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Started By
Message
Interesting piece on generational differences
Posted on 12/28/14 at 2:35 pm
Posted on 12/28/14 at 2:35 pm
UK
As an older person I can see what the writer is saying. We used to try to fix things. Now, we just throw them away and buy a new one without any attempt.
I would be interested with any anecdotal stories.
As an older person I can see what the writer is saying. We used to try to fix things. Now, we just throw them away and buy a new one without any attempt.
I would be interested with any anecdotal stories.
2
Posted on 12/28/14 at 5:20 pm to Zach
Things today are also made cheaply and are not meant to be repaired.
Case in point. About 4.5 years ago, I bought a front-loader washer and dryer set. Haven't had any issues until a few weeks ago. One day the washer while running made a horrible, banging noise, and started smoking. I did some research and testing and determined the bearings were probably going out. I also found out that it was approximately a 4 hour repair involving a complete tear down and rebuild of the washer. To buy a new like model would cost $475. So, paying for a repairman made no sense. My options were to replace it, or attempt the repair myself. I decided to fix it myself.
I purchased the bearings for $80 and reviewed online how to tear it down (thanks youtube!) Got off early one night, sent the wife and kids out, had a friend come over, cracked open an Abita, and got to work.
Took about 90 min to strip it all down. Last step was to remove a bolt holding a bracket on the drum, then the bearings could be removed. When I got the bolt off, I realized the bracket was destroyed. It was plastic, and was basically held together by friction and dust. It came off in 6 pieces.
Got online to order a bracket, and it turns out there are none made, and I could not find any aftermarket ones either. Apparently, the company decided to no longer sell them individually, due to the fact that they were pieces of crap. However, I could buy an entire drum unit, which also included both a bracket (the same shitty one) and the bearings. Cost: $375 plus $50 to ship it.
After muttering some choice words, I drove to Best Buy and bought the new machine for $475. I ended up selling off the parts and metal for a total of about $75. So basically the net cost of the new machine was $400, which was about the cost of the part to fix it.
Case in point. About 4.5 years ago, I bought a front-loader washer and dryer set. Haven't had any issues until a few weeks ago. One day the washer while running made a horrible, banging noise, and started smoking. I did some research and testing and determined the bearings were probably going out. I also found out that it was approximately a 4 hour repair involving a complete tear down and rebuild of the washer. To buy a new like model would cost $475. So, paying for a repairman made no sense. My options were to replace it, or attempt the repair myself. I decided to fix it myself.
I purchased the bearings for $80 and reviewed online how to tear it down (thanks youtube!) Got off early one night, sent the wife and kids out, had a friend come over, cracked open an Abita, and got to work.
Took about 90 min to strip it all down. Last step was to remove a bolt holding a bracket on the drum, then the bearings could be removed. When I got the bolt off, I realized the bracket was destroyed. It was plastic, and was basically held together by friction and dust. It came off in 6 pieces.
Got online to order a bracket, and it turns out there are none made, and I could not find any aftermarket ones either. Apparently, the company decided to no longer sell them individually, due to the fact that they were pieces of crap. However, I could buy an entire drum unit, which also included both a bracket (the same shitty one) and the bearings. Cost: $375 plus $50 to ship it.
After muttering some choice words, I drove to Best Buy and bought the new machine for $475. I ended up selling off the parts and metal for a total of about $75. So basically the net cost of the new machine was $400, which was about the cost of the part to fix it.
Posted on 12/28/14 at 6:08 pm to LSUFanHouston
Americans need to make the products again! Washers and dryers use to last twenty years or more! But it would take us a whole generation to train up people not to rip people off and fill up our landfields and make a good product again worthy to sell.
Posted on 12/28/14 at 6:14 pm to LSUFanHouston
I had the exact same experience except with a dishwasher.
Posted on 12/28/14 at 6:54 pm to LSUFanHouston
I youtube fix it as well. My entire house is a time warp. My SO and I buy vintage and antique furniture all the time. I don't own a piece made after '74ish. I like the craftsmanship. Every single piece I own is solid wood. No veneer or particle board to be found. Now, it's very eclectic but we like that. And our brand of shopping does not allow for instant gratification. I have a general idea of what I want and have to wait until I find the right piece. But, I save a ton of money and have a very unique house. I think the most expensive piece I own was around $180. I bought an entire groovy bedroom set for $125. 
Solid wood, unique, and not a mark on it. Things aren't made like that anymore. Even "high end" furniture is cheaply made. People spend thousands on furniture that will be worse for wear in 5-10 years and then spend thousands more to replace it for the latest thing. On one hand it annoys me that everything is so disposable to people, but on the other hand it saves me from having expensive yet cheap cookie cutter furniture. I just wish the hipsters would stop with the chalk paint and move on to the next fad.
Solid wood, unique, and not a mark on it. Things aren't made like that anymore. Even "high end" furniture is cheaply made. People spend thousands on furniture that will be worse for wear in 5-10 years and then spend thousands more to replace it for the latest thing. On one hand it annoys me that everything is so disposable to people, but on the other hand it saves me from having expensive yet cheap cookie cutter furniture. I just wish the hipsters would stop with the chalk paint and move on to the next fad.
Posted on 12/28/14 at 6:59 pm to drunkenpunkin
is this going to be the daily old people get off my lawn thread
Posted on 12/28/14 at 7:06 pm to Zach
Many of the items I inherited from my grandfather's work shed will outlive me. The crap I buy today from Home Depot probably won't last past this decade.
It's a tradeoff between buying things cheaply that are easily replaceable, versus things that are built to last, but would cost a fortune to manufacture today.
It's a tradeoff between buying things cheaply that are easily replaceable, versus things that are built to last, but would cost a fortune to manufacture today.
Posted on 12/28/14 at 7:34 pm to stormy
quote:
Washers and dryers use to last twenty years or more!
My parents bought their house in 1984, when I was 4. The house was in the family until 2005, when Katrina destroyed it. When they moved in, they bought all new appliances (washer, dryer, dishwasher, stove, hot water heater). With the exception of the hot water heater, all of the appliances lasted the entire 21 years. This included going through the May 1995 flood. In the 1995 flood, we had about 8-12 inches of water. The appliances simply dried out, we replaced a few parts, and moved on.
No way that happens with stuff made today.
Posted on 12/29/14 at 10:07 am to LSUFanHouston
I guess my wife if a member of the new generation. When I met her 18 years ago I noticed there was no food in her fridge. I inquired about it.
Her: Eating out is cheaper than cooking at home.
Me: No, it's not. Restaurants are adding a profit to the cost of the food they buy.
Her: Yeah, but cooking at home means ya gotta buy new pots and pans every week.
Me: Why?
Her Because it's too damn hard to scrub those things clean.
Me:
Her: Eating out is cheaper than cooking at home.
Me: No, it's not. Restaurants are adding a profit to the cost of the food they buy.
Her: Yeah, but cooking at home means ya gotta buy new pots and pans every week.
Me: Why?
Her Because it's too damn hard to scrub those things clean.
Me:
Posted on 12/29/14 at 12:58 pm to Zach
Did you ever tell her that's WHY you married her?
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