Microwave ovens?

Raymond Richard

Raymond Richard

Joined
Jun 17, 2001
Messages
5,705
Are they all pieces of crap? We've had the worst luck with the darn things. It seems to me the longest we have ever had one has been a couple of years at the most. The most recent ones have maybe lasted just over a year and they stop working and now the last one we got we haven't had much more than 6 months. This last one is a Magic Chef. I'd like to hear if there's a certain brand that has maybe a 3 year life span or better, please let me know.
 
My microwave just crapped out too today. (GE)Almost 2 years of service. From what I've seen in stores, they're all pieces of crap! Didn't see any with mechanical controls either. Don't trust those touch pad things anymore.
 
Ray, buy the cheapest 'wave you can find that meets your needs and then buy the extended 3 year warranty..... nothing ever seems to break while it's still under warranty... :D

We had an Amana Radarange for 22 years and had only a relay replaced in all that time. A Sears Kenmore was still working fine after 3 years when we re-did our kitchen last year and installed an over-the-range venting GE Profile microwave with a slew of buttons I never use. I bought the warranty.....
 
Ray, were you heat-treating shear steel in your microwave again!?!?!?:eek:


:p :D

I agree. I learned a term in college (mechanical engineering) that makes me very irritated. "Engineered obsolescence"

This is something companies are using more and more. You design and build a product INTENTIONALLY creating it with limitations and "life span."

They build those suckers cheap, and make them so that they'll die and you go buy a new one, which will die after awhile and so on.

It's really sad, because they used to build things to work, and work hard.

Even in the "not so long ago" days.

My folks had an old dial microwave that lasted for about 12 or 13 years, and it was still working when they replaced it. They did like our friend Fitz, and replaced it during a kitchen remodel.

If you can punch a few bearded, fat ladies off at Wal-Mart for the Day After Thanksgiving Day Sale, you can pick up a pretty high wattage microwave for about $20-$30!

Then go back in a year or two and get another :rolleyes: :p
 
I don't remember the brand, but our first microwave lasted for 7 or 8 years, maybe longer. Don't remember exactly when we got it.
The only catch was you could only enter times using 1,2,5,and 9. None of the other buttons worked anymore :D Part of the door handle broke off too.
Actually, I think we gave it to someone else, when my folks remodeled the kitchen, and the dang thing is stull running:eek:
The new one is a GE thats mounted above the stove. Its got a lot of fancy stuff on it, but I can't say I see it lasting TOO long. Its a great big thing, and just doesn't seem like its made that solid. Door hinges have a little sag to them, and the latch is just spring loaded with no release or anything, so it sort of pops open, and gets jammed shut.
 
NickWheeler said:
If you can punch a few bearded, fat ladies off at Wal-Mart for the Day After Thanksgiving Day Sale, you can pick up a pretty high wattage microwave for about $20-$30!

Then go back in a year or two and get another :rolleyes: :p
Click to expand...

Be careful who you insult, my Mom is a bearded fat ladie!!!
 
Mr. Kanter,
Better take care, you just might be "grounded" for that Comment.:D


Re Microwaves, as long as it doesn't affect the safety, good ole duct tape will hold loose parts together pretty well.....

That planned or engineered obsolescence is kinda a skunky thing isn't it?
But no surprise either, unfortunately.
 
We're getting about 5-6 years out of our microwaves. First one we bought was the Sharp Carousel model, and we've been getting those ever since. Good appliance imho. We use it several times a day too. :thumbup:
 
Ray, when I worked at the comdo project we installed whirlpool under cabinet microwaves. The ones that hang over the range. In 7 yrs. we only had to replaced 1 or 2, and that was probably out of 175 microwave. They were a little more expensive then some, but well worth the extra. I installed one in our house in 95' and it crapped out in 2003, but it was used a bunch. Replaced it with one similar and its does great.
It can be really confusing trying to figure out which ever appliance to purchase from so many, but I think if you'll stay with the well known names and buy the higher priced ones you get one that will last.

Good luck

Bill
 
We've had our microwave over 6 years and it's still as good as when it was new. We bought it from walmart and the brand is Emerson.
 
:D this came at a good time:(
the wife told me ours dumped Tuesday, we've had it forever it's the first and only one we've owned, a sears of all, probably a Kenmore, for years and years I'll dare say 15 years anyway..I'll have to look..

I just looked at it tonight, the fuse was ok because the touch pad was lit and the inside light worked,,the display said "prob"
and it would not react to poking the pad:grumpy: so I un-plugged it, waited 10 sec's and
plugged her back in and presto, told the woman it's fixed, I'm a hero and back on the go.:D

I have a sears water heater that is 27+ years old and still working..I've replaced both the elements once I think.. and one T/stat,,
 
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