Household Appliances Were Cheaper 40 Years Ago—We’re Getting Ripped Off

National Economics Editorial ^ | May 12, 2017 | Spenser P. Morrison

[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.

[tom paine 2]

Our Kitchen Aid washing machine and drier made in Findlay Ohio are in their 17th year running strong.

[pajama pundit]

That’s a really long time for a water heater, they tend to get mineral deposit buildup and rust out, leak, etc. Recommend replacing it right away. The new ones are much more efficient.
Cheers

[Deplorable American1776]

I wish someone would build a kitchen appliances that will last years and years. I would build it in the USA with 100% American parts...

[mad_as_he$$]

I agree but that said we have had very good performance and long service with Bosch. Four in the family and one is 20 years old this month and still runs great. One did have a control module failure but it was under warranty.

[AFreeBird]

I’ve got a whirlpool gold oven about 12 YO. A few years ago it died. Power surge took out the control board. Found a replacement online and ordered it. It came with a surge protection module.

[#1CTYankee]

I worked for a company that made wall mount machines for cutting glass. They would continue to machine replacement parts for customers for models that were 60 years old or more. The owner asked what the company do to increase sales, an engineer stated that if we made machines that didn’t last so long our sales would go up. He was let go within a week.

[Vision]

Bosch have a reputation for not drying well and being smelly due to having no heating element.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

You've told most of the end story of Maytag of Newton, IA.
Maytag made sturdy washers and dryers for decades until their “research” department went after the threat posed by Korean imports. They created a knock-off that didn't work and resulted in complaints, lawsuits and even recalls.
Then they hired a president who didn't want to live in a mostly rural part of the country and had to be chauffeured every morning from his home in Des Moines.
There were other issues that contributed to killing off Maytag, including an unsympathetic union and an executive arrogance (WE...are MAYTAG!)
Today the Maytag name is just another brand and the plant and jobs in Newton are gone.
I was a supplier to Maytag for many years and saw this happen...

[wrench]

Gas is better? LOL!!

You would get 25% better gas mileage if you ran real gas, not that gasahol junk. And, your equipment would last longer. Believe that leftist lie if you want, but more energy is used when gasahol is substituted for real gasoline.

All anecdotal evidence aside, planned obsolesce is real. It is 5 years for appliances, and 7 years for consumer vehicles. There are hard industry stats to back this up, refer to British court rulings on this, as they have draconian warranty laws compared to the US.

And I do have a 40 year old truck with over 1/2 million miles on it, but that doesn’t mean an average vehicle today will last even a fraction of that.

[tumblindice]

I learned not to try to plug a refrigerator into a GFCI receptacle. The cycling of the compressor trips it.
And I’ve heard you shouldn’t try to work on a microwave yourself, to tear into it, even if it is unplugged because it stores enough electricity to knock you on your butt.

[NorthstarMom]

Bought a fridgidaire washer, dryer, fridge, freezer and dishwasher. The dishwasher was horrible-we replaced it in less than 5 years. Fridge had to be repaired shortly after that-needed a new compressor.

I’m not ever buying that brand again.

[Netz]

“Planned Obsolescence”...

[bert]

Bells and whistles are not required. Most importantly, Stainless Steel is not required

[free_life]

Buy commercial washers and dryers, they are still made to last.

Commercial fridges and stoves and dishwashers are pricey.

Hot water tanks now last 3 to 5 years, they use to last 30 to 50 years.

[mad_as_he$$]

We have never had those problems, however we live in the desert and I suspect that may have an impact on those issues.

[Eric Pode of Croydon]

Naaah, we need to go back to when cars needed valve jobs and new piston rings every couple of years.

Think of the good American jobs that would create!!!

/s

[Born to Conserve]

Almost every problem I see ultimately comes from government taxation, or government regulation.

[Chickensoup]

in the sixties there was a backlash against planned obsolescence. One of the factors in the consumer movement.

[Not gonna take it anymore]

I have a GE microwave wall oven combo. Circa late 80s. Have replaced the fuse in the microwave and the lower burner in the electric oven.

They still work great.

Finally had to replace the electric cooktop.

[TexasGator]

I miss having to adjust points and brakes.