Thread

1. diskzero · 1790171248 · focus · HN ↗

   We ended up with a Samsung fridge in our new home. It has no external display or any other indication that it is a "smart" fridge. I only found out when a friend visited who has a Samsung phone and the phone offered to connect to the fridge. We spent the next 30 minutes removing panels from the fridge and found the wifi/bluetooth antenna on a small board under the top-right hinge cover. The board was disconnected and the fridge continues to operate normally.

   I am now eyeing my dishwasher very suspiciously.

   1. cogman10 · 1790171586 · focus · HN ↗

      Samsung has made garbage appliances for my entire life. A family member went through about 3 different samsung fridges before they swore them off for good. The compressor would routinely break after only a year or 2 of service.

      I will never own a Samsung or LG appliance. They are built almost explicitly to force you to get a new one in a couple of years.

      Then couple that with both companies trying to use weaselly legal maneuvers like putting the EULA that agrees to arbitration on the outside of a box and saying "If you open this box you agree to the EULA".

      1. martin_a · 1790173228 · focus · HN ↗

         > Samsung has made garbage appliances for my entire life.

         When I moved into my first own flat, family, friends and colleagues pressured me to buy good appliances. They will last longer they said.

         Buy Miele for a washing machine, nothing else, they said. I didn't had the money for that, so I bought a washing machine for 250 Euro. It has been going for 11 years, moved two times and doesn't show any signs of going out.

         Another friend told me he only buys Samsung fridges. Best machines, one shouldn't buy anything else. I bought a fridge for 200 Euro because I liked the retro look and its red color. Also going strong for 10 years and moving two times. He has got the third Samsung fridge in 10 years now.

         Yeah, that's anecdotal but I haven't really found the part where buying something more expensive really helped with expanding its lifespan, rather the contrary where "high tech" broke earlier or more often.

         1. kakacik · 1790173915 · focus · HN ↗

            Samsung/LG don't know how to build reliable white home appliances, or don't want to. Or black ones for that matter (remember FUBAR with Samsung bricking their expensive surround system for good? Not so long ago).

            No reason to buy those when you have ie some basic Bosch stuff. TBH smart stuff should be left to computers and phones, rest should be dumb as brick. But folks keep buying it for some reason (ie hey Samsung makes good phones, lets buy their fridge), hence crapware everywhere.

            1. bayindirh · 1790174388 · focus · HN ↗

               In my family we have 3 fridges, 2 washers and 2 dishwashers, and our experience a bit different than the rest of the thread.

               The fridges are dead-silent and working great for 7+ years. Washers are also nice, washing for a bit too long but don't wear the clothes down and have better stain removal performance than their peers, and dishwashers are extremely slow and not designed for European market. Their baskets are not suitable for our dishes, we can't fill them efficiently even.

               So, from experience their fridges are A-OK, washers are great with some caveats, but dishwashers are not good.

               My first choice is still BSH group and Beko, but Samsung is acceptable if required, but LG? Ain't nobody got time for that.

               1. riffraff · 1790177445 · focus · HN ↗

                  My Samsung fridge worked fine for ten years and then broke down. Apparently it was the first generation of some new compressor or something and it was known to be problematic. The new ones come with an extra long warranty on that bit

                  1. bayindirh · 1790178675 · focus · HN ↗

                     The fridges we have at least 10 year warranties on the compressor, that's right. Considering the last fridge we had worked for ~20 years, I'm eager to see how planned obsolescence will play on these, yet they work pretty nicely.

                     My own Siemens fridge is with me for ~14 years, as well.

                     1. themaninthedark · 1790202409 · focus · HN ↗

                        Right now all the new refrigerators seem to have 2 year warranties, even the ones from Costco. At least they give you extra extended.

                        Last fridge I had was a Kenmore Elite with 10 year warranty, it failed to the same compressor issue that has been plaguing the LGs. It was replaced once under warranty but that failed 3 years later.

                        Just got a GE; first one was DOA, didn't cool at all. My thermometer is saying it's replacement is currently sitting at 44F when it is set at 34F, I have had it for 2 weeks....

               2. epcoa · 1790178316 · focus · HN ↗

                  It’s pretty well known in the US that LG washers perform better and have a far better parts and service network than Samsung. You think whatever you want though.

                  1. bayindirh · 1790178564 · focus · HN ↗

                     I'm not in the US though. The models, their performance and service networks are way different.

                     I have replaced shock absorbers and power switch of a 15 year old Beko washing machine last year, and it cost me 6$ plus workmanship to get genuine parts installed in 20 minutes.

                     I bet that won't be very possible over there, though.

                  2. IAmBroom · 1790182024 · focus · HN ↗

                     > It’s pretty well known in the US that

                     If you're going to get snitty, cite your claim.

                     1. epcoa · 1790276872 · focus · HN ↗

                        Yale Appliance, Harper and Knowles. But I'm not sure why you think a snitty "but LG? Ain't nobody got time for that." deserves a more rigorous reply on an informal commentary site with delusions of grandeur. Like I said to the other dude, believe whatever you'd like. But if you're out in the sticks and you can't do your own service you probably shouldn't buy either.

                        1. bayindirh · 1790283907 · focus · HN ↗

                           Oh, somebody called me out. Hello, I’m the other dude. Let’s break down my grandeur delusions.

                           I remember LG as Goldstar from my Grandma’s microwave oven. That was not something unreliable, but rather unremarkable appliance with no glaring problems. It was eh. Then they became LG.

