Thread: Planned Obsolescence - The joys..

Personally, I always look at the repair option unless it's a small or inconsequential item like a toaster (though clearly you can't repair worn tyres!).

Most large appliances are relatively simple beasts, with spare parts available, and some even have Internet sites devoted to their problems and fixes.

One example we had was a nearly 3 year old Samsung plasma TV that died 10 months after the warranty finished, had a hunt around, found the problem described on a website, tested and confirmed the Internet diagnosis, then spent $120 on the spare part (i could have spent $15 on some smaller components and desoldered the dead bits but couldn't be bothered) and it has given us another 18 months so far.

Obviously the legality, and your personal safety has to be considered in attempting any repair.

Re your tv. I'm not sure of timing or your location. Could it be they have just turned off your analogue signal, with you just needing to get a cheap set top box ?

Originally Posted by kenleyfred

Re your tv. I'm not sure of timing or your location. Could it be they have just turned off your analogue signal, with you just needing to get a cheap set top box ?

No, it is a full HD, digital type plasma TV. It was an electronics failure that this and similar models were prone to. It was just a matter of changing out a circuit board, though as I said above, there was the option of soldering on a couple of new capacitors to replace the blown ones.

Unfortunately tyres have gone the same way as most consumer demands these days. They must stick to the road under all conditions according to all the motoring journalists, who will never speak out of line from each other. To do this durability has to compromised. The other issue is road noise and the journos are hard on this to the detriment of tyre manufacturers. So, you can have soft, quiet, sticky tyres that dont last or harder more durable tyres that sacrifice noise and grip. You cant have it all ways. I am lead to believe that the quietest, grippiest, durable offroad tyre is currently the Bridgestone 697 and for the other end money is your limiting factor.

Originally Posted by Tusker

Not.

In the last few weeks the hot water system has gone, the drier and oven are making seriously squeaky noises and are on the way out. Soon. Very soon.

And last night the TV went on the blink. Or scrolling more to the point. It's constantly searching.

And four cars need new tyres this winter. Here's one for the conspiratists: I'm positive tyres should last longer.

It's going to be an expensive few months!

It's the price we pay I guess for living in a materialistic, consumerism society. It's all about the upgrade. Servicing & repairing gear as the preferred option seems to be a paradigm that's long gone.

Rant over.

Regards
Max P

one lump or two in your tea?


simalar here, two cars to rego and simpson trip to prepare for.

This month we have:

2 motorbikes to register and insure
1 motorbike needs tyres
2 Land Rovers to register and insure
Home & Contents insurance
Usual phone & internet bills
Council rates
Replaced broken part on washing machine (fails every 2 years or so for last 16 years due to Magnetite and Bentonite from work clothes)
Replaced side fence

Purchased a new Samoyed pup..

Modifications to D2 and D4

Holiday preparation for June

Painted 1/4 of inside of house.

Nothing unusual really - just the same old stuff

Originally Posted by Tombie

This month we have:

2 motorbikes to register and insure
1 motorbike needs tyres
2 Land Rovers to register and insure
Home & Contents insurance
Usual phone & internet bills
Council rates
Replaced broken part on washing machine (fails every 2 years or so for last 16 years due to Magnetite and Bentonite from work clothes)
Replaced side fence

Purchased a new Samoyed pup..

Modifications to D2 and D4

Holiday preparation for June

Painted 1/4 of inside of house.

Nothing unusual really - just the same old stuff

Look it on the bright side:
1)How much extra expenses you will have if you live in a big city?
2) Be glad that you have the money to pay for them

Originally Posted by Tusker

Here's one for the conspiratists: I'm positive tyres should last longer.

I've got 117,000KM on my originals on the Dunny door and they are still (just) roadworthy. Can't complain about that, but I doubt the replacements will last that long. One thing to watch is when they get that many KM on them is that even though they still have tread on them, they are hard and have lost there grip on the road a bit, so maybe a few less KM is better as far as safety goes. They will be replaced soon because of this. Typically I get 80,000 to 100,000KM pn a set of road tyres. M/T's & A/T's are a different story...