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Fed up of household items not being built to last

143 replies

GreenLunchBox · 11/10/2021 01:52

I'm prepared for people to tell me AIBU, but I moved into this house three years ago and it had two AEG ovens, barely used but out of warranty. Literally barely used as I could tell from how clean they were and all the pizza delivery boxes in the bins when I moved in. Fast forward two years and one of the ovens tripped the fusebox and has been out of action for 6 weeks while two technicians came out . The third technician is due tomorrow and they don't seem to have a clue what is wrong with it so I'm expecting them to say they can't repair it. I paid £165 for the repair and apparently if they can't fix it they just give you money off an AEG appliance. Well, excuse me but I won't be taking them up on their offer because their oven is obviously not fit for use. I will be buying something else.

We also bought a sofabed which after three years of careful use is broken so I will be buying something else. It's very annoying when you spend hundreds of pounds and the thing lasts three years. Are my expectations too high, or should products last more than three years? Gah!

OP posts:
Paranoidandroidmarvin · 11/10/2021 07:53

I had a dishwasher that lasted eight years. I don’t think that is long enough for something that expensive.
I do make sure that I look after the things I buy as they have cost me money. But there is only so much u can do.
The worst has been a microwave that didn’t even last a year. Sent that one back and got a refund. Ridiculous

TrampolineForMrKite · 11/10/2021 07:56

Lived in this house for five years....Onto our third washing machine! We are insured with Domestic and General and twice when there’s been a breakdown - both times after around two years- they’ve been written off. Not cheap brands either.

Miliao · 11/10/2021 07:57

My dualit toaster and kettle have been going strong 17 years!

LemonWeb · 11/10/2021 08:00

Miele
Neff
Bosch
Siemens

All the cheaper brands break far too quickly and they’re designed to be uneconomical to repair.

mokojolo · 11/10/2021 08:00

The only things you can rely on are Miele, Dualit, maybe Bosch.

I bought my Miele washing machine in 2006 and have used it multiple times a day since then and it has never gone even a bit wrong. It has a 25 year guarantee.

dubyalass · 11/10/2021 08:07

My kettle was a tenner from Asda and it's still going strong nearly six years on. Samsung fridge freezer is the same age and making a few odd noises but otherwise fine. My dad's just replaced his Hotpoint dishwasher after nearly 20 years!

Tinpotspectator · 11/10/2021 08:21

Dualit are supposed to be repairable

https://uk.buymeonce.com/blogs/articles-tips/how-do-you-make-a-buy-for-life-toaster?pos=1&&sid=07548b288&ss=r

readytosell · 11/10/2021 08:22

Completely agree, although I find it tends to be a bit hit and miss.

Indesit washing machine failed after 2 years. But indesit tumble dryer still going strong 6 years later. Smeg kettle went after a year, cheap replacement from Russell Hobbs fine 5 years later.

LoislovesStewie · 11/10/2021 08:30

I agree 100%, I bought all of my appliances from a Hotpoint outlet, the only thing still going is the free-standing cooker, I had the misfortune to buy the tumble dryer that could have burst into flame, the dishwasher stopped heating water and the frig/freezer actually blew up! None was cheap, but none lasted more than 4 years. I've bought Hoover stuff now. I'll see how long that lasts, the sad thing is they are all made in Turkey. Nothing is made in the UK any more. When I was a kid things lasted longer, and they were repairable! Amazing how we have progressed isn't it?

TuftyMarmoset · 11/10/2021 09:14

Another vote for Buy Me Once. I bought a Dualit toaster earlier this year specifically because they are fully repairable. Got my eye on their umbrellas as well.
I’ve had this kettle for 4 years and it’s still going strong though www.argos.co.uk/product/7948725?clickSR=slp:term:kettle:8:115:1

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 11/10/2021 10:06

@starpatch

You are so right OP, its so frustrating because even buying an expensive brand, it is still likely not to last long. I try and look at design of things to get something that will last longer, eg avoiding touch screen on new washing machine- the manufacturers seem to have the opposite idea to make the item as complicated as possible then it will be very expensive to repair!
I bloody hate the touch screen on my washing machine! So unnecessarily complicated - and to get the bastard thing to do a ‘just spin’ (e.g. after hand washing) you have to faff with it - there’s no ‘spin only’ function whereas my old one had a mechanical dial with a ‘spin only’.

When I first had the machine I mis-faffed for the ‘just spin’ - there are no specific instructions in the handbook - and ruined a jumper I’d spent ages knitting with expensive pure wool. 🤬. £70 in the bin.

And it’s a Bosch, which are supposed to be ace.

FurierTransform · 11/10/2021 10:44

YANBU & i'm not sure what the solution is - expensive appliances seem just as bad as anything cheaper.

I'm slowly coming round to the idea of "buy cheap, cross fingers, replace when broken" - terrible for sustainability but the market is forcing it on me - I simply can't afford to not have an oven or washing machine for weeks on end while it is 'repaired' - easier to go buy one the same day, swap out, bin old one.

echt · 11/10/2021 10:44

I agree microwaves are rubbish, and it's because of the rust. I only buy cheap ones, and am careful to let it dry out, or wipe it if very wet.
I gave up on electric kettles because they take up too much bench top space. Now I have a lovely Le Creuset hob top one, traditional style, that whistles.

