Is quality going downhill?

[reb]

Maybe I'm just getting old and cranky. I have had to send items back or use warranties more the last year than ever before.

Bought an air rifle from a major manufacturer that will not group well from a rest. It is going back tomorrow. Bought a scope for the rifle that became fuzzy after a short while. The company replaced it. Bought a remote control for the wife's satellite dish. Couldn't make it work and returned it couple of months ago. A hearing amplifier broke before the factory warranty expired. The other quit before the extended warranty expired. (I expected that--with an extended warranty on one of those it is almost a given that replacement is inevitable.)

Back when I was working the company dissolved the quality assurance group and apparently let the customer be the final test. This in an outfit that made aircraft instruments. Has this become a trend?

 

[Roadworthy]

Yep, you're probably just old and cranky. You may be trying to save too much money by buying second or third tier Chinese products. I can address the air rifle better than the other devices. What air rifle did you buy? Chinese? I only buy European air rifles and current price for a new air rifle of decent quality is in the range of $300. If you're dealing in a spring piston air rifle be advised the scope must be rated for the recoil. They have a kind of double recoil which limits the number of compatible scopes. Check in at Airguns of Arizona in or near Phoenix.

 

[4570Man]

I suspect you’re buying bottom quality stuff and expecting it to be quality.

 

[reb]

Yep, you're probably just old and cranky. You may be trying to save too much money by buying second or third tier Chinese products. I can address the air rifle better than the other devices. What air rifle did you buy? Chinese? I only buy European air rifles and current price for a new air rifle of decent quality is in the range of $300. If you're dealing in a spring piston air rifle be advised the scope must be rated for the recoil. They have a kind of double recoil which limits the number of compatible scopes. Check in at Airguns of Arizona in or near Phoenix.

The old and cranky part is probably justified. I am also justifiably accused of trying to save money on my purchases.

The rifle is from a well known European manufacturer. I am aware of the scope requirements--I have been an air rifle user for about 35 years. The scope provided with the rifle is rated for the recoil, and the better one I replaced it with is also rated for air rifle use.

 

[Roadworthy]

Oops, my bad - maybe. I've had very good luck with my European air rifles (Diana and Air Arms) and any scope failures have been covered by warranty. I won't say the airguns were perfect as received, I do tweak them a bit. In many ways the older ones were of superior quality, though. I do appreciate some of the improvements over time.

 

[Hay Dude]

My opinion is markets of today have opened up to a vast number of Asian manufacturers that weren’t available decades ago.
This brings in lower quality finished goods, or lower quality parts and assemblies used in alleged better quality products which all fail at a higher rate.

 

[mrmikey]

I agree with Reb.
When's the last time you bought a fridge that lasted for 30+ years, now days if you get 10 you're lucky. Washer dryer, same thing.
Range is the same, even if you can get parts to repair it they cost darn near as much as a complete new unit. My range is almost 25 years old, a couple of new element controls and a new oven thermostat and elements over that time and it's still going...because it's repairable at a reasonable cost not a sealed up mystery box.
Toaster, mines 15+ years old and works a good as new, my daughter bought one bit over a year ago and it croaked. Had a Roku box for my working old dumb plasma TV, lasted a year and a bit.
Warranty...right, you send it back at your cost and well send you a new one for shipping. Although on that note, my Keureg mini died, I called up expecting a battle as it was only 6 months old. After a couple of questions they sent me new one at no cost..............Mike

 

[Oaktree]

I dunno, I haven't noticed appliances lasting any less time than they used to. I replaced my refrigerator this summer, old one was still running after 18 years, just a bit of an energy hog and kind of noisy. Given the number of items that are in short supply with long lead times I just figured I'd replace it before it broke.

I think the key is to avoid the models with all the gee-whiz features. Just like in the past, one more thing to break. Unfortunately, it's getting harder to find basic models of anything anymore. Manufacturers claim those don't sell, that people want all the bells and whistles (and they're probably right).

 

[mrmikey]

Unfortunately, it's getting harder to find basic models of anything anymore.

You're right there for sure.
Friend of mine bought a new washer and dryer, he proceeds to tell me, "it'll talk to me and tell me when my clothes are dry" OK, so you can't hear the dryer shutting off. "But it's got Wifi and it'll send me a text as well when they're dry" So if you're far enough away to need wifi, why do you care if they're dry.
Give me the washer with one knob with the 'click/click/click' when you turn it and a dryer that you set for 30 minutes and I'm happy.....Mike

 

[ranger danger]

Yes quality is going down. Quality is controlled by the accounting dept. Not customer service. Think about a bottled water. When you open it it splashes all over you. Why? Because they fill them to the very top and they are made out of plastic so thin that they don't hold there structure when you squeeze them to open them. Bean counters are the scurge of manufacturing!

 

[Yogi05]

Anyone making a product for profit has it made "off-shore" which means Asian countries. China, Taiwan etc.
There are levels of "how good do you want it?" which is dictated by profit margin. And everyone wants a huge
one of those.

I've been trying to avoid items made in China for a number of reasons like human rights policies (for lack of a better word).
It's almost impossible to avoid things made in China. Either the total product or the parts of...

