Are You Fed Up With Appliances That Don't Last?
by Majjie | Thu, 15/11/2007 - 16:58
The cost of basic kitchen appliances, like many other things where there is hot competition for sales, has tended to fall over the last 30 years, especially when inflation is taken into account.
When I moved house recently, the new property came equipped with a new Hoover washing machine in the utility room. It had a faster spin speed and a larger capacity than my 20 year old Zanussi (which had never needed a single repair) - so I reluctantly sent the old one to that great washing machine resting place in the sky (well ok ... the local tip). How long will the Hoover last do you think?
Manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to cut costs and the result, it seems, is appliances which don't last. They just keep breaking down. And the cost of repairing a modern machine, using parts which certainly haven't dropped in price, is just too high in comparison with buying a new one. The result is that huge numbers of modern machines are being scrapped, instead of repaired.
I get the impression that a lot of you are getting fed up with the poor quality of appliances and one group of people in particular certainly are ... the appliance repair men. Have you been complaining to them??
A group of ex-engineers have set up the ISE (Independent Service Engineering) company which brought out it's first washing machine last year. They have now launched their ISE10 washing machine and condenser tumble drier ... and plan a dishwasher next.
The ISE10 machines are made by Swedish company Asko and have a 10 year parts and labour warranty and are made with more steel and metal and less plastic than many machines. Not only that, but ISE are promising that they will make no profit on the spare parts, so maintenance after 10 years shouldn't be too expensive. The expected life of the machines, in normal domestic use, is more than 20 years.
The washing machine is triple A rated, has a handy drop down door, fast wash cycles, a 1600rpm spin speed and smart electronics to limit water use to the smallest amount necessary.
The tumble drier is matching in appearance, can be stacked on top of the washing machine (with a kit), can be connected to the washing machine drain, so that you don't have a tray of water to empty, and also has smart electronics to switch the drier off when the clothes have reached your required level of dryness.
For more information have a look at the ISE Appliances web site. You can buy the machines through independent service engineers and electrical goods stores ... or directly from UK Whitegoods - the web site set up by appliance service engineers which I have mentioned before. Don't expect to see them in the big national electrical goods retail stores ... after all, they're making a nice profit from repeat sales of appliances.
The price is £699.99 for the washing machine and £649.99 for the drier; with delivery and installation at £50 for either or both. Not too bad I don't think, in view of the ten year guarantee. I'd certainly consider one ... if my Hoover machine dies.
When I moved house recently, the new property came equipped with a new Hoover washing machine in the utility room. It had a faster spin speed and a larger capacity than my 20 year old Zanussi (which had never needed a single repair) - so I reluctantly sent the old one to that great washing machine resting place in the sky (well ok ... the local tip). How long will the Hoover last do you think?
Manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to cut costs and the result, it seems, is appliances which don't last. They just keep breaking down. And the cost of repairing a modern machine, using parts which certainly haven't dropped in price, is just too high in comparison with buying a new one. The result is that huge numbers of modern machines are being scrapped, instead of repaired.
I get the impression that a lot of you are getting fed up with the poor quality of appliances and one group of people in particular certainly are ... the appliance repair men. Have you been complaining to them??
A group of ex-engineers have set up the ISE (Independent Service Engineering) company which brought out it's first washing machine last year. They have now launched their ISE10 washing machine and condenser tumble drier ... and plan a dishwasher next.
The ISE10 machines are made by Swedish company Asko and have a 10 year parts and labour warranty and are made with more steel and metal and less plastic than many machines. Not only that, but ISE are promising that they will make no profit on the spare parts, so maintenance after 10 years shouldn't be too expensive. The expected life of the machines, in normal domestic use, is more than 20 years.
The washing machine is triple A rated, has a handy drop down door, fast wash cycles, a 1600rpm spin speed and smart electronics to limit water use to the smallest amount necessary.
The tumble drier is matching in appearance, can be stacked on top of the washing machine (with a kit), can be connected to the washing machine drain, so that you don't have a tray of water to empty, and also has smart electronics to switch the drier off when the clothes have reached your required level of dryness.
For more information have a look at the ISE Appliances web site. You can buy the machines through independent service engineers and electrical goods stores ... or directly from UK Whitegoods - the web site set up by appliance service engineers which I have mentioned before. Don't expect to see them in the big national electrical goods retail stores ... after all, they're making a nice profit from repeat sales of appliances.
The price is £699.99 for the washing machine and £649.99 for the drier; with delivery and installation at £50 for either or both. Not too bad I don't think, in view of the ten year guarantee. I'd certainly consider one ... if my Hoover machine dies.
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