They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To – Tips to Avoid Buying New Appliances

As with many things in our modern and increasingly digital world, you may have heard older folks opine over the lack in quality of modern goods like appliances. “They just don’t make them like they used to,” and isn’t that the truth – for better or (often) for worse.

While in some regards, safety has greatly improved in the past half century for household appliances, longevity seems to have steeply declined. Old refrigerators were normally made with potentially hazardous chemicals such as freon, for example, whilst newer models are far more safe to use and to dispose of.

A more obvious benefit of newer appliances is that they tend to have all sorts of modern functions that older analog appliances simply didn’t. Self-cleaning ovens, smart refrigerators, and zillions of cleaning options for washing machines all make our lives far more convenient, but at what cost?

Planned Obsolescence of Household Appliances

Whether you believe it’s a conspiracy theory or a conspiracy fact, many believe that household appliances are severely lacking in build quality these days and can break down far earlier than their anticipated lifespan would have you believe. If it’s within warranty, it’s usually easy to get your money’s worth and have the manufacturer rectify the situation, but appliances just out of warranty might pose some problems.

Maintain Existing Household Appliances

One tip to get the most out of your household appliances is to simply keep them well-maintained and clean so that they work ‘just like new’ for many years to come. “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure” or so the saying goes.

Even small little fluffs of dander accumulated in your dryer can, over time, end up posing a serious fire hazard whilst also negatively affecting the lifespan of your appliance. In other words, keep your existing appliances clean and well-maintained on your own or with routine maintenance from a qualified domestic appliance repairman.

Purchase Pre-Owned Instead of New

If you absolutely must get rid of an appliance that’s out of warranty, perhaps because the cost of repairs outweigh the costs of buying new, consider buying a pre-owned appliance from a few years ago. Why? In many cases, brand new appliances come at a premium price tag and often are at the forefront of planned obsolescence.

Older appliances (those made in the past few years) may still be made with proprietary parts and components as part of this unethical scheme, but you’ll likely be saving a substantial amount by purchasing pre-owned and your chances of getting a better quality appliance may improve.

Repair Old Appliances Rather Than Buying New

There is sometimes some consternation from homeowners when it comes to repairing household appliances. It’s true that some companies charge high fees, thus forcing a decision between repairing or buying new that skews more towards the latter.

In many cases, however, the costs of repairing are a small fraction of what you might have expected, especially if the technician is skilled and uses quality parts and components to resolve the problem with your appliance.

Moreover, consider the added convenience of keeping your beloved old appliance running for many more years to come. Not having to pay to have it disposed of, disassembling it, and fitting a brand new one are all ‘hidden’ costs that must be considered.

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