Sorry...Another China rant...

[RECHRGD]

Are any of you old enough to remember when major household appliances lasted decades?  Well I am and I'm fed up with the crap being manufactured now.  We bought a new high end Whirlpool side by side refer about 3 years ago and got the extended warranty because of all the electronics in it.  Thank God, because we've had to have the ice maker repaired twice and a foul odor dealt with in the short time we've had it.  Eighteen months ago we bought a new Freezer (no extended warrantee on this one) to replace the 22 year old unit we had in the shop.  A few days ago the fan started making some noise and now the fan is dead and thousands of dollars of steaks and frozen food are starting to defrost.  I live out in the country and the service center said there is no guarantee that they will be able to fix it on the first trip out.  Sooo I bought a new one and it will be delivered this morning so we can try and save most of the meat.  I'll fix the "old" one myself and sell it.  The last repairman that was out here to deal with the refer said that there are no appliances left anymore that are made in America regardless of brand name.  Everything is either made in China or assembled from all Chinese components and that they just won't last like they used to.  I recently replaced my alternator on the Charger for a higher amperage American made unit.  When I looked at the one season old Napa Chinese rebuilt one that I replaced, you could tell that the bearings were getting ready to go on it.  It would have left me stranded somewhere!   It's just sad and you still get charged up the butt for this junk.  Rant over.   Bob

[ChgrSteve67]

I hear you brother.  Last weekend I had to replace my washer and dryer that lasted over 20 years.
I figure they will probably last just past the 5 year factory warenty.

Hard to find anything of quality these days and even if they made them in America they would be made out of the same plastic and other crap that just dosen't last like metal does. Its considered good business these days to design in built-in obsolescence.

-Steve

[bull]

I'm not going to defend the Chinese but they are doing exactly what they are expected to do. I'm more concerned about an America that's comfortable turning its GDP, pride and sovereignty over to some other nation in trade for a quick buck.

[lisiecki1]

I'm not going to defend the Chinese but they are doing exactly what they are expected to do. I'm more concerned about an America that's comfortable turning its GDP, pride and sovereignty over to some other nation in trade for a quick buck.

amen.

all loans eventually come due.

[Hemidog]

If you don't mind norwegian subtitles, here's an interesting documentary about planned obsolescence.
http://dotsub.com/view/aed3b8b2-1889-4df5-ae63-ad85f5572f27

[twodko]

I'm not going to defend the Chinese but they are doing exactly what they are expected to do. I'm more concerned about an America that's comfortable turning its GDP, pride and sovereignty over to some other nation in trade for a quick buck.

Word!

[Richard Cranium]

When my wife & I were first married, we bought a fridge for about a grand & 10 years late when we moved into our 2nd house, a larger fridge was less money. So, what does that tell you?


I had the compressor go on a 7 year old fridge a couple of summers  ago & the repair man told me that it wasn't worth fixing because a new compressor (installed) would be 3/4 the cost of a rnew fridge. The repairman said that because of the energy ratings that are imposed, they manufacture the lightest duty compressor as possible to meet those energy ratings, however, he did say that replacement compressors do not have to meet those same ratings & are built heavier. Whether he was giving me a line of crap or not; I don't know.

It seems that nearly eveything that comes out of China is build like crap and because of that, we have become more of a disposable society than ever.

[bakerhillpins]

I hear you brother.  Last weekend I had to replace my washer and dryer that lasted over 20 years.
I figure they will probably last just past the 5 year factory warenty.

Warranties are designed to be just under the MTBF of the unit so it's no mistake that it happens that way. I've gotten real good at finding parts diagrams on the web and just ordering the parts direct and doing the replacement. Though at a certain point it's disposable. If I had a choice I would spend to make it last but I don't get that option any more..

I'm not going to defend the Chinese but they are doing exactly what they are expected to do. I'm more concerned about an America that's comfortable turning its GDP, pride and sovereignty over to some other nation in trade for a quick buck.

