Is All Modern Kit Such Garbage?

[Dougal]

Is All Modern Kit Garbage?

This is a rant so feel free to pass and move on

OK so I'm generalising a little, but I'm just SO p1ssed off right now. Absolutely sick of so much modern kit of ALL descriptions failing, either straight out of the box, or very soon after.* I've purchsed so many items in the last 5 or 10 years or so, that have failed catastrophically, and most almost immediately! What little money I have is, like most of us these days, extremely hard earned, so i really, really resent being ripped off by greedy, money grabbing companies!!!

Latest item was just this evening, while attempting to use a brand new (unussed) heavy duty cable crimper for battery cable lugs. The ratchet mechanism shattered and 'exploded' about 1/2 way through its 1st EVER compression! The air was extremely blue around our boat.

Four electronic marine items (all big name brands), including no less than TWO 12-220v inverters, to fail over a five year period, and ALL not long beyond their warranty dates. How convenient.

A brand new, €740 inflatable had the transom delaminate (thankfully, just within its pathetically short warranty that time). Since then though, the useless metal sprung pins that lock the oars together have both disintegrated, leaving horribly sharp metal pins sticking out (blood has been drawn numerous times). As for the foot pump it came with; that was about as much use as a bl00dy chocolate teapot; the enormous, (and supposedly stainless steel) band that held it together, corroded and failed within a single season! The man said, and I quote, "has it been in sea water?" Err.... Pump was eventually replaced after months of despute, but hardly the point. It was simply not fit for purpose!

Brand new, and even more expensive outboard motor, purchased go with said inflatable: Failed on 3rd outing. Attempted to use supplied toolkit, only to find the spanners are made from same same bl00dy chocolate as said teapot! Took FOUR months for chandler to sort motor, and he was then miffed because I apparently didn't express enough gratitude. That was a season of rowing dog ashore!

VERY expensive cordless power tool: LED alignment lamp didn't work straight out of the box. Store replaced, but unit then made awful burning smell and died 16 months later. That's 3 months out of warranty! Stiil, it makes a nice paper weight!

Numerous 'stainless steel' items and fasteners from well known marine chandlers and manufacturers, that go rusty and stain the boat when used anywhere near sea water! Really?! What's THAT about for ..... sake?!

Electronic digital vernier gauge (branded): Failed within 4 months of purchase. Warranty refused as i couldn't find store recept! (ongoing credit card dispute).

If I thought long and hard, I could probably add plenty more to this list, both large and small, expensive and cheap. This seems especially true of marine products, allegedly built for the enviornmrnt. Right now though, I'm just too ****** tired and angry to think that hard.

Being a retired engineer, I actually find its the poor quality tools that really make me angry. As an engineer, I learnt a very long time ago, that buying cheap hand OR electric tools,*is asking for trouble.* However, when buying branded items, am I really so wrong to expect it to be at least 'fit for purpose'? It seems however, that even branded tools are no longer trust worthy

OK, so rant over (for now lol). Im just so bloody angry and wanted to vent to the few here that i believe will probably understand my frustration.

 

[vas]

I can understand although I've not been THAT unlucky...
BTW, don't go near any Einhel power tools. Bought 3 or 4 (cheap from local Praktiker).
Luckily all (but one!) failed before the warranty expired, got my money back and bought makita and Skill instead

V.

 

[Dougal]

Did something happen about 10 years ago? Every power tool and cordless tool I bought 10 or more years ago, apart from needing new batteries lol, are still working flawlessly?

 

[Iain C]

The one that really gets my goat is lifebouy lights. Always, always, always fill up with water. All they need is a sodding collar so the water doesn't run into the threads!!

 

[Richard10002]

You don’t mention any actual brands, so I’m wondering whether you’ve bought cheap, or cheap’ish?

I have a hydraulic crimper which I bought for less than forty quid. If it had failed after first use, I wouldn’t have been surprised. If I’d paid two hundred quid I’d have been upset. As it happens, it’s still going after 7 years.

Similarly inverters and chargers.. if we buy cheap Chinese ones, as against Victron, Mastervolt, or even Sterling... and so on.

 

[Keith-i]

Sadly it looks like very few companies pride themselves on quality of product these days. It all seems to be down to value with resultant lack of durability.

 

[Sea-Fever]

I was at a meeting with a supplier of some hardware to my business today. The engineer was a bit miffed as he said work had dried up a bit. He speculated that no-one was buying their latest gear as the previous revision was too reliable. I think that comment alone is quite instructive.

