I am 70 years old and I'm sooo tired of buying things that don't work right..

[shraby]

New dishwasher that doesn't wash dishes clean. Can't decide if it's the dishwasher or the automatic washer soap I use.

Last new clothes dryer I bought makes the bedding roll up in a long thing like a sleeping bag and then they don't dry.

Last new clothes washing machine I bought had a part break and filled the washroom, kitchen and dining room with smoke. Now I don't really trust it.

A manual can opener that sometimes opens okay and other times skips so I have to use a knife to get the food out.

Can't buy a bra that fits right.

Replaced our furnace with a new energy efficient one..can't use the tax break cause we don't pay taxes anymore (not enough income) and come to find out the city raised out property taxes cause we bought a new furnace..nevermind that the last one was around 50+ years old.

anyone have any to add?

[zbdent]

1. I'm sure that several supporters are disgusted that

Mitt Romney has not been the bargain they shelled out all that money for ...

[msanthrope]

4. Won the thread on the first post! nt

[Vinca]

2. My dryer dries the clothes, but suddenly it started sounding like a printing press.

I don't know what the heck is wrong with it and I don't feel like paying someone to come to the house to see if they can fix it. The washer washes okay, but it doesn't spin the water out of the clothes very well. Clothespins . . . that's what really drives me crazy. The cheesy clothespins you buy that are made in China won't hold up a wet paper towel. I've resorted to buying old, used clothespins at estate sales. People think I'm crazy. As for bras, I found some that fit but the hippie in me (at 63) still doesn't want to wear them.

[Bozita]

26. Make sure all 4 legs are firmly on the floor.

They are adjustable. If one or two aren't firmly on the floor, the whole dryer will make horrendous noises.

[noamnety]

29. I was worried for a minute there.

"As for bras, I found some that fit but the hippie in me (at 63) still doesn't want to wear them."

Reply: "Make sure all 4 legs are firmly on the floor. They are adjustable."

[Kennah]

81. How many bras must a person with 4 legs wear?

[MADem]

101. Errr.....three? Four?

Would the four legs be like canines or felines? Is this an alien life form we're talking about?

[MuseRider]

100. I am so glad to hear you say that.

I am going to be 59 in a couple of months and not a day goes by that I don't wonder if I just could forgo the damned bra. I did not wear one for years and years until someone said something and I got self conscious. I HATE them every day I HATE them!

[laruemtt]

104. i just turned 60 and

hate them too. men will never understand how uncomfortable and unnatural they feel. at least i work from home now and very rarely put one on and still resent it when i have to .

[MuseRider]

127. I feel really lucky

to have grown up in a time when for about 10 years nobody wore a bra. God it was lovely.

I was looking at some of the sites people had posted trying to find something that fit well at least, damn. They are pricey! Mine are so old now that I have to do something. I think I will try wearing camis like the other response suggested. Only problem with them is it gets so hot in the summer with extra fabric on but winter is coming and I think that is a great idea!

[phylny]

138. I went to Lane Bryant this week and got fitted.

Surprise, surprise, I was a 40DD (was wearing 42D). I chose 4 bras that fit like a dream and are so comfortable, I forget I'm wearing them. Call stores in your area and ask if they have someone who can fit bras - it works!

[MuseRider]

148. :-)

Nothing like one that fits well. I will do that, thanks.

[Mojorabbit]

161. The Ahh Bra Rhonda Shear is lovely

comfy and cool. A leisure type bra. I am living in them now. Good deals on them on ebay.

[noamnety]

198. If you're anywhere near a Nordstroms The Rack store

They have amazing prices for their bras, and include all sizes - instead of assuming that anyone who's a 32 is an A, anyone who's a 40 is a D. The whole range of back sizes go up to Fs and Gs. For bras that retail at $60 and up, their prices are more like $15-$20 with some lower or higher.

I'm one of those sizes that Target or TJMaxx doesn't carry, I was driving over an hour to get to a store that had my size (Dillards). A friend clued me in to that store and holy cow what a change to find a whole range of styles in my size that are affordable.

[LittlestStar]

126. Wear a cami. I haven't worn a bra for 10 years, they hurt my back like hell.nt

[Freddie]

147. Don't leave the house without wearing a bra

Otherwise, forget it.

[dixiegrrrrl]

217. FIRST thing I did when I retired was take off the bra.

I have 2 dresses and 2 bras for when I have to go to grocery store or dr or something.
and keep a shawl next to the door I can use if anyone makes it that far down the driveway.
Wearing a bra down here in the summer is incredibly hot.

[SmileyRose]

129. heh -at 63 a lot of parts head for the floor

[Vinca]

213. ROFL!

[sakabatou]

108. So will a washer

But it's too heavy for us to lift

[eilen]

30. My dryer did that

the repairman came, there was a pencil stuck in something that caused the dryer to turn. Open it up and clean out debris.

[ejpoeta]

45. my front loader washer does that sometimes. doesn't get the water out. my husband

goes in and cleans out the lint trap thingie. Not sure what washer you have, but I never knew they had one of those. he says they have them in the front loaders.

[ToxMarz]

132. Drain hose on mine got clogged up

So the water drains to slowly. By the time the water is out, there isn't enough spin time left to get water out of the clothes.

[pansypoo53219]

97. i know. my mom bought some CHINESE made pins that were CRAP!

i always look for pins at estate sales. not only do they work. i found such PRETTY ones. wire wrapped/HARDWOOD HANDMADE KNOB TOPS. and i never knew there were so many diff snappy springs. pansypoo needs to get ebaying the rest of her excess. bras. BRAS. i just was a COTTON FRONT CLOSE BRA. is that too hard??? BACK CLOSE? ALL OF THEM back close + effing microfiber shit.
#$%&&*^^&*^)(&$%#$%@$%@$^&&^%

[csziggy]

144. You can get REAL wooden clothes pins at the Vermont Country Store!

The old fashioned kind of clothes pins!

http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/store/jump/productDetail/For_The_Home/Household_Solutions/Laundry_&_Storage/2_Pkgs_Clothespins/H3236

[canoeist52]

202. Sadly those clothespins are made in China too. Our quest for the old-style good one goes on.

[csziggy]

223. Well, that sucks!

I thought the Vermont Country Store mostly carried American made stuff.

Maybe we should start an old fashioned wooden clothes pin manufacturing company?

[pansypoo53219]

228. estate sales have the best OLD USA clothespins

and i have started collecting the best i find. shit. i found one knob top made of birds eye AND tiger male in 1. tiger maple pins. hand made knobs. they are quite beautiful. i also have toasters , HEATERS, lamps, all made in the USA. i am sing my 1st rummage sale heater in my bathroom now. a 1930's hotpoint. i need a replacement core for my 20's heater. OLD FANS ARE BETTER. yard tools. estate sales are AWESOME for old USA stuff. great furniture too. CDs! BOOKS. OMG the books! tho i see more republican books. and make shopping FUN. just gotta see the good stuff.

[cbayer]

3. My biggest complaint is cell phone service.

We pay for two lines that have unlimited service, but they don't provide enough bandwidth for us to do what we want with it.

We used to be able to watch movies, some TV on hulu, stream you tube. But if more than a handful of tourists hit the area, it becomes completely unusable.

In the meantime, I am paying Netflix and Hulu monthly for something I can almost never use.

Complaints to the company fall on deaf ears, because they would love for us to drop our unlimited data plans.

Basically they are strangling us.



As to the bra issue, sports bras are the only way to go these days, imo. Cheap, comfortable and they generally fit - even for those of us who have, you know, *changed*.

OTOH, I am really happy with things that do work. Amazon for buying in bulk and getting things delivered quickly and at no cost. Now that I love.

[undergroundpanther]

172. I hate my cell co.

I want out of the stupid contract. Why do I have to sign a damn contract,fuck them,verizon makes enough money,it was supposed to be alot cheaper than it is,add in the fees and crap they don't mention....Assholes.

[digonswine]

5. My stupid Keurig coffee maker-

does not work if the water I put in is too cold! WTF? I had to call the company and some dude said that is how they are. The thing is supposed to boil water and send it through the grounds! That's it.
The young man told me this as if it was perfectly reasonable.

[Bozita]

17. My eleven month old Keurig sprang a leak. Company replaced it quickly.

They didn't want the old one returned. Just had to send them the part that holds the K-cup.

[Walk away]

80. I gave up on all coffee makers. Now I use a French Press.

The only way you can break it is if you throw it on the floor really hard!

[digonswine]

93. Yes-they are the best-

I use them camping, which I do a lot.

[MADem]

103. I use a Melitta cone, a filter, a carafe, and a kettle of boiling water.

I am my OWN coffee maker!