Word!

+1

[Brock Samson]

our guy passed today...
http://www.joebageant.com/joe/

   

[Dans 68]

our guy passed today...
http://www.joebageant.com/joe/

Interesting character...but why is he our guy? He should have his own thread. 

Dan

[Brock Samson]

Why?.. because he was one of us, hard working Americans.. hence, our guy.

[LeeBoy]

I bought several used refrigerators for my garage and they would only last a year. Then a friend told me his mother had this old Frigidaire from the 50's that I could have for free. This thing will freeze the beer line on my tap system if you turn it up to high. The Hurst tap handle is fun

[RECHRGD]

OK, here's what made be buy a new freezer and have to throw out several hundred dollars worth of food this morning.  I doubt the manufacturer pays more than a $1.50 for this fan (made in taiwan) and puts it in a $800.00 freezer as a critical part.  As you can see, the fan blades had worn into the screws, eventually stopping the fan.  It didn't take much pressure at all to pull the fan blade back away from the screws.  The fan still works fine, but with the counter clock wise rotation it slowly pushes itself on the spindel back into the screws.  You'd think they could at least have a ridge in the spindel to prevent this or maybe even get the fan on tight to begin with.  Such quality!   I think I'm going to start raising some hell about this.  Bob

[Old Moparz]

I learned a long time ago that buying the more expensive item, in whichever line of item you are buying, doesn't get you quality. I had bought an expensive CD changer in the early 90's & it died 1 month after the warranty expired. Replaced it with a cheap one without a remote, & I still have it 18 years later. It doesn't seem to matter where it's from either, China, Mexico, etc. From now on I buy the lower end unit so I don't get shafted in a disposable society. It has nothing to do with being a tight-wad, which I'll admit to, but if something is going to crap out in just a few years, not 20 years, I'll feel better knowing I spent less.

Buying high end to impress people isn't me, so I don't give a rat's ass what people think. My wife & I bought a GE Profile fridge that was around $1700 or so. We wanted it because of certain features. In less than 2 years, the main electronics crapped out, we lost a lot of food that thawed out. The doors were replaced 3 times due to ripped seals or just misalignment, & the doors on it now have ripped seals. I have one last set of doors ready for when these fall off that GE sent, but only after writing a letter telling them their stuff sucks & that I won't buy it again.

When we bought a dishwasher a few months ago it was an Amana for $198 & not the nicely featured ones for $1000 or so. If I get 10 years or more out of the $198 one I'll be happier than a pig in shit. If I only get a few years out of it, I won't feel as bad ripping it out from under the cabinet & dragging it to the dump compared to a $1000 one.  

Murphy's Law states, 90% of everything is crud.

[Tilar]

I bought several used refrigerators for my garage and they would only last a year. Then a friend told me his mother had this old Frigidaire from the 50's that I could have for free. This thing will freeze the beer line on my tap system if you turn it up to high. The Hurst tap handle is fun

I have an old Kelvinator fridge that was in my grandmothers basement in a corner. Probably hadn't been plugged in in the last 25 years. After she passed away we pulled it out of the basement and plugged it in and it works great. Probably needs another seal around the door but it gets the old freezer down to roughly 8 degrees. I'm guessing it's probably 60 years old.

It would make a good keg fridge too.

[LeeBoy]

I bought several used refrigerators for my garage and they would only last a year. Then a friend told me his mother had this old Frigidaire from the 50's that I could have for free. This thing will freeze the beer line on my tap system if you turn it up to high. The Hurst tap handle is fun

I have an old Kelvinator fridge that was in my grandmothers basement in a corner. Probably hadn't been plugged in in the last 25 years. After she passed away we pulled it out of the basement and plugged it in and it works great. Probably needs another seal around the door but it gets the old freezer down to roughly 8 degrees. I'm guessing it's probably 60 years old.

It would make a good keg fridge too.

That's what mine is for, keeps the beer so cold it hurts your teeth when you drink it.

