Disgusted with Chinese manufactured products

[richardlxixxx]

Good Morning to All,

I have been on a bit of a rant/tear lately concerning Chinese manufactured products. I am disgusted with the lack of quality and how quickly (after the warranty) small appliances break. It all started with my Sunbeam hand mixer. The darn thing, which gets minimal use, started to smoke while I was mixing batter for a cake. Threw it in the garbage. So I started to research new hand mixers. Why is every small appliance made in China? No matter what the brand or price, it is all manufactured in China. I then went to EBAY and found 2 brand new and unused Sunbeam Mixers in their original boxes. The hand mixer is a Sunbeam Burst of Power model. The stand mixer is a fabulous 16 speed, Power Plus Sunbeam Mixmaster.
Both were made in the USA and date to the 1970's. I also paid less for NEW OLD STOCK, than I would have for the latest Chinese garbage. Both mixers work incredibly well and I am very happy with my purchases.
Then I decided to go back to drinking percolated coffee. Farberware used to make the best electric percolators. My Mother and all my Aunts have had their Farberware percolators for many years. Well, the new ones are manufactured in China! Went to EBAY again and purchased two brand new, never used, Farberware percolators that were made in the Farberware plant located in the Bronx. Real stainless steel and terrific tasting coffee.
The USA led the world in manufacturing. Made in the US meant quality. In my opinion, all consumers should stop purchasing Chinese made products. A very difficult thing to do, as it required research and time. Avoid Chinese made products. Buy products made in Europe. Go to EBAY.
Thank you for reading my rant. Any others feel this way?

A great day to all,

Richard

 

[williamr1248]

Disgusted with Chinese made products

We had the EXACT same experience with a Faberware coffee pot. It replaced one that was over 20 years old and used EVERY day.
The first thing to happen was the base of the pot got a crack that extended across the whole base. Next the nice Faberware label that was on the front of the old pot was still in perfect shape . On the new pot it has some type of sticker that peeled off.
The last thing that has happened is the handle itself has developed a hair line crack which is dangerous as if it breaks with the pot full of hot coffee there could be a bad burn.
I just filled out a replacement for call back last week on a faulty dehumidifier.
I guess there was a huge recall because of house fires.
I also bought 3 vacuums from the same maker in the last 4 years. Each was a total disapointment in build quality. It is a shame. The names are the same and the products look the same but that is where it ends. Total waste of hard earned money.

 

[suckolux]

Have seen this happen TOO many times.

 

[madabouthoovers]

Its the same in the UK as well. Companies have all been outsourcing manufacturing to China. Its all to do with money and profit, as I'm sure you can guess. The cheaper they can make products for, the more they will make in profit, as its only obvious that people will have to buy the products more often as they break down quicker due to poor quality.


More sales = more profit for the shareholders and directors. Cheaper costs of manufacture = more profit too.


The reasons that China can make things so cheaply is that the Chinese will tolerate low wages and poverty, wheras the West will not.


It will change eventually, as the Chinese start wanting more wages and start striking against corporate greed and exploitation, but in the meantime, companies are making a fortune out of Chinese manufactured goods.

 

[dysonman1]

What I've noticed is the price of China-made goods is much less expensive today, than US made goods were 20 years ago. This is the Wal-Mart ideology. Go to Youtube, and look up "people of Wal-Mart". These are the people who are Happy to buy China-junk. They Don't Care About Quality. They don't care about themselves either. I would love to see a chain of stores called "Made In America" and every product be an American-built product. I'd sure shop there. And I'll bet the person who starts the chain of stores becomes a millionaire many times over.

 

[richardlxixxx]

My rant against chinese products continues

About 10 years ago, I purchased a set of pots from Inova corporation featured on HSN. They are good pots and pans with a non stick coating advertised to last 75 years. The two smaller pots that I use the most have developed a peeling issue. I tried to contact the company, but low and behold, they are out of business. Of course, the pots were designed in the US but manufactured in CHINA. JUNK!!
As I realize that the non stick coatings of that era are made with petroleum based products, I have disposed of the two pots. After much research, I have replaced them with Scanpan cookware that is made in Denmark. Scanpan uses a 5 ply stainless steel and aluminum pot with a ceramic based non stick coating. These pots are fantastic. Best of all, they are NOT MADE IN CHINA. I would rather spend the extra money for quality products that will last, then pay less for something I have to replace every few years.
I did look at ALL CLAD, which are made in the USA, but did not like them. ALL CLAD is quality, but did not meet my requirements.
In my opinion, the US government, should impose an import tax on Chinese made products that would make them more expensive. Incentives must be devised to American manufacturers in order to expand product lines, get back to manufacturing quality electronics, appliances, etc. Buy American or European made products.

