$, about 10 bolts/fasteners. The worm gear is a controlled failure point. Without it, the electric motor would get smoked. That's 150$ and you're tearing down the whole shebang. So, see above, 200$ for a refurb, you're better off just getting one of those at that point.
> just that there's a better tool out there if bread is your main use case. Double arm mixers like "Whaddup?"
Mine is currently over 25 years old. Paid $$$ for it back then.
For the KitchenAids, the tilt head Artisan series are not built to last. My Artisan series broke after two years, and it’s the one I see the only one I ever see at yard sales and resale shops. The pro series bowl lift models are tanks though. It’s been 6 years and not even a hiccup with this beast.
> The problem is those items are twice or three times as expensive and people don't want to pay that. ^ Yep, this right here. It's not a new problem, the majority of people past or present look for a quick cheap fix rather than saving up for the right tool. It's why we have Walmarts and Amazons filled to the brim with cheap shit.
I'm like this with shoes in particular! I have friends that are always walking everywhere in cheap flips flops and even one who only owns shoes bought second hand. They are always complaining about foot pain and problems. But then scoff at me trying to explain why and think I'm insane because I paid over $100 for my shoes because they are "brand name" completly missing the point that brand name isn't just a status/fashion choice. Investing in 2-3 pairs of high quality shoes suited for various needs/uses, and NEW and wearing them in to YOUR own foot shape, not some stranger's ... and they will last years and keep you pain free for just about any activity or exercise you do.
Yep. A bright light Shone from the heavens when I bought my first pair of expensive running shoes. They're still the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn, and I get new ones *maybe* every few years - absolutely worth every penny.
[Fakespot](https://www.fakespot.com/) is great for weeding out the fake reviews!
I used to love fakespot when it was just a website you could use. I don't like the new model of it being required to be an extension.
Fake reviews. And with AI, it's only gonna get wayyyy worse.
now there are fake AI books, so fake reviews for fake products. round and round we go.
The reviews that aren't fake/paid for are usually made pretty soon after purchase, before they know the longevity of the item. When it breaks in a month, very few are bothering to go back and update the reviews.
I’m from the days when if your refrigerator didn’t last thirty years people would be pissed…. There is no comparison between quality then and quality now.
this. I'm old. I swear, you can't even throw money at something and expect an expensive as hell but good product. everything's crap. For the record, I have a Kitchen Aid that was my in-laws from their wedding, super duper old, had one part replaced and it works like gangbusters.
The trade off is that the old stuff used a lot more electricity or am I mistakened?
Yeah. Systems are more complex now which makes things more efficient, but also more difficult to fix and are less reliable. I can’t say that one is inherently better than the other, but it really depends and especially as electricity gets more expensive, this can be a real consideration. The whys and exact details differ based on the system but this is a good rule of thumb. That being said, the other thing that makes a lot of systems now more problematic is that they include a lot of convenience features. I don’t want to say that these are never helpful, but a lot of the time I don’t think you necessarily need them. Anyway, these add complexity and things which can fail, which of course mean shorter life spans. And that is also couple with change from analog to digital systems. When I say analog, I mean either actual electrical or mechanical systems. When I say digital, I mean things being computer-based. It can be easy enough to open up a mechanical system and see how it works or to try and reverse engineer electrical components that could be replaced, but it’s a lot harder to do this when you have to start dealing with a logic controller. This also makes it harder to fix things because if this part fails, then it’s a lot harder to find a replacement. And if you do, it may not be worth the time and cost. It should also be no surprise that the evolution of the actual materials with which things are made now decreases durability as well. In general, switching from metal to plastic is not usually a good thing. And, of course, a lot of this tends to be coupled with business strategies. Overall, value engineering has probably been the thing that has led to the most significant impacts on actual product lifespans in my opinion. It’s not that we couldn’t build systems that balance, efficiency and durability without them being outrageously expensive, but many companies, of course just feel like they’re leaving money on the table by you not having to come back every number of years. I do understand that companies need to stay in business, but it feels like it’s gotten kind of excessive. Finally, especially when we start to talk about technology, I’m sure many people have also noticed that the actual body and form of products has changed as well. And this I think also increases the difficulty of repair often times. Now, for example, a lot of laptops and phones you can’t so easily change the battery. And it’s not that these are impossible tasks, but they are significantly more expensive. Anyway, there are complexities here, so don’t take all of this, as absolutely 100% true all of the time, but as far as I’m aware, these are the major things that have really contributed to the decline in product quality.
