How long should your household appliances really last before they cause trouble?

SHELLING out thousands of dollars on household items including fridges and washing machines is expected but how long should they last before they cause dramas?

BUYING big-ticket household items including fridges, washing machines and LCD TVs often leaves a sting in the pocket.

But with it comes the expectation these goods will last a serious amount of time — in many cases more than 10 years.

Sadly though often this doesn’t end up being the case.

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A family member of mine purchased a high-end oven a decade ago after renovating their kitchen expecting it would give them a good 20 years of producing stellar meals.

It came with a five-year warranty and through these first five years it gave them no issues.

It worked a treat.

But then it got to about the seven year mark and the problems started to unravel.

A busted oven a couple of weeks before one Christmas caused huge issues. I phoned up the oven company and within a week it was fixed free of charge despite being a couple of years out of warranty.

I explained to them it shouldn’t have these problems so early on.

Then a few years later and the same oven now has three busted jets and a dysfunctional switch. Enough was enough.

A local electrician came and had a look and said each busted jet would cost about $500 to repair.

Consumers should be aware that appliances they buy should last a “reasonable” amount of time.

What a joke.

For a $4000 top-of-the-range oven in my view this isn’t good enough.

So I phoned them up on my family’s behalf and told them to have all these issues within less than a decade is not “reasonable.”

For a cheap and nasty oven, yes, you would expect all these dramas, but not for an expensive appliance.

After wangling with a representative from the oven company over the phone she agreed to send out a technician free of charge.

And now I find out the company is paying for the parts and covering all costs to repair the broken jets.

A massive win just by asking for help and explaining the oven should have lasted longer than 10 years without causing grief.

Sometimes it pays to ask for assistance if you think the item has failed to last a “reasonable” amount of time.

But don’t be fooled, “reasonable” if a very grey area.

Often retailers will try and tempt you instore with extended warranties and the sleazy sales assistant will inform you coughing up more cash will give you “peace of mind.”

But I believe this is just a load of bulldust. Don’t waste your time or money.

Under Australian Consumer Law customers are provided with consumer guarantees that the products will do what you expect them to do.

I would expect a top-end oven would last more than 10 years without causing endless problems.
Choice recently put out guidelines on product life expectancy based on consumer an manufacturer feedback.

For ovens it found an entry level one should last 10 years, mid-range 15 years and high-end 20 years.

While for washing machines an entry level one should last five years, mid-range eight years and high-end 11 years.

LCD TVs at budget level should last five years, mid-range eight years and high-end 11 years.

Happy shopping!

@sophieelsworth

Originally published as How long should your household appliances really last before they cause trouble?