It wasn’t unreasonable to expect an appliance to last an entire generation in our
grandparent’s day, but those days are long gone. According to experts, appliances built in the 1970s generally lasted between 30-50 years; and considering the lightning-fast pace of modern technology it seems paradoxical that the longevity of a product should decrease as technology develops -- and yet, according to Consumer Reports, modern day appliances have comparatively abysmal expected lifespans.
Put another way, the same appliances that our grandparents paid for once to last for thirty years, we pay two or three times over in the same period of time.
How is this even possible? You may not be glad to have asked.
PLANNING TO FAIL
It’s called Planned Obsolescence, and yes, it’s a real thing first conceptualized in 1932 in a pamphlet titled, “Ending the Depression Through Planned Obsolescence.” In short, it was suggested that in designing products to fail sooner than necessary, consumers would be forced to replace them, thereby stimulating the economy.
As an academic discussion, it seemed viable on paper – but the problem is we don’t live on paper. in real life, the theory created a few tiny problems, best explained by The Environmental Law Institute, which claims planned obsolescence “contributes to a culture of wastefulness by perpetuating a 'buy new and buy often' mentality and limiting consumer autonomy to keep products longer by hard-wiring a 'self-destruct' button in products.”
It has also been said that planned obsolescence limits the "usable life of products to bolster private profit at the expense of consumer interests and environmental sustainability", even going so far as to state that it should be considered a corporate crime against the environment. We might be so bold as to suggest that selling goods that are purposefully designed to fail is the appliance industry’s equivalent of picking consumer’s pockets.
How then, can they get away with this? Is this even legal? In some countries, no. Unfortunately, in the United States, it is entirely legal, and it is a widespread practice.
As to why appliance manufacturers would design a product to break down prematurely, when technology exists to keep them running longer than ever, the answer is simple: Greed. According to Consumer Affairs, the 2023 US household appliances market was estimated at about $58 billion.
$58,000,000,000.00.
That is a lot of zeros – more than enough motivation to premeditate the untimely demise of your unsuspecting appliance, leaving you on the line for financing a replacement.
REPAIR VS. REPLACEMENT
The smarter choice seems obvious: repair the unit rather than replace it. There are, however, a lot of variables involved in whether it is best to repair or replace, and it will require the advice of a trustworthy, credible appliance repair professional.
The key word there is “credible.” While there are many companies out there that will shoot straight with you, there are just as many who will not. Trust us, we follow some of these companies out on repair calls, and it’s infuriating to find how some customers have been treated – so do your research and make sure you use someone who will give you an honest assessment of your unique situation.
You’ve spent a good deal of money on your appliances and are now considering the cost of repair vs. replacement so you owe it to yourself to choose a company you can trust not to mislead you, and to perform your repair, assuming parts are available.
THE PART ABOUT PARTS
If the concept of planned obsolescence is shocking to you, then hold on to your hats, because that doesn’t even scratch the surface. I’m referring to the concept and the practice of Contrived Durability.
Whereas planned obsolescence speaks to the designing of the unit to fail prematurely, a main component of contrived durability has to do with making repairs difficult if not economically unfeasible. This can be done in a number of ways:
A limited number of parts may be manufactured, leading to unavailability after just a few years.
Minor and relatively inexpensive parts may be designed so they are integrated with larger, more expensive parts requiring that the entire assembly needs to be purchased.
The parts might be designed so that repairs require the removal of other parts, leading to higher labor costs.
Parts may be manufactured out of inferior materials, like soft metal screws or cheap plastic, and sold at unreasonably high price point.
All of these strategies are part and parcel of contrived durability, and meant to drive the cost of repair up, so the consumer is more inclined to buy a new unit. That is where your appliance repairman comes in. His experience and knowledge of your appliance will be of immense benefit in helping you to make a decision, and potentially save you thousands of dollars.
AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION
There is, however, something that you can do to extend the life of your appliances and reduce the cost of ownership significantly – practice the recommended maintenance on a regular basis. Your owner’s manuals should have specific instructions on proper maintenance, and if you follow them on a regular basis, you can circumvent many of the most common causes of appliance failure.
For instance, the number one cause of refrigerator failure is dust build up on the coils. This insulates the coils and makes the motor work harder, which puts unnecessary strain on the unit, and also increases your energy usage. Keeping those coils clean is just one way you can prolong the life of your appliances.
If preventative maintenance seems overwhelming, give us a call -- as always, we’re here to help! – But regardless of whether you attend to it yourself or have someone do it for you, proper maintenance is the one thing that can keep your appliances running as long as possible, and luckily, that is entirely within your control.
COMING SOON: PART TWO | BUT I HAVE A WARRANTY!
Do you really need to worry about preventative maintenance if you have a home warranty policy? Even if your contract says they will replace the unit if it cannot be repaired? Oh boy, do you. In Part Two, we will dive into the real cost of (most)
Comments