Fed up of household items not being built to last

[GreenLunchBox]

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!

We had a sofa repair man come. He said, that if you spend £150 on a sofa or £8k, the farm is basically the same and you need to spend over £12k to get something actually substantially better. Often you get more colour choice etc, but the basic product is same.

I’ve seen furniture for sale in Wilko and in MandS and it’s all basically the same. The MandS is branded more high end and got more ‘upmarket’ colours but the actual product is still the same, often with MDF backs etc.

Parents in their 80s talk about buying a household item or a Fischer Price toy for a child and saving hard for it. When you translate the prices into today’s money, in relation to earnings, all the stuff cost loads more than most of us are willing to pay today. The trouble is, if the good, expensive stuff can’t easily be repaired, then people don’t feel confident to buy it.

Plus, the idea of saving and buying is totally out of fashion. Over 80% if new cars are bought on lease/finance and most will be traded in after a few years. As well as things breaking (and actually cars are more reliable than they used to be) lots of people replace items because they simply want a different colour etc, so actually the market doesn’t require things to last, in lots of of ways.

I can’t see any return to repairable, lasting but expensive products soon.

My best thing is my Russell Hobbs toaster which I hope will outlast me. Just a nice, simple 2 slot toaster which browns the bread evenly how I like it. Doesn’t do anything fancy and I don’t want it to do anything apart from toast.

I must have had it about 14 years now. It’s used every day.

.Miele vacuum cleaners are great - we've had a cat & dog one for 25 yrs. Bosch dishwasher been going strong for yrs too. For small appliances I try to buy Cuisinart items as they're solid

Our Dualit toaster is around 25 years old and easily fixable if it goes wrong.

@mokojolo

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.

Off topic, but I couldn't ever imagine using my washing machine multiple times a day

I average twice a week...

All of my appliances were purchased new and I've been happy with all so far... Dualit kettle and toaster. Bosch oven, extractor fan and AEG induction hob. Samsung washing machine and fridge/freezer. Hisense dishwasher (scrimped a little here but was still a highly rated Which reviewed purchase as were all of my purchases).

Agree that Bosch and Miele (if you can afford it) are the way to go. Am obsessed with my Miele vacuum cleaner which I managed to get almost half price in a Curry's sale for circa £100. It's amazing.

I buy mid price Bosch washing machines. The last one I had in my last house for 10 years and left in the house. Never any problems. Bought another one for the house I’m in now. It’s now 6 years old and again no problems with it.

I completely agree. I brought a Samsung washer dryer 3 years ago so now out of warranty. It stopped working last week and when I contacted a repair man he stated that new machines don’t last as long and recommended I get a new one. It’s was not cheap. I so angry I work hard for my money.

Had such good experience with Miele (same dishwasher and washing machine for 10 years) I’m literally closing my eyes bas kitting out my kitchen with their stuff when I move to new place

*Sorry closing my eyes

Though warranty/guarantee may be 2/3 years consumer law requires an appliance to last years, failure within this period you approach the retailer not the manufacture for a free repair. Your local Trading Standards Office wil assist.

Sorry six years.

I’ve had my Bosch washing machine for 15 years with one minor repair! Cooker was a cheapo range one and is now 10 years old and has had a couple of minor repairs. Guess I’ve been lucky.

[quote MattyGroves]I have discovered this site recently which is really helpful

uk.buymeonce.com/collections/bestsellers[/quote]
Notice my dualit toaster is on there though and they have a known issue where the dial stops turning and just gets stuck on until you suddenly notice the kitchen is full of smoke and turn the bloody thing off. It's an absolute menace. Dualit won't do anything about it because apparently you're never supposed to leave a toaster anyway so hovering over it to stop it burning your toast to a cinder shouldn't be an issue...

My Miele washing machine, used almost every day for 15 years and still working well. It was expensive at the time but in real terms not at all as it has lasted.

I don’t have many appliances , I do have my mother’s 1960s Kenwood Chef which is still going strong.
I have recently bought metal clothes pegs from buymeonce as I am fed up of them breaking.

For my first house I inherited someone’s gran’s wedding present Bosch washing machine which was 30+ years old when I got it. Replaced when the door latch went but probably should’ve got it fixed. Had a couple of cheapies which didn’t last and now have a Samsung they were dishing out 11 year warranties with - which I hope means they’re confident!

I have a 20 year old IKEA bed frame with wooden slats and I’m no lightweight - and an IKEA ektorp couch I bought when I was pregnant - he’s in high school now.

The kettle was a tenner from Amazon. Bought expensive ones and they didn’t last. Bought a cheap fugly thing and it won’t die!

I got a magimix as a wedding present which is still going strong 17 years later, as are my le creuset casserole dishes and frying pan.
My mum has a magimix which is more than 30 years old and still going fine.
We recently bought various bits of second hand furniture eg Parker knoll chairs (prob from 70s) old Chesterfield sofa (50s), and even older wardrobe and chest of drawers which are beautifully made and I think will last forever.
New stuff is just a bit rubbish sadly. Definitely worth looking for older furniture if you want something which will last (our beautiful mahogany wardrobe cost £30 on local selling pages!)

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My oven was in when I moved in my flat, it's a whirlpool built in, we have been in 8 years & the element has just gone. My washer, Fridge/freezer & tumble dryer are at least 11 years old, the washer needs changing, it is only 5.5kg capacity & 1100rpm spin, but it is Bosch. My tumble dryer is a white Knight basic one, it does what I need it to, my Fridge/Freezer is Bosch, works OK but I need a bigger freezer capacity. My dishwasher is Bosch, 8 years old, I will change it when I get somewhere to move to. My worst thing is Hoovers, I have gone through 3 in 11 years, my current one is a reconditioned Dyson, it's on it's last legs.