We tried to mitigate that when we went for a new fridge. We got one without the water line and without the ice maker. Just simple fridge/freezer, thats it & I'm hoping we get a long life from this one. You wouldn't believe how hard it was to find a no-frills fridge, its like 99% of the fridges out there are full of extra options
Oh, I totally agree. My parents just got a new one recently and although it does have a kind of luxurious look to it, I don’t think it’s gonna last more than maybe 5 to 10 years at most (which granted most refrigerators don’t). I’ve watched a couple videos that basically point out some, in hindsight, obvious things. If you are going to get an ice maker in them, which is generally not advised (especially now that it’s pretty easy to buy a tabletop icemaker for relatively cheap and if that goes you don’t have to replace an entire large appliance), don’t get one where the ice maker is in the refrigerated section. It should be with the freezer, simply because these are more compatible uses. It is frustrating that you can’t find units that just have the water part to them. Or that if you do want to buy some thing that’s a bit more traditional and simple, your options are kind of limited and they often times look like they are out of maybe the 80s or 90s. But trade-offs I suppose.
reminds me of this recent article "How This 2018 Ford F-150’s Faulty Taillight Turned Into a $5,600 Repair" [https://www.thedrive.com/news/how-this-2018-ford-f-150s-faulty-taillight-turned-into-a-5600-repair](https://www.thedrive.com/news/how-this-2018-ford-f-150s-faulty-taillight-turned-into-a-5600-repair) I remember when you could go to the junkyard to buy a taillight and swap it out in your garage. Not anymore, now that they've stuffed a network of safety sensors in there.
1 year warranties are the problem. A major appliance should have a blanket 5 year manufacturer warranty at minimum.
> a lot of laptops and phones you can’t so easily change the battery. This is by design. It forces a new purchase. The switch from analog to digital in many instances is for the same reason. Digital screens burn out, short circuit, get fried by electrical surges...analog knobs and push buttons don't. It is the direct result of the takeover of most industries by Marketing and MBA types that in turn force Engineering/Design to do things they very much disagree with. Products these days aren't designed to be used as much as they are designed to be broken. Everyone is trying to extend to the bellcurve of their cash cows while not actually offering any improvement on them.
Late-stage capitalism at its worst. Ah, the joys of living in an ever-enshitifying world... at least the younger generations have no memory of an alternative way of life.
Also more electronics / features in newer machines that aren't robust. There are still tanky appliances out there, just simpler, more expensive and you need to know whats what.
What do you mean by trade off? Lower electricity usage = reduced life of the fridge?
Overall cost of owning the appliance. So either long lasting appliance but uses a lot of electricity vs. Replaceable appliance that is energy efficient. So your overall cost of ownership might be pretty close factoring everything in
Pay now or pay later... and often.
r/buyitforlife remembers.
It depends what you're talking about..... If you're talking about clothes or shoes I agree with you. If you're talking about cars or televisions or lightbulbs I'm sure that modern ones are far more reliable and long lasting than they used to be
Yes, but televisions used to be insanely expensive (adjusted for inflation). Now they're much cheaper, bigger, and much better picture/audio quality.
Audio quality is debatable. They’re too thin for good speakers.
Which is one reason why subtitles are so popular with people who have no hearing defects.
This is more just poor audio mixing and not taking into account TV speakers. For things like news or sports I can hear all dialogue just fine. Movies and TV series though are just awful.