[charger490]

rechrgd     your home owners insurance should pay for the food you lost

[bobs66440]

Probably the worst quality items are CD players...They are inexpensive, yes, but most we've bought recently last like a couple of weeks and poof! Done. They know that for $30. or whatever you're not going to take it back. That, to me, is just wrong.

And those stupid RC helicopters that you fly indoors. I keep falling for that scam and continue to get burned...yes I am an idiot...not any more. Positively useless junk.

[Silver R/T]

We have Kenmore Elite fridge as well as washer/dryer made by Kenmore. Not sure where they made, had them for ~5yrs.
I do not care for Chinese junk either.

[Charger RT]

china stuff sucks
I did find a washing machine built in ohio by Americans. I bought one 3 or 4 years ago with no issues. It is built to be repaired by the owner and they will send the owner the warrenty parts to install. It is a Staber.
Tim

[RallyeMike]

Bull is on target. Before we start pointing the finger East, a little review is warranted. The fact is that we got exactly what we demanded, and the Chinese were smart enough to make a buck giving it to us.

The average and plentiful American consumer won't pay for quality. Just big, flashy, and cheap. It's our own fault that Walmart has run every mom and pop business out of town, it's our own fault that the store shelves are packed with cheap crap, and it's our own fault that our manufacturing jobs have been shipped overseas to make the cheap crap we demand. It's not like all the companies that made durable goods just up and quit. We, the consumers of this nation put them out of business.

I don't have any answers. I think we're stuck with it. Our world is one where so few people are proud of what they make or do anymore. It's just all about a quick buck, and don't worry about tomorrow.

[bull]

Another thing that scares me now is that China is actually starting to turn out quality products. Not much but it is out there. For example, Worx boots is a Red Wing Chinese brand and they are the best work boot I've ever owned. Granted, I have never owned a pair of top of the line Red Wings but I have owned many different brands of boots including Danner, Wolverine, Doc Martin, Georgia, Sorel, etc., and this Worx boot is the only one that has impressed me enough to track down the model I had and buy it a second time. Though they are about three years old I could have worn them for probably another three years but instead I took them home and bought a new pair.

Anyway, my point is that it is inevitable that some of these Chinese companies will figure out that quality is a good thing for company morale, longevity, profitability, etc., and if/when that happens enough the last remaining reason to "Buy American" will also disappear. Think about it. Why buy an awesome pair of American made boots for $220 that last 10 years when you can buy and awesome pair of Chinese made boots for $120 that last 10 years?

I will always buy American when I can, and when I'm relatively sure the sure the "Buy American" thing isn't just a ploy to squeeze me for more cash. For instance, I always buy Channellock products because their hand tools are made in the USA and the prices are not much higher than some of the Chinese junk out there. I feel some amount of pride when I use a Channellock tool but on the other hand I feel like I'm getting played or being taken advantage of when I shop Snap-On or Cornwell. Their prices are outrageously high and I honestly believe it's gotten worse since this whole Buy American thing began. It's stupid what they charge and I believe it's going to cost them in the long run. I'd rather do a little research and buy some other American made tools that don't cost as much as a small house.

http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/tools.html

[bull]

china stuff sucks
I did find a washing machine built in ohio by Americans. I bought one 3 or 4 years ago with no issues. It is built to be repaired by the owner and they will send the owner the warrenty parts to install. It is a Staber.
Tim

http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/appliances.html

[mikesbbody]

Do you Guy's not have Fisher & Paykel appliances over there? we have always had them and they have been Great!

[Old Moparz]

I don't believe we did this to ourselves, corporate greed did it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-johnson/plutocracy-ge-doesnt-pay_b_840936.html

Perfect example is G.E. The company made record profits, is one of the largest companies in the world, got government incentives worth $3.2 Billion, has closed US plants over & over to move operations overseas, is forcing it's employees to fund their own health benefits fully, & did not pay a penny in taxes.