A great evening to all,

Richard

 

[danemodsandy]

Richard:

You're talking to another Farberware percolator owner here - the vintage ones, not the new copy.

That perc is keeping company with vintage Farberware aluminum-clad pots and pans, vintage Pyrex, a 1957 Dormeyer Princess mixer, a 1972 GE 4-slice Toast-R-Oven, a set of 1957 West Bend aluminum canisters, a service for 8 in Oneida's Queen Bess (a Betty Crocker silverplate pattern), a service for 8 in Oneida's Twin Star (a Betty Crocker stainless pattern), a service for 8 in Royal China's Currier & Ives (an A & P premium with purchase), a service for 8 in Corelle Snowflake Blue (one of the 4 original Corelle Livingware patterns from 1970), a 1965 KitchenAid KDS-55 portable/convertible dishwasher, a pair of Maytag 806 washer and dryer from 1968, a Singer Athena 2000 sewing machine from 1975, a Singer Touch-Tronic 2001 sewing machine from 1979 (in the damndest four-foot-long solid oak cabinet you ever saw), an Electrolux 1205 vacuum, an Electrolux Model L vacuum, an Electrolux B-8 polisher, and a whole lot more.

Soon, a GE P * 7 self-cleaning range from 1974 is coming, and I'm busily looking for a 1970s Amana fridge I want. I have an Amana Radarange Model RR-4D from 1974 that is waiting until I get time to repair it.

So, I think it can safely be said that you are not alone, LOL! P.S.: When I repair vintage goodies, I generally only fix them once, to bring them back up to good condition. And I CAN fix them, which is often not possible with today's weird-science wonders.

 

[danemodsandy]

Oh, I Forgot:

And enough vintage Corningware in the Cornflower pattern to open a store! Each piece has its own handle, and there are buffet cradles for every piece that will fit on them.

I pity anyone who buys stuff like this new - what's a buck or two in the thrifts and yard sales is very expensive to buy new.

 

[kenkart]

The few...

Modern appliances I have bought have been very dissapointing, In my kitchen is a 3 year old Hotpoint fridge, bought to get an icemaker, If and when I can replace it with something from the 50s, preferably a Norge, I will gladly go back to defrosting and filling up ice trays, no 1, a fan circulating air over food does nothing but spread odors and dry out food, no 2 , frost free spells freezer burn and ice cream that is sometimes hard as a brick and others mush!!! you can have it, I will keep all my old small appliances, I dont own any new ones, and I dont want them either.and if anyone can find a new range with the features my 55 Norge has, I will buy it, ...things you can not get on a new stove....good heavy units,ovens that have balanced heat, in the Norge, the outer coil of the upper unit heats with the bottom unit so everything bakes exactly the same on the top and bottom, good insulation, the doors of just about all new ranges have a air space to insulate them, all that does is draw heat up under the cooktop to make the front edge hot, all porcelian exterior,a flourescent light,lighted controls, chrome trim, a cast aluminum griddle, appliance outlets, a deep well cooker...on and on and on!!oh yeah,,,you dont have to bolt my stove to the floor for fear of it tipping over....its heavy enough it is not moving!

 

[tolivac]

There might be releif---Yes-The Chinese factory labor is starting to organize like what happened in the US-so labor costs can go up.
Another thing-Ships arriving into US ports will have to run from low sulphur fuel under newer EPA requirements.This will increase the cost of shipping.The cost of running these boats is rapidly rising-lets hope so and there should be incentives to open factories in the US to build things we use.Lets put folks back to work and really end the recession!

 

[beko1987]

I only buy stuff cheap enough to bin if it breaks. Want a £20 warranty on your £15 toaster sir? No ta!