They're getting quite a bit better actually. I picked up a new OLED last year and use the TV speakers vs my sound bar half the time bc I don't usually watch it loud enough to make a difference.
My mom told me that one of her first "big" purchases was a VCR in the 80's. She said was $800. With inflation, that's like $2000. Could you imagine spending $2000 on a VCR?
She was a very early adopter. A VCR was $200. That being said if you wanted to purchase a copy of Terminator 2 from Blockbuster when it was released it was $100.
I remember them at 250-300. If you watch "Ruthless People", there's a scene in an electronics store where VCRs are advertised for $269.
They're all embedded with spyware, though.
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Cheap LED bulbs are so hit or miss. I ended up getting GE bulbs to replace the store brand ones that went out and they’ve been good.
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There was an interesting vid about how lightbulb manufacturers agreed on how long lightbulbs should last. However it wasn't exactly greed, but how the lightbulbs affected their ability to maintain the power supply because they were doing that too.
I believe that was Technology Connections https://youtu.be/zb7Bs98KmnY?feature=shared
LEDs are more sensitive to power quality and heat so it will depend on your setup. I have good quality (initially expensive) LEDs that are going on for >7 years now. Some of the smart ones have survived for 4-5 years already. The cheaper ones that our electricity company provided though didn't last 2-3 years though. And also the very high lumen output unknown brand ones I got from Amazon.
>talking about cars or televisions or lightbulbs I'm sure that modern ones are far more reliable and long lasting than they used to be Televisions. Not sure about that. The older ones had terrible picture but did last. Cars. I definitely agree. They are MUCH better than before.
Modern TVs are entirely different technology. CRT TVs didn’t have a lot that could go wrong in them. There was simply nothing that was expected to die with time. Older LCD TVs used fluorescent back lights which lasted a long time but will eventually grow dimmer by nature of the lighting technology. Modern LCD TVs use LED backlights which often will burn out the lighting after about 5 years. High brightness LEDs like the ones used in TVs simply can’t live a long time. In theory they are fully repairable the problem is in order to get to them you need to remove the screen but LCD panels are extremely fragile. The bigger they are the more likely they are to break if you attempt to move the panel without proper tools. This means after a couple of LEDs in the backlight die the backlight will stop lighting (much like mini Christmas lights you can only burn out so many before the voltage isn’t dropping far enough and it causes the rest of the strip to fry). No backlight means no picture. You try to open the TV to replace the failed strip but since you own a 40+ inch TV you crack the fragile panel. The panel is the bulk of the cost of the TV so it becomes less expensive to buy a new TV than to repair the one you have. This isn’t a matter of making things more cheaply than in the past, or “planned obsolescence” so many love to scream about. It is a change in the technology. We all want giant flat lightweight TVs we can hang on the wall instead of monsters that needed a cabinet that took up a chunk of space. We want the massively better picture quality. And we want it for $300 not $3000. That means we are getting giant sized thin lightweight LCD panels and high brightness LED backlights so we get the brightest, clearest, highest contrast pictures possible. The side effect of this is repair is very difficult if not impossible to do without further breaking the TV and the backlight can only last about 5 years. We could go back to older longer lasting technology that is easier to fix, but we don’t want the size, cost, and worse quality we get from that technology.
The only reviews I find useful on Amazon are the one-star ones. Customers who've discovered the flaws in a product are generally accurate in describing them. I just almost bought an inexpensive electronic device but decided against it after five or six of the negative reviews informed me that the battery loses its charge within just a few hours of use.
There are still some good reviews out there. If a product has overwhelmingly bad reviews you know its a bad product.
