[kevin_thibedeau]

It isn't zero sum. They could simply add the gizmos and keep the important bits the same as their refined, reliable 20 year old designs. What they're actually doing is actively spending engineering resources to enshittify what was already perfected to boost profit.

[inferiorhuman]

For better or for worse, no, they could not have kept the working bits the same. The US EPA has progressively tightened restrictions both on what refrigerants can be used and how much electricity can be used. Instead of focusing on making that reliable, they're focusing on making it cheap so they can add gizmos.

Besides, if you've got to replace a fridge every five years now that's a win for the appliance manufacturers. Although, really, who offers anything more than a 1 year warranty anymore? That should tell you how long these things are expected to last.

[darreninthenet]

Depends where you are... EU requires a minimum two year warranty for example

[inferiorhuman]

Yeah there are no such protections stateside. Consumer companies took one look at the pandemic and saw dollar signs. With big appliances you'll get a flat one year warranty pretty much across the board even with European brands like Bosch. Big box stores tightened up their return policies as well. You've now got 48 hours (down from a month or two prior) to return big appliances. Extended warranties with any purchase used to be a mainstay of American credit cards, and that's largely gone.

[darreninthenet]

Is that 48 hours even if it's faulty? It's 30 days under law here to replace or refund (your choice) and within six months the retailer is still responsible for providing a repair or replacement (their choice).

I do wonder if that drives the higher prices we pay here though...?

[inferiorhuman]

I'm (thankfully) not intimately familiar with the details but, yes, 48 hours is all you get for a quick and easy return to the vendor. In California, where I am, there is a so-called "lemon law" for appliances and it places the burden on the manufacturer. I don't think it mandates any particular length for the warranty though it does have provisions requiring buy backs under certain conditions.

When LG bought my fridge back the original warranty had expired a day prior and things were being handled under the terms of the extended warranty my landlady bought.