Colin McEnroe Show: In Defense Of Fixing Stuff
Society says you should throw things away, but what happened to fixers?
This show is happening partly because my TV set broke. It was a big flat screen Samsung purchased in 2008, and it suddenly wouldn't turn on.
I asked about TV repair on Facebook and was surprised at how many people told me that nobody fixes anything anymore. So I posted again on Facebook, writing "Really, I just have to throw it out?"
A couple of things happened. While doing a little online research on my own, I discovered that my problem was a fairly common one with certain sets in the brand and that Samsung had been pretty good about fixing them. And when I checked back on Facebook, I found myself in touch with Heather Toth, a Samsung certified tech whom you'll meet today.
But I was interested in a larger way about the resignation people feel in the face of expensive things that break.
Today, a conversation about what can be fixed, what can't, and why.
Leave your comments below, e-mail colin@wnpr.org or Tweet us @wnprcolin.
***This show originally aired on January 4, 2012***
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If I were you, my dear
If I were you, my dear friend, I`d wait no longer before calling a fast fix Tucson service team and telling them about my problem. Of course, the way you present the problem, you have this charm into telling things, they sound meaningful and funny, and under the shade of an innate optimistic hue, you have this way of, funnily, making things look not nearly as so bad as they are.
Fixing big TVs
I too had a big Samsung Tv that stopped working. But thanks to the Internet blogs, and that I work in manufacturing with electronic techs, I got mine fixed for nothing - well only a six-pack... I have to admit I was this close to giving up and buying a new one though.
I agree. I would not buy
I agree. I would not buy anything new that does not give me at least 4 years. Anything less than that is just poor everything
In Defense Of Fixing Stuff
I was delighted to hear yesterday's program. I believe that our society's disposal tendency-turned-thoughtless-habit strengthened manufacturers' growing tendency to build obsolesence into their products.
I believe also that built-in obsolescence is, as the Appliance Lady said, contributing to the destruction of our planet - and is therefore sinful. Finally, I remember the Appliance Lady from your former program and was interested in her observations and assertions from this perspective.Thanks for this state-of-the-art program [sic.].
E-mail from Lynnett
Just had to replace a Dell laptop battery - $135 plus shipping. Still need it to print - we have a combo of Dell laptop, Mac Air laptop, 2 iPhones (3GS + 4s) + 2 iPads (1 + 2). Everything keeps changing with little compatability.
Lynnett
E-mail from Cheryl
Great show, please consider doing a show with these guests periodically.
Good idea! Cheryl
E-mail from Myron
Colin
I just replaced a Kenmore dryer that was over 50 years old. I hope the new one last at least half that long.
Myron
E-mail from Dave
Colin,
Back when I was an undergraduate I had a summer job building electronic equipment in a local aerospace lab. For that purpose I purchased a new soldering iron, which had three pieces: a tip, a heating element, and a handle with plug. About every two or three week's it was necessary to change the tip. One day I dropped the iron and broke the heating element, so I changed that. Several years later I stupidly lay the heater on the cord, which melted--and so I changed all three parts of the iron.
Is this the same iron?
In any case, I became a compulsive fixer of electronic stuff and eventually got a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering.
Dave
PS: I'm listening to the show today on a hand-held AM-FM radio that found at the electronics recycling pile at the town dump last Saturday. Just needed a little TLC
E-mail from Jonathon
I'm a self proclaimed tinkerer and love the instructables.com website which is full of DIY instructions for all kinds of things. As a entry level techie are there other internet sites that are useful?
Johnathon from Southington
E-mail from Julie
Good show.
A few years ago, I brought my (admittedly old-school) TV into a repair shop in Old Saybrook after it lost its picture. They replaced a tube. Didn't cost much, and the TV has worked fine ever since.
E-mail from James
Good Afternoon,
Dryers, washing machines and ovens are the easiest to fix. They suffer from common problems and have a schematic inside them. Often the repair parts are inexpensive.
I also got lucky with my coffee maker and found the problem that caused it to fail (of course I found a step-by-step blog immediately after I found the problem).
Great show again,
James
E-mail from John
Colin,
1. Planned obsolescence is certainly not new – I remember my father complaining about it when I was a kid over 40 years ago. But I think it has gotten worse.
2. My father taught me how to fix things because he couldn't afford to replace them. By doing so, he also taught me resourcefulness, how to collect, use and care for tools, and also how to judge the quality of things before buying them.
3. Recently my washer died in a way I couldn't figure out. Since it is well over twenty years old, I felt justified in considering replacement. But I couldn't afford it, so I tried to find my favorite old repair guy, but he'd retired. So I started taking the thing apart, consulting Google as I went, and ultimately figured out exactly how to fix it myself, for under $20 for the part. It's still working fine a couple of years later.
One of my biggest life mottos is "DON'T BUY JUNK."
E-mail from Paul
What has planned obsolescence done to brand loyalty?
If I buy a TV and it breaks within a few years and there's no expectation of repairing it, would I simply look for the cheapest brand or any brand other than the one that just failed?
It seems that I would have no loyalty to "Brand X" if my only expectation is that it won't last much longer than the dent it placed in my bank account.
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