General I don't want a "Smart" Refrigerator

[Uncle Tom Doug]

I worked for whirlpool 20ish years ago as a customer service rep in their Knoxville Call center. I was in school at the time. On our very first day of training, the head trainer dude said the following:

"You know that stove/oven, refrigerator, or washer/dryer that your grandparents have had since before you were born? The one that just works, has worked for the past 40 years, and will continue to work for the next 40 years? Those were built to last. We don't do that anymore because if we aren't constantly selling appliances we aren't constantly making money"

I shit you not, that was almost the first sentence out of his mouth. He then went on to tell us how they purposefully designed appliances with intended lifespans and how they chose parts that would wear out and break so that service calls and replacement parts would be necessary. He also said that they purposefully priced certain parts in a way that would encourage consumers to replace appliances instead of fixing them.

I've tried to avoid appliances with electronic control boards and stupid bells and whistles ever since.

OP, you are absolutely on the right track.

 

[NotBanjaxo]

It is odd how the number of people who have icemakers that aren't hooked up, and don't work, is kinda staggering.

Like it outnumbers the people with working icemakers. Maybe I only know trashy people...but a few got serious money, and no working icemaker.

When my mum bought her last house some years back, I went with her to view it. The owners (a couple) were discussing what appliances would be included in the price, and one they spoke of was the fridge/freezer.

It had an ice maker built in, which they said would dispense crushed ice at the touch of a button. I asked for a demonstration.

I could see a concerned look on the wife's face, but she said sure. She got a glass from the cupboard (I noticed that it was the widest glass there) and proceeded to use the crushed ice dispenser.

It did dispenser crushed ice into the glass, but despite her best efforts it also dispensed crushed ice in all directions, scattering little chunks all over the kitchen floor.

Needless to say, my mum declined to pay for the fridge/freezer, and bought a new one without any gadgets instead.

I don't know whether that one was a particularly shit make, but it put me off anything other than a basic type for good.

 

[Peruvian Necktiez]

I've never had one of these functions last more than a few months.

this so much

we have an old white fridge in the cold room that has never given us trouble and runs perfectly

upstairs we are on our 3rd fancy piece of overpriced crap and is starting to make noises

 

[NiteProwleR]

The less kitchen GAYdgets, the better.

 

[Papi Chingon]

I worked for whirlpool 20ish years ago as a customer service rep in their Knoxville Call center. I was in school at the time. On our very first day of training, the head trainer dude said the following:

"You know that stove/oven, refrigerator, or washer/dryer that your grandparents have had since before you were born? The one that just works, has worked for the past 40 years, and will continue to work for the next 40 years? Those were built to last. We don't do that anymore because if we aren't constantly selling appliances we aren't constantly making money"

I shit you not, that was almost the first sentence out of his mouth. He then went on to tell us how they purposefully designed appliances with intended lifespans and how they chose parts that would wear out and break so that service calls and replacement parts would be necessary. He also said that they purposefully priced certain parts in a way that would encourage consumers to replace appliances instead of fixing them.

I've tried to avoid appliances with electronic control boards and stupid bells and whistles ever since.

OP, you are absolutely on the right track.

I don't doubt all electronics companies doing this, but I still trust Whirlpool/Maytag over smart phone manufacturers for longevity and function over chinese smart phone and tv manufacturers. I had an Amana that lasted over 20 years, then due to supply chain bullshit had to settle for a Samsung fridge for replacement. Absolutely beautiful refrigerator, but what an absolute piece of shit.

 

[MountainMedic]

"Incorporated obsolescence"

My grandad taught me that in the 70s

 

[Uncle Tom Doug]

I still trust Whirlpool/Maytag over smart phone manufacturers for longevity and function over chinese smart phone and tv manufacturers

I do the same, Sir. I just buy the Whirlpool/Maytag appliances that have knobs and simple shit. Whirlpool's budget brand was Roper back when I worked for them. It still might be. A majority of our calls back then were for KitchenAid and Whirlpool branded appliances because they had all the new bullshit. The Ropers were basic and had problems, too, but they were usually cheap and easy to fix.

 

[Jamie999]

I don't want to run plumbing to the fridge, not convenient at all.

When I find a nice new fridge it usually has ice maker and is "smart", I don't need either.

I just want a cool new fridge with a quality build and no bells or whistles.

Price not a factor.

Go commercial then.

 

[Jamie999]

I worked for whirlpool 20ish years ago as a customer service rep in their Knoxville Call center. I was in school at the time. On our very first day of training, the head trainer dude said the following:

"You know that stove/oven, refrigerator, or washer/dryer that your grandparents have had since before you were born? The one that just works, has worked for the past 40 years, and will continue to work for the next 40 years? Those were built to last. We don't do that anymore because if we aren't constantly selling appliances we aren't constantly making money"

I shit you not, that was almost the first sentence out of his mouth. He then went on to tell us how they purposefully designed appliances with intended lifespans and how they chose parts that would wear out and break so that service calls and replacement parts would be necessary. He also said that they purposefully priced certain parts in a way that would encourage consumers to replace appliances instead of fixing them.

I've tried to avoid appliances with electronic control boards and stupid bells and whistles ever since.

OP, you are absolutely on the right track.

Dude was just bitter lol. Probably passed over for a promotion or something.

Things aren't designed to break so much as they are designed for a certain price point. Features sell, durability doesn't sell nearly as well. This is a demand side problem not a supply side one. Get as many features packed into a pretty package for as cheap as you can doesn't = durable long lasting product. That's really that simple.

If you design something to intentionally break you're opening yourself up to a lot of liability. Even if a company did that... They wouldn't tell some low level employee that shit.. It would be people 20 levels above him having those conversations.