A moan about modern white goods!

[Alison]

Not a white good but interesting anyway. We bought a Cannon digital camera in New York last autumn. It stopped working just over a year later and therefore just outside it's 12 month warranty. Took it to our local camera shop and they told us that that they'd have to send it off for assessment but that it was likely to be very expensive. They suggested that as it was only just outside the warranty period we send it to Cannon, explaining what had happened. Did this and they repaired it without asking any questions. We were well pleased with both Cannon and the bloke in the shop who did himself out of the trade. Went and thanked him the following weekend. Not that you can put a fridge etc in the post but at least it shows that some of the manufacturers are reasonable.

[jacob marley]

They used to make things to last just before my eldest was born my mother in law bought a Burco spin dryer my eldest is 43 next time and the dryer is used most days this time of year so how much electricity has it used over the years jacob

[Winged one]

Well, not only has our washing machine gone kaput, and the boiler went about 9 weeks ago (but at least that was 21 years old and we had been warned for the past 5.5 years since we moved in that it could go any time) - last night the immersion heater blew as well!! Hopefully the plumber can get the new boiler working today as we now have no heat and no hot water.........

[scarey55]

Don't know if your washing machine is still Kaput Winged One or, if you have anyone with the skills but our washing machine packed up (the drum stopped moving - no washing or spinning) and we found that it was the carbon brushes that were worn.

We ordered some new ones (about £10 to £15) and very easily replaced them - we are not normally very technical but Scared did a magnificent job and (touch wood) the machine is still working perfectly.

I just say this because we were thinking of spending about 500€ on a new machine and ended up spending only 20€ and spared the planet another "dead" washing machine for a bit longer.

Just a thought.

[Winged one]

We're going to "get the man up" to have a look - hopefully tomorrow as OH is on a day off, but might be another week or so till the builders are working outside. It just seems like we go through phases every so often where everything goes wrong, and this is one of them. I am crossing my fingers, but not holding my breath (and the local dry cleaner is a nice chappie anyway so that keeps ones spirits up as we hand over the bulging bags every week)...

Thanks for that though Scarey

[SarzWix]

It just seems like we go through phases every so often where everything goes wrong, and this is one of them...

I know just what you mean, we seem to be going through one of those phases too! Got Dad in hospital, miles away, havin to farm the kids out to friends whenever possible to be able to go visit. We've had 2 TV's stop working for no apparent reason in last 2 weeks, and then our washer decided to create a lake in the utility room... When we pulled it out to find out what the problem is, we discovered that it has had a minor leak for a very long time but there's a slope in the floor so it's just been puddling in a corner... The whole floor is wrecked (Amtico - v. expensive lino tiles...), the skirting boards are mush, the plasterboard wall next to it is wrecked... And now the insurance are fighting over who replaces what - buildings cover or contents cover - one is ours, one is Dads (who is my landlord & in hospital). Nightmare
And I still can't afford a new washer, or the cost of the laundrette, so I'm doing all my washing (there's 5 of us!) in the bath...
Roll on payday...

[Winged one]

Let the kids have fun walking up and down the bath getting the clothes clean - clean bare feet required but they'll love it (was a regular occurrance in mum's house and with 6 kids, and 2 in cloth nappies, we had that chore quite a bit).

And get one of them to stand on the end of the hardwearing stuff, while a strong person winds it up - gets a fair bit of extra water out than hand strength alone.

I hope your dad gets better soon though, and everything else.

[SarzWix]

I hope your dad gets better soon though, and everything else.

Cheers, Winged One. Can't get much worse, can it?! (I'm touching wood, I'm touching wood!!!)

[Seahorse]

Oh Sarah, what a rough time you're having! I've done the washing for five in the bath thing and that was enough of a bind without all those other more serious things too!

Hope things start to look up for you very soon.

Claire

[smallblueplanet]

Hi Sarzwix, no washer! eek!

When our old machine went tits up I bought a 'new' one off the comet auction site. They might be returns or just ex-demo but they all come with 12 months guarentee. I actually played it cool and didn't overbid and got a Bosch washer for £150, which when I registered it on their website actually has a 2-year guarentee.

If you scroll to the bottom of the machines description it'll tell you if there's any dints or bits missing. Ours had some tiny scratches but it stands in the utility room so who cares?! Also if you search for a particular model, when you get the results it gives you the option of advanced search and if you search for the model again but choose 'open & closed listings' it'll show you how much the model has sold for previously. I saw that the Bosch I was looking at had occassionally sold cheaply and so I just kept putting a bid in with a 'low price' as my highest bid and eventually got a real bargain! (I'm trying to do the same for an electric cooker atm, I hope before xmas but who knows!)

(Don't forget to factor in the delivery cost, usually £30 or £25 - because I sent my first washer that I won (a Beko) back cos it had a piece drop off they said if I bought anything else they'd give me free delivery! Result! )

Comet Clearance - Washing Machines

[SarzWix]

Thanks SBP, havin a look at it now

[bubblewrap]

And I still can't afford a new washer, or the cost of the laundrette, so I'm doing all my washing (there's 5 of us!) in the bath...
Roll on payday...

So where do you keep your coal now?
Joking aside Madderbat says have you tried freecycle?

[SarzWix]

Yeah, thanks BW, have put a Wanted on the 3 groups nearest to us, but no replies so far.
OH is off to a big warehouse in Bradford this aft, where they sell end-of-line and returned appliances. Hopefully I'll be washing by tonight!

[Sue]

Hi
I've bought a new cooker today and was told it would last about 2-5 years. Why? what could go wrong with a gas cooker in that time?? I had my old one for over 20 years.
Perhaps this was said because I refused the "extra" Comet cover??
Sue

[Hazel at the Hill]

That's not a new sales ploy, Sue - when I first left home I bought a fridge/freezer, and on the one hand the salesman told me how fabulous this particular model was, and on the other how I should buy the extra cover 'just in case'!

He must have seen me coming as I bought the cover, although with the benefit of hindsight it wasn't exactly necessary - that was 17 years ago and it is still going strong!

I do slightly wish it would break down - I bet it costs me a fortune in running costs compared to a 'modern' one.