[KoKo]

110. I remember our MELITA...but, we got lazy and didn't want to wait for water to boil...

and ended up with many burned out "Mr. Coffee's" through the years. Their quality went down and we actually went through our attic looking for the old pot with the Melita Cone...when the last Mr. Coffee went down. (We had some high end ones in-between...but, they never did the job the easy to break Mr. Coffee's did.)

[MADem]

119. You can buy 'em on Amazon.

Get the two cupper if there's just a couple of you, and zap the water in the microwave. I had a personal-sized ceramic one made in Japan that lasted for years and fit right over any cup--I travelled with it. It finally met its fate on a hard concrete floor. I keep meaning to get another...

I use a larger one at home and boil the water on the stove. We have more people and they like their java...

[northoftheborder]

142. The Merlita cone drip is supposed to be the best way to make coffee. That's what I use.

[SheilaT]

165. Maxwell House Instant.

I don't get the obsession for expensive coffee.

[Carolina]

177. I love this as well

all I use. Simple, easy, always fresh!

[a kennedy]

199. We bought the coffee maker that just has an on/off switch....

works great....

[riderinthestorm]

6. Oh, I've posted about the can opener thing a few times on DU!

I had one for about 25 years. It finally broke and I've since gone through at least FIVE in the past 3 years - none of them work, or they broke within a month.

I'm sure I've had at least 10 toasters in the past 25 years. 7 microwaves. I've stopped counting how many computers and printers I've gone through....

Personally, also, I think the CFL lightbulbs are simply a conspiracy I tells ya!

[2on2u]

11. Can opener, works every time, but you may want to pass a magnet over your food stuffs....

[ejpoeta]

47. I have the same problem with can openers. I have bought cheap ones

and expensive ones and they don't work for crap. We have an old toaster that was given to us after our house burned down. IT works. Just doesn't alway pop the toast up and makes a horrible sound. but i fear if i got a new one it would be a piece of crap.

[Broken_Hero]

146. Jesus Christ and Amen....

I swear to god I feel your pain with the can opener debacle...I'm currently going through the same thing, I've been through 4 in the past two years, from cheapo to spendy, all of them were crap.

[Lurker Deluxe]

196. I never post, had to reply to save you.

I had one of the old school can openers from "back in the day". Finally, after what I am sure was a solid 50 year run, I had it 30 and my folks gave it to me, it died. I bought ones that looked like it, they lasted weeks. I bought the best looking ones I could find, they died a pretty death. I was using my swiss army knife, it sucked but it works.

One day, at the liquor store, I asked the guy behind the counter where I could find those little custom glasses they serve jagerbombs in, ya know ... little shot glass in the middle of a plastic cup. "Next door at the restaurant supply".

I wandered around the place, never really been in one. There it was, over sized, metal handled, looked like you could beat a can open with it, Italian made can opener. $14.

Life is good again.

Restaurant supply.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

207. I found a real wooden spoon at Cash and Carry

$4 - shaft is as big around as my thumb. no way I'll break that one stirring cookie dough

and Welcome to DU!

[riderinthestorm]

232. I am ON it! Thanks for the tip and welcome to DU!

Don't lurk! Join in the fun!!!

[Kali]

227. oh HELL yes

and freaking cheese graters!!! why can't I get a good sturdy standing cheesegrater that can go in the dishwasher more than one time before turning into a dull rusty farm kitchen decoration?

[riderinthestorm]

233. 22 years I've been searching for the elusive standing cheese grater

I finally found one at my local Goodwill last year. Has a burnt orange handle but who cares! Someone had picked it up and deposited in with the rollerblades but my eagle eyes found it! Has 4 sides each with the different type of cut. Happy, happy, joy, joy!

[maxsolomon]

7. You get what you pay for

As to bras, my wife swears by Wacoal.

[wickerwoman]

25. Except you don't anymore.

If I pay $200 for shoes I expect them to last a hell of a lot longer than 6 months. I've spent literally months trying to find decent quality new shoes, nevermind the price, and have been shocked at the number of places selling $400 shoes that look like they would fall to pieces in a stiff breeze.

I'm still wearing a pair of jeans I bought in 1993. They're in better shape than pairs I bought for more money six or seven months ago.

I paid more than $100 a piece for some dress shirts from Macys a while back and after six months they are in tatters, seams worn through, buttons popping off, fraying everywhere... I wash them on a gentler cycle than recommended and air dry them and they're still shot.

It really pisses me off because I hate shopping and I don't have a ton of money so I go out of my way to try to pay a little bit more for nice quality stuff that will last awhile and I'm finding over and over again that you actually can't find decent quality anything for love or money anymore.

[msongs]

37. try sas shoes made in the USA....

sasshoes.com

[0zone]

69. SAS Shoes

They are the only shoes I ever wear. Comfortable like heaven! Expensive BUT they last a long time. Have worn the same style for 20+ years without a single complaint.

[Whovian]

72. Clark's Wallabees and Denim shirts.

Problem solved.

[DURHAM D]

121. They are still making Earth Shoes.

Unfortunately, not in my size.

[marions ghost]

220. clothes and shoes

terrible quality now. I have a theory that stuff got worse since the (08) recession--prices went up, quality went down.

We pigs at the end of the trough just gotta lump it.

[Egalitarian Thug]

219. That was true even 20 years ago, not anymore. n/t

[JitterbugPerfume]

8. I recently bought a new vacuum cleaner,

put an attachment on it and can't get it off. Don't even get me started on bras' that dont fit right....

[RebelOne]

65. I have bought 3 vacuum cleaners that do not work right.

My quest in life is to find the perfect vacuum cleaner.

[dionysus]

79. don't know whwere they're made.. but oreck's are great... nt

7 years and kicking.. just had to replace the rubber band a couple times... still on my first set of bags, actually...

[SmileyRose]

131. my oreck is gawd awful

Doesn't hardly sucked up anything and the free hand vac tore up in the first 2 yrs. Just bought a new cyclonic bagless something that sucked up all sorts cat hair and the died a yr ago.

[dionysus]

141. damn.... mine are holding up well.. that sucks...

i got mine like 7 years ago... it was the only thing that gets up the cat hair... the portable and the iron are still going strong too

[hatrack]

150. Which brings me to an important philosophical question . . .

If you buy a vacuum cleaner and it sucks, did you get your money's worth?

[phylny]

179. Well, that was nicely funny :) n/t

[ProdigalJunkMail]

174. we have had our Oreck for over 10 years

and it is still going strong. Hardwoods, Berber, Shag... it does it all. And it wasn't even the super expensive one. It has survived two dogs and a few cats and three children under the age of ten. We get it tuned up every couple of years and it just keeps on doing what it does...love it.

sP

[lanlady]

187. I hated my Oreck too. And the Dyson piece of plastic crap.

I finally bought a Miele--good German engineering--and have not had a problem since. It SUCKS, which with vacuums is a good thing! I get it cleaned out once a year, that's it.

[physioex]

133. I don't trust Oreck...

Not that it is an issue, but the company is owned by a Rightwinger. I was at the Big Lots the other day and they were selling Oreck vacuum cleaners. WTF? There is no way for that price they are made in the USA and have quality components. I think I will pass on Oreck. I went to an independent vacuum shop and saw a Miele, but it was way too expensive.

[dionysus]

143. no shit... when i bought mine 7 years ago... you had to go to an Oreck store to get them, thats the

only place you could get them...

[physioex]

145. Yep....

Oddly you can even buy them in Walmart and Target. I remember back in the 80's things from Japan were of the highest quality Sony Televisions, Toyota Corolla all very innovative for their time. Things have gone downhill real fast, I guess it has to do with all the manufacturing happening exclusively in China.

[pampango]

182. "Oreck machines are either assembled in the United States with parts manufactured in China or

imported fully assembled."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Oreck#Oreck_Corporation

[dionysus]

225. aw man. i dig my oreck. it's lasted 7 years...

[earthside]

82. Oh ... vacuum cleaners.

We just took a bigger plunge than I planned for when our old vacuum cleaner conked out.

We bought an Oreck Magnesium.

So this maybe the "perfect" vacuum cleaner ... and it is supposed to last for ten years or so.

But it only vacuums floors and it uses bags. I think that is the only way to get a really good machine.

Oreck also sells a small cleaner that vacuums furniture, ledges, cobwebs, etc.

And, my research tells me that bagless machines will never have the suction of bagged machines.

[SmileyRose]

193. Might be true but

I have a new bagless that pulls 10 yr old dander out of my carpet that the oreck bagged and really old Bissell bagged could never get. I don't think it's the bag. I think it's the motor and the design of the front end where the "beater bar" is ( the spinny thing that beats on the carpet)

Anyways, that's my story and I'm sticking with it. haha

[shraby]

224. I used to have one of those smaller shop vacs. They're huge now. The smaller

one was great! No bags to replace and it had enough suction it would pick up marbles off the floor. The newer ones aren't all that great now. I guess they improved them out of their usefulness. It had a long hose and with the wands that attached, I could go from ceiling to floor, no problem.
I really miss that machine.

