How long should things last?

[bdhsfz6]

Do people have unrealistic expectations on how long things can last. I know sometimes I do.

I know I do, but sometimes it's a pleasant surprise rather than a disappointment.

When I built my house in 1979, I installed a Weil McLain boiler which, at the time, was highly rated. The plumbing supply house where I bought it said it should last 15 to 20 years. Fast forward to 2025 and it's still working fine after 46 years.

I'm now in the process of replacing it, not because I have to, but for my peace of mind. When it finally does go, it would most certainly be in the middle of winter when I need it most.

 

[MossRoad]

My Apple//e has never crashed…

I still have the original box with packing foam and 2 floppy drives etc…

A collector wanted to buy for a good price for a display and the original box and literature I think was valued more than the computer…

I decided to keep it for my museum…

Three or more of anything is a collection.
Three or more collections is a museum.

 

[Santa Craig Cringle]

I don't have unrealistic expectations for how long something should last, so much as I have unrealistic expectations of how much something should cost.

Inflation is an awful thing.

 

[Oaktree]

My Apple//e has never crashed…

I still have the original box with packing foam and 2 floppy drives etc…

A collector wanted to buy for a good price for a display and the original box and literature I think was valued more than the computer…

I decided to keep it for my museum…

No disrespect meant, but do you ever throw anything away? I thought I was bad.
You must need a warehouse to store all this stuff!

 

[ultrarunner]

I clean, repair and sell… had a good side line with obsolete car parts, auto memorabilia, related antiques…

Also machine/manufacture water pump shafts for antique cars from monel and 316 SS and ship all over the world.

Model A, T, Mustang, Camaro, GTO are my focus.

Much is simply come get it…

My brother is a real estate broker and he often needs to get properties cleared to close.

Maybe it’s the wrong direction because tools now are often hard to get rid of…

A couple weeks back I picked up a oxyacetylene welding set with owner tanks and gages.

All I had to do was pick it up same day… the family tried to give it away and no takers.

Stoves and refrigerators sell to renters…

My tenants biggest fear when they call with a broken appliance I fix it…

Growing up I heard so many stories of old cars sent the junk yard because they were old or the farmer had a bonfire for all the old hay wagons…

The Apple//e was the wages I earned working all summer.

 

[ultrarunner]

I don't have unrealistic expectations for how long something should last, so much as I have unrealistic expectations of how much something should cost.

Inflation is an awful thing.

Inflation hit hard August first… almost across the board everything the hospital buys increased 10 to 25%… never seen anything like it.

 

[ultrarunner]

No disrespect meant, but do you ever throw anything away? I thought I was bad.
You must need a warehouse to store all this stuff!

My plan was to be curator of my own tech museum focusing on the automobile through the decades starting with 1900…

It would be a fluid collection, trading and acquiring…

I really like what Jay Leno had done and other similar…

 

[jk96]

My biggest complaint is newer home appliances. We built our home 12 years ago. We are on our 3rd refrigerator. 3rd dryer, 3rd washer. Dishwasher, oven/range, and microwave are still going strong. Current refrigerator is 3 years old and just had it's first repair. I always pay for the extended warranties out to 5 years on major appliances. Most don't last that long.

On the flip side I have a fridge at my shop we bought 22 years ago. Basic but does have water and ice maker and has never had a repair. We also have an older drink fridge that we bought used 10 years ago for our basement. It was 8 years old at the time making it 18 years old now. It has outlasted the 2 new fridges we bought and I expect it will outlast this newest 3 year old one as well.

 

[mjonesnh]

My biggest complaint is newer home appliances. We built our home 12 years ago. We are on our 3rd refrigerator. 3rd dryer, 3rd washer. Dishwasher, oven/range, and microwave are still going strong. Current refrigerator is 3 years old and just had it's first repair. I always pay for the extended warranties out to 5 years on major appliances. Most don't last that long.

On the flip side I have a fridge at my shop we bought 22 years ago. Basic but does have water and ice maker and has never had a repair. We also have an older drink fridge that we bought used 10 years ago for our basement. It was 8 years old at the time making it 18 years old now. It has outlasted the 2 new fridges we bought and I expect it will outlast this newest 3 year old one as well.

Have heard from different people that fridges are short lived now. The one in kitchen is 34 years old. On its 3rd ice maker but no service calls. Dread replacing it when it finally quits.

 

[bigtiller]

Inflation hit hard August first… almost across the board everything the hospital buys increased 10 to 25%… never seen anything like it.

This is just the beginning.

It isn't coming, it's already here.