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My new Bosch 2020 refrigerator broke down after 3 years of usage. Coolant leakage. Not repairable due to the foam direct injection.

anjel 1y ago
Todays appliances are built, by design, to break fast these days. So whether old (operating costs) or new (foreshortened lifespan) your appliances cost you more. https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/modern-appliances-short-lifespan/ https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/modern-appliances... (https://ghostarchive.org/archive/KGf2Z https://ghostarchive.org/archive/KGf2Z)
- trenchpilgrim 1y ago
  There are still some repairable brands. GE'a basic appliances (and their budget subbrands like Hotpoint) are a standout with excellent availability of parts and service data. A hotpoint electric range can be fixed by any homeowner with a screwdriver.
  - analog31 1y ago
    While we're on this topic, kudos to "Sears Parts Direct" for carrying a bewildering array of spare parts for those appliances.
    - SoftTalker 1y ago
      repairclinic.com is another good one. Not always the cheapest but very DIY-oriented.
  - anjel 1y ago
    The problem though is one of diminished durability by intent rather than repairability. Not to mention rising cost-of-repair.
  - dangus 1y ago
    As I recall GE is also one of the few/only brands that operates its own service business. I will also point out that the way inflation has tended to work is that you can still buy high quality appliances and other consumer products (e.g., tailored clothes and built-to-last leather shoes), but when you do the inflation math you have to spend a lot to get the equivalent product from decades ago. In other words, the same quality products generally still exist, the real issue is that a bunch of low price products that didn’t used to exist now do, and average people didn’t own as much stuff as they do now. If you buy a $2500 Speed Queen or a $10,000 Sub-Zero you’re getting the kind of quality and repairability that used to exist in more appliances. But when it comes to a $500 washing machine or dryer, when you adjust for inflation that product did not exist 40 years ago. The other thing I’ve heard about this issue is that the mid-range consumer luxury type stuff is the segment to avoid: built cheaply but with a lot of features that fail and a high cost. E.g., Samsung refrigerators with touch screens on them. You’ll notice that most true luxury built-in brands don’t have a laundry list of gimmick features.
    - criddell 1y ago
      GE was bought by Haier (a Chinese company) about ten years ago. I have a bunch of them and so far they are all pretty good.
      - SoftTalker 1y ago
        My GE fridge has been a disappointment. It is OK at its main function: cooling. However I've had to replace the main control board and the freezer defrost heater. The built-in water dispenser never really worked because the water line is routed too close to the freezer compartment and it freezes up. The ice maker is disconnected because its water line developed a leak and damaged my laminate floor before I noticed it. I don't think I'll be buying GE again.
        trenchpilgrim 1y ago
        The trick with fridges: Don't but ones with ice makers or water dispensers built in. There's a reason the rich install dedicated ice makers and filtered sinks.
- jeffbee 1y ago
  That article does not seem to support in any way the statement that appliances are intentionally designed for short lifespans.
- infecto 1y ago
  Was not immediately apparent in article but I did not read the whole thing. Beyond general repairability the other issue to me is the cost of labor. In Vietnam I can get near anything repaired because the cost of labor is so darn cheap. In America it makes no sense to be paying $100/hour usually minimum two hour repair plus the cost of the part. I am ok with generally with having less ability to repair but I do wish more cities and companies and trade in programs for proper recycling.
- axiolite 1y ago
  Neither the article nor the linked sources even attempt to prove that modern appliances are less durable or having more issues than old appliances. It seems to be just complaining about "computer circuit boards" in appliances, much the way people did about electronic ignition in cars, despite actually resulting in a huge increase in engine reliability because solid state has so very little to fail. I mean, maybe people throw out a perfectly working toaster when it can't connect to Wi-Fi anymore, (or take their car to the dealer when their entertainment system acts-up) but that's not an actual reliability issue, IMHO.
- deleted 1y ago
  [deleted]
tobyhinloopen 1y ago
My Samsung refrigerator runs still great after 12 years.