[LeftyMom]

168. I have a Miele.

It works great, my only complaint is that the bags are tiny and expensive. I buy them on ebay because it's a huge savings versus picking them up locally.

edit: They're expensive as hell, but I got it for $6 at the Goodwill outlet.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

195. nice find! we love the whole Goodwill/garage/consignment shopping experience. n/t

[marions ghost]

221. I have to recommend Miele too...

--after years of struggling with vacuum cleaners we forked over the big bucks for a Miele canister (has a power head if you need for rugs). It changed my life. Ten years old and never a day's trouble, and excellent suckage...

Yeah those damn bags...will try ebay.

I would never have ANY other vacuum than a Miele. (My other car is a toyota).

[GoCubsGo]

189. My vacuum sucks in more ways than one.

It's a Dirt Devil. I don't know who is the imbecile that designed that thing, but I hope whoever he is, this was the last model he ever got to design before they fired him. The belt on the damn thing slips off if you even look at it funny. In order to put it back on or replace it, one has to turn the thing over, get a philips head screwdriver, unscrew the screws to get the bottom plate off, put the damn belt back on, and re-screw the plate back on. What a fucking pain in the ass. Even worse when you turn the machine back on and the belt slips off again and again. My old Eureka-made Monkey Ward vacuum has a plate that's held on with metal slide clips. I don't know why Dirt Devil couldn't do some thing like that, rather than using damn screws. I'm tempted to go back to using the old one, but it's so old, it doesn't have quite the suction I need to pick up cat hair.

[LeftofObama]

9. I can relate to the manual can opener.

I've bought 3 of them in about 6 months and every one of them broke apart on the first use. I went back to the electric one.

[Jetboy]

10. Start buying really old stuff made of metal in America.

That stuff lives forever. Most of my small kitchen appliances date from between the 40s and 70s. That stuff was built to last and was really only replaced for cosmetic reasons.

The bigger appliances eat a lot more energy but not buying new ones all the time is expensive too.

[dimbear]

12. Printers.

It's difficult to express how much I despise their unreliability.

[cbayer]

16. Absolutely agree. Just trashed another one.

I give up.

[Sherman A1]

32. I have had good luck with Canon Printers

and HP Laser printers, but the cartridges are incredibly expensive. I found it was actually cheaper to buy a new HP color laser than to replace the 4 cartridges, I pulled out the cartridges and threw the new printer away. Makes no sense, but I went through a couple of them this way until I replaced it with a Canon inkjet. It works great and I have even dropped it once and it just keeps going.

[cbayer]

35. I am going to do a lot of research before I buy another one.

Since I don't need it often, I have been putting what I need on a zip drive and taking it so a friend or an office.

But once in awhile, I need to print something in a hurry and it's so frustrating.

[Sherman A1]

43. The Canon MP495 I bought

I picked up at Office Depot on Black Friday a few years ago. It was $29.99 on the early special thing. I think they (or the latest version) run about $50 or so on sale from time to time. I think going the throw away route on printers is probably the best thing any more. Which is not environmentally friendly to be sure, but the most cost effective.

[cbayer]

48. At $30, it's basically disposable, lol.

My husband is still hauling around this monster scanner, fax, printer. It's a beast and takes him about an hour to take out, set up and finally get to work. I am going to try to convince him to just start going the cheap, disposable route.

Thanks for the info, Sherman!

[NBachers]

76. Yup, two decades of owning printers I was disappointed in, but now I love my Canon MX 410

Plus, it scans and faxes, too. I've finally found a printer that does what's asked of it, does it well, and doesn't cause me problems.

I agree on the Canon MP495. I bought one, and was extremely happy with it. It only failed when someone dropped a key in the paper path and then I tried to print with it - BRRRKKKGGGXXX! I'd been so happy with it, that I went out and bought another Canon. It was the right decision.

Cuisinart SG-10 Electric Spice-and-Nut Grinder - It works great, when it works. Mine failed after a few weeks. I exchanged it for another one. That failed after a few months. I replaced it with a Chef Pro Wet and Dry Food Grinder, and I couldn't be happier. Nine months on the job, and I use it every day with pleasure.

[Egnever]

88. Cannon has been doing a really good job with their printers lately

And the ink is reasonable compared to others.

[LeftyMom]

169. My Canon printer just died this week. I've had it eight or nine years? And I use it a lot.

It might be salvageable, but the print head is dead and replacing it costs about half as much as buying a newer printer. From Canon, naturally.

[HillWilliam]

21. I got almost 2 cartridges' worth of use out of the last HP

which may be the last HP.

Don't get me started on Brother or ANY Acer product. Unmitigated pieces of shit. I bought an Acer laptop a couple of years ago. Lasted all of a week. I took it back and with a little insistence, got it "cheerfully replaced". That one lasted a week as well. I got my money back the next time. I was not cheerful and neither was the store manager by the time I left. No, I was not leaving with another replacement.

You can shop as much as you like and buy as wisely as you think you will. You're still going to wind up with a piece of cheap Chinese shit at an inflated, obscene price.

[KurtNYC]

209. I have a Brother printer that will not die -- 6 years

of office printing AND it uses compatible cartridges that have 50% more ink and are $3 each.

[Jennicut]

33. I want to literally throw mine out the window.

Totally frustrated with it. It's an HP photosmart. Won't work with my computer half the time. I give up.

[sammytko]

96. I have an hp photosmart and I have to keep reloading the drivers ever since I switched to windows 7

It worked great with vista. I don't use it a lot and also have a dell laser printer that was given to us. Love that one. We share that and keep the photosmart for color printing, scanning and faxing.

[Le Taz Hot]

117. If you can find an old HP 4

buy it. I've actually seen them in thrift stores from time to time. I bought one new in 1994 (?) for $1300 and it's still going. It's slow but the cartridges last a long time (about a year) and run about $50.00.

[Freddie]

149. I solved the problem w/printers!

If I really want something printed I email it to myself at work and print it on their good Dell printer & cartridge.

[jody]

13. You young people need to relax and accept aging with grace and style.

[DURHAM D]

14. Toasters that take forever to "toast".

And irons that don't get hot enough.

I have been checking yard sales for old toasters and irons.

[NBachers]

85. I got a classic vintage toaster restored by Mr. Toaster. Here's his contact information:

Joe "Mr. Toaster" Paurel, [phone]; [e-mail]. Sells reconditioned collectible toasters and repairs them.

A nice guy, knows his business, and does great work.

[DURHAM D]

120. Thanks for that.

If I can't find one at a yard sale I will contact him.

My Mother died a couple of years ago and my sister and I actually bickered over who got the ~45 year old toaster. I decided to let my sister have it because I knew I could never explain to TSA what it was doing in my luggage.

[NBachers]

124. Yeah, my older brother died in August; I got the iconic family bowl he always ate his Cheerios from

Mom & Dad would buy a big bag of M&M's (plain- this was before they even had Peanut) and the four of us brothers would watch Highway Patrol and eat M&M's from that green bowl. It's reassuring to have it here in my cupboard.

Somehow those iconic little family treasures mean the most

[DURHAM D]

130. That is cool.

I have many kitchen items that belonged to my grandmothers and one pan that originally belonged to my great grandmother. It is known as the burnt sugar icing pan. I remember my mother, grandmother, and great grandmother patiently making the icing. Me - not so much but I love having it.

I also have tools that belonged to my father and grandfather. My brother is pissed but he had and missed his chance.

My great grandfather and great great grandfather were blacksmiths and in the 1970s when my uncle decided to tear down the old blacksmith shed I kept several items including a collection of horse and mule shoes they had made. My brother and sister were standing right there and had no interest in them. When I displayed them in my house a few years later they all of a sudden got real interested in them so I felt it necessary to give each of them part of the collection. Some people just don't get it.

[NBachers]

159. Wow- I can just imagine the history and objects that must've been in that blacksmith shed

Thanks for writing

[kimbutgar]

114. I had a rival can opener that I had for 20 years. My son broke it.

Brought 3 china made ones that broke in a short period of time. Found an American made can opener at the flea market and it's solid and works great. Now looking for an old toaster made in the us. We made good products here once not the cheap ass Chinese stuff.

[shraby]

122. How about the toasters now that when you push the lever down the bread doesn't

go all the way into the toaster? Does that mean bread slices will be getting smaller?

[hatrack]

151. Toaster Ovens freaking SUCK

Our last (Oster, maybe?) cost $150 at Dillards (wouldn't have gotten it their but for some leftover store credit from our wedding) and it lasted all of maybe two years.

