5 ms·

Batteries don't last this long, why does a dryer have to? it's not all about longevity ...

• bicubic 10y ago
  What to batteries have to do with clothes dryers...? You're comparing a consumable good to a household appliance. Household appliances are expected to last 5 years. 7-10 is pretty normal.
  • awqrre 10y ago
    If a dryer is not a consumable, shouldn't it last forever? If a battery is a consumable, shouldn't it last only one charging cycle?
    • bcook 10y ago
      No. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumables https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumables https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durable_good https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durable_good
      • awqrre 10y ago
        so according to these links, a battery that lasts 2 years is a consumable good but a fridge that last 3 years is a durable good..... I think I get it.
• deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
• rosalinekarr 10y ago
  Because dryers are expensive appliances. If they're going to make one that only lasts one tenth as long, it better cost one tenth of the price too.
  • StephenConnell 10y ago
    Take operating costs into account also.
    • cmdrfred 10y ago
      And time lost waiting for a new one to be delivered, disposal fees...
      • Arizhel 10y ago
        Don't forget delivery and installation fees too. They don't deliver them to your house for free.
        • awqrre 10y ago
          Who cares about delivery fees? it's the total cost that matters.
          • Arizhel 10y ago
            The delivery fee is a significant fraction of the total cost of a modern dryer in the US. Saving a little money by getting crappier dryers will likely have a larger total cost because of the delivery fees, and also the cost of your time in taking time off from work to accept delivery.
            • awqrre 10y ago
              that dryer costing $180 at Home Depot has free shipping, by the way... http://www.homedepot.com/p/Magic-Chef-Compact-1-5-cu-ft-Electric-Dryer-in-White-MCSDRY15W/301134985 http://www.homedepot.com/p/Magic-Chef-Compact-1-5-cu-ft-Elec... .... and by the way, you are paying for shipping even if you by at the store (it is just included)
              • Arizhel 10y ago
• ergothus 10y ago
  Batteries are also (relatively) cheap and easy to replace. If my dryer was $50-$200 and could be carried in one hand, I'd be (grumpily) okay with it only lasting 2 years.
  • arthulia 10y ago
    Must every appliance become "disposable"?
    • ergothus 10y ago
      No - I'd really love it if they didn't become disposable. Sustainability, however, isn't why people have different expectations of batteries vs dryers. I didn't mean to imply a cheap, portable, but flimsy dryer would be a good thing.
  • awqrre 10y ago
    How much does it cost for you to get an iphone battery replaced by Apple ($79)? a basic dryer costs $180 at home depot... http://www.homedepot.com/p/Magic-Chef-Compact-1-5-cu-ft-Electric-Dryer-in-White-MCSDRY15W/301134985 http://www.homedepot.com/p/Magic-Chef-Compact-1-5-cu-ft-Elec...
    • tempestn 10y ago
      Do you own a dryer? If so, would you want to go out and replace it every two years?
• DanBC 10y ago
  This device is supposed to be eco-friendlier than a hot air dryer. The benefit reduces if you have a consumable component that needs changing, especially with the amount of e-waste that goes to landfill.
  • awqrre 10y ago
    eco friendly? right... they are only trying to get the cost down for the consumer.
• majormajor 10y ago
  Arranging large appliance delivery and disposal is a pain in the ass when you've got full time jobs to deal with. Don't want to do that any more than needed.
• function_seven 10y ago
  Batteries not lasting long is considered a limitation of our current battery technology. This limitation doesn’t currently exist for typical clothes dryers. There’s no reason to introduce a new limitation unless the technology makes up for it in other ways. Having to replace a clothes dryer every two years would require the technology to be very good to justify such a burdensome task.
  • tunap 10y ago
    "Having to replace a clothes dryer every two years would require the technology to be very good to justify such a burdensome task." Or, a cost cutting measure of replacing a long-lasting ball bearing assembly with a shaft rotating in a vinyl cup which wears down to metal-on-metal like mine did after 3 years. Which is the sort of accelerated deprecation the OP was alluding to. Granted, the battery metaphor isn't great as energy storage tech is far from mature.