Washing Machine Rip-off

Brummie85

It's called Planned Obsolescence. It is therefore done on purpose. Manufacturers realised that after the initial sell, their customers didn't need to come back for 10 years and that isn't good for business.

They realised that if they made goods cheaper to buy but also at a lower quality, their industries would turn over more often. Even if a customer goes off a brand, eventually the companies end up merging on the quiet anyway. Don't like Hoover but swear by Candy? They're the same. Most people don't realise until they go looking for customer services or parts on their website.

Hotpoint have it down to a tee. We had a fire risk dryer and rather then wait bought the discounted replacement. 18 months later I've just replaced the heating element. A part so flimy and so easy to replace that it was clearly a design consideration. It's £90 to buy or free with a £120 call-out. Either way they're coining it in. They don't have to repair the dangerous dryer for free and will make money on you whichever option you choose to repair it.

d0nkeyk0ng

getmore4less wrote: »

Was there not a company that tried to sell life cycle machines with decent warrenty that went bust?

I think that was ISE Appliances, set up by the guys from ukwhitegoods.

keith969

Brummie85 wrote: »

It's called Planned Obsolescence. It is therefore done on purpose. Manufacturers realised that after the initial sell, their customers didn't need to come back for 10 years and that isn't good for business.

Exactly this. They are well aware that people will buy cheap - and so they price things down, and make them poorer quality, so their sales won't suffer, because they can sell to you again.

Plenty of threads on MSE where people want to buy cheap !!!! and replace it after 2 years, despite the fact they will be paying the same over time.

getmore4less

d0nkeyk0ng wrote: »

I think that was ISE Appliances, set up by the guys from ukwhitegoods.

Thanks that's the one.
https://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/help/about-the-appliance-industry/manufacturer-information/2764-ise-appliances

J_Nostin

keith969 wrote: »

Exactly this. They are well aware that people will buy cheap - and so they price things down, and make them poorer quality, so their sales won't suffer, because they can sell to you again.

Plenty of threads on MSE where people want to buy cheap !!!! and replace it after 2 years, despite the fact they will be paying the same over time.

There are advantages to that though which you won't get with having an old machine.

I have just replaced a 6-yr-old £200 Beko washer with another £200-odd washer, which I must add never cost me a penny in repairs and which as I speak is awaiting collection after being donated.
Now even if this new one lasts only three years I'm still financially far better off than if I had initially bought a Miele or similar. Not only because of the initial outlay either. As a machine ages it loses efficiency, especially in hard water areas so a newer machine if chosen wisely can be more efficient with both energy and water. Newer technologies come in to play too, for example my new washer weighs the wash and adjusts the water and energy consumption to suit with the obvious result being MORE savings in both energy and water.

Personally I would rather risk having to buy 5 x £200 washers over 10 years than buy one Miele at over a grand that would be guaranteed for ten years but that is my choice.
So far, the way I look at it I'm well ahead.

EachPenny

Rambler1 wrote: »

Can anyone advise where I can get a list of new washing machines that do not have sealed drums?

A friend had a Hisense in a rented place, I had my doubts about the quality but the wash performance was good. When the bearing went I helped the landlord get rid of it, and was surprised to see the tub had metal clips holding the two halves together. I didn't get as far as actually taking it apart, so it is possibly glued as well, but the initial impression I got was it might be possible to split.

It might be worth investigating them.

Personally I have changed my view on washing machines and would now go cheap and cheerful for my next one. Even if (expensive) parts are available, for most people the cost of labour will take them close to the cost of a new basic machine. Buy cheap, expect to 'recycle' it relatively early.

I agree though, it is shocking how more and more things are made non-repairable.

EachPenny

Doozergirl wrote: »

The EU has literally just signed off on obliging manufacturers to make things, like washing machines, easier to repair.

I think it only goes as far as making parts available to professional repairers but it is a step in the right direction.

...if we're in the EU.

The question is, will a washing machine manufacturer be able to say that they certainly do supply parts to enable right-to-repair.... if you would like to buy a £200 drum and sealed tub they will be available, just as they currently are.

I guess it will all depend on the parameters imposed on manufacturers. If a component fails on the main circuit board then should they be obliged to supply the component (say a capacitor) or is it sufficient for them to just supply replacement circuit boards? If you have a soldering iron and know what you are doing, replacing something like a failed capacitor is easy... much easier than replacing drum bearings.

(I'll reserve my congratulations to the EU until the detail of the rules is set out and agreed )

keith969

J_Nostin wrote: »

Personally I would rather risk having to buy 5 x £200 washers over 10 years than buy one Miele at over a grand that would be guaranteed for ten years but that is my choice.
So far, the way I look at it I'm well ahead.

And we end up with lots more landfill because of this selfish attitude.

EachPenny

keith969 wrote: »

And we end up with lots more landfill because of this selfish attitude.

Do you have any evidence that washing machines are ending up as "lots more landfill"?

Do you know which landfill sites are accepting them?

Doozergirl

EachPenny wrote: »

Do you have any evidence that washing machines are ending up as "lots more landfill"?

Do you know which landfill sites are accepting them?

There's definitely more on the streets! :rotfl: