Things Ain't What They Used To Be

I think you are unlucky I haven't experienced any of the things you mention.

I have things in my kitchen that have had continual use for well over forty years.

I often use the phrase, 'Buy cheap buy twice' when shopping.

Many items aren’t designed to ‘last’.

Years ago, you expected washing machines, irons, toasters, televisions….to last forever.

Not any more.

They are designed to pack up and buy new again, to keep the economy turning.

I’m with you OP, I don’t always buy cheap, yet have had lots of things “break” with simply normal use!

My favourite was the showerproof boots I wore in the rain which then fell apart, I did take them back and was told “ you’ve worn these in the rain!” 🤷🏻‍♀️

We’ve not had this problem, she said tempting fate!

I believe cars have a planned obsolescence too. They want you to spend money , basically. I had a washing machine ( top loader) for over 40 years and it saw me through 6 kids ( 4 of mine, 2 fostered) and I was sad when it finally gave up the ghost. I have replaced it with the same make . Same applies to our dishwasher . New Zealanders make things to last so look their way ! I won’t advertise on their behalf with the exact name but there aren’t that many.

Cossy

I’m with you OP, I don’t always buy cheap, yet have had lots of things “break” with simply normal use!

My favourite was the showerproof boots I wore in the rain which then fell apart, I did take them back and was told “ you’ve worn these in the rain!” 🤷🏻‍♀️

I get this.
Just bought nice new shower caddies from Argos for the shower downstairs and upstairs. However, the suction pads wouldn’t work, I tried everything but the caddies kept falling off, a neighbour who felt he was adept at this kind of thing tried to fix them, I thought he had succeeded but the blooming things fell off in the night and gave me a dreadful fright.
On reviews I could see that I was not alone with this complaint, so at £12 each I decided was worth taking them back.
The person I dealt with looked at the caddies then said to me ‘you must have the wrong tiles in your shower cubicle.
I did ask what the right tiles were like, not out of curiosity but because I was becoming irritated. The young man just shrugged then put the refund through.

Calendargirl

Many items aren’t designed to ‘last’.

Years ago, you expected washing machines, irons, toasters, televisions….to last forever.

Not any more.

They are designed to pack up and buy new again, to keep the economy turning.

I was a demonstrator for Hoover in the 70s
All washing machines / dishwashers were built to last 6 years.
Everything after that was a bonus.
The problem people have when washing machines go wrong is that they think they are complicated: they’re not, not if you have a little bit of ill have a go at that

Cossy

I’m with you OP, I don’t always buy cheap, yet have had lots of things “break” with simply normal use!

My favourite was the showerproof boots I wore in the rain which then fell apart, I did take them back and was told “ you’ve worn these in the rain!” 🤷🏻‍♀️

There is a difference between showerproof and waterproof. You have to be careful with outdoor products like this, because showerproof does not stop water getting in, it just allows water to run off but still permeates the fabric.
I learned this at cost, so now always check the labels.

My Aigle wellies did 18+ years, Dualit toaster still going 35 years ish, Le Creuset pans 43 years, I have a pair of evening shoes 25 years a couple of white shirts at least 25 years, NYDJ Jeans some are 15 years old. .

I could go on, I tend to buy well and look after things.

Sago

My Aigle wellies did 18+ years, Dualit toaster still going 35 years ish, Le Creuset pans 43 years, I have a pair of evening shoes 25 years a couple of white shirts at least 25 years, NYDJ Jeans some are 15 years old. .

I could go on, I tend to buy well and look after things.

Oh I have stuff like that too, some have lasted me 45+ years, but stuff we buy occasionally from high street chains tend to be flimsy and easily broken, if they even do what it is purported they will do.

My sheepfarmer neighbour (Highlands) bought a new Landrover Discovery. It had one fault after another and finally he took it back to the dealer to make an official complaint.
Dealer sighs and clicks tongue;

"I can see the problem right away. You've been driving it off-road. "

Ha ha! My nephew has just inherited a land rover that my father bought in 1949! Still going strong.

I bought my navy blue cashmere coat in 1976. It's still looking good.

Fallingstar the store assistant was correct. Suction pads will only stick on to shiny tiles. If your tiles are matte they won't stick. I once was about to buy a shower caddy in John Lewis but I read the instructions on the label and realised that I had the wrong type of tiles, so I didn't buy the item.

Aldom

Fallingstar the store assistant was correct. Suction pads will only stick on to shiny tiles. If your tiles are matte they won't stick. I once was about to buy a shower caddy in John Lewis but I read the instructions on the label and realised that I had the wrong type of tiles, so I didn't buy the item.

You are probs right but there was nothing on the label or in the description that warned the customer about this. I am a bit anal and read everything before buying.

Well our tiles are shiny, but our shower caddies still keep falling off- discovered one in the bottom of the bath this very morning!

You need to buy your jeans somewhere else.

I don't buy many things these days but about 10 years ago my fridge developed a fault. I spoke on the phone to a repairer calling himself Mr Cool who asked how old it was and what make.

I tried to remember and finally said it had belonged to my mother who moved in with us in 1980 but the fridge wasn't new then so I wasn't sure. It was Ariston whose adverts said they go on and on.

Mr Cool just said. "Buy a new one". 😅
I did.

We just had a log affect built in gas fire fixed for $750. Worth it because a new one costs $8,000 now. Ours was put in in 1993 so she’s going good, as they say.

Cars certainly don't break down and rust like they used to. I can remember my uncle buying a new Fiat in 1977 that he had to get rid of at 4 years old as it was rotten underneath and would cost a fortune to fix. Nowadays cars barely rust until they're over 10 years old and don't fail to start in cold weather or overheat in hot weather.

Politicians aren't what they used to be either.

Grantanow

Politicians aren't what they used to be either.

😂
Maybe - or is it that there was no social media back then, and perhaps even the ordinary media were loath to tell us ordinary folk what shenanigans our 'betters' were suspected of? 🤔