 

[turbo500]

It's the same in the UK. Brands like Hoover, Electrolux, Russell Hobbs and Hotpoint that were formerly reputable brands made in the UK are now churning out cheap, Chinese made junk.

In the UK, at least, your best bet is to buy European. Brands like Philips, Sebo, Miele, Bosch, Numatic and Dualit are still manufacturing products around Europe. Philips make excellent small appliances and have factories in The Netherlands and Poland. Dualit are, I believe, British made along with Numatic vacuums. Miele, Sebo and Bosch/Siemens manufacture in Germany (although Bosch also have a factor in Poland).

Hoover used to get away with stamping all their products as "Made in the EU", but they weren't. All the parts were manufactured in China then shipped to Portugal or Scotland and assembled their.

Sadly, it seems we are becoming a throw away society more and more. A friend of mine just replaced a 3 year old washing machine with a brand new one because it was cheaper and/or more convenient than getting the old one repaired. Ridiculous. When I was younger, my Mum would always just call the repair man when something broke.

 

[madabouthoovers]

Washing machines seem to be the worst culprits these days for being thrown out within a couple of years of being bought - some even failing within the first year, but because owners don't register the warranties or lose the receipts, they have no leg to stand on to get redress.


From what I can see, Hotpoint and Indesit are terrible for early failures from drum bearing collapse to electronics failures.


There was interest in the US model Whirlpool Duet washers for the very early failures of the spider drum supports, and I'd never advise anyone to purchase one if these types of machines as some are available in this style in the UK.


Not all washers made in the Far East are rubbish though, and a lot depends on where in the Far East they are made. I suspect the likes of Beko, Bush, Swan, are made in China, but I thought Samsung and LG were made in Korea, and LG do seem to be longer lasting than most Hotpoint or Hoover/Candy models. I also thought that Hotpoint/Indesit and Hoover/Candy made some of their machines in Italy, as well as in China.


When we think how well made washers were in the era before the 1980s, but they were in comparison MUCH more expensive in real terms than washers of today. Nowadays its the competition of companies to be the cheapest to the consumer that dictates quality and where the appliance is built, and as Beko1987 says - he likes em cheap, and because the UK now loves paying workers poverty wages, that's all many people can afford.


Its a vicious circle - due to companies in the UK paying lower and lower wages, workers cannot afford to buy the products that they themselves make, (or used to make) so they have to buy the cheaper goods that are imported from China.


 


China is now a global super-power, and has more clout in the markets than the USA or the UK, and now we must bow down to them. Its all down to the fact that China forces many workers into serfdom and poverty and exploits child labour. China is now leading a worldwide race to the bottom and soon, many in the USA and the UK will be living in worse poverty than even those in China.


When China starts to demand higher wages and starts to have strikes like we did in the 70's and 80's, then the next country to emerge will be India, and everything will end up made in India.


 


The West has lost its crown I'm afraid, and due to the ever growing population and the ever growing corporate greed in most capitalist states, I cant see things improving anytime soon for the US or the UK. Quality of goods only goes one way - you get what you pay for.


 


Perhaps the West should follow Germany's business model, as Germany seems to be not suffering as bad as other Western countries, and I can never imagine Miele or Sebo transferring manufacturing to China, but even Miele has had to lower its quality in vacs of late to compete with Bosch, Vax/TTI and Hoover/Candy.


I cannot comment on the reliability of Miele washers now as I know little about them, but I doubt that however good they claim to be, they are no longer capable of lasting 20 years, due to the fact that a small repair should one go wrong will often cost so much to be prohibitive. I do see Miele washers on EBay less than 5 years old going for spares or repairs as the owners don't want to pay Miele the high cost of sending out a repair man.


 


As Turbo 500 says, in the olden days, people bought a Hoover washer in the UK and it was solidly built, and would have cost a month's wages for m any people, so they had them repaired when the motor brushes went, or the drum bearings wore.


 


I think its totally unacceptable that a £500 Hotpoint Ultima goes for spares or repairs on EBay within 2 years for drum bearing failure. Maybe I could understand a £180 Beko or Haier model going this way, but since Hotpoint was bought out by Indesit, they have gone totally to the dogs.