                           I remember their other electronics. AC units, phones, TVs, optical storage devices. All of them were either okayish or below that. Phones? Sub-par even if they were innovative. TVs? Unreliable and lower quality than their peers. Optical storage? Can’t read a disc it burned 30 seconds ago, or can’t rip an audio CD correctly, or broke in a year.

                           I have seen so many LG devices fail or fail to meet their own specs they advertised with in my life, I have sworn to not buy any LG device ~25 years ago.

                           I somehow had to buy one of their portable DVD burners because I needed something quick. It failed to read a pristine CD other drives read at full blast after taking it out of its box.

                           So, please tell me I’m delusional. Invalidate my experience I collected over decades. Tell me about my grandeur.

                           I can tell you how many Samsung devices I have still continue to run or outlived their expected lives in another comment, if you feel like reading it as well.

                           I’m waiting.

                           1. epcoa · 1790367761 · focus · HN ↗

                              Nobody called you out. You really can believe whatever you want. The delusions of grandeur comment was clearly not addressed at you personally (“site with delusions of grandeur”). Touch grass, seriously.
         2. michelb · 1790175477 · focus · HN ↗

            >It has been going for 11 years, moved two times and doesn't show any signs of going out.

            I replaced my AEG washing machine last year after ±10 years of service. The new one, also roughly 200 euro, uses a fraction of the energy, and cleans better. I should have swapped it out way earlier to save money.

            1. M95D · 1790192908 · focus · HN ↗

               > I should have swapped it out way earlier to save money.

               Repeat that calculation after 9 more years.

         3. serf · 1790176271 · focus · HN ↗

            >Yeah, that's anecdotal but I haven't really found the part where buying something more expensive really helped with expanding its lifespan, rather the contrary where "high tech" broke earlier or more often.

            buy professional stuff that's expensive, not consumer gadgetry expensive.

            a samsung fridge is expensive because of the gimmicks and high tech integrations.

            a sub zero fridge is expensive because of the build quality and manufacturer network , part re-use and larger consumer part availability and market.

            1. bbatha · 1790179071 · focus · HN ↗

               Funnily sub-zero fridges are considered the samsung of the semi-commercial brands. They prioritize things like customizable doors and easy to break but consumer loved features like ice makers and water dispensers. You will never see sub-zero in actual commercial kitchens.

               1. diskzero · 1790185570 · focus · HN ↗

                  Yes, I could have done without the ice maker. It never broke, but it did have a tendency to turn the ice cubes into a solid block.
            2. diskzero · 1790185500 · focus · HN ↗

               The previous house I moved from had a Subzero fridge in it from 1990. It was serviced in 2012 and was still running strong when I left. One thing that pleased me was the easy access to a parts catalog and the ability to easily order replacement parts. Some of the tray slides had cracked and I just ordered them online after consulting the catalog. I know the unit cost a fortune in 1990, but decades of service and the ease of ordering parts was certainly nice.
         4. e2le · 1790179101 · focus · HN ↗

            > buying something more expensive really helped with expanding its lifespan

            Expensive consumer appliances aren't always the same quality as expensive professional appliances.

         5. bluGill · 1790179836 · focus · HN ↗

            Many 250 appliances are targeted at landlords who care that the applicance is cheap and works for years without complaints. They don't care about features - they will never use them - just that it is good enough to check the box and the users don't get so mad they complain. They also don't care that it looks good so you get things that look cheap but last.

            Note that I said many above. there are also 250 appliances built for the penny wise and pound foolish - they will break in a few years (just long enough that the warranty is up).

            Even knowing that though, often there are features of the more expensive appliances that while not needed are nice enough that I'm willing to pay extra.

         6. kergonath · 1790179853 · focus · HN ↗

            > Buy Miele for a washing machine, nothing else, they said. I didn't had the money for that, so I bought a washing machine for 250 Euro. It has been going for 11 years, moved two times and doesn't show any signs of going out.

            Washing machines are a solved problem and it does not need a high tech solution. A good, reliable motor and good weights is pretty much it. No need for brittle over-engineering, fragile touchscreens or temperamental sensors.

            When I had to buy one, I got a basic Beko* because they are usually good with replacement parts, and it had the bare minimum in terms of electronics. It was also one of the cheapest, but that’s a consequence of the other criteria more than something I optimised. I would be reluctant to get a no-name Chinese one, even if it is cheap. Anyway, it’s been going for 5 years now just like on the first day. Very happy with it.

            > He has got the third Samsung fridge in 10 years now.

            Fridges are also a solved problem. It’s just a cooling loop with a radiator on one side and a pump in the middle, and good thermal insulation. Using three of them in 10 years is not very impressive, decent ones should go forever. There is no reason why one should fail before 10 to 15 years.

            > Yeah, that's anecdotal but I haven't really found the part where buying something more expensive really helped with expanding its lifespan, rather the contrary where "high tech" broke earlier or more often.

            Definitely. But I would not say that going for cheap is the best strategy. Going for simple and sturdy is, and it is usually correlated with being cheap. But there’s also a lot of cheap disposable crap.

            * I am not sure how well they are known around the world, it’s a Turkish brand. Their stuff is built mainly in Turkey and in my experience sturdy and easy to fix and repair, if a bit bare bones features-wise.

            1. frereubu · 1790180158 · focus · HN ↗

               > I got a basic Beko because they are usually good with replacement parts

               Can confirm this. My mum has broken two drawer fronts in her Beko freezer and I was pleasantly surprised with how easy it was to get replacements.

            2. fool0 · 1790184359 · focus · HN ↗

               The curious thing about fridges is RV fridges run off propane/DC/AC, have no moving parts, and when in use are constantly jarred due to road motion, and never break down -- nothing to break. Unfortunately, these absorbtion fridges tend to retail