Of course, when the top element burned out, we were "advised" that it couldn't be replaced, and that our best course of action was (of course) to buy another one.

We have a lot more space on our kitchen counter these days.

Contrast that with the Kitchen Aid I inherited when Mom died. She bought it back in the mid-1970s, and the damned thing still kneads up a storm. The only sign of stress I've ever noticed is that essence-of-electric-train-set aroma when I'm doing something like brioche dough, and that takes a long time.

[LeftyMom]

171. The new KitchenAid mixers are still built like that, as far as I can tell from mine.

I've had really good luck with all of my small appliances from them. The only issue has been the little teeth on the motorized base that move the blender blade wearing down, but the part for that was a few dollars on ebay and I was able to fix it myself.

[LiberalEsto]

15. DSL service

Verizon broadband gets worse every year, and their modems suck.

[slampoet]

18. Every single one of these products used to be made in a union shop and now isn't.

[shraby]

19. Oh, Mr. Shraby tinkers with cars..that's a whole nuther story about the parts.

Put it this way, he's not a happy camper.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. Coffee makers

after the third one broke six weeks into it. we had it. We just boil water anymore and use a melita.

Yes, sent a nasty gram to the company... like it matters.

[ejpoeta]

49. we tend to go a year and then they die. Let's hope this one lasts

a little longer. though I won't hold my breath.

[nadinbrzezinski]

54. Highly recommend a Melita

so far, we are two years into our melita, and no failures. I just boil water.

The only designed obsolescence is if I drop it, and it shatters.

[ejpoeta]

59. i will look into that thank you for the recommendation.

i think we need more threads like this honestly. people who find things that work can give others a heads up!

[NBachers]

89. I'm happy as I can be with my Grosche Madrid press for coffee and tea

I've quit fiending out on coffee, but I do from one to four big glasses of Yerba Mate tea with some other leaves for taste; each day.

I'd just been heating coffee up in a small saucepan and pouring it into a fine filter. The Bodum presses I'd tried did a satisfactory job, 'till they inevitably broke.

So I bought a Grosche Madrid back in February. I love the looks - kind of masculine but stylish; it works great with daily use; I seem to get all the liquid out; and it hasn't broken. I'm not easy on it, either.

[Le Taz Hot]

105. We did exactly the same thing.

I've bought THREE Cuisineart coffee makers with a built-in coffee grinder and a metal carraff (sp?). They run $125 to $150 a piece. When the last one died I just said, "Screw it!" Went out to the camping box, took out the Melita we use for camping and we've been using it ever since. Several years ago I was given a really nice Mr. Coffee for Christmas? It lasted one week.

[nadinbrzezinski]

109. Our routine is, boil

Get coffee ready, into the thermos it goes...rinse-repeat.

It works

[Spirochete]

152. Mine's a Black and Decker

under counter model. It's on it's 7th year. Longest I've ever made one last, and my favorite ever. No pouring water in the top, just a module to fill up and plug back in.

[Texasgal]

22. GE products in general

I feel you pain!

My folks had the same washer/dryer harvest gold set for 50 years. Worked like a dream, just recently replaced.

My stupid GE washer went out after a whole three years ( no kids, just two adults ) and my dryer bit the dust after four.

My GE coffee maker only lasted 9 months. GRRRR!

Screw you GE!

I am so mad that they don't make things like they used too... I mean, jeez...large appliances should not be a "disposable" item!

[shraby]

24. I had a maytag set that I'd had forever..with 4 kids..it was so old that when I went

to sell them cause we were moving, someone asked if they could just buy the dryer and I wouldn't sell it by itself..I felt as if I was breaking up a marriage....honest!
They had to go together or not at all. I think I had them for 16+ years.

[Sherman A1]

34. Just replaced our 1970's era Kenmore washer as it finally died

found a Fisher & Paykel brand from a local appliance store. They simply raved about it and it was good working with a local store as opposed to a big box.

Might be worth a look if you are planning on a replacement.

[badhair77]

51. I will never buy another GE appliance. Ever. In my life.

We bought all GE when we redid the kitchen. After 2 years the frig and the microwave broke down. Both had to be fixed twice since then, after about 4 years. I am totally fed up. I won't even go in that store since they charge an arm and leg for repairs.

[Ilsa]

178. Yep, and they want you buy their extended warranty

plans that run about 20% of the ticket price. I told them "No, I just won't buy your stuff any more if it breaks." Like they care.

[GoCubsGo]

190. Mine came with the house.

Stove and dishwasher. The stove is meh. The dishwasher is as noisy as all get-out. Wish I could afford to replace both of them. My house has gas heat and a gas water heater. I don't know why the hell they didn't pipe it for a gas stove, too.

[Raine]

23. Thermostat on my dryer doesn't work sometimes so hot you can't touch the clothes, sometimes so only

cold air comes out and clothes still wet. My water pik has a leak, runs out of water in about a minute. Ceiling fan makes a horrible noise, making it basically worthless to use. Lots of other things too but those off the top of my head.

[coldwaterintheface]

27. You get what you pay for

yes it is depressing that of you pay $500 for a dishwasher and it turns out to be crap but for a dishwasher $500 is the crap price point.

If you take the time to research before you buy you will be less likely to waste your money.

I think it is because of the elimination of union labor in America, that is why most of my purchases have been things made in Europe by Union Labor.

[tech3149]

28. I'm not quite your age but pretty close

I remember when you could buy a stove and it would last for generations, a pair of jeans would wear so well that after twenty years you threw them or gave them away just because you were tired of them. How about furniture that was made from real wood instead of pressed sawdust that will fall apart in two years?
I cried when my old man gave away the cast iron coal furnace because I knew it would come in handy in a few years.

[Confusious]

57. Particle board!

Satans wood!!!!

[ejpoeta]

64. my husband made me a beautiful set of bookcases in the corner

of the livingroom. he used his pocket screw thing and after the first one it didn't take him that long. He used plywood and they look gorgeous! I love them. cost him about $50 a bookcase. we paid $100 ea for two sauder ones that we put in the girls room. The shelves started bowing as soon as we put books on them.

[tech3149]

125. I got involved with a group called freecycle

They offer stuff to people that might have a use for it rather than just throwing it away.
My particular interest is old furniture, especially solid wood. I've got shelves, gun racks, and book cases that otherwise would have been burned or occupying a land fill. I love doing this stuff and it feels so great when you can give someone something they couldn't or wouldn't be able to do for themselves.

[ejpoeta]

212. I too love freecycle. though here it's geneseeorleansreusit instead. i use it to find new homes

for the things i don't need. i did not throw away my old bookcase. I gave it to someone who needed one. We've given away kids toys, furniture. We've found stuff too. I love the idea of finding a new home for things you tend to hold onto because it's still good and you don't want to throw it out.

[Mponti]

186. Buy solid, old, wood furniture only

I was shocked to visit Crate and Barrel and see their promos for low-emission woods/veneers. Furniture is now a health hazard? I told my sons for the sake of theirs kids to not buy any new wood furniture unless it meets emission standards set by Califofnia Air Resources Board or the EU. Better yet, buy old wood pieces and refinish them.

Mostly, I am appalled that furniture is allowed to emit any hazardous fumes.

[hedgehog]

31. Here's a bra fitting guide that might help -

if nothing else, you'll get a lot of exercise running back and forth between the computer and a mirror!

http://www.herroom.com/know-your-breasts

[eilen]

36. On my sewing message board we always lament the

horrible quality of ready to wear clothing. It doesn't fit nor last and you can't even spend more money for better clothes- from Walmart to the better stores, a few washings and the clothing has pilled or linted everywhere or lost buttons, come apart at seams and in general is not flattering to anyone's shape as the cloth is too thin, too stretchy and dye bleeds on everything. Do Not purchase dark colored Target washclothes.

My washer is dead-- barely lasted 7 years.

My can opener is an oldie, that will last forever. The electric can opener my husband bought that doesn't work half the time--well that I want to toss.

[onethatcares]

38. the deal that really pisses me off is

I had to buy a new airconditioning unit. I got three estimates. Took the one with the best SEER rating and though not the cheapest, I thought I was getting a good deal, in fact it was a good deal for me and the company.

90 days to the day the float switch shuts the unit off and it's 93 degrees outside on a sunny Sunday in sunny Florida so you know the humidity is up there. So I call the company and they call me back to tell me it will be $83.00 to send a tech out. New airconditioner and a service charge already. So I agree and the tech tells me the primary float switch is having a problem with the speed of the fan blowing the condensation off the air handler causing it to shut the farking thing down.(unit has two, count em, 2 float switches) I thought that was a good idea because if you've ever gotten up in the middle of the night and stepped on wet floors due to the water overflowing the pan, it's worth having 2 float switches. You'll have to trust me on that.