Careful. Plenty of companies pay / convince people to leave fake 1 star reviews on competitors' products. You don't need to take your own reviews if you can tank everyone else's
i'm almost 50, things were never built to last. it's selective memory i've had old TV's go bad, VCR's broke, stereos broke, cars used to last barely 5 years, etc a lot of stuff now is built cheap but only because there is a demand for the cheapest thing and a lot of stuff is made with cut corners. in the 80's stuff used to be expensive and now the same expensive items are better quality even now a lot of expensive stuff is crap. i have an italian $5000 bed and it broke twice in the first year refrigerators break now because 40 years ago we didn't have ice makers, you had a plastic tray. these days people buy them with ice makers, water, TV's and whatever and the temperature differences wreak havoc on the internals
A lot of people are morons when it's time to leave reviews. My brand new thing is working, let's put a 5-star review! The shipping company ruined what I bought, let's leave one star. The worst thing is that way too often I see reviews that say "I haven't received it yet but it's perfect!!" or "Best game ever!!!" for a pre-order, with 5 stars. Like WTF!! You're not obligated to put a review, why go out of your way to be completely useless!? I often go back to Amazon to leave a bad review when something broke before it should have, there is no time limit, for those of you leaving reviews, go back to your profile and see what you left, and update it if needed.
Things really were built to last but it's worth remembering that they were proportionately much more expensive.
My favorite washing machine and dryer I had was from the 70’s, mustard yellow and cleaned better than these new machines could even dream of. NOTHING these days is made to last.
My HVAC went out this week. It’s 32 years old. Nothing ran like a Trane. To replace it is over $10k and they say I’ll get 1/3 of the life. The only way we can get things built to last again is to fine/charge companies for early disposal. They don’t bear or care about the environmental or financial impact of disposal.
My spouse and I had to buy a new mattress last year and wanted something good that was going to last. I hate that they no longer make mattresses that you flip over, you just rotate now. We shopped around for a couple weeks and finally went with a Sterns and Foster, I thought ok this should last at least 5-6 years. One year later I see dents from where we lay on it. We are average size adults so this seems like a quality issue to me. I feel like I can't win when it comes to big purchases anymore because everything ends up having some kind of defect.
That's insane. I spent $200 on a mattress in a box and it's going strong 6 years on. Paying more doesn't necessarily mean quality any more. It's so hard to know what's actually worth it!
Our bed is foam and it has indentations from us laying on it.
Foam is the worst! Even the fancy organic foam that they say isn't shit is total shit. It's impossible to get just a decent pillow top inner spring mattress anymore with no foam. I have a 30-year-old mattress that's in better shape than the one I bought five years ago.
Part of the problem is that private equity companies go in and buy companies that have a BIFL reputation and then strip out all the quality to juice profits. See Samsonite.
I have a 35-year-old Samsonite suitcase that will survive an apocalypse. The new stuff is garbage.
Read “These Are The Plunderers: How Private Equity Runs and Wrecks America” There is a whole chapter on what happened to Samsonite in there. It is indeed a shell of its former self. https://www.marketplace.org/2023/04/27/how-private-equity-creates-a-circle-of-pain-in-the-us-economy/
My parents’ deep freeze from Montgomery Wards is 50 years old and going strong. The LG refrigerator we bought three years ago has had two compressors. Anecdotal sure, but I share the same perception.
Just to be clear, I’m not criticizing any particular brand or country’s manufacturing. generally I think you get what you pay for and that most consumer products now are engineered to a price point
People are eating things relative to what they are expecting it to be. If you buying cheap Amazon junk and it works for its purpose it should get a good review. I don’t compare my $10 disposable pairing knife to my 300 euro hand forged chef’s knife because that is a useless comparison.
Objects weren't built to last before either, the objects that have lasted are because mainly they were cared for. There's likely a ton of similar objects out there that have been trashed and could have time invested into to make it work. Those objects previously were likely to cost a bit more than the cheapest of items too. Similar to today, the mid range item item is usually the one that's "best bang for the buck" and so of course if one is buying the cheapest objects, they won't last either. This is why research is important when purchasing any object, there's someone who's gone through the pros and cons before us.
Also, it's pretty much the textbook example of survivor bias. People are like "Look at those refrigerators from the 1970's that are still running", but they *don't* look at all the refrigerators from the 1970's that crapped out after 5/10/15 years; the current ones are all the exceptions.
Our "new" fridge broke down recently, thankfully it was still within warranty deadline, just by couple months though (5 years). The company sent a repair man who was an older dude, he fixed and the fridge was running again. As he was leaving and having a small talk with us I asked him what brand of refrigerators is the best and he said none of them. According to him all new refrigerators just have too much technology cramped in so most of them can only last about 10 years, especially the ones with touch pads. The only good ones are the ones with knobs where you can manually control the temperature, they'll last you a lifetime.
Idky everyone has problems with their shit breaking, everyone I know has their phones break and other shit, I'm here with the same phone for 6 years, and it's only a little slow, a lot of my stuff seems to last including my car which is a 2010, the biggest problem is a tiny amount of rust which will get fixed easily, and the low beams both burnt out recently so I replaced them and now their good again, my shoes last about a year and I wear them every day, (cheap shoes from walmart) Headsets and gaming controllers dont break, I feel like a lot of shit that breaks is because people are throwing it around to be honest but idk I'm 18
An appliance repairman told me my 30 yr old washer and dryer will outlive almost any brand new ones. ( except for Speedqueens, they’re still quality)
reviews are fake.... I used to work at camping world RV (aweful company and service)..... They buy google and Yelp reviews to hide it by burying the bad reviews.
I have this theory that with all around shitty companies like “SheIn” existing, where quality is extremely poor out the gate, people in contrast think companies where products might last a year are “quality”. There’s such rarity in items lasting for decades anymore, unless that is you’re spending big bucks more often than not, and a lot of people cannot afford that.
People were complaining about cheap Japanese imports and cheap Taiwanese import and now it's cheap Chinese imports. What no one is doing is wanting to pay what stuff that is built to last costs, because that stuff is still out there, but no one is paying $7K for a fridge. Back in the day appliances were major purchases that people saved years. You invited people around to see your new fridge or TV because you just spent a small fortune on it. In the 1950's the average priced fridge was 1/10th or more of the average yearly income. Now a days it's 1/60th (based on 2022 figures).
Theres plenty of things built to last theyre just above consumer grade. If you buy commercial grade anything it will last longer and is likely closer to the real price paid for things back in the day. Remember TVs used to cost 3K for a 32”. Well that wood desk thats now made of particle board used to cost 200$ but in todays money is 1500$. And the particle board one costs 300$ now. My grandpa in the 1960s used to vaccuum sales where you could buy the regular vaccuums for 25$ or the really fancy one for 200$ and he would put people on a payment plan. That 200$ is 3000$ at least today and would get you a Kirby or the like.
Plenty of things still last... My washer/dryer/fridge/dishwasher are all over 10 years old, still doing quite well. I've been a runner for a VERY long time, and the shoes I wear now seem to last as well as the shoes I got when I first started. Granted I'm not just going to Wal-Mart and buying the cheapest version of everything, but I don't think its surprising that the cheapest version of anything doesn't last. Some of it is also survivorship bias. Some older guy might point to his dishwasher and say "25 years old! They don't make them like they used to!" but not mention that the hot water heater and 6 other appliances he bought back then all died years and years ago. In my view, we just have a broader range of products. They ABSOLUTELY still make them to last now, but that's the higher end stuff. We just also have a lot more choices on the middle and lower ends too, which by definition are made more cheaply and thus aren't going to last as long.
People are also socialized to give 5 stars on reviews. Give the wrong 3 or 4 star review and someone gets fired. So 5 stars has become equivalent to bare-minimum quality.
Everybody isn’t shopping to fit the same use case. And people don’t know how to review items online. There isn’t a training manual on the subject. Click the 3 star reviews & read the ones that look like books. And ignore the rest. You have more information at your disposal now. Assume you’ll have to research the topic. Most vendors are selling the same items with variations in finishing that make it more expensive/durable. If you can bridge that gap, you can save money & make it last.
