Things were made so simple years ago. I have a Ge Washer that worked good for a few years. Then the circuit board main control went bad. I am on my third one. Does my car need to tell me when the oil needs to be changed? Why don't tractor companies make a simple tractor anymore? Stan
- Thread starter 37 chief
- Start date
Brendon-KS
Well-known Member
- Location
- Goessel, KS
Simple doesn't sell in large enough quantities to justify the expense of designing and producing it. Most people want the bells and whistles so that is what companies make. Fancy also brings in higher profit margins compared to the plain stuff so it's a win-win for the manufacturers.
timcasbolt
Well-known Member
would add to this that the reason most people want the bells and whistles is that they've been watching the commercials all their lives that tell them this is what they want. Americans are extremely gullible and can be convinced of anything if you just beat it into their heads long enough.
We got new kitchen appliances almost 7 years ago.we thankfully took extended warranty. In that time so far they rebuilt the dish washer completely over then replaced it covering the original purchase price. They also replaced the ice making unit in the fridge and allowed us to renew the warranty for an additional 5 years. Would never buy new appliances without it now.
rustyfarmall
Well-known Member
The REAL reason that folks want all the bells and whistles is because the dealers will not stock the plain jane models.
Richard G.
Well-known Member
That is why I will never buy new as long as I can get good old fashioned used stuff that can be fixed or I can fix.
Our washer is very old and still going strong.
My 99 Dodge Cummins 1 ton may outlast me.
3 of my 4 tractors are my age or older.
Of course I have the 104 year old Model T truck, a McCormick Deering LB engine and a 1912 Fairbanks Morse Eclipse engine and everything runs.
Richard in NW SC
Our washer is very old and still going strong.
My 99 Dodge Cummins 1 ton may outlast me.
3 of my 4 tractors are my age or older.
Of course I have the 104 year old Model T truck, a McCormick Deering LB engine and a 1912 Fairbanks Morse Eclipse engine and everything runs.
Richard in NW SC
Traditional Farmer
Well-known Member
- Location
- Virginia
Buying something simple is about impossible these days.I wanted a cell phone to make and receive calls,that's it nothing more, never could find one.Got a phone at Walmart for $12.99 that has a camera,talks to me etc which I don't want.Wife wanted a stove with all knobs no electronics,we never could find one finally settled on one with knobs for the burners but digital crap for the oven.She also hates her new washing machine for several different reasons.
I also think it's a bit that people are lazy. It's much easier to push a button to roll up and down the window in a car. It's much easier to not have to warm them up for 10 minutes before going someplace. People like to be able to set their ovens for time delay and have food ready when they get home. Back in the day you spent more time living than now. Many have to work long hours to survive, thus if they can get something to make life easier, they will.
Fawteen
Well-known Member
- Location
- Downeast Maine
When we got married in 1974, the wife had a Maytag washer that was several years old then, and lasted us another 20 years. We've been through 3 or 4 since. A few years back, we needed yet ANOTHER washing machine. I wen to the appliance place and told them we wanted the simplest washing machine they had, with the fewest cycles and preferably NO electronics.
He took us right to a Speed Queen. Said it was basically a laundromat model minus the coin switch. It had a coule bells and whistles we didn't really need, but NO computer, ordinary electro-mechanical switches for everything and it's been dead-nuts dependable.
But, I've heard even Speed Queen no longer makes one that simple.
He took us right to a Speed Queen. Said it was basically a laundromat model minus the coin switch. It had a coule bells and whistles we didn't really need, but NO computer, ordinary electro-mechanical switches for everything and it's been dead-nuts dependable.
But, I've heard even Speed Queen no longer makes one that simple.
Bob Bancroft
Well-known Member
- Location
- Aurora NY
A friend told me earlier today that there was a used track loader at a local dealer, so I went to look. He didn't tell me it was a new-used model, with only 300 hours. Case, decent size, but I don't remember the model. I was disappointed in that it didn't seem easy to get in. I think it was more difficult than my little ASV 30. But what really got my attention was all the bells and whistles. There were several buttons on each control stick. Each front corner post had lights, knobs and buttons all the way up and down. Then there was something overhead. It might have been a radio? An issue I noticed here, and came to light with my new pickup, is the tiny pictures on the buttons. I can't see like I used to !!!! I don't feel that I should have to try, nor is it safe, to be wearing my reading glasses while operating/driving!
