RE: Commission acts to guarantee UK Consumer rights under the Guarantees Directive

["Kenneth Watt" <kwatt@xxxxxxx>]

A common analogy I use Ian...

When I started in the trade, about 15 years or so ago, a 1000 spin
washer would cost *at least* =A3350.

Today you can pop into Comet and pick up a 1200 spin machine with far
more features for >=A3200.

How do you think they beat inflation and lower the end cost?

Bear in mind, before you answer that question that all whitegoods, in
particular, are mechanical devices and not electronic therefore the cost of the raw materials has not fallen. So better production techniques,
perhaps but can that really account for what amounts to a very rough 50% cut in price in 10-15 years? If the same appliance had kept up with
price increases on cars then it would cost ~=A31000 for a *basic* washer these days, but it would last 15-20 years in all likelihood.

Oh and paying more these days does not guarantee better
quality/reliability IME. ;)

K.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ian Lowe [mailto:ian@xxxxxxx]
> Sent: 07 January 2003 00:44
> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx > Subject: RE: [ukha_d] Commission acts to guarantee UK Consumer rights<= BR> > under the Guarantees Directive
>
> Whilst I'm not questioning the economics involved, I have to say, I find
> it
> a little on the poor side that these various manufacturers are
incapable
> of
> producing machinery which they are willing to warrant for two years. It's
> not exactly confidence inspiring. I have a Peugeot 406 which has
service
> intervals of a massive 20,000 miles. My previous car (also a 406)
lasted
> 6,000 miles between services. It's a reliability that I'm willing to pay
> extra for.
>
> My grandmother's whittering can drive me insane at the best of times,<= BR> but
> I
> have to admit: her 1960s Hoover which weighs a damn ton, is still
going
> strong, and she only last year replaced her washing machine, the
dinosaur
> in
> it's place having worked with only maintenance every now and then for<= BR> the
> last thirty years. In contrast, a quick tally of my friends and
family,
> has
> probably consigned a good ten washing machines to the landfill in the<= BR> last
> five years. We have had three dead hoovers in this house, and we have<= BR> only
> been here six years!
>
> I'm not an environmentalist by any stretch, but I can see that viewing=
> machines which involve a huge energy and materials expenditure to make=
as
> commodity items which won't even survive the next parliament is a
really
> dangerous path for a society to take...
>
> And whilst we will also begin to feel the impact of the recycling
> directive,
> I can't help but feel it's a pill we have to swallow.
>
> I.
>
>
>
>
>
> http://www.automatedhome.co= .uk
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