 

[MonniotC]

Sadly it looks like very few companies pride themselves on quality of product these days. It all seems to be down to value with resultant lack of durability.

I think you mean price, not value!

 

[Yngmar]

Buy more cheap Chinese! Cheap hydraulic crimper, still working (okay, I also have a very expensive Klauke one for smaller connectors, which is very good). Super cheap 2kW inverter, still working. The famous Matsutec AIS also working fine. Cheap (and excellent) Lidl/Powerfix tools are also all still working, including the 12V engine oil pump, while the SeaGo manual pump I bought in 2015 went in the bin last year as it stopped pumping. Dry bags for a few quid from eBay stay just as dry inside as the ones Musto wants to sell for twenty times the money. GL.iNet mini router that does our NMEA to Ethernet/Wifi working flawlessly too. The little yellow digital multimeter that I bought for 20 DM back when that was still a currency is still working too, and that was one of the first things to come out of China that everyone ridiculed as total garbage just because it was cheap. But I guess that doesn't really count as modern kit

On the other hand, the fancy brand name Dremel 3000 died three times already. Once warranty replaced, the last two I fixed it myself - motor windings broken at some flimsy internal clamp. Incredibly bad design. Wish I'd bought a Lidl one instead.

Two bits of our Raymarine kit also died, although to be fair those had just turned 18 years old, which is just about a reasonable lifespan for such things if you ask me.

 

[Dougal]

Hi Richard
The main reason I didn't state the brands, is 'cos I was (and still am lol) in bed when I wrote it, and didn't remember some of them lol. But no, DEFINITELY not cheap! None of what i listed from eBay or the like. Do you know any cheap yacht chandlers? Lol if so please let me know
Both Inverters, as my other thread suggests; Sterling.
Inflatable: Zodiac/Bombard (or what was)
Outboard: Suzuki
Vernier gauge: Draper
Mulitool: Bosch
Many, many Plastimo products. Crap yes, but cheap no
Need I go on

 

[Dougal]

Buy more cheap Chinese! Cheap hydraulic crimper, still working (okay, I also have a very expensive Klauke one for smaller connectors, which is very good). Super cheap 2kW inverter, still working. The famous Matsutec AIS also working fine. Cheap (and excellent) Lidl/Powerfix tools are also all still working, including the 12V engine oil pump, while the SeaGo manual pump I bought in 2015 went in the bin last year as it stopped pumping. Dry bags for a few quid from eBay stay just as dry inside as the ones Musto wants to sell for twenty times the money. GL.iNet mini router that does our NMEA to Ethernet/Wifi working flawlessly too. The little yellow digital multimeter that I bought for 20 DM back when that was still a currency is still working too, and that was one of the first things to come out of China that everyone ridiculed as total garbage just because it was cheap. But I guess that doesn't really count as modern kit

On the other hand, the fancy brand name Dremel 3000 died three times already. Once warranty replaced, the last two I fixed it myself - motor windings broken at some flimsy internal clamp. Incredibly bad design. Wish I'd bought a Lidl one instead.

Two bits of our Raymarine kit also died, although to be fair those had just turned 18 years old, which is just about a reasonable lifespan for such things if you ask me.

Sorry to hear all that, but it also nice to know it's not just me
I sometimes wonder if it's not our own faults for putting up with junk, but in marine market at least, the manufacturers have something of a captive market.

 

[macd]

Electronic digital vernier gauge (branded): Failed within 4 months of purchase. Warranty refused as i couldn't find store recept! (ongoing credit card dispute).

Dougal:
1. your claim is against the retailer, not Draper. Warranty is irrelevant unless it actually enhances your rights.
2. The store absolutely cannot insist on your providing a receipt, although many try to. The law merely requires evidence of purchase. A credit card statement or similar will suffice.
3. A fault developing in the first six months is legally presumed to have been present at the time of purchase. (Doesn't apply to, say, cod fillets, but does for your gauge.)

Relevant UK law is Consumer Rights Act 2015. See here: https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/consumer-rights-act

If all that fails, credit card rights may help. If you're told something like "the card issuer's policy is only to accept claims up to one month after purchase" tell them to get stuffed. Policy is trumped by law.

I share your pain but, like others above, can only commend cheap hydraulic crimpers.

 

[jamie N]

I lifted this from the Guardian. I was once in a dispute with an outlet concerning a defective item, as soon as I asked if the equipment would normally be expected to last only a year, (perhaps 2), they relented, without admitting any liability of course, and repaired the item; a fridge I believe.

