Idiots!!!

[KieranM]

we got a washing machine to fix, all was wrong was that the bearing had gone and were making a wofal racket, simple $10 (euro) fix, all it needs is new bearings yes!!

But no, the idiots who will remain unnamed had other ideas, Tricity Bendix (oops) decided that to replace the bearings you must first buy a whole new drum. We said no, not going to happen, so inside a washing machine there is a chrome drum (it holds the cloths) and usually this comes out with no bother once seal is removed, but no. It was inside a split case and to get it out you had to split it, but they melted it together so this was impossible without destroying the whole thing, so out came mr angle grinder and ta da its split. got out bearings but we could not reseal it so it had to go to scrap, a new washing machine was then bought.

I just dont understand, these things are not fixable and it just annoys me to see such waste, its a buy and once a problem occurs you throw it away.

I will post up a few pics later...Such waste

 

[fowler]

they reckon we need to recycle more but the real problem is the design of the product we are recycling

 

[KieranM]

you can kind of get idea from pic http://s742.photobucket.com/albums/xx61/kieranm09/?action=view&current=PICT0199.jpg

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Its engineered to not be serviceable, they aren't idiots, it was built that way for a reason. So when that cheap bearing fails you have to buy a whole machine.

 

[KieranM]

Its engineered to not be serviceable, they aren't idiots, it was built that way for a reason. So when that cheap bearing fails you have to buy a whole machine.

yes that is another way of thinking about it, but what is the point, its not guaranteed that the person will go out and buy the same make again, if i had one that was trusty and serviceable i would search for that brand instead

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Very few people think that way anymore, we live in a throwaway, "just replace it", "**** maintenance", society.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Welcome to today's product. Build it as cheap as possible, pocket the profits. It would have cost more to engineer a serviceable product. Heaven forbid we cut into our bottom line! Besides- Ten years down the road when that crappy bearing fails, we can either hook 'em for a new drum assembly, or they'll buy a whole new machine!!! Sucks, don't it? Get used to it. I have fixed many non-serviceable things in the past, and it burns my @ss every time I see something like that.

 

[KieranM]

the machine was bought in 2007, 4 years use and the bearings fail, granted if it lasted longer i probably would not have started this thread

 

[TerryOlson]

Designed Obsolescence is the term for this. The American auto manufacturers are still trying to recover from the problems they caused for themselves in the 1970s and 1980s when the imports took over the market place with higher quality products. In the auto market there is true competition, but this isn't the case for many other products.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

I wouldn't call the auto market true competition, ever hear of the chicken tax?

 

[KieranM]

ever hear of the chicken tax?

nope..

 

[redsox985]

Speaking of designed to fail. I know this is way off topic but I figured twice was enough to say something about. My first Xbox 360 died at nearly 14 months. My second just died at 13 months and 4 days. Both came with a 12 month warranty, although I insured the 2nd for an additional 3 years through Sam's Club, where I bought it. But products are designed to fail outside of warranty to drain your pockets further, it should be illegal but I'm sure lobbyists do their share in swaying this "designed to fail" crap away from Congress.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

nope..

The chicken tax is a 25% tax on light trucks imported to the US http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tax

 

[fowler]

thats a stupid tax what if u dont want a us truck

 

[TerryOlson]

Where do you go to buy a truck that was literally imported? Nissan builds vehicles out of Smyrna, Tennessee and Toyota builds vehicles out of their plant in Princeton, Indiana. Are vehicles built in these plants subject to this tax? I doubt they are, but I really don't know. It's not like the US manufacturers are selling their vehicles for 25% less than the import manufacturers.

If it weren't for well-built import brands the American auto manufacturers would still be selling us junk. In this sense there is true competion, but I don't think the same can be said for appliance manufacturers.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Part of the reason why those plants are in the states are various taxes on imported vehicles. Before you ask, Kei trucks slip through as ORVs AFAIK.

 

[TerryOlson]

No doubt - plus it helps them to overcome the buy American sentiment some buyers maintain. I was right there with them until I bought a brand new American truck, the only brand new vehicle I've ever owned. I had it in the shop 18 times in 12 months. The dealership people were less than enthusiastic about repairing it. I traded that truck even up for a used Nissan Pathfinder and I've been driving Nissan ever since.

I feel the same way about GE appliances. Fool me once, shame on you - fool me twice, shame on me.

 

[fowler]

ar right i forgot trucks were utes i thought that u were talking about haulage trucks

but anyway as far as cars go id proberly buy korian before american

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Then there are those ford transit connect vans where they come in with backseats and rear glass to qualify them for passenger use, and right at the port they take the seats and glass out to be recycled.

 

[motor_head]

No doubt - plus it helps them to overcome the buy American sentiment some buyers maintain. I was right there with them until I bought a brand new American truck, the only brand new vehicle I've ever owned. I had it in the shop 18 times in 12 months. The dealership people were less than enthusiastic about repairing it. I traded that truck even up for a used Nissan Pathfinder and I've been driving Nissan ever since.

I feel the same way about GE appliances. Fool me once, shame on you - fool me twice, shame on me.

don't know what you bought but my 86' chevy half ton has about 300,000 miles on it and all i've had to do was valve work doesn't even burn much oil! don't tell me i got lucky with that one, i've had alot more good experiences with chevy

as far as appliances i will almost never buy a new one because they are built to last about 10years
thats why i bought a washing machine from the 70's granted that was a few years a go (93) but all i've ever had to do was make a new bracket (old one rusted off) and get a new belt

one positive thing about the whole "don't fix it get a new one mentality" is you can get ALOT of good stuff on garbage day. it's almost like christmas never know what good stuff i'm gonna get