Well after the service was done and paid for, I took the time to actually write a letter using the Palmer Penmanship method I learned in Catholic school expressing my dismay and my thoughts.

I NEVER GOT A FUCKING REPLY, NOT A PHONE CALL, POST CARD OR LETTER. I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND THIS COMPANY AND WILL KICK IT TO THE CURB EVERY CHANCE I GET.

What happened to "customer service"??? Yeah, I'm done with the new American method of treating customers.

[dogknob]

39. Ever seen Kurasawa's High And Low?

A plot catalyst is an executive's refusal to "get with the times" and build shoddy products that need to be replaced.

His shareholders don't agree...

[Norrin Radd]

40. Swing-A-Way can openers used to be the very best, but they

sold the manufacturing to China, recently. However, their parts supplier here in the US is now making them:

http://www.amazon.com/Made-USA-Can-Opener-Black/dp/B007DK6SG0/ref=pd_sbs_k_1

http://www.amazon.com/Ez-Duz-It-Model-89-Portable-Opener/dp/B0071OUJDQ/ref=pd_sbs_k_8

[ejpoeta]

53. THANKS! i just checked it out and they have great ratings!

I think i am going to get one. and it's made right here in the USA!

[shraby]

77. I had one of those for years and years..the kind that mounts to the wall. One day

I thought I should get a new one and it was the worst idea I'd ever had..never could find another that worked good. Been kicking myself ever since.

[Norrin Radd]

160. You can get the old ones repaired:

http://www.sierravalleytrading.com/Can-Opener-SWING-A-WAY-Made-in-USA-REBUILD_p_1621.html

[Norrin Radd]

162. Welcome. I haven't gotten one yet, but if they are as good as

my old Swing-A-Way (which still works great), it would be worth it, and worth supporting.

[gvstn]

68. Thanks for the info on Swing-a-Way

I'll definitely keep that in mind.

[shanti]

98. i've been using a swingaway for 40 years

i think i had an electric can opener once, but also had a swingaway. when the electric one broke, i never got another one and have opened cans by hand ever since. i just don't see the reason to have one when the other is so reliable

[asjr]

41. Oh my dear, I just became 80 years old and know

exactly what you have been going through. I have had the dishwasher and clothes dryer screwups. Right now I would love to find a bra that fits. I am so tired of hauling these things around and if they get any lower I will be able to play my own soccer game with them. If my back didn't hurt 24/7.

[alittlelark]

74. ROTFL !!!

[Melinda]

90. DUzy!!! OMG, lmao!!! Funniest comment ever!!!

I have my own DD issue, buut OMG, you made me do a snort/laugh!!!! I'd hug ya but I fear we couldn't wrap our arms around one another, LOL!!!!

[Carolina]

183. this is the part about aging

that sucks, no pun intended.

the boobs get bigger and hang lower so ya have to wear a damn bra... yuck. I have been fitted at a specialty store and unlike one poster upthread, they all feel like harnesses. I have spent so much money on my 32 DDD pretty things yet still can't wait to take them off at the end of the day. I look at flatchested women with envy now; why anyone would ever get big boob implants baffles me.

When/if my ship comes in (and if I could overcome my fears), I'd have have reduction/lift surgery in a heartbeat!

[GoCubsGo]

191. I am so stealing that one!

:rofll:

[XemaSab]

42. My brand new cell phone has dropped every call I've made so far

and I live in downtown Redding, which is the biggest city in California north of Sacramento.

[nadinbrzezinski]

52. Funny, the other day at the fire

we were that close to the border, but still in the US... guess what? TELCEL was picking them so international rates.

[pink-o]

66. I lived in Anderson for a year, 1988.

Hottest summer ever! And not exactly a liberal bastion. But was at Perko's every Saturday morning with the rednecks for brekkie!!

[XemaSab]

78. Betcha didn't get cell phone reception there either.

[Warpy]

44. The bra is the easy part

There are fitting sites online that tell you what size you are through the use of a tape measure. Once you get the right size, just roll 'em up and stuff 'em in. It makes quite a difference.

I'm still using the 1946 floor furnace that came with the house. I will continue to use it until it dies. After that, I might look into a heat pump setup for heating and cooling.

The washer/dryer situation can be difficult. The best advice is to ignore style and look at Make + Complaints on Google. Then pick the one with the bad timers and solenoids over the ones that crack their drums and blow their gaskets.

For dishwashers I got nothin. The only one I ever had is at the ends of my arms.

[HeiressofBickworth]

46. It all reminds me of

when I lived in Australia in the 70's. If you bought something new, there was a 50/50 chance of it working. If you had something repaired, there was a lower chance that it would ever work right again. As a recent resident, it frustrated the hell out of me. The Aussies I knew just took it all as a given. When I came back to the States, I thought I would never see that again. Well, with American industries going to China and other places and corporations' need for ever-increasing profit margins, what we get is poorly-made products of cheap materials. It's ugly.

[laundry_queen]

50. Everything sucks now.

Last edited Fri Sep 28, 2012, 09:11 PM - Edit history (1)

My parents had an old electric can opener they received as a wedding gift that worked great for 30 years. Since then they've been through 3 in 8 years.

That's pretty much how it works with everything right now.

I used to think buying more expensive would be worth it - you get what you pay for and all that. That old adage no longer holds true. I've had as many expensive items crater as I've had cheap items last.

My new method of madness - buy the lowest priced one unless you see rave reviews on a more expensive model. I now research everything. Even can openers.

By the way - I have had horrid luck with every single washer/dryer set I've ever used except one. That 'one' set was an Inglis, but I also use an Inglis (bottom of the line model) now and the washer is fine but the dryer sucks. I've tried Frigidaire, Whirlpool, LG (the WORST ack, hate them, never again), Kenmore, Maytag.... I'd say Inglis then Whirlpool IME, but LG was the worst despite it being TOP of the line. We (ex and I) had built a nice new house, and got top of the line appliances from LG. From day one they were pieces of shit. Yet I'm currently renting, with bottom of the line Whirlpool appliances (except the washer/dryer) and they all work great.

Planned obsolescence is now built in to every business model. To put it plainly - they want shit to die so you buy new ones. I think it's a dumbass business model, since once I have something die on me I never buy that brand again. I research like crazy now to see what works well and what will last.

It's also handy to research what people hate about certain things that have crappy ratings. I was in the market for a portable air conditioner this last summer, and looked at reviews and found one on SUPER discount because it had a crappy rating. What was the problem? People said it was a bit noisy. That was it. They said, "Oh it works GREAT, just too noisy so I returned it." I saved 35% off of regular price (during a heat wave no less) because people thought it was too noisy, LOL. So far, it's worked wonderfully for me and the noise doesn't bother me at all.

Anyhow, I guess my point is research, research, research.

[ejpoeta]

58. definitely research and see what the complaints are. i have had stupid complaints

on things I've researched. I find myself doing research on most anything I buy that costs over a certain amount.

We had a fire several years ago and lost everything . SO we went and bought frigidare stove, fridge and washer/dryer. The only thing we still have is the fridge. The washer started leaking and my husband found a used front loader washer/dryer that was owned by an elderly couple that didn't do a lot of laundry. It works pretty well. The oven started taking longer and longer to heat up until it was taking an hour and then stopped heating all together. instead of getting a new part, we went and bought a $1500 maytag that was made in america. Had a problem with it at first... was a floor model and we couldn't get all the burners to work. ended up returning it and getting a different on which works great so far. have had it for over a year now. we'll see how it is in a few years.

[KurtNYC]

211. This documentary tells all

How this treadmill of consumption is designed and how the major brands work together to make sure they are all crappy.

[laundry_queen]

230. I'll have to have a look at that

when I have time. I am well aware at how corporations plan and collude to do this kind of thing (business student here) and it's sick.

[marions ghost]

222. "I now research everything..."

Right, we are all doing that--and spending huge amounts of time at it. Time that we could be spending with each other, with a movie, with a book, etc...

I HATE researching products now--especially since I know I'll have a 50/50 success rate no matter how much research.

[laundry_queen]

229. So true.

For instance, take the time I wasted today having to go buy a new vacuum because mine died after hitting the 2 year mark. Driving into the city (1/2 hr), finding a parking spot at the mall on a Saturday (omfg), talking to the salesperson and deciding on a model (went to Sears this time and got the cheapest Kenmore they had), getting everything written up, driving around the mall parking lot to the pick up bay, and waiting my turn, and then driving home. Total of 2.5 hours (2 bathroom breaks for my kids are in there as well, lol).

