4 ms·

I think one of the challenges is changing the consumer mindset of always going with the least expensive item. This encourages a downward spiral of cheapened pro

by cebert 4y ago

I think one of the challenges is changing the consumer mindset of always going with the least expensive item. This encourages a downward spiral of cheapened products. There are still some high quality appliance brands, but you have to pay more. For example, I purchased a SpeedQueen washer and dryer combo last November. My TR7 model had a premium compared to units available at Home Depot or Lowes, but I love it. SpeedQueen is still manufactured in the US, they offer long warranties, and their products are solid. You get what you pay for.

enragedcacti 4y ago
Unfortunately a lot of people don't have that luxury (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boots_theory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boots_theory). Of course manufacturers often trade quality in favor of margins, but I wonder how much the decline in consumer products has to do with the proportion of people on the 'poor' end of "Boots Theory" for goods like refrigerators, blenders, dishwashers, etc. With income in the US practically stagnant for going on half a century and the sheer number of categories of "required" goods going up (e.g. phones, computers, TVs), everyone has a whole lot less to spend on a fridge and making a quality unit most people can't afford isn't a way to do business.
havblue 4y ago
I had a washer horror story personally: my Samsung high efficiency turned out to be great at trapping mold under the agitator plate. I realized that the drum was also covered with mold and I'd never be able to clean it without aggressive disassembly and scrubbing with a toothbrush in winter. Some of the plastic components were basically guaranteed to have mold forever. No way to get a brush in. I replaced it with a Maytag commercial 2 years ago, the cousin to the speed queen, and have been very happy so far as there's no longer dozens of hidden compartments to trap mold, as far as I know...

by cebert 4y ago

enragedcacti 4y ago

Unfortunately a lot of people don't have that luxury (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boots_theory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boots_theory). Of course manufacturers often trade quality in favor of margins, but I wonder how much the decline in consumer products has to do with the proportion of people on the 'poor' end of "Boots Theory" for goods like refrigerators, blenders, dishwashers, etc. With income in the US practically stagnant for going on half a century and the sheer number of categories of "required" goods going up (e.g. phones, computers, TVs), everyone has a whole lot less to spend on a fridge and making a quality unit most people can't afford isn't a way to do business.

havblue 4y ago

I had a washer horror story personally: my Samsung high efficiency turned out to be great at trapping mold under the agitator plate. I realized that the drum was also covered with mold and I'd never be able to clean it without aggressive disassembly and scrubbing with a toothbrush in winter. Some of the plastic components were basically guaranteed to have mold forever. No way to get a brush in. I replaced it with a Maytag commercial 2 years ago, the cousin to the speed queen, and have been very happy so far as there's no longer dozens of hidden compartments to trap mold, as far as I know...