If it has a problem, I fix it. I don't give a damn about the warranty past 90 days. If there's a defect it will surface by then. So far I haven't lost the bet yet. The whole warranty thing is a scam as is the proprietary hardware and software in computers and autos. When I buy something I look at how easily it will be to repair. If I buy it I'll be responsible for it.

“I don’t want to invalidate the warranty by trying to fix it myself, so I’ll just throw it out and buy a new one...”? That’s not very logical. If you’re thinking of throwing it out you have nothing to lose (except time) by opening it up to have a look.

The best bet is to have an old timer handyman who will try to fix things on the cheap. My 15 year old fridge is still running because my repair guy, noticing the freezer door had a slight bend that was allowing air to escape, judiciously stuffed some paper towel behind the rubber seal to make it fit flush with the freezer. Charged me 15$ for his time.

around. I know my kids have learned a lot from my meddling with the appliances... electrical, mechanical etc.

If you are going to fix it yourself or have a service person fix it stay away from digital as much as possible. I know enough about electronics to go through the circuit to replace parts but more and more there are proprietary chips in them that are encrypted and can't be flashed or replaced without buying the whole board. That's where they solidify planned obsolescence by making it literally impossible to own your own product.

It's hard to stay away from digital these days but some things are packed full of computerised unnecessary garbage that will keep you from fixing it, cause you to choose between new or repair, and even time the faliure and you'll never know it.

Chips that prevent usage beyond the manufacturer's intent should be disallowed. An example is the chips in some printers (laser or ink jet) which calculate when the toner or ink should be depleted, regardless of reality, and cannot be reset. Some do not allow refilling, some do not allow non-OEM cartridges.

Vehicles may be headed the same way -- trapping the buyer into having repair or replacement only at an authorized dealer.

"... you’re not allowed to fiddle with the machine because it would invalidate the warranty. So, instead, you go and buy a new model and throw the old one on the dump."

That's an idiotic premise. Does anyone actually do that? If your machine breaks and it's still under warranty, why would you throw it in the dump and buy a new one, when you can claim on the warranty? If the warranty has expired, why wouldn't you try to fix it, since there's nothing to invalidate by doing so?

I'm opposed to companies pricing replacement parts ridiculously high so as to make a new appliance seem like a better option, or making parts unavailable altogether. My laptop is six years old, and it works great. One of the hinges snapped and broke the cover a couple years ago. I fixed it. The parts cost less than $50, but I had to scrounge for used ones, because there were no replacement parts available from the manufacturer. If it breaks like that again, I probably won't be able to find parts at all, and I'll have to buy a new one. That's planned obsolescence, and it sucks.

the fact that you can't get replacement parts. The manufacturer is only required to keep them for seven years.

We have a good local appliance place here that will search for parts. I had a dryer that I kept for about thirty years. They found the only motor in existence and my husband installed it.

They have been so good about making repairs and finding things that we will always shop with them. We recommend them to others, too. The family has owned this business for three generations. They have the same philosophy that we have. They repair over replace whenever possible.

We do buy new appliances from them. I am not an idiot about replacing something if it is completely broken down or dangerous.

I've fixed my 30yr old dryer it works like new


[link:https://www.partselect.com/|]

or they won't offer replacement parts or even have repairmen who know how to fix it. Amazon and Youtube have helped me find parts to fix some things on my own, but some just can't be repaired.

The author of the article made some big mistakes about the warranty issue. Planned obsolescence is a different issue since most warranties end after a short time anyway. The throwaway culture needs to stop. When an appliance breaks, usually most of it is perfectly fine and one or two parts are the problem. There are people with appliances several decades old that are working perfectly fine.

making things impractical to fix. They, like most manufacturers, don't give a damn about the planet.

I've been a Mr. Fix-it all my life and can tell you one of the most prolific scams along this line is designing computer boards into virtually everything, including cars and appliances. And, they control the supply chain for those boards.

At least for appliances and some electronics, thank goodness we do have several excellent supply houses for parts in the USA. As you said, many times an inexpensive part is all that's needed to bring an otherwise device back to life and keep it out of a landfill.

There are, however, many potential dangers in homeowners doing their own repairs, as most don't know the codes and standards that should be maintained - particularly with regard to electrical and electronic devices. That's why I can see an increasing market for competent repair shops as resources become scarce and landfills becoming unmanageable.

...............

I can't even begin to calculate how much money my husband and I have saved over the years because we can fix stuff, modify stuff, install stuff, etc.

This has happened to me. I bought a new Maytag washer about 5-6 years ago. It was in great shape, bit the agitator quit going around and so I talked to the dealer and they said it would cost more to fix it than buy a new one. So, I bought a new one. It doesn't have an agitator and doesn't always get clothes clean. I wish I had paid the extra cost to fix my old one. It didn't have a scratch on it and was totally clean. At least then our clothes would have been clean.

On mine a thing called the agitator dogs cam wore out. You can get the whole kit on Ebay for less than $7.00 shipped. Mine works like new now. You can just about find out how to repair anything on YouTube.

Its usually up to a certain amount.

Another thing is that your only option sometimes is, not maybe having to buy a whole machine, but having to buy a whole assembled bigger component, even though you know all you need is one small part of that component you could replace yourself. This also dissuades consumers from ordering parts themselves, say, after the warranty expires.

If it costs more to repair it than to get a new one, then that's what will happen. Repairing is not an easy option if the manufacturer does not sell replacement parts, or discontinues making them for older models too soon. As you mentioned, the parts are often overpriced as well. Warranty repairs have to be performed by authorized service centers to be covered, and there may not be one in your area. Then you are stuck with trying to get it to some place far away on your own dime, or shipping it, which is totally unfeasible for heavy appliances.

People don't want to know how to fix stuff any more either, and they don't teach their kids how even if they do know, because their kids are too lazy to learn. My dad taught me how to repair all kinds of things as a girl, and how to think outside the box as well. As a result, I can do a lot of home repairs, and can think my way through complex repairs or innovative solutions for all kinds of problems. (Thank you, Dad!) But this is not the way of the world any more.

Planned obsolence has been the way of things for at least 40 or 50 years now. Our landfills hold the proof of that. It's time we legislate change! I applaud the EU for forging the way.

We are the exception, you know. Most people can't fix stuff, and it has always been that way. That's why repairmen of various kinds have always been able to make a living. Lots of kids used to learn how to fix stuff in shop classes or vocational schools, which aren't available anymore in many places. This whole thread is about how it's more difficult than ever to find parts and how things are built to be difficult or impossible to fix. But of course, the only reason most kids don't fix stuff today is because they're lazy.

It depends on which generation you are referring to as kids as well, and how old you must think I am.

Sure, I remember shop classes, too. But how many schools offer those any more?

I said a lot of things, and did mention the things you pointed out, but unfortunately, you honed in on one small comment at which to take offense. I meant no offense to you or anyone else. Maybe I've just experienced more lazy, spoiled kids in my life than you. Have you ever tried to teach something, anything to a disinterested, disdainful teenager who thinks he or she has better things to do? I have. Many times. I didn't say "ALL" kids, nor did I mean that. Obviously. Many of us love learning how to do things, and of course, we are the exception. I think that is inherent.

Anyhow, my intent was not to offend, so apologies if you were offended, but please take my comments as a whole. I speak from my own experience, and results may vary on experience.

The whole point of my comment was that planned obsolence has been the way of things for a very long time now, and on that point, we are in agreement. We may disagree on we we got here, and how we are maintaining that unfortunate reality, but not that this is the end result.

Have a good rest of your day!

you can have a brand new one.

for it on this side of the pond, though.

I recently tried to fix my 10yr old washer, and it cost me $100 for the repairman to tell me it wasn't worth it. .

And then went and bought a new one....

it often takes some detective work to find out what's wrong and then search for the right part, which might be unavailable because the manufacturer doesn't want you to fix it.

putting that much money into a 10yr old one.

There was some information about this a year ago at DU. The links to Jason Koebler's Twitter account don't work now. I don't know why not. He's still at Vice. His account is https://twitter.com/jason_koebler .

The "Right to Repair" Movement: Why American Farmers Are Hacking Tractors With Ukrainian Firmware

I don't know where to put this at DU. "Automobile Enthusiasts" seems like the most appropriate place.

This reminds me of Keurig's attempt to force people to use no brand of coffee other than that sold by Keurig in its coffee makers. People hacked that too.

I have a clothes washer that's acting up, and only this morning did I learn that there's an LED just above the motor that flashes out an error code.

Read the whole thread.

This thread is so cool and the minidoc is very great

Link to tweet

A year ago, I found out about a community of farmers who trade John Deere firmware hacks on forums and torrent sites. They're hacking their tractors because Deere has encryption keys locking down access to the software, preventing even simple repair

Link to tweet

A few months later, @laragheintz and I went to Nebraska to meet some of these farmers/hackers to make a documentary about them and the ongoing right-to-repair movement

Link to tweet

We finally released that documentary today. It's one of the cooler video projects I've ever been involved with. So happy how this turned out:

Link to tweet

For those interested, this is the original story I wrote about this:

Link to tweet

Reminds me of my experience with my HP printer. If you refill them yourself the cartridge has an expiration date and you are told you cant use it anymore. Buy a non-HP it gives you three perfect copies before telling you this is not an HP cartridge and stops letting you use it. i could not find a way to un-hack this. I hate being taken advantage of.
-Airplane

This is more than someone trying to fix an old washer, or a burned-out coffee maker. Ag equipment warranties can create a situation of near bonded servitude, as farmers are locked in to one brand and even one dealer because of the size of thier investment (often funded by loans).

Had my 7 year old washing machine fixed and the man said I was lucky. It was considered a "throw away" model and I called soon enough that it could be fixed.

Have a friend, who when she runs into trouble with products calls headquarters. She talked with the VP of something or other and he said her old Ford Focus was a "throw away" model. He did end up putting her in contact with a wholesale supplier for her parts.

No wonder some of us refuse to buy cars made by American manufacturers.

Everything is made so cheaply anymore that it is considered disposable. Cheaper to replace than to repair.

I swear that they're the ones making consumerism miserable for the rest of us. It's one thing to buy a new one every few years, these guys are beating us over the head trying to get us to upgrade every year. Hell, every day for that matter.

items lasted and performed longer and you get parts for a lot of it. I got 28 years out of a Maytag washer, the dryer is still purring along. I also have my grandma's Westbend coffee percolator.

Grannys Coffee Percolator!! I love watching the top bubble and gurgle. I loved those.

proprietary cartridges now, instead of just valves and washers. Every day, people bring in faucets they want to fix. A good two-thirds don't even have the manufacturer's name on them, much less the model. You used to be able to replace a valve or a washer, but now they've all got these gizmoes that can't be fixed, and can't be found for replacement.

I'm pretty good at doing detective work, and some brands, like Delta, Moen, or Price Pfister, at least have customer service people who can help. But many of the faucets are of indeterminate origin. People say, "Well, just give me a standard part that will fix it." I tell them, "If you wanted me to fix your car, you'd tell me the make and model of your car, wouldn't you? I can't put a Dodge part into a Volvo."

Often, even if we can locate the part, and the source, it's such a contrived and timely process, that they just throw the old faucet away, and buy a new one. And the process starts over.

The worst part of my day is when I see someone walk in with an Ikea faucet . . .

When my Equator front-load washer broke down after 16 years, I went hunting for a replacement. In the ensuing years, they'd all replaced their manual dials for electronic circuit boards with error codes and no replaceable parts. The reviews I read on these machines indicated that they are defective nightmares. I bought an expensive Speed Queen top-loader with mechanical dials; it's like a 1964 washing machine.

of the marketplace when it comes to sustainability. It’s just a one way highway to the landfill.

* Regardless of how we feel, it does make sense for the manufacturer to void warranties where the device has been tampered with, and there are sound liability and engineering reasons for that. Most appliances are built to UL, NEC, CE and/or European standards which to a degree protects consumers from hazards and manufacturers from liability, so long as the original integrity of the device has not been violated.

* Most of our good appliance and electronics manufacturers (such as Maytag, Amana and Magnavox) have been literally forced to tow the "cheap and disposable" line due to foreign competition and consumers wanting everything for bottom dollar. Therefore, out thirst for everything at low prices and with the latest fancy features has cost us dearly in quality and repairability.

* We consumers tend to fall for bells and whistles on cars, electronics and appliances and that has cost us in repairability and reliability. The demand for increasing fancy features forced manufacturers to design custom computer boards into these devices, making it more difficult to diagnose failures and to get those custom parts.

Personally, being an old-fashioned engineer, I prefer simple and basic!........

disposable tech is so bad.

I hope this idea takes off and we can go back to repairs instead of waste.