QUESTION OF THE DAY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2021

neely

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There's an old saying, "They don't make them like they used to."

Last winter our oven stopped working. We needed a replacement part that turned out had been discontinued 5 years ago. When the manufacturer looked up our registration info. he commented that the oven was 22 yrs. old, therefore, we got our use out of it. So frustrating! After talking with friends I heard numerous stories about appliances, digital devices and other things needing to be replaced much sooner than they used to be. So for today's Question of the Day -

CAN YOU NAME ONE APPLIANCE, VEHICLE, DIGITAL DEVICE OR OTHER THING THAT'S NOT MADE THE SAME AS BEFORE?
 

Boris Diamond

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My central air is entering it's 34th year. I've been able to repair it myself when it needed it. (Including last week when it needed a new blower fan.) You are lucky if a heat pump/central air lasts ten years these days because they now use aluminum coils instead of copper.
 

Willowy

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To be fair, things are a lot cheaper (relative to inflation, income, etc.) now. If you pay the equivalent amount as what things used to cost, they probably would be just as high-quality. Like, you can get a Speed Queen washer, "just as good as the old ones", or well-built real wood furniture, if you want to pay for them. But we do like our cheap consumer goods.
 

NY cat man

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My central air is entering it's 34th year. I've been able to repair it myself when it needed it. (Including last week when it needed a new blower fan.) You are lucky if a heat pump/central air lasts ten years these days because they now use aluminum coils instead of copper.
We put in a new furnace and a/c right after we bought our house in '05. Two winters ago, the furnace quit. One of the components on the main circuit board had fried, and after the tech replaced it the next day we were told that they don't make that board any more. If the one in there now dies, the furnace is toast.
 

DreamerRose

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I've got a lot of older things. My Maytag washer is 35 years old, and so is my GE stove. I did have to replace the air conditioner after 35 years and my furnace of the same age. Some of my furniture is more than 100 years old. I think things last longer if you treat them well and keep them maintained.
 

susanm9006

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Yes to this!

Toasters. Gosh they are terrible now.
Arent they though! I do not understand how with all the technological improvements that have been made, they seem to no longer be able to make a toaster that evenly toasts both sides of the bread. I think I bought and returned half a dozen toasters after my old one died.
 
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