to wish gadgets could be built to last more than 12 months?

[halfdrunktea]

I haven't had much luck with gadgets recently. Over the past couple of weeks both my iPhone 5 (aged 14 months) and my Kindle (aged 17 months) suddenly stopped working. The phone had a problem with the battery and Apple sent me a replacement phone (which didn't work either) and the Kindle just froze. I'm told it can't be repaired, and I can instead buy a refurbished older model or just get a new Kindle.

AIBU to wish that manufacturers would make products designed to last a bit longer? At least you get five years with a washing machine! The warranty always seems to be just 12 months. All this planned obsolescence and need for constant upgrades can hardly be environmentally friendly not to mention all the hassle of sorting them out. When I just had a basic normal phone, they lasted forever - I only replaced my first one after six years because it was getting a bit brick-like and needing charging quite often, and the second because I lost it.

I don't want to jinx anything, but so far all my gadgets have lasted longer than 12 months. DDs, on the other hand...In this case it is about the way they are treated/used. Your issue may, of course, be different.

YANBU. My grandmother got a twin tub in 1961, it lasted 35 years. Things were made to last in those days. It is dreadful the way things just don't last like they used to.

I suppose it is often a case of "buy cheap, buy twice" and all that, but it doesn't always follow.

My gadgets tend to last more than 12 months. Never had an Iphone but my Android phones have not had any issues, I tend to upgrade once every two years. I've had my current Kindle about 2 years, but I had to replace it twice before that (free by Amazon, you should persist with their customer service as they do replace items out of warranty at their discretion). I always buy cheap cases for all my gadgets although I drop my phones fairly regularly. Computers tend to die after about 4 years but they are ready for upgrading by then anyway.

I had my iPhone in an Otterbox case and the Kindle was also in a case and was rarely taken out of the home. I may just be unlucky. The iPad is in an Otterbox case and has been dropped by DS and yet has had no trouble. I've had my laptop and camera nearly five years and they're still fine (although the laptop doesn't work with iPhone as it's too old..) I wish you weren't expected to upgrade every five minutes!

All the things you describe are ridiculously capable devices sold for relatively nothing. If people were prepared to pay £300 for a Kindle, they could probably make it last a decade or more. At £60, unlikely.

inabeautifulplace I wouldn't say the iPhone costs relatively nothing unless you think £500 is nothing!

my fairly new toaster has just decided that one side is no longer going to work, it's shit really, things don't seem to last.... cooker grill has gone too.

Laptop computers. I have just replaced yet another two year wonder. As usual the mousepad wore out. After installing Office and all my personal and work applications, have realised the new one has a sticky mouse. Although it can be replaced free of charge up until this weekend...the thought of reinstalling everything and the risk of yet another faulty mouse...

£500 for a iPhone IS relatively nothing though, when you consider both what it has to do and how much it costs to make.

Sounds like bad luck really. My iphone 4 lasted three and half years. It got thrown around and sucked regularly by a baby/toddler.

Iphone 3: lasted 4 years and twice down the loo (still working when pensioned off)
Kettle: 14 years (and I got it second hand!)
Laptop: 4 years and used daily
Camera: 7 years, but I kept on using it underwater without ever getting the seals replaced so that's probably my fault!

It is worth pointing out that there is a difference between how long something can reasonably be expected to last (Sale of Goods Act) and how long the manufacturer has arbitrarily decided it should last (Manufacturer's warranty)

In the event that the warranty period < how long something can reasonably be expected to last in the eyes of the law, the warranty will be 'trumped' by the law.

I experienced this recently when my £500 Bosch dishwasher packed up after 13 months, when the warranty period was 12 months.

It is certainly reasonable to expect such an item to last well beyond 12 months, and when I kicked up a fuss they replaced it free of charge.

Warranties etc can only ever add to your statutory rights, not take away from them.

Kettle still working BTW....

I have a fully functioning computer which dates back to 1997. It has it's original mouse, but
is on it's third keyboard ( previous two, death by coffee). My Acer tablet had to go back for a refit at 11 months. If the main board goes again, I'll be looking elsewhere for a replacement.

My old iphone lasted 3 years until it went to its watery grave.

Are you looking after the gadgets.

My iPhone 4 is nearly 4, all previous phones still work.
My mac PowerBook is older than that not sure of its exact vintage but I've

My kindle is 3
My kettle is 8
My toaster is 10
Our telly is 7
Generally I haven't had to replace my gadgets because they've broken. I've upgraded them or changed them because I felt like it.
Big appliances I've had a few more bad experiences (the smeg dishwasher which caught on fire comes to mind)

The only gadget of mine that lasted less than a year was my Chromebook. The cat knocked the screen on a coffee table and the screen shattered.

Our other gadgets:

BB phone: 4 years
Android phone: 2 years
PS3: 3 years
Nintendo Wii: 5 years
Samsung TV: 2.5 years
Acer PC: at least 3 years.

Are you sure you're looking after them properly?

Was talking to the nephew of my 92 year old neighbour the other day, we were stood outside her garage in which stood a hefty chest of drawers. I commented that was a fair set to which he laughed and said they had broken and 'she (the Aunt) was complaining they don't make stuff like they used to'. He asked when she'd bought them. 1962 she replied. Laughing he'd asked how much she'd paid. 'can't remember' came the reply 'they were second hand'.

I have this problem with laptops - even though I shop carefully and treat them well, they always start limping towards retirement at 2.5 years old.

Everything else, however, is doing really well.

YANBU but I think you have been unlucky.

I'm on my 3rd iPhone (via work) and all have been really reliable. I bought my last "old" 4s from work for DSD and it's still going strong.

My kindle is one of the old keyboard designs and after heavy use still works perfectly after 4 years (as does DH's).

First gen iPad still working fine also (though did get an Air at Xmas simply due to the new apps not being compatible with the old iOS which is a PITA).

yanbu
... I'm on my fourth Kindle. The always bugger up in warranty so I just get a new one. I keep it in the official case and I rarely take it out the house so I'm puzzled as to how they can be so poor

My Kindle was over 3 years old when it bit the dust last month. I can't fault it, though - I was reading it while brushing my teeth, cooking, eating etc so had all sorts of food, liquids, tooth paste etc smeared on it at one time or another.