This is getting way out there but think of all the lost man hours because of this shit. We are literally subsidizing these companies with our time. Once I got my vacuum home, I then put in 30 minutes to get it all put together. That used to be DONE for you. So not only are companies stealing our time, stealing our tax dollars, stealing our infrastructre so that we are subsudizing a large portion of their profit, they aren't returning the favor with jobs that have a living wages. Crooks. All of them. Time for 'real cost' to be enforced by governments.

[marions ghost]

231. Yep

that's how I see it too.

They keep us scrambling to research, acquire, collect, maintain, repair or replace--ALL the TIME. Yet we are treated like pigs at the end of the trough by the corporates. During this recession we have seen the cynicism--make stuff even more shoddy and charge MORE for it.

It's the old Company Store--only now the company store is vast, voracious and increasingly invasive.

I for one, am tired TIRED of being concerned with products that promise but often don't deliver, products that have Planned Obsolescence incorporated into them. I want to see more "cradle to grave" products (meaning responsible design and production) and emphasis on "made to last." Made in America too, if it means greater quality and benefits to workers.

Ever see the movie "Idiocracy" ??? -- no truer movie on this subject.

[Speck Tater]

55. I'm 67 and getting tired of organs and body parts that don't work right! nt

[shanti]

99. damn, i heard that!

and i'm 56. above else, i would give anything to have my former 20/20 vision!

[Kablooie]

56. How about the president the Supreme Court sold us?

[sarcasmo]

60. Milana bra.

http://www.milanabra.com/

[notadmblnd]

61. I have a clock that runs backwards

[KT2000]

75. Let me know when it hits 1951

and I'll buy it from you. Wouldn't mind starting this whole darn thing over again!

[GoneOffShore]

62. Can't help with the machines or the bra, but can openers?

Here you go:

http://usa.zyliss.com/magican-opener

Love mine - took a little time to get used to but once you figure it out, you'll be hooked.

[noamnety]

91. Sideways can openers are the only way to go!

Any kind that cuts straight down gets dulled and stops working in my experience. I have a sideways one like you linked, different brand though, that I got in Europe 26 years ago and it still works like new.

Maybe they last because they cut the thin part of the can, not the thicker lids.

[An_Opened_Hand]

63. The Hidden reason the exact same item, over time, made cheaper.

I've bought the same item/model repeated times over a few years and was able to note the cheapening of the construction. The weight, the quality of the plastic/fabric and such. What I think is happening is not that the stuff in China is made badly. If you want to pay they will make it as good as you like. It's that they are hitting a fixed price point. Their cost go up, but the consumers want it this certain price. Well I can't say "want". With the stagnant wages of consumers and the need to hide the real inflation rate, the stuff we're sold just gets cheesier and cheesier as the not-factored-in/non-inflation-effecting/but-we-all-pay them costs keep going up. It really is a basic marketing strategy in operation. Just think of it as the amazing shrinking candy bar effect that we all see and are never fooled by on a grand economic scale.

[ArcticFox]

67. Kitchenaid wire wisks

I've had 2 break where the wires meet the handle.

[KT2000]

70. Hose nozzles that drip or won't turn (3 so far)

sand paper that rips apart if the sander hits a perpendicular edge
tack cloths that are so flimsy they are useless
shower caps - elastic falls apart
bobby pins that spring the first time they are used
flimsy plastic mops - what happened to the wood and metal O'Cedar mops??
Revereware now has thin bottoms and hot spots
expensive irons that leak

I'm sure I'll be updating this list all evening

[madmax]

71. Nothing lasts longer than 5 years.

Three months ago it was the 5 year old dryer. Yesterday it was the vacuum cleaner. I could recite all the appliances that have died around their 5th year but...

[laundry_queen]

87. Oh TOTALLY - 5 is the magic number

My parents had their 5 year old fridge, stove and microwave all die within 2 months of each other right after the 5 year mark. They were PO'ed. Those 5 year old appliances had replaced the previous 25 year old ones.

[gvstn]

73. On can openers

I have had great luck with one from Kuhn-Rikon. It is the smooth edge type opener and I love it, despite the extra step of having to grip the lid with the little teeth tool to remove it after cutting.
Mine is 8-10 years old and they don't make that model anymore.

Of the new models the whale shaped one looks the easiest to use for older hands. http://kuhnrikon.com/products/tools/tools.php3?id=446

The blades are always sharp. I think I've only had one or two half-opened cans in many years. I still keep a swing-a-way for tuna cans because I like to drain them completely without using a strainer so prefer the old fashioned opener where the cut lid fits into the can for applying pressure to drain.

But as far as quality, I know I will be looking for a new Kuhn Rikon when I need to replace this one.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

83. Are they made in China by any chance?

The amount of recalls is staggering.

[L0oniX]

84. Chinese shit!

[shraby]

86. We older ones have had to deal with two rounds of cheap products...back in the

1950s-60s from after WWII, Japanese products hit the market with a vengeance..all cheaply made just like China's stuff is now. Nothing like a double whammy.

Japan got smart and started making quality stuff and hit the jackpot. China should wise up and not let the cheap-assed CEOs from America dictate their manufacturing methods and start making quality the number one goal and make the stuff out of their own factories, not like it is now..let those cheap CEOs from America take a dive on their cheap stuff.

[panader0]

92. I had three dishwashers but they're all in college now.

I wash dishes by hand and hang clothes on the line to dry. No furnace, I've been on woodstoves all my adult life (I'm 62).
The old-fashioned stuff is better.

[MADem]

113. Ha ha ha! Were they snowblowers, too? nt

[cyberswede]

194. LOL - that reminds me...

I need to teach my kiddos how to do dishes by hand. Our family didn't have a dishwasher when my older siblings were younger, but we moved into a house with one when I was four. Mom had us do dishes by hand anyway, as a chore (there were 8 of us - she needed to find stuff for all of us to do - lol).

I hang my clothes on the line outside, too, and I have this cool indoor clothesline in the basement that was original to the house (built in 1940). I dry towels, socks, & undies in the electric dryer, but everything else is hung on the line. The smell of clothes dried outside is fantastic.

[JCMach1]

94. Try European appliances and then talk to me...

The stuff we get back here in America is still better than what everyone else gets.

[MADem]

115. I can vouch for that.

Though I did have a basic gas stove in Iran (made there, too) that was "the bomb" -- in a good way, mind you. It had manual igniters, the oven heated real evenly, and it wasn't too big or too small, and it was cheap. But European washing machines, dishwashers, etc? They suck.

[JCMach1]

188. Exactly, we had a European electric stove in the UAE and oh my how it sucked...

I am enjoying the working washing machine and dryer back here in the US. They seriously cut the wash time into about 1/4 of the amount of time!

And, I use my 1970's Sunbeam silver chrome toaster oven every day.

[Kennah]

95. Wooden Drying Rack

Bought one in 1989, when my then girlfriend, now wife, and I shacked up. We used it until probably 2004 or 2005 when one of the wood dowels broke. I replaced the broken dowel, Gorilla glued it, and kept using it for a few more years. Another dowel broke and it was pretty much done. Can't really complain about 18 years of use.

Bought a new wooden one, literally used it twice, and it broke.

Replaced it with a metal one, it's worked fine for a couple of years, but I suspect within a couple of years it will fail.

[David Zephyr]

102. My favorite OP today. K&R.

I'm old, too.

I'll add one thing to your list: Time/Warner

[Kennah]

106. Wooden Bed Rail

Shortly after our oldest turned two, he started climbing out of his crib. We installed the day bed conversion, and bought a wooden bed rail. It actually would have been a first rate product since it's made from hardwood and put together really well, but some twit at the manufacturer must have pitched in a meeting, "Heh, I've got a brilliant idea. We'll cut it in half and toss in a couple of piece of shit pot metal brackets to hold it together."

I assembled it, but it on the bed, and that night my son rolled up against it bending the metal brackets.

Went to the hardware store, got some 1/2" x 2" poplar, cut to length, attached it with screws from the outside, and lightly sanded it. Our second child used it when she was in the day bed, and now our 3 year old uses it, 9 years later.

About a year ago, some of the #6 screws I used ripped out, so I replaced them with #8 screws.

[KoKo]

107. Yes...it's a big problem...and I suspect even those 45 years old and up could identify..

It's cheapening products bit by bit until nothing functions the way we knew it to.

Some is offshoring to China...but the manufacturers couldn't stop there and cut costs even more so that the stuff we are forced to buy from other countries (that we lost our jobs to) is getting ever cheaper in the global competition and we as "consumers" no longer have any control over quality as the Global economy shrinks we will be forced to deal with cheaply made products imported because the big conglomerates are having to recognize that Chinese, Indonesians, Vietnamese and others are fighting for wage increases. That means manufacturers cut the product quality and we get junk.