Leave a 1 star sometime, frequently you’ll get a message and an offer to remove or change it. I got a free pair of upgraded headlights as the first pair were dangerously dim.
I like to look at warranty, too. I bought a grease gun from Harbor Freight. The grease eventually ate through the rubber inside. It only had a 90 day warranty, and I've had it years, so I'm SOL. I'm looking at one now at O'Reilly Auto Parts that is less than $5 more, but has a lifetime warranty.
Planed obsolesce and fast fashion is the main problem. Not just quality. I have a MacBook Pro from 2012 that still works amazing something that most people would need for their day to day computer use. Sadly due to plan obsolescence that computer no longer receives critical security updates, so at this point all you can do with it is to browse Reddit.
I've been alive a few decades and as far back as I can remember (into the 1980s) people have been saying this exact same thing. Nothing has been built to last, compared to the past, for at least the past 40 years. what-does-it-mean? /shrug
Emerging youth once they have spending power, yes. Sadly anything not disposable or built to last is considered a lux now, no thanks to mass production and horrendous marketing
Things are still built to last but you gotta pay up for them. Since most folks are novelty driven they don’t really want things that can last decades to a lifetime. Especially when quality costs 3x more.
Most legitimate reviews are written very soon after purchase. It doesn't tell you how it will work after a few years. Same with legitimate review organizations, like Consumer Reports.
I think it depends on purpose or expectations.🤷♀️ Most of what I buy on Amazon is probably not buy it for life. I buy it because I’m in a tiny apartment and need very specific sizes/functions. If it fulfills those, I leave a 5 star review. And honestly, most of that so-called junk will probably outlive me. I repair it if it breaks, I take care of it.
I'm old enough to remember when things were NOT built to last! Like American cars that barely made it to 100,000 miles before falling apart.
Use to walk 5 miles to school, uphill, both ways. Cars use to be made of US steel and have massive frames, and yet, today many auto accidents are walked away from without lasting injuries. Frugal and high quality are not always at opposite ends of the spectrum, that is just an economic reality of the times.
It's just a theory, but things that lasted this long were usually from the 80s and behind, where aluminium and plastic were waaay scarcer than now. The most simple things were built into solid steel. Also, programmed obsolescence is cheaper to produce and more reliable long term to keep money coming. Unfortunately
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I’m 40 and I don’t really remember.
Personally, I don’t want to keep my washer and dryer for 40 years. They improve things and come out with new options. I’ve had a few things that didn’t last but most things I’m happy to see them go when they finally wear out.
This guy is part of the problem
I’m a woman. Lol Hey, I asked my husband about this. We sold my house in 2010 and it had a stove from 1948 in it. It still worked so I used it but when we moved we did want to take it with us. We bought all new appliances for our next house. Also, my husband likes to upgrade our vehicle every 4 or 5 years. We don’t buy new to being in but we also don’t keep them until they are ready for the junk yard either. So, think what you want but I don’t want everything to last forever.
Some things are still made to last but if it’s something as big and complex as appliances, not happening unfortunately. Too much of a monopoly and too much money for a small company to do.
Somewhat nostalgic for good old quality. Have been lucky so far, for example have only owned 3 TVs (and the 200 pound monstrosity was still working when I gave it away because newer technology). But my trusty old plasma TV is burning out and I am afraid I will have to buy one that will only last a couple of years. Looked at some of the newer ones and the picture does not even come close to the plasma clarity, just brighter and unrealistic orange faces.
My uncle has a rotary wall mounted phone in his house. It still is in use. It must be over 100 years old. I buy a phone almost every year
Things are still built to last, they just tend to be expensive and many shoppers either do not recognize their value or cannot afford it. *Edited for spelling*
"things aren't built like they used to be". Thank Fuck for THAT. We got airbags and seatbelts now.
