Posted on 05/13/2017 9:10:35 PM PDT by grey_whiskers
What do flat-earthers and economists have in common?
They both mistake their models for reality. They confuse what ought to be with what is.
And that’s why economists are often wrong—even when they all agree, like when it comes to global free trade.
Ask 10 economists about global free trade, and 10 will say it’s good. Always good.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationaleconomicseditorial.com ...
i’m sorry, but appliances last more than 3-5 years. I have a 7 year old refrigerator and 5 year old washer and dryer that are just chugging right along. And they have more features and use less power than those build 30 years ago.
I know the posts deriding anything new, and telling us how great the old days were are popular, but most of the time they’re crap.
Early 1980’s, we switched to a plastic tub from the epoxy coated steel in 1984. The plastic tubs last forever, never rust out.
The new dishwashers only get .8 gallons per fill because of federal regulations and will not wash dishes.
Mine may be about 15 years old.
I was surprised at how easy it is to replace an ice-maker. A little over a hundred bucks for the new one.
On my side-by-side, unsnap supply line, 1/4” nutdriver for two blind screws, lift out, put in new one, level and tighten screws, re-snap supply—all done
Yeah, icemakers are easy, I used to have to charge $300 to replace them, had to add “bang time”, make it look like it took longer and was more difficult so the customer wouldn’t feel bad.
I don’t like most of the new dishwashers at all. Might as well just buy the cheapest one you can find. The drawer type dishwashers are nice, but they cost too much.
I remember when gas was 27 cents, just before OPEC screwed things up. There are probably Freepers who remember when it was 12.9 cents, 13.9 for premium.
However, gas is better now (no toxic lead), unless you’re paranoid about ethanol. Cars are way better, too, which explains why all the service stations have long been replaced by drugstores. You can drive many new cars for 100K miles without a tuneup. All they need is gas and (synthetic oil), and maybe 2 sets of tires instead of 5 or 6 from the “good old days”. Not to mention 30+ MPG instead of 8 to 12.
With inflation, gas prices are about the same now as then. But now, my 455 hp air conditioned, electric windowed car with navigation gets 27 mpg on the highway.
Back in the good old days with no ac our V8 got less than 20 on the highway with less than half the hp.
Back then that color TV had to be constantly adjusted and tubes replaced weekly.
These are the 'good old days'. 
I know Chinese electrical tools are dicey. I wore out a 1/2” electrical drill recently, not that old, it just stopped working, and a power washer with some years just started smoking and gave up the ghost last week.
My Mom’s fridge (GE) was older than I.
It was still running when we cleaned out her house, and I was about 65. The freezer compartment wouldn’t keep ice cream solid, and Dad had patched the door latch, but it kept food cold.
Many appliances have additional bells and whistles, quite literally. Try finding a “plain jane” appliance. Hard to find, but those are more reasonably priced.
I think it is about time I get that whole house surge protector. With today’s demands on our power systems, power surges are becoming more common. They may be a big factor why our appliances are failing so much.
“Then Sears pushes the charge account - 18% interest.”
Do they also stop you from saying NO?
A repair guy I learn from on the internet for fixing my old stuff said that the new stuff, to be “energy efficient” uses smaller motors - but they have to work harder, and hence wear out quicker.
Although it seems on my newer stuff it will be the touch-screens that go bad and other electronic sensors and stuff. I was filling my new washing machine as per the instructions, but I guess it was too much soap - and blew out the “over-suds” sensor. So I replaced the sensor and reduced the soap level - it’s been a few years now with no more issues.
blame our Federal Reserve. It corrupts our money on behalf of its banks and progressive government, and fills the world with American debt.
I bought my mother a Slovenian made clothes washer at Home Depot in 2003. It was dirt cheap. Don’t see them any more at Home Depot.
Built like a russian tank - simple, crude, and just keeps on going. 100% mechanical, no electronics. The internal water heater heats water to 200F. Whites are boiled clean. Mom loves it
That Slovenian machine will outlive us all.
Exactly. Today’s appliances are far superior to those of 40 years ago. Same goes for automobiles. Do I need to mention computers, or consumer electronics?
Have you ever worked anywhere in the product development cycle, as an engineer, designer, or product manager?
Craigslist. Sometimes can find really good used appliances with lots of life left from remodels. Got my mom a upper tier dishwasher and fridge (diff places) way better than she’d ever afford on her own for a lot less, between 80-90% less than original cost.
The Japanese companies have this perfected (for them).. The day after your 1 (or 2) year warranty expires, there is a 95% chance that it will stop working... (and don’t think I am kidding :p )..
GE has also spun off a lot of appliance units that it used to make.
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