Crazy Horse
Well-known Member
Some interesting comments but in our everyday life are incongruent with how we live. I don't think any of us are still using Commodore 64's. How about Window's 95? And I'm sure a LOT of the group here are packing a newer version of a "phone" as are your kids and grandkids. Just sayin' ....... we're all as guilty as the next guy for modernizing and moving ahead with what's new to keep up to date.
Vicinalvictor
Well-known Member
We are all connected to things, technology has just made it interactive in a different way than what we have been used to.
1948CaseVAI
Well-known Member
Progress is good. I do want my vehicle to monitor my oil. Except on my old VAI I have not personally pulled a dipstick in over 25 years and I intend to never do so again. It is just overhead to do whatever a machine will do it for you.
As to Speed Queen, you can still get the Laundromat (a Speed Queen registered trademark) model that is made so everything can be done through the front panel and it is intended for laundry owners to repair. Otherwise the economics would never work out.
Steve@Advance
Well-known Member
Several reasons.
The manufacturers make what sells and makes them the most money.
Some of it is planned obsolescence. The goal is to get it through warranty without totally destroying the reputation.
Some is government regulations.
Some is keeping up with the competition.
Circuit boards are cheaper to build (or buy from China)and install than mechanical relays, and timers. Faster and easier to install too. Today even when you find something with old school relays, timers, and switches they are so miniaturized they don't hold up.
I would say for the most part, just about everything has improved except appliances. What used to last 20-30 years now lasts 5 to 10.
Automobiles, trucks, and tractors have certainly improved, but they have intentionally complicated them beyond the typical owners ability to do much more than change oil.
Stuff That Works
The manufacturers make what sells and makes them the most money.
Some of it is planned obsolescence. The goal is to get it through warranty without totally destroying the reputation.
Some is government regulations.
Some is keeping up with the competition.
Circuit boards are cheaper to build (or buy from China)and install than mechanical relays, and timers. Faster and easier to install too. Today even when you find something with old school relays, timers, and switches they are so miniaturized they don't hold up.
I would say for the most part, just about everything has improved except appliances. What used to last 20-30 years now lasts 5 to 10.
Automobiles, trucks, and tractors have certainly improved, but they have intentionally complicated them beyond the typical owners ability to do much more than change oil.
Stuff That Works
Case in point. We're all typing responses to this on phones, laptops, or desktops. I doubt very many of us would want to go back to a landline only. You want some information, go to the library, get the encyclopedia, or talk to someone. Now just grab the phone and look it up. I understand the feeling though. My wife bought a 2020 Ford Ecosport about 4 months ago. Wasn't sure about the full extended warranty, asked me, told her if she wanted it get it. Following her home later I realized probably for the best. These cars are so complex that the shade tree mechanic can't do much.
She probably paid a years wages for it but if it does as well as our other two, about 250,000 mile each with minor repairs on either one, I'll be happy.
She probably paid a years wages for it but if it does as well as our other two, about 250,000 mile each with minor repairs on either one, I'll be happy.
MarkB_MI
Well-known Member
- Location
- Motown USA
> The REAL reason that folks want all the bells and whistles is because the dealers will not stock the plain jane models.
Are you so sure about that? Read the article at the link below. From the article "... as of the beginning of December, the WT accounted for around 40 percent of Silverado HD Crew Cab dealer inventory." Yep, it seems that when somebody is plunking down over 50K for a truck, they DO want whistles and bells.
Silverado HD Work Truck is a slow seller
Are you so sure about that? Read the article at the link below. From the article "... as of the beginning of December, the WT accounted for around 40 percent of Silverado HD Crew Cab dealer inventory." Yep, it seems that when somebody is plunking down over 50K for a truck, they DO want whistles and bells.
Silverado HD Work Truck is a slow seller
Brendon-KS
Well-known Member
- Location
- Goessel, KS
Why would dealers want to tie up their capital to stock slow-moving, low-margin base models when they could be selling fast-moving, high-margin top end models? Base models can always be
ordered if that is what a customer wants but so few people are interested in these that it would be silly for the dealer to buy them for stock inventory. They know that base models will
set on the lot longer than fancier models - if this wasn't true you'd see a lot more of them in stock - and this costs the dealership money.
ordered if that is what a customer wants but so few people are interested in these that it would be silly for the dealer to buy them for stock inventory. They know that base models will
set on the lot longer than fancier models - if this wasn't true you'd see a lot more of them in stock - and this costs the dealership money.
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