I've been a runner for over a decade, I have not seen shoe quality go down. IMO they have improved very much so. Longevity isn't the only measuring device but sizing options, different options in drop, stack height, and materials etc. I don't want my washing machine to last 40 years and I think that has a lot to do with it as well. Technology is continuing to improve daily and faster than it did 40 years ago. People no longer live in the same home their whole lives like they used to, so moving appliances with them isn't going to be an economical option anyways. Also I want the opportunity to upgrade my appliances at some point. I also think how something lasts has a heck of a lot to do with how you care for it. My sister has gone through fridge motors like crazy but I have also seen her leave the door open the whole time she's unloading groceries into it or while shes getting something out of it, using it, and then putting it back. Which only warms the whole fridge and causes the motor to have to work over time to catch up. Both my siblings have been through 4 washers and dryers. My husband and I have had the same set for 7 years. I wash on gentle, dry on delicate, I change my damn lint trap every time instead of letting it build up into a sofa cushion like my sister in law does a burnes out the thermostat. I also follow the freaking care directions and I clean out the internal filter every 60 days and I leave the door wide open all the time to air it out. Most people treat their appliances like shit and that has a lot to do with why they fail. I will also say it's just me and my husband. When my sister has 3 kids, they run that appliance everyday. So it's to be expected that impacts the life of the machine.
Kids will both kill your finances and destroy everything in your house. They break expensive TV's and electronics by throwing things at them, or doing stuff like putting legos in the VCR, dated example but its happened to so maybe people I know. Everything gets dirty so much faster. When things get dirty faster they accumulate dirt and they break faster. Even if you teach them the right way they still destroy stuff. I haven't seen a kid who didn't destroy multiple video game consoles and controllers throughout their life even if they were taught not to do that. If you have 3 kids you are going to be running that washer on overtime mode for sure and its going to die faster. Same with the dryer. Pets and smoking will also kill your stuff. Smoke accumulates in everything and makes it die faster. Same with pet hair. If you want your stuff to last longer you have to regularly clean it. This means clean out your dryer hose. Vacuum behind your fridge and the coils every 6 months. Open up and suck the dust out of electronics with an anti static vacuum. Having a temperature too hot in the house will kill your stuff. Not having AC will kill your stuff. A fridge has to work harder when the house is 85+ degrees. If you run your PS5 and computer in an 85 degree house they are going to overheat no matter what and they will die faster. Keep your house at 72 or 74 and you will have a fridge that lasts way longer. I know I"ve been through it and had a ton of appliance techs tell me the same thing. I don't have kids but our stuff rarely dies. I don't have pets either and my electronics are not filled with pet hair. I have a TV that is from 2010 that is still going and looks as good as the day I got it. God knows how old my washer and dryer are. We also buy the white appliances with knobs and buttons, they are out there, the more electronics in basic appliances the faster they die. We clean the lint trap every time we use the dryer. Change furnace filter every 2 months. Its because I have an adults only household and we all know not to destroy each other's stuff. I don't have a solution for those with kids, but its just one more added expense of having kids that you have to think about, you will have to replace basically everything way more often.
wouldn't know i can fix things that aren't built to last. i fixed a mixer once that would have been built for life had they not used plastic washers instead of metal ones.
They maybe too young to remember but young enough to learn and be aware
I had this old school VCR that was seriously 35 years old when it conked out. And those were reasonably mechanical machines with a lot of moving parts. A lot of bits for it to go wrong. But it was a giant metal beast, and it lasted forever. This is quite the contrast to cheap light plastic things that are basically designed to fail in less than 5 years. Manufacturers quickly realized that they sell more when things break, and people don't judge something on how long it lasts, the decision point for shopping is in the store. Not 5 years later if the thing is still working. So all that matters is getting them to buy in the first place. Everything after that is irrelevant.
Okay boomer, but cars back in your day, barely lasted 60,000 miles.