Does anybody else find electronics to be really cheaply made these days? I've had a flat

[applegrove]

screen tv for less than a year and it has sound has gone fuzzy or the digital picture goes wonky every so often for the last 6 months. Cheap cheap cheap cheap cheap.

[dimbear]

1. Absolutely. Life expectancy of anything with moving parts is like

a year now. Doesn't make much difference because by then it's time to move to the new format.

[applegrove]

8. I should have bought the instore insurance. I got a good price on the tv and should have known.

[kentauros]

2. I guess it depends on what brands you buy.

My Sharp flatscreen TV has been fine for the 4 years I've had it so far, and my media-player, S9 by Cowon, is still going strong.

My computer monitor is a Samsung, 24" and it's been great at least as long as my TV. Maybe read Consumer Reports to find the better brands :)

[riderinthestorm]

3. Not even electronics. I had a manual can opener for 25+ yrs. It finally broke and I replaced it

seven times in the past 2 years!!!

It makes me furious - I've bought "the best" can openers and the cheapest. All of them have either outright broke, or they stop "cutting" the metal top of the can.

I'm really open to suggestions for replacements.... I've gone through every brand offered at Williams Sonoma, Target and my local grocery store.....

[Cannikin]

4. I gave up and went back to my grandmothers all metal manual wrist killer.

No telling how old it is. It was still in the house when I moved in.

[freshwest]

5. I can't handle that. I bought a good one at Fred Meyer's that separates the lid with no rough edges.

It's pain free and safer, makes the recycling a breeze. It was well under $10. and ergomomically designed. It doesn't require the strength to cut through the metal, it only separates the seam. I don't know why they weren't always made that way.

As far as prices going down, I'm noticing a lot more closer to home food products without preservatives and stuff and the prices are the lowest I've seen in years. Fresh produce still running high, but other things are going down. Although I changed my diet a lot anyway.

[applegrove]

9. I had that problem with can openers too. Then I went to our local hardware store, owned by

a family and in business for 50 years and they had them: the old fashioned can openers that lasted. Since I bought that we've had no problem with it.

[Frank Cannon]

10. I gave up and went back to using a Swiss Army knife for that.

Finally gave up on replacing can openers. The electric AND the manual ones are practically worthless anymore. Went back to the old reliable, and I haven't looked back.

[Chan790]

15. I'm going to ask a dumb question.

How does one open a can with one of those? I thought I figured it out but then the hook part slipped off the seam and all I managed to do was slice my finger open with the sharp part; I never even dented the lid of the can.

[Frank Cannon]

18. That's not a dumb question at all. It's not exactly intuitive.

It depends on what kind of SAK you have. Victorinox (shield with a cross, looks like the one in my other post) moves forward in relation to the can lip and Wenger (rounded square with a cross, opener looks more like a hook) goes backwards.

Here's a great video that shows the technique pretty well for both:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTGFPLq_plo

[u4ic]

6. Planned obsolescence

[Incitatus]

7. I bought a Panasonic 42" plasma 5 or 6 years ago and it still

works as good as the day I bought it.

What brand did you buy?

It always pay so do research and get word of mouth recommendations before making a purchase like that.

[JCMach1]

11. I remember as a kid having an iron that lasted for about 20yrs.

These days, I can't find an iron that will last longer than a year.

At my Florida home, I still have a toaster oven from the 1970's. It works well and the chrome looks great!

Don't even get me started on appliances made for the European and Asian markets...

America still has some quality left.

[applegrove]

12. I had a couch from my grandmother that was 70 years old at least. I threw it out during a move but

it was still in perfect springing order. I could have recovered it and used it for another 70. Couches today are only built to last 7 years.

[riderinthestorm]

13. My iron is 30+ years old and still works (but I've only used it a few times in those 30 yrs)

Who irons anymore??

I take everything that needs ironing to the dry cleaner. Since that happens maybe half a dozen times/year, I can't imagine an iron is tops on anyone's list of necessary implements?? :shrug: (I admit to ignorance on this)

[JCMach1]

17. Dry cleaners are woeful here in the UAE. DIY is the only way to go if you want

your clothes to survive. Also, if you self-iron you can get it right!

[Orrex]

14. I hate that I can't find a hardware store with a tube tester

How am I supposed to repair my RCA Victor?

[applegrove]

16. LOL. There was a time when I would open up my vcr or my keyboard and try to fix

them myself but digital technology has far surpassed me. It is not about mechanics anymore.

[dimbear]

19. First hint: the tubes that don't warm up are burned out.

Second hint: it's not likely to be a tube. Think capacitors.