re: So is there anything we as a society can do about appliance quality?

quote:

---

My dad has a refrigerator at his shop made in the 30’s still working.

---

A great example. How many do you think were made, and how many are still working? And how many times do you think it has been repaired over 80+ years? Any improvements along the way?

quote:

---

Older fridges, freezers, and washers were more dependable mostly because of no frills and simple electronics. No doubt about it.

---

And yet, it is an exceedingly rare occasion to find one over 20 years old still in use. And I doubt many of the ones that do work have never been repaired.

quote:

---

We have a simple large capacity Estate washer and dryer (made by Whirlpool) that’s 12 years old and have never had an issue. Click knobs.

---

We can talk anecdotes all day. I agree that simplicity can make a big difference as far as reliability. All I'm saying is the vast majority of old appliances no longer work. And of those that do, the majority have at some point been repaired.

Design flaws have always existed. Manufacturing defects have always existed. But nobody remembers all the shitty products from decades ago because they aren't around anymore. And the internet wasn't around, either.

Buy the stuff with mechanical controls. Don't buy the mid-grade electronic BS.

It's really pretty simple.

We would need to change our buying habits. I think it's too easy for a work of superior quality and performance to lose out inferior products with lower price tags.

As long as appliance makers feel like they can do well with items that work 95% of the time, they'll forego that 5% because of diminishing returns on profit. The diminishing factor is the apparent prevalent preference for quantity over quality.