 

[JasperFrank]

My Kenmore washing machine gave up after 20 years. Of course the critical part I needed to repair it, the spider that held the tub, was NO LONGER available. Everything else was still available, just not THIS part. Oddly this one part seems to have been designed to fail after about 20 years, the definition of a lifetime warranty. It was the only part made out of cast zinc metal, and directly attached to a stainless tub. I currently have a Jenair downdraft oven/stove, also bought 20 years ago and the glass top is cracked. Jenair wants $500 for a replacement top, before shipping is included. For "fix it" people, like most all here on tractorbynet, this is a crazy price for a piece of Pyrex glass.
reb, I'm only 63, and I'm right there with ya! I will never own a wifi connected white good. I don't even like the ones with digital clocks. A nefew gave us a Google Home Mini as a Christmas present. We immediately donated it, unopened, to Goodwill.

 

[etpm]

Maybe I'm just getting old and cranky. I have had to send items back or use warranties more the last year than ever before.

Bought an air rifle from a major manufacturer that will not group well from a rest. It is going back tomorrow. Bought a scope for the rifle that became fuzzy after a short while. The company replaced it. Bought a remote control for the wife's satellite dish. Couldn't make it work and returned it couple of months ago. A hearing amplifier broke before the factory warranty expired. The other quit before the extended warranty expired. (I expected that--with an extended warranty on one of those it is almost a given that replacement is inevitable.)

Back when I was working the company dissolved the quality assurance group and apparently let the customer be the final test. This in an outfit that made aircraft instruments. Has this become a trend?

Maybe I'm just getting old and cranky. I have had to send items back or use warranties more the last year than ever before.

Bought an air rifle from a major manufacturer that will not group well from a rest. It is going back tomorrow. Bought a scope for the rifle that became fuzzy after a short while. The company replaced it. Bought a remote control for the wife's satellite dish. Couldn't make it work and returned it couple of months ago. A hearing amplifier broke before the factory warranty expired. The other quit before the extended warranty expired. (I expected that--with an extended warranty on one of those it is almost a given that replacement is inevitable.)

Back when I was working the company dissolved the quality assurance group and apparently let the customer be the final test. This in an outfit that made aircraft instruments. Has this become a trend?

You are probably old enough to remember "Made in Japan". The same quality as "Made in China" is today. The Japanese were capable of producing high quality goods, they had the skills and knowledge, right after the war but for many reasons did not. One major reason is that buyers in the USA wanted and so specified low quality goods. The Japanese, wanting to rebuild their economy, took the jobs they could get. Part of the reason crude stuff was made was because of damage to their manufacturing abilities, but a large driver for cheap goods was demand from the USA.
Now China is doing the cheap goods thing for similar reasons. Demand from the USA and the "West" for cheap goods. Their quality continues to get better. Now goods from India are starting to fill the niche that China has occupied for some time.
Of course, Japan, China and India are doing nothing new. When we were the "Colonies" we started to export goods that competed with those made in England. Mostly cruder, always cheaper. That made some in England mad, and that led to laws restricting imports through tariffs and the like.
The world keeps turning, and as it does so it keeps turning out the same scenarios.
Eric

 

[ultrarunner]

I'm getting there but I buy for function and the 1960 and 1970 appliances have worked out well.

Of course they cost real money back then and often very heavily constructed as anyone moving one learns fast...

 

[lman]

My refrigerator and oven are 27 years old. I thought people were replacing them because they were the wrong color.

 

[JasperFrank]

I have a few shot guns, Mid-60s Browning 12ga over-unders made in Belgium. several grades. These are basicly unused, New Old Stock. I've sold a few. And really didn't get much for them because the barrels are are not sold as using steel or Bismuth shot. I know this doesn't matter. Buyers don't seem to care. They want chrome line barrels for skeet,and other clay shooting. So they think the steel shot will ruin the gun. I think these guns are worth a bit because they are "quality," and not the japanese made guns and should be in the $4,000 range, compaired to new guns in that price range. Yet, I only get offers of $1,200 or so. The modern buyer, me thinks, doesn't care if something is European made.

 

[ultrarunner]

My refrigerator and oven are 27 years old. I thought people were replacing them because they were the wrong color.

Happens a lot... the word I here is dated but if you wait long enough it is Retro...

Coffee, Harvest Gold, Avocado, Almond... plus some Blue and Black...

 

[Mendonsy]

While I agree that quality has been declining for a long time, it seems to have become much worse lately. Appliances, cars, tractors, and almost everything else have no where near the life that they once did. I think this is mostly due to cheap plastic parts being used to replace the real components in the older items.

 

[mrmikey]

I think this is mostly due to cheap plastic parts being used to replace the real components in the older items

Yup, they only have to last 366 days rather than the life of the machine.
Look at the plastic camshaft and sprocket for the..... Briggs I think it is? Who in their right mind would ever even consider that, the bean counters. It's easier/cheaper to injection mold plastic than cast and machine steel. As long as it lasts the warranty, alls good.
I've got nothing against profit, it's what makes the world go round but when you see companies gouging because they can it ticks me off, wood is the most current example. Now stores, around here at least, are crying they have to sell lumber for less than they paid for it. Didn't see them crying when they were gouging customers a few months back, I have no sympathy what so ever.
Simple example, year or so ago a two liter bottle of Coke was regular priced at $1.00, now regular price is almost $3.00. No one can tell me the expenses went up that much.
Rant mode off LOL. Sorry for the off topic...................Mike

 

[5030]

Today, you's pays your money, buy your Chi Com junk and landfill it when it expires. Must be why I hang on to older fixable stuff.