 

[sebo_fan]

Sorry but it has little to do with the brand, and yet again what the "average consumer/owner" will do that machine in general in its life. You'll always get owners thinking they can cram every item of clothing in just because the machine they have claims to have a large 9kg capacity.

Also washing machines and dishwashers have had "doctored warranties" over the years with several companies just pasting a 5 year or 10 year "long" warranty on the motors and paltry general parts warranties for 2 years, or less. Companies can no longer pay out for design mistakes.

BEKO washing machines are made in Turkey as far as I know and they're not low on reliability.

 

[madabouthoovers]

Pardon me Sebo Fan?

Sorry Sebo fan but it has everything to do with the brand.


Go on Ebay and see how many Indesit, Hotpoint, Hoover, Candy and Beko washers are for sale due to quality issues and breakdowns, compared to LG models. Certain brands are more unreliable than others and its NOT down to the consumers every time at all.

 

[sebo_fan]

Well I beg to differ - and whilst I speak from experience - not just as a consumer but as an owner. I have been through several premium brands and budget brands - it has little to do with the owner (i.e. ME) when they have taken care of the machines they buy and use. Those with a background of collecting vacuums and taking care of them usually treat other appliances with the same care and general usage, not abuse or general "average" owner usage who won't give a care in the world to the washing machine's usage, as long as it works.

The brands of machines you've mentioned are not premium brands - you can't compared chalk with cheese in the same light that I can never compare a Hoover bagged cylinder vacuum like the TeliosPlus with the Miele S2. The Miele S2 is better though it isn't a vacuum I particularly like - I have owned the Miele S2 as well as lots of Miele vacs as well as past Hoover models - the two are not the same. If you were to provide stats that show evidence of premium branded washers being unreliable, then I would be inclined to agree, that it is not always the fault of the owner/consumer.

Furthermore Miele do have a factory in China….they produce appliances for the home market as well as screwdriver assembly where parts from Germany have been shipped to China. Does that necessarily tar Miele with the same brush?

Lastly, my parents 8 year old LG washing machine has finally died a death this week. The cost of repairs required for this old and reliable workhorse are no longer available and after much research (and sold my Hotpoint to a friend in need who has a much bigger home and family to look after than I) I ended up buying another LG washing machine - not just because I like the brand but for the fact that I like the Direct Drive compared to conventional drive belt driven drums. The machine I have picked is no where near the stats and features of the Hotpoint I had and infact the LG offers far less variety of wash programs = that's premium for you.

In turn, the general buyer won't normally "go" for brands like LG, Samsung and other higher priced brands because of several limiting features and higher cost prices. That's where Hoover and Electrolux's sub brands come in, offering consumers a far wider choice of programs and features - including BEKO who offer wide features at low cost prices.

Sadly as yet no "budget brand" has been able to incorporate a direct drive to a washing machine - though I live in hope that one day, it may happen.
[this post was last edited: 10/22/2013-14:39]

 

[sebo_fan]

Also if I go onto EBAY and type in Numatic, how many Numatics are available? Tons and a lot of them are second hand. Does that mean that Numatic vacs have a poor reliability record? Not quite.

 

[turbo500]

Beko washers are for sale due to quality issues and breakdow

Actually, that's not true. Machines like Hotpoint, Indesit and Beko end up on eBay because there is simply more of them about. They're the most popular brands in the UK and people sell them on for the same reason any other machine ends up on ebay - new kitchen, moving house, moving in with a partner/relative/house share, was left in a house by previous owners etc etc. The reason there are so many of them is because there are simply more of those machines sold.

Beko are proving themselves to be an excellent choice for the lower end of the market and certainly far more reliable than brands made in other countries. I'd go so far as to say Beko are a hell of a lot better than the current range of Zanussi's, which have always been a mid-high end brand.

In my experience, in the current market, Hoover/Candy machines are the worst for reliability whilst Indesit are the worst for poor performance.

 

[dysonman1]

Six years ago I bought a Maytag Bravos. Three spin bearings later (because I bought the five year extended warranty), and the spin bearing goes again. I used it until the motor wouldn't turn any more. I'm not sending $250 on a bearing MADE to fail. I bought an LG ($900) and the five year extended warranty. Let's hope this one lasts.