Microwave Oven Longevity

**Louis VI the Fat** · 11-01-2009, 18:56

All those remarkably cheap Chinese electronics stuff I've bought in recent years all fell apart within months.

Things are not build to last anymore. I just had a conversation about this with my mother. Not too long ago, people would have their vacuum cleaners, their televisions, even VCR's repaired when they broke down. Nowadays, fifty euros will simpy buy you a new one. They have become disposable goods. Nothing in a house is meant to last for more than three years anymore.

I have this guitar amplifier, a Marshall with tubes. It's from the 1970's. Huge too, as big as a car. The thing never breaks down. I've got a clock that's over a century old. Furniture that's even older. Pre-war kitchen utensils. All working perfectly.
And then all this new

that breaks down within months.

**miotas** · 11-01-2009, 19:11

If you're buying a new microwave nowadays then however long the waranty lasts is about how long it's going keep working. My parents got a microwave as one of their wedding presents 20 years ago and it lasted until 4 years ago. They then got a new microwave and 1 year ago, within a month of the waranty expiring, it broke down.

**Togakure** · 11-01-2009, 19:30

"Built to last" isn't in the best interest of goods manufacturers, unfortunately. The shift over the last couple of decades suggests to me that product quality and customer satisfaction have become even less important when profit is considered. What disturbs me is what this suggests about overall values.

**Lemur** · 11-01-2009, 21:01

I must be a freak; he first microwave I bought (four years ago) is still going strong. And Mrs. Lemur is a pro chef, so the thing gets a proper workout. Go figure.

Now, having typed that, the 'wave will probably explode tonight.

**Hosakawa Tito** · 11-01-2009, 21:32

I have a Samsung Classic Collection model MW5500. You can bet they don't make this puppy anymore considering I bought it about 1980 and it still works. It's a monster, about 24" W x 14" D x 14" H, and probably weighs 25 lbs., no carousel just a basic microwave.

Good luck finding one that will last.

**pevergreen** · 11-01-2009, 23:14

Originally Posted by Lemur

And Mrs. Lemur is a pro chef, so the thing gets a proper workout. Go figure.

And actually good!

We got ours....8 years ago? Still works fine.

**SwordsMaster** · 11-02-2009, 03:38

Have owned a Moulinex for almost 6 years now, one of my most prized possessions all throughout college. You can imagine feeding a college student whose meals are about 80% microwaved, and 20% beer-based...

**naut** · 11-02-2009, 04:04

We have this monster of a thing, a Concorde microwave or so it's called. It's coming up to its 30th birthday and it still does the job admirably.

You may just be best off finding the cheapest there is and getting a year or so out of it and replacing it when the time comes.

**gaelic cowboy** · 04-20-2011, 14:33

Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat

All those remarkably cheap Chinese electronics stuff I've bought in recent years all fell apart within months.

Things are not build to last anymore. I just had a conversation about this with my mother. Not too long ago, people would have their vacuum cleaners, their televisions, even VCR's repaired when they broke down. Nowadays, fifty euros will simpy buy you a new one. They have become disposable goods. Nothing in a house is meant to last for more than three years anymore.

I have this guitar amplifier, a Marshall with tubes. It's from the 1970's. Huge too, as big as a car. The thing never breaks down. I've got a clock that's over a century old. Furniture that's even older. Pre-war kitchen utensils. All working perfectly.
And then all this new

that breaks down within months.

Watch this and weep Louis

we seem to manage to get 4/5 yrs out of our Microwave maybe bit more