The other day I needed to print something in color. My old color printer had gone to printer heaven (prematurely, I found out later), and so I hooked up a new one to the computer. Oh, but first I needed to download a printer driver .... and that's where the fun began. Or rather, the fun ended.
I loaded it, it wouldn't take. I uninstalled it and started over. Okay, this time it loaded, but now the ink wouldn't work. I went to the store and bought a new ink cartridge. The color worked, but now the B&W wouldn't work.
I gave up. I emailed my file to Mr. L and he printed it on his computer. Time lost? Three hours.
I haven't given up on making that printer work, but I sure have lost patience. I love my laser printer. It's eight years old and I've been babying it along because it works so well. While looking at color printers, I looked at the latest version of my laser printer and it looks cheesy in comparison. I know when I have to replace it that the new one won't work half as well.
Planned obsolescence. What an obscene term.
My toaster is 56 years old. we had to replace the plug a couple of weeks ago, but it now has a new lease on life.
I like products that not only work well, but KEEP working.
What disappointing product are you dealing with this week?
I bought a second hand gas dryer in 1986. It was bought second hand by my girl friend, who was moving..so I took it for 100 bucks. I had to pay for the gas to be connected outdoors, but now here it is 2013, and the darn thing is still running great!!!
If that is your toaster pictured it's back in style! LOL!
I feel your pain. I'm constantly replacing appliances. Last month is was the coffee pot, month before garage door opener, then the dishwasher. It's seems like every month, it's another appliance. It seems my running average is about 3 years of use and it breaks. I'm so tired of it. I had a washer and dryer set that I bought in 1979 and they were still running great when I bought the new set in 2000 because I wanted newer appliance. I even bought Maytags only to have them die 7 years later.
Stainless steel electric frying pans. Why does everything (or so it seems) need to be coated with something?
"What disappointing product are you dealing with this week?"
This is the era of throw-away electronics. Sad but true!
It's a Sunbeam. We had the same one when I was growing up. I am now the owner of 4 of them ... not that I think I will need another one any time soon ... but you never know!
I got rid of all my teflon pans and bought a ton of Revere and Farberware pans at yard sales. Believe it or not, they clean up with very little effort--much easier than the teflon, which (if scraped off) is carcinogenic. Yup. I'll stick with Revere.
Bev, I absolutely loathe my energy efficient washing machine. It has no filter. The clothes come out with just as much cat hair as they went in with. I've taken to vacuuming some stuff before I put it in the washer. And why do I have powder marks on my darks when I use a liquid detergent???
Oh boy can I identify with that. I hung onto my day job for years by the skin of my teeth. I had no idea how liberating it would be NOT to have to go to that hellhole every day. And now I have a new career I love (writing). Wish I'd taken the buy out now.
I am so happy I don't have to deal with new appliances and gadgets anymore. I have acquired a boyfriend after living alone for 17 years, and he just loves anything with an electrical cord or a battery. Install my new phone? Look at my new camera? Deal with the printer? It is just a hobby for him, and I have much less stress and aggravation for it. Of course I grumble when he buys new things? Why? The old one works fine! But well, that is a guy, always wanting the new things on the market. And after a fashion, I enjoy it as well.
Mr. L took a turn at trying to get the dumb thing to work. He also gave up. I'm not beaten yet ... but now it wants different ink!