anjel 1y ago

Todays appliances are built, by design, to break fast these days. So whether old (operating costs) or new (foreshortened lifespan) your appliances cost you more. https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/modern-appliances-short-lifespan/ https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/modern-appliances... (https://ghostarchive.org/archive/KGf2Z https://ghostarchive.org/archive/KGf2Z)

trenchpilgrim 1y ago
There are still some repairable brands. GE'a basic appliances (and their budget subbrands like Hotpoint) are a standout with excellent availability of parts and service data. A hotpoint electric range can be fixed by any homeowner with a screwdriver.
- analog31 1y ago
  While we're on this topic, kudos to "Sears Parts Direct" for carrying a bewildering array of spare parts for those appliances.
  - SoftTalker 1y ago
    repairclinic.com is another good one. Not always the cheapest but very DIY-oriented.
- anjel 1y ago
  The problem though is one of diminished durability by intent rather than repairability. Not to mention rising cost-of-repair.
- dangus 1y ago
  As I recall GE is also one of the few/only brands that operates its own service business. I will also point out that the way inflation has tended to work is that you can still buy high quality appliances and other consumer products (e.g., tailored clothes and built-to-last leather shoes), but when you do the inflation math you have to spend a lot to get the equivalent product from decades ago. In other words, the same quality products generally still exist, the real issue is that a bunch of low price products that didn’t used to exist now do, and average people didn’t own as much stuff as they do now. If you buy a $2500 Speed Queen or a $10,000 Sub-Zero you’re getting the kind of quality and repairability that used to exist in more appliances. But when it comes to a $500 washing machine or dryer, when you adjust for inflation that product did not exist 40 years ago. The other thing I’ve heard about this issue is that the mid-range consumer luxury type stuff is the segment to avoid: built cheaply but with a lot of features that fail and a high cost. E.g., Samsung refrigerators with touch screens on them. You’ll notice that most true luxury built-in brands don’t have a laundry list of gimmick features.
  - criddell 1y ago
    GE was bought by Haier (a Chinese company) about ten years ago. I have a bunch of them and so far they are all pretty good.
    - SoftTalker 1y ago
      My GE fridge has been a disappointment. It is OK at its main function: cooling. However I've had to replace the main control board and the freezer defrost heater. The built-in water dispenser never really worked because the water line is routed too close to the freezer compartment and it freezes up. The ice maker is disconnected because its water line developed a leak and damaged my laminate floor before I noticed it. I don't think I'll be buying GE again.
      - trenchpilgrim 1y ago
        The trick with fridges: Don't but ones with ice makers or water dispensers built in. There's a reason the rich install dedicated ice makers and filtered sinks.
jeffbee 1y ago
That article does not seem to support in any way the statement that appliances are intentionally designed for short lifespans.
infecto 1y ago
Was not immediately apparent in article but I did not read the whole thing. Beyond general repairability the other issue to me is the cost of labor. In Vietnam I can get near anything repaired because the cost of labor is so darn cheap. In America it makes no sense to be paying $100/hour usually minimum two hour repair plus the cost of the part. I am ok with generally with having less ability to repair but I do wish more cities and companies and trade in programs for proper recycling.
axiolite 1y ago
Neither the article nor the linked sources even attempt to prove that modern appliances are less durable or having more issues than old appliances. It seems to be just complaining about "computer circuit boards" in appliances, much the way people did about electronic ignition in cars, despite actually resulting in a huge increase in engine reliability because solid state has so very little to fail. I mean, maybe people throw out a perfectly working toaster when it can't connect to Wi-Fi anymore, (or take their car to the dealer when their entertainment system acts-up) but that's not an actual reliability issue, IMHO.
deleted 1y ago
[deleted]

tobyhinloopen 1y ago

My Samsung refrigerator runs still great after 12 years.