Everything you've said..including replacing heating system, finding a quality bra (I know many will over that one...but it's TRUE! and washer dryer and the rest....UGH...been through that also.

Thanks for posting this. It's a big problem for those of us who were used to some quality...but, find it's gone.

[postulater]

111. My refrigerator is a 1956 GE that hangs on the wall.

No appliance repair places have ever even heard of one like it.

Every few years I have to re-connect a wire to the compressor. The darn bakelite connectors just don't last.

Only fifty six years old, sheesh, I expect those connectors to last longer than that.

[MuseRider]

112. My husband and I talk about these things all the time.

It is always something.

Here on the farm we find it almost impossible to find hose ends made out of metal, everything is plastic coated with paint that looks like metal or else it is cheap assed, weak metal. We go through hose ends like mad. Hoses also. Those big and expensive rubber hoses that do not kink used to be the only kind I would use. Now you might bring one home that was cut funny and you can't straighten it out to save your life. We have a 100 ft rubber hose that will kink on the kinks and will not hang on a hose hanger. WTF? How can you screw up a hose?

My tools break, my screw drivers and even the screws break. We live in cheap mecca, nobody here would spend a dime if they did not have to so that is what we have. We have recently started buying most everything online but it is not much better but you can get real metal from time to time.

Wood is another problem. Put down a wood floor in the new house, dry and aged wood that has now got gaps so big in between the wood that you can see through the kitchen ceiling into the bedroom above. AND they are warped. No recourse there, none at all. Windows are even worse.

Thankfully I rarely need good clothes since the horses and goats don't care what I wear but when I do I always lose buttons or a seam will be twisted after one washing. I would make my own but when we bought my sewing machine we found out that all the inner parts are now plastic and it is horrible.

We work ok though Getting old, having things replaced from time to time but we are working just fine and we are 65 and 59 years old. Beware kids, they don't make things like they used to. Why do I now feel the need to yell "Get Off My Lawn"?

[Kennah]

116. Baby Stroller

We bought a baby stroller in 2000 shortly before our first child was born. It was part of a travel system, so it was a stroller, infant car seat, and car seat base.

Our second child was born 4 years later. Shortly before she was born, I called the manufacturer, found out which product of infant car seats would match, so we bought one and continued to use the stroller.

Our third child was born in 2009, and the stroller was still functional, but a few minor parts were cracked and one was replaced. So, I decided to buy a new travel system, from the same manufacturer. Awful mistake.

Within 6 months, one point of the metal frame failed and broke. I drilled it through and put it back together with a screw.

Stroller lock mechanism that holds it in place, and allows it to fold up, after a few months became extremely temperamental and difficult to operate. We had to almost beat on it to force it closed.

[Kennah]

118. Safety Hook and Eye Latch

It amazes me how something so simple can turn into complete shit so fast.

I bought one 11 years ago to hold up the folding lid of our baby changing table. We still have the changing table, with the safety hook and eye latch, and it still works just fine.

A few months back, after we moved into a new place, I put an extra safety hook and eye latch on the front porch gate. The safety has already failed, and every two weeks I stretch the spring to try to make it work.

[DURHAM D]

123. I bought my washing machine (used Kenmore) in 1974.

I will be moving within the year and had planned to junk it. Maybe I should keep it.

[Initech]

128. Office binding equipment - staples, staplers, hole punchers you name it.

I swear that stuff was made by the same people who make our torture devices.

[JI7]

134. headphones, earbuds

[marybourg]

135. When we were young the government's measure of

"durable goods orders" measured manufactured goods that were meant to last 10 years or more. Then it measured goods that last 5 years or more. Now it's 3 years or more. Can you imagine if it were still defined as 10 years? There'd be absolutely nothing on the list! Refrigerators are now last only 8 years or less!

[lonestarnot]

136. Welp.

New dishwasher that doesn't wash dishes clean. Stop washin' the dishes.

Last new clothes dryer I bought makes the bedding roll up in a long thing like a sleeping bag and then they don't dry. Stop wash'n em and throw them out.

Last new clothes washing machine I bought had a part break and filled the washroom, kitchen and dining room with smoke. Now I don't really trust it. Just throw those out too!

A manual can opener that sometimes opens okay and other times skips so I have to use a knife to get the food out. See you're making out ok with the knife.

Can't buy a bra that fits right. Who needs a fucking bra!

Replaced our furnace with a new energy efficient one..can't use the tax break cause we don't pay taxes anymore (not enough income) and come to find out the city raised out property taxes cause we bought a new furnace..nevermind that the last one was around 50+ years old. Where in the hell do you live? Maybe you should get outta there!

anyone have any to add?

[MadHound]

137. Ceiling fan,

Bought a new one a year and a half ago. Two weeks ago, something inside it went pop, and the lighting part would not come on. Took it down, took it apart, and come to find out that some extraneous circuit board had shorted out, thus killing the lights. The sad thing is there is no need for such a circuit board in a ceiling fan, it's just built in obsolescence.

I can't help you with the bra, but I can help with the manual can opener. Swing Away has always made a wonderful manual can opener. My first one lasted twenty five years plus, and my second one works wonderfully well. Good luck.

[fascisthunter]

139. SUPPLY SIDE ECONOMICS

and idiots fell for it... their wealth isn't worth the damage and waste they bring into this world. But in their sick self-centered lives it means more than the well-being of all.

[laundry_queen]

140. OMFG my vacuum crapped out tonight.

After posting on this earlier. I'm so pissed right now - my landlord's being an ass about wanting to show the house first thing in the morning (he's trying to sell b/c I'm moving) and so I'm trying to clean tonight and my fucking vacuum broke. Snapped, right INSIDE the beater bar attachment. No fixing it. 2 years old. FUCK!

So now I get to go buy a cheap vacuum tomorrow morning. I really can't afford this shit right now. Any good recommendations??

[Freddie]

153. Re: your dishwasher

It may be the detergent, not the dishwasher.
A while back (year ago?) they had to change the formula of dishwasher soap to remove the phosphates due to pollution concerns. This is the stuff that helps the soap rinse clean. We noticed a cloudy film on the glasses and thought it was the dishwasher until DH read about the phosphate issue. It's worse if you have hard water like we do.
Finish makes a product (can't think of name) that you add w helps, or you can still buy the detergent with phosphates online from restaurant-supply places.

[Cha]

154. I hear ya, shraby! Nothing's built

to last now.. in fact the sooner it breaks down the better.. for the manufacturer. We're spoiled ..being around when cheap material didn't rule.

Hang in there, sweetie~

[Samjm]

155. Disposable electronics

I'm a bit younger than some of you, but the one thing that drives me completely insane is what I call disposable small electronics. It should not be more expensive to buy a replacement lid for a food processor than it cost to buy the entire thing a year earlier. Why on earth would I pay a third more for just a lid when I can buy a brand new food processor with more features? Had the same problem with blenders, laptops, cellphones etc. I always feel so damn guilty when I toss the old one!

Had to replace our dryer a few months ago. It wasn't a big part that needed to be replaced, but it was a tricky one. Once we factored in the price of the part, and the cost of the repair, it was cheaper just to get a new one.

[Zorra]

156. lol ~ Piece of Crap ~ Neil Young

aaargh! Don't get me started! I go simple and high quality as often as possible.

Most of this Chinese crap out there nowadays is like some kind of cruel subliminal psychological attack on the rest of the world.

I use as few electrical appliances as possible. I don't use a dishwasher, I live in AZ and Mexico so I can dry my clothes outside, use solar power in Mexico. My stove/oven is propane, stainless steel, and was made in the late 70's. It always works perfectly. One of my hot water heaters is propane, and was manufactured in 1980. It always works perfectly. I don't use TV. I have a 1981 Toyota Truck, a 1987 Honda Civic, and a 1996 Jeep. They all run perfectly, with minimal expenses over the years that I have had them. I have an old 1956 Servel propane refrigerator in Mexico that keeps on keepin' on. My bicycle was made in 1986. etc. etc.

I know what you mean about bras. I've worn the same type of bra for many years because they fit me just right and they last a long time, but now stores don't carry them anymore. Fortunately, I found some for sale on the internet, so I bought 6 of them.

[Lugnut]

157. Socks

Who on earth has feet that can fit in these poor excuses for socks? They're too damn tight and crooked. I can't find a crew sock that actually fits my feet and doesn't strangle my legs.

I also can't find a bra that fits and has front hooks. I used to buy underpants from Vanity Fair and they wore very well. I recently bought 6 pair and half of them developed runners that resulted in big holes next to the side seams.

I could write a book.

[laundry_queen]

158. The holes near a seam...

means the manufacturer is skimping on sewing needles. Anyone who sews knows that a dull needle will result in holes in knit fabric. I've had a huge problem with this also recently, especially with kids' clothes (even 'high end' brands).

