Í âm só sick of crappy quality.·

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

I have had my Rival crockpot for 8 years. It is an oval one with a removable crock. The plastic handles just broke off as I moved the pot forward on the counter to check my soup. Not sure what the heck to do with it. It works perfectly fine, and I use it all the time.

[Deleted]

epoxy

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

They broke into a bunch of pieces.

[Deleted]

Lots of epoxy.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

Thanks Arch!

[Malarky]

That's exactly why I spent so much time and energy to buy a used crockpot off ebay. The newer ones are crap.
I find that's true of a lot of things. The Farberware pans in the stores that LOOK just like mine (which I've had for close to 30 years) are about 30% lighter and lack a "quality" feel.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Same with the quality of Revereware. I inherited a set from my grandmother - it's roughly 60 years old at this point. The new stuff is not near as substantial.

[NancysSummerSip]

Cheesey, I am surprised Archie even mentioned epoxy. Most guys go for the obvious - duct tape. Heck, it worked on that wedding dress, ya know.

[Deleted]

That's exactly why I spent so much time and energy to buy a used Crockpot off ebay. The newer ones are crap.

I agree with Malarky, the new EVERYTHING is (in general) crap. We have changed into a disposable society. Use something for a few years, throw it away & buy another one. Part of it is because we don't want to pay a lot more for something well made when for half the price (or less) we can get a cheaper one. Also mass producing stuff does make it a lot cheaper. To me the ultimate cheap item is a toaster. Those things used to last 20 or 30 years. Now I'm lucky if I can get one that lasts 2 years.

As for the crock pot handles, you would be shocked at how many companies will replace them or you can order them on line. Check the companies website that made it. (I'm assuming they screw on?).

[Deleted]

Planned obsolescence, Cheesy. My first Crockpot lasted 30 years. The only thing I didn't like about it was that the crock wasn't removable.

[rick]

8 Years is a pretty good run. You have to remember heat kills plastic. What I would do is see if you could find a handle that would work at a cabinet store, or have the hubby make one out of wood. It wouldnt take but about 10 minutes if he has the tools

[TD2K]

roughly 60 years old at this point

[Frugal Nurse]

use potholders to move it from now on?

[Loopdilou]

I've pretty much decided that 95% of stuff consumed in the united states is cheap crap. I was just packing up my Christmas village and it made me sad that the ones that were decent quality were produced in China.

America really does need a decent manufacturing base again - I'll even pay premium if it's made well

[TD2K]

Unfortunately, faced with a choice, too many people elect to go for the lowest price.

Not that a higher price automatically equal higher quality. Consumer Reports is full of reviews where the low cost option did as good or nearly as good as a much higher price alternative. All-Clad is an example of wonderful cookwear but you'd pay a fortune for a bunch of pieces while other brands rank very close to them.

[Befferz]

I think part of the problem too is just today's disposable society. So many people just want the newest and best things now, instead of waiting until they have to replace it. So why spend the extra money to make a toaster that will last 20 years, when so many buyers are going to throw it out within 5 years, even if it is perfectly good? Plus manufaturers can get more money out of us by making us pay $30 each time for 4 toasters that last 5 years each, instead of $60 for one that lasts 20 years. (I pulled those numbers out of thin air--I bought my toaster 3 years ago, and don't remember the price.)

[rick]

Jan 22, 2011 22:57:26 GMT -5 Befferz said:

I think part of the problem too is just today's disposable society. So many people just want the newest and best things now, instead of waiting until they have to replace it. So why spend the extra money to make a toaster that will last 20 years, when so many buyers are going to throw it out within 5 years, even if it is perfectly good? Plus manufaturers can get more money out of us by making us pay $30 each time for 4 toasters that last 5 years each, instead of $60 for one that lasts 20 years. (I pulled those numbers out of thin air--I bought my toaster 3 years ago, and don't remember the price.)

You are right, I dont suppose you remember when the microwave first came out, they were hugh outside wise, but inside they were about the same, and they cost over 700 bucks and they didnt last any longer

[shoegirl]

Preach ya'll!

However, I've had the same 2-slot toaster since sophomore year in college (about 10 years). I paid $10 for the cheapest one at walmart, and darn if it isn't still working! Now I want a 4-slice toaster but i'm waiting until this one goes out. However, I've been wanting and waiting for about three years! It's just finally starting to show signs that it's near the end.

Also, you're right about opting for the cheapest option. I went to buy a coffee grinder the other day, and I couldn't believe the range of prices. I mean, it's a one function appliance, I don't need added features or multiple buttons, so I bought the cheapest, because it was also the simplest.

So not only do we live in a country where everything is disposable and we have planned obsolescence, but we have 20 options for EVERYTHING which makes it that much harder to decide!

[Deleted]

Jan 22, 2011 22:57:26 GMT -5 Befferz said:

I think part of the problem too is just today's disposable society. So many people just want the newest and best things now, instead of waiting until they have to replace it. So why spend the extra money to make a toaster that will last 20 years, when so many buyers are going to throw it out within 5 years, even if it is perfectly good? Plus manufaturers can get more money out of us by making us pay $30 each time for 4 toasters that last 5 years each, instead of $60 for one that lasts 20 years. (I pulled those numbers out of thin air--I bought my toaster 3 years ago, and don't remember the price.)

And it's more than that, I think. People today don't even try to repair or maintain - like you (& pp stated) we've become a disposable society only wanting the newest & coolest. Where are the small appliance repair stores today? I'm sure being run out of business by big chain stores!

[shoegirl]

Where are the small appliance repair stores today? I'm sure being run out of business by big chain stores!

My grandfather and uncle ran an appliance and repair store in small town Iowa. Everybody would buy their kitchen appliances from them, but once Lowes and other stores started moving into the city 30 miles away, people started buying from the big-box stores because they were cheaper...but when their appliances broke, who did they have to call to fix them? My grandpa. And sure, he could charge more because it wasn't his brand and didn't have to honor any of the warranties, but if they had bought quality from him, they would have had free (and fewer!) repairs for a long time.

But I've moved pretty far away and live in a bigger city. I own my own home, and while I haven't had an appliance die on me yet, I know the time is coming where something will break down and I will have no idea who to call because there's no neighborhood appliance and repair store and someone at a big box store would just tell me to buy new.

[Deleted]

Jan 23, 2011 9:07:25 GMT -5 @shoegirl said:

I know the time is coming where something will break down and I will have no idea who to call because there's no neighborhood appliance and repair store and someone at a big box store would just tell me to buy new.

And if you do go with a manufacturer's recommended repair man, they charge an arm and a leg! We had to get work done on our freezer this summer (thank goodness it was under warranty) otherwise just getting the guy to come out would have been around $250 - that's not including any repairs and parts that would have been needed!

[Deleted]

I've also recently moved and am looking for an all-around handy man. Someone you can call for everything from the fridge making a wonky sound to doing some repairs around the house... I'm sure in today's economy there have got to be good general contractors that are in need of work, but it's just a matter of finding someone with ethics and the know-how. I'd much rather go to a one-man-show than a large company who specializes and don't train their people for crap.

This summer we had our heat/ac units cleaned and maintained. The next day I heard a really loud banging sound and had to get them to send someone else out... Well the original guy, didn't hook everything back up correctly when he was finished, and the man who had to fix the original guy's mistakes said that this wasn't the first time he'd had to go clean up after the guy. It just makes me feel real comfortable knowing that if I hadn't realized something was wrong and shut off the unit, that guy would have caused our unit to burn out and WE would have had to replace it.

[rick]

The biggest problem today with electronis stuff is everything has gone to intergrated electonics, wish is cheaper and smaller. But when sonethin fails on the board the whole board has to be replaced. Repair people now days have to be so more highly trained that in the past, which increases the cost to have them come out. That and trying to get the parts have made a lot of things disposable. Look at a run of the mill DVD player now days. Less than 30 bucks to buy new. A repair shop charges a min. of an hour labor to even look at it to tell you whats wrong. Now who is going to spend that when they can go buy a new on for half the money


Cars are even becoming the same way.

[Deleted]

My 1st crock pot lasted 11 years. I have gone through 3 other ones since then. The newer ones are crap.

My dishwasher is 8 years old and just died. It is cheaper to replace it than it is to buy the parts needed to fix it.
My toaster is going on year 5 and still going strong thank goodness!

But yeah, things just don't seem to last as long as they used to. I wouldn't mind paying to fix something if it wasn't so damn expensive. It is usually just cheaper to replace the item.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

I had a programmable coffee-maker that lasted close to 12 years before it had to be replaced. The new one lasted less than 6 months before the water heating coil burned out.

As for the broken crockpot handles, you might try looking in a hardware store for some small heat-resistant acrylic or wooden handles that can be attached.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

Thanks for stories and input everyone. Unfortunately the handles on this can't be replaced. They were attached with some sort of pin that is attached somewhere between the inner and outer metal part of the crock base. Replacing handles just isn't an option. For now, I am storing on the counter top rather than in the cupboard so I don't have to haul it out by the handles, and I will see how much longer the whole thing lasts.

Should the electronic base ever fail, has anyone used the crock liner and cover for oven use?

[shoegirl]

Cheesy - you may be able to use the crock liner in the oven, but the cover may not be oven safe...unless it's marked or you still have the instruction booklet, it'll be hard to tell.

Also - Happy Game Day! :-D

[Deleted]

My mother kept hers, I'm not sure if she has used it in the oven, or just as a serving piece... But I would think it could be used in the oven.

[Malarky]

Cheesy,
I figured out that I can use the smaller crock that I got of ebay in the microwave to cook rice. I always had a problem with it spilling over the sides in the casserole dish. The high sides and glass lid are ideal.
It would also work to reheat soups and stews.

I don't know whether or not it's significant that I have a convection microwave and can put metal in it.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

Jan 23, 2011 11:01:06 GMT -5 @shoegirl said:

Cheesy - you may be able to use the crock liner in the oven, but the cover may not be oven safe...unless it's marked or you still have the instruction booklet, it'll be hard to tell.

Also - Happy Game Day! :-D

Thanks SG & Rose!

The cover is glass, so I should be able to make use of it in the oven. The crock is stoneware, which I have never used for oven cooking, any idea how that works out compared to glass casserole dishes?