Parents' BIG Helpers: Major Appliances...So, Build Them Better!

How many parents in the U.S. can imagine life without most or all of the following: a range, microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher, washer and dryer? We simply need some means to cook, refrigerate foods, wash our dishes and clothes, and so on, right? And, those appliances, by serving those purposes, can reduce our stress and make our lives easier and our time more efficient.

But, what about when the appliances themselves consume more of our time and energy than we would ever dream acceptable? The point is that one of many major stressors for parents (yes, I know there are bigger ones, but they're not the subject here!) in the last few years has become the time wasted waiting around for these major appliances to be repaired. Oh, yes, I even know about this personally, as every major appliance I've bought in the last few years has soon after purchase needed some type of repair. Note: this wasn't the case for appliances made in past decades; recent ones just aren't made the same.

Who really has time to sit and wait at home for hours each time a repairman has to come? Never really knowing when they'll arrive. Not being able to leave home and do something else. Not totally sure until the last minute if they will even make it on the scheduled day. Stressful, and ridiculous, for parents who have so much else to do. If it were a relatively uncommon thing, I would not be writing about this. However, when salespeople at stores and the repairmen themselves all consistently comment that major appliances are made like #%@ nowadays, something is terribly wrong.

A news flash then for makers of major appliances: make better products that don't consume parents' time and energy and don't break the bank, and you'll have a built-in word of mouth ad campaign among all thankful parents out there!