Shoppers are being sold short when expensive electrical goods break down. If a TV or fridge packs up just one day after an initial one-year guarantee, customers are told they have to pay for the repair - but the truth is that retailers may be liable for up to six years.

Consumer experts say retailers are exploiting ambiguous legislation to wriggle out of their responsibilities. Ministers, however, claim the law is quite clear. The Sale of Goods Act offers protection against faulty goods even when the manufacturer's guarantee has run out. The act says goods must last a reasonable time - and that can be anything up to six years from the date of purchase.

Which? - formerly the Consumers Association - says consumers should argue strongly with retailers when a product breaks down within six years. The Sale of Goods Act doesn't define how long specific products should last, because different products have different life spans. But a survey by Which? of manufacturers into how long they believe different types of appliance should last made interesting reading. All of them said their goods should last five years or more.

 

[Bobc]

It's all made in China these days, and the Chinese QA is somewhat lacking. They also do things like cheat when it comes to materials. The customer will specify 316 stainless, but the Chinese will use A2 but not tell their customer.

Unfortunately it's where the world has got to. It's all about reducing cost and increasing margins, and screw the brand reputation and the customer. Even if you buy the "quality brands", the likelyhood is that it's made in the same factory as the cheap junk, but just has a brand sticker put on it.

Always remember that the warranty is irrelevent. The sale of goods act states that an item should be fit for purpose, which includes longevity. If you would reasonably expect something to last 10 years and it only lasts 2, you are within your rights to get it repaired or exchanged FOC. Oh yes, and your contract is with the seller, not the manufacturer.

 

[Kukri]

Dougal:
1. your claim is against the retailer, not Draper. Warranty is irrelevant unless it actually enhances your rights.
2. The store absolutely cannot insist on your providing a receipt, although many try to. The law merely requires evidence of purchase. A credit card statement or similar will suffice.
3. A fault developing in the first six months is legally presumed to have been present at the time of purchase. (Doesn't apply to, say, cod fillets, but does for your gauge.)

Relevant UK law is Consumer Rights Act 2015. See here: https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/consumer-rights-act

If all that fails, credit card rights may help. If you're told something like "the card issuer's policy is only to accept claims up to one month after purchase" tell them to get stuffed. Policy is trumped by law.

I share your pain but, like others above, can only commend cheap hydraulic crimpers.

Slightly off topic, but in the East Coast area I’d recommend Elmers Hardware in Ipswich . They sold me my Draper vernier and it is still working but when I bought a power tool from them and it failed in days they gave me a credit note without a second thought and without the receipt - “We have our reputation to think of!”

More than once they have recommended a cheaper alternative, often with the words, “This is the one that we use.” So I think a good tool shop is worth while.

I generally agree with the rant. I’m still using an Avon Redstart and a Seagull Forty...

 

[GHA]

It's all made in China these days, and the Chinese QA is somewhat lacking. They also do things like cheat when it comes to materials. The customer will specify 316 stainless, but the Chinese will use A2 but not tell their customer.
.

Which is simply not true across the hoard, China is capable of and does produce extremely high quality goods, at a price. Cheap rubbish is cheap rubbish whatever country is was made in. Luckily these days there is a lot of cheap decent kit available, just needs some research.

 

[Aeolus]

Which is simply not true across the hoard, China is capable of and does produce extremely high quality goods, at a price. Cheap rubbish is cheap rubbish whatever country is was made in. Luckily these days there is a lot of cheap decent kit available, just needs some research.

Absolutely agree with this. It is also the case that even if off-shore manufacturers use substandard materials or parts, the global / european / uk brands that sell these products should be carrying out their own QA and forcing their suppliers to up their game. "Blame the Chinese' is a pointless and invalid argument.

 

[Bobc]

I'm not blaming the Chinese, I'm blaming the greed of the corporates (run by accountants) that use them and squeeze the prices in order to maximise short term profits at the expense of reputation. They know the products are sub-standard which is why they are tight on their warranties and why their customer service is shite.

 

[KellysEye]

I am really surprised at all that, marine kit is made for weekend and holiday sailors except the electrical kit, because of that everything will fail more than once when long distance sailing. I kept two spares for everything, exploded parts diagrams and a range of tools.

 

[[70521]]

There has always been the quality triangle, Quality, speed and cost. As a consumer you can have two out of the three variables over the last thirty years the majority of consumers have gone for speed and cost, this is sadly the norm.