Big item stuff: washing machine, dishwasher, oven and vacuum cleaner all Miele/Bosch have been good.

Fizbosshoes · 11/10/2021 10:54

Our house came with a built in dishwasher ('I think from the 80s or 90s looking at the style of the kitchen.) We redid the kitchen but kept the dishwasher and it lasted for years. We replaced it with a bosch one about 5 years ago. The cutlery box and sliding "shelves" broke and when we looked into buying replacement parts it was cheaper to buy a new dishwasher!!

While I don't think individuals should shirk responsibility for climate change, surely this is a huge factor when things (electronic appliances and tech) need to be replaced, disposed of and new ones generated on a much more regular basis? Its all very well that they have energy ratings and eco settings but surely making things last more than a couple of years is just as important?

I'm sure my parents had things for literally decades before they broke. When DD was a baby they brought over their tumble dryer that they rarely used. They'd had it 30 years and it still worked (it was pretty basic with just an on/off function but did the job) Admittedly my own tumble dryer that I subsequently bought is 14 years old although again it is rarely used so probably not a good comparison to a fridge, dishwasher or washing machine that are far more frequently used.

DottySpottyZigzag · 11/10/2021 11:34

Yes it is such a false economy. We've furnished our new home completely with Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree finds so far as I can't bear to pay full new RRP for things that don't last. My personal favourite buy is our £50 Miele dishwasher from a little old lady who was moving. She wanted to check we were nice people before she let us have it!

Grellbunt · 11/10/2021 11:38

It seems to be a complete lottery with brands

GiantKitten · 11/10/2021 12:15

My dishwasher & washing machine are both Bosch - d/w (dead basic, cost £250) is 13 years old (in fact today is its birthday, I just looked up the email, what a coincidence!) and the washer (top of the line at the time, £520) is nearly 9.

Oven is Neff, that died randomly a few weeks ago. It’s about 10 years old I think. Not getting it fixed, have bought a countertop mini-oven instead as we will be getting a new kitchen at some point.

3 cylinder vacs, all Miele - house has 3 floors, makes it easier! - middle one is 9 years old, no idea about oldest. (They’ll never wear out from overwork though Blush)

Recently replaced ancient Panasonic microwave with a similar one. Old one still worked fine except for clock and light - cleaned it up and passed it on through freegle. New one is a bit smaller. Have discovered I preferred old one’s programmes though Confused

Small appliances are cheap & fairly basic but work fine - kettle is Tesco (c £12), toaster is slightly posher, Russell Hobbs from Lidl (£20)

I’ve also got an LG American style fridge freezer (no ice/water) which is nearly 13 - display is a bit buggered and one shelf is broken but it still works ok. And a 32” Panasonic TV, same age, much better picture then 40” Samsung smart TV we’ve got now (have passed it on to DD2, she uses it with a fire stick)

Worst appliance I ever had was a very expensive Hoover dishwasher recommended by Which. It regularly flooded the kitchen (apparently due to an internal connection between a round pipe and an oval one). Gave up on that after about 2 years Angry

NotMyCat · 11/10/2021 12:16

My Electrolux oven is doing well, it's 15 years old

Rainallnight · 11/10/2021 12:18

I agree with you. It absolutely maddens me. So much crap going to landfill. Sad

I would like Which? (Or someone) to write ‘one/two year on’ reviews, which tells you how something has performed over time and give everything they review a sustainability rating.

FourTeaFallOut · 11/10/2021 12:19

We went through a phase of washing machines crapping out ridiculously early - within a year or two. This one, Samsung Eco-bubble, is almost 5 years old and still going strong so I have my fingers crossed it doesn't start getting temperamental on me.

Walesrecommendations · 11/10/2021 12:23

I agree, we've had 4 kettles in 6 years and our hoover washing machine needed 4 repairs in its first 2 years. The man at AO informed me that 18 months was a reasonable time for a washing machine to start breaking down Confused dread to think how much of this stuff goes in landfill.

PickAChew · 11/10/2021 12:28

You can't even guarantee better quad lity by paying more. Spent a fortune on bedroom furniture from John Lewis. Had to get wardrobe doors replaced because the veneer was damaged on 3 out of 4 of them and we're constantly having to repair drawers that fall apart.

meadowbleu · 11/10/2021 12:29

I had a look at the buy me once website but some of the stuff recommended is so expensive, tights 'from £28' a knife for £125. Wow.

It is a complete lottery and I'm dreading having to replace appliances because we've been pretty lucky up to now. It's most lightbulbs and taps we've been having endless issues with. The lightbulbs isn't any kind of fault of our electrical supply, they just don't last and are so expensive.

PickAChew · 11/10/2021 12:33

Can't fault our washing machine, mind. 4 years old Siemens that has probably done about 5,000 loads, by now (incontinent teen, so long, hot washes) and the pump is beginning to sound a bit rough and the door a bit dodgy but at 10p per load, it will have earned its keep if it does die on us. Helps that there's an access point to clean out any debris, that a lot of washers don't have.

Welshiefluff · 11/10/2021 12:34

Literally barely used

What does this mean?

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