[undergroundpanther]

180. crew socks SUCK!

ankles way too tight,end up pulling them off and inside out like a snake shedding it's skin.
When I find them I get diabetic socks,they feel like normal socks felt years ago.

[shraby]

204. My mom taught me years ago, hook the bra in the front then slide the hooks around to

the back then finish putting it on. Works great!

[chillfactor]

163. try Lemi-Shine in your dishwasher

my dishwasher wasn't cleaning my dishes very well either. A plumber told me about it...you put Lemi-Shine in the first dispenser and regular dishwasher soap in the second....does a marvelous job.....

[snooper2]

164. use the internet to read user reviews

etc., etc,. etc.,

I found a bulb for my TV for $36 bucks that last just as long as the OEM

[B Calm]

166. My wife complains about finding a bra

that fits. I have trouble finding pants that fit and shirts with a wide enough collar that I can wear a dress tie. Everything that's affordable is made in China!

[Sherman A1]

167. I too have trouble with dress shirts

as you mentioned. The neck is just too tight to wear a tie. Fortunately those times are few & far between anymore.

[LeftyMom]

170. New sewing machines are unreliable pieces of crap.

I killed three made in China Singers within the 30 day exchange period before I wised up and got a made in Japan New Home, it was the last of that model and the replacements were from China so I'm sure they were crap too. Even if you can get one made reasonably well in a country where the workers are well paid and take pride in their work, new machines still aren't all that great. Many of the moving parts are plastic, and over time they wear down and it's impossible to keep the timing properly adjusted assuming the machine keeps going at all.

My 1916 Singer 66 "Red Eye" treadle, on the other hand, will outlive me. And it's lovely to look at.

[undergroundpanther]

175. tredle?

I have a singer treadle with the egyptian sphinx, it was not frozen and it is almost perfect,an old lady was selling it because she had to go to respite care,it was 25 bucks.it's like 115 years old now it's cast iron and unbreakable.I love it.I can sew when the power is out.

[undergroundpanther]

173. I have a swingaway

I have cast iron cookware,and a blender my mom got in the 70's with a glass container,I have a lot of old stuff, like real pyrex dishes.Wouldn't trade them for anyone,besides they save me craploads of money,also I use a french press but also I use a little tabletop expresso maker if I got it for 12 bux at a flea market makes 12 cups. I find all small appliances I need at flea markets and yard sales.Sometimes at yard sales they sell beautiful furniture cheep. I have a 1960's couch that's over 6'long.it's made way better than the new stuff.I can stretch out on it all the way. And it's not poofy so it takes up less space,and it has no zig zag type springs.My dressers are older too,stone top with dovetail drawers, the person selling them were tired of them.one came with a mirror,I got them home and I refinished them.They are beautiful now,and one has cedar lined drawers.Got them both for 45 bux.

[cpwm17]

176. Cars last longer now

but just about everything else sucks.

I'm on my sixth laptop since 2004, and I've gone through several printers that I rarely use.

I've bought a couple of lawn mowers that only lasted less than two years. I now have to use an old undersized and well used made-in-America lawn mower that has to be around 20 years old, and it still starts on the first pull.

I could go on. This is the result of our outsourced economy.

[cpwm17]

181. And I just remembered

I had to return a lawn mower because it didn't work out of the box. So in reality, I've had three lawn mowers in recent history that lasted less than two years.

[LeftyMom]

215. Cars last longer? I have a '66 and a 2000, and I'd bet good money the '66 will outlast the 2000.

Cars got really awful from the mid-seventies through the eighties, and they're better now than they were then, but they're still not built to last in the way that they were before that. Not even close.

edit: Gas with ethanol in it kills lawn mowers. All the landscape companies around here use racing gas. It's $7/gallon, but that's cheaper than constantly repairing damaged equipment. It isn't real great for cars either, but that's another rant.

[modem77]

184. That's why I still use a Maytag washing machine from the 1970s.

All I have replaced on it is hoses. Keeps on running.

[Nay]

185. Pencils whose erasers are fake--they don't erase. They LOOK like erasers, but aren't. Also, at

work I bought a new (plastic, but expensive) paper cutter. The old one (all metal), which was prob 50 years old, still worked, but the metal blade was dull and no one wanted to try to get it sharpened. Well, the old one worked BETTER than the new one right out of the box, even in its condition.

Index 'cards' and manila folders that are so thin they do not qualify as card material.

[reformist2]

200. +1 I gave up on pencil-erasers long ago. I've had this German eraser for 10+ years, never dries out!

It's made of white plastic, I think it's a Staedtler. I don't use it very much, but when I do it always works beautifully. It even erases penmarks, if they're light enough. Anyway, it's amazing!

[slackmaster]

192. You may have the basis for a great country music song there

[Donowitz]

197. Easy way to solve things

Stop bying crap made in China.

Besides by bying things made in China you are basically financing the Republican party (that, and financing the brutal occupation of Tibet in which 1.2+ million Tibetans have died since 1959).

[Jetboy]

205. Amen!

Go to goodwill, garage sales etc and buy old Made In USA stuff!

The OP will need a friend in the second hand biz for larger appliances. But still, buy socks and underwear new and everything else used from your friends and neighbors, not China!!!!

[Zero Division]

201. Just like declining/stagnating wages...

It's all a part of the modern capitalist's obsession with short term financial gains.

I had an accounting professor who was a fan of the idea that short terms gains are always more valuable than planning for long term success. He also thought derivatives were the greatest new financial invention. He's a perfect example of the mindset of today's shareholders that is cheapening everything but their own bank accounts.

[We are Devo]

203. I have the same dryer problem

I put my sheets in the dryer and they roll into a knot! I have to run through another cycle. What gives?

[shraby]

206. I have no idea why the sheets/blankets will roll up like that. I think maybe they

adjusted the "fins" in the dryer. I hate to wash bedding now because of it.

[AngryOldDem]

208. Fresh produce.

I'm having to bake at least two loaves of banana bread TODAY because the bunch I just bought YESTERDAY is already starting to go bad. I can literally see it rotting before my very eyes, and I'll be damned if I'm throwing it away. I'll cut around the bad spots and use the rest.

It's not only bananas. Lettuce is just as bad anymore. The visible leaves look good until you split the head and find that it too is starting to go bad.

And they tell us to eat more fruits and vegetables -- I will, gladly, but damn! Give me some fruits and vegetables that are edible!!!!!

Yes, I'm pissed...the last thing I want to be doing right now is baking.

[shraby]

210. Get a food dryer and slice and dry the bananas.

[AngryOldDem]

214. Thanks! That's a thought.

But today when I was out (getting needed baking supplies) I noticed that the store that I went to (not the one where I got the bad batch) had much better looking fruit and produce. Got some fresher bananas there, so I will be going there to get them from now on. I absolutely love bananas and I eat them everyday.

[eallen]

216. We still heat our house with the original furnace, now in its eighth decade

No doubt, the company that built it is long out of business.

[Egalitarian Thug]

218. Apparently making a coffee carafe that doesn't drip is a lost art. I have an antique that I kept

that was made in the 70's that doesn't, but every one I've bought since at least the 90's has. It also has nothing to do with price, a $500 German brand or a $20 Mr. Coffee, they all drip now.

Can openers; Get one of the European style side cutting models, they work better and don't leave a sharp edge.

Clothes are a total disaster. Chinese manufacturers cut a lot more cloth at once, so the pieces at the bottom of the stack are way bigger than the pieces at the top, so two identical garments with the same size are really different. Add to this the fast that the retailers keep changing the numbers so that their customers can pretend that they're still a six even though they've put on 25 lbs. and gravity has been working on them for 20 years, and you have a complete lack of standards.

I won't own another pair of Levi's jeans since they went to China. The denim isn't denim any more and they disintegrate after 5 washes even as the price has doubled.

I guess we could go on all night with this...

[lunasun]

226. estate sales

If it is in the home generally it means it was working and is usually clean

2nd hand stores are a crap shoot for workables but gold mine for quality clothes if they are dealing in clean items without stains etc. depends on the store
church sales are often good place but garage sales not so much

Also you miss all the chemical offing of new stuff if you get it used

Ttry replacing parts before buying new if you folks are handy

[tilsammans]

234. I work at a fabric/crafts store, and most of the stuff we sell is crappy imports

It's a wonder that people buy it. But they do. But in some cases, they have no choice. If they need a certain tool, for instance, it's likely ONLY made in Asia. And there's a good chance it's garbage. How could it not be, when it's made under such conditions?



I'd say maybe 5% of what we sell (that's not fabric) is shoddy imported crap. The good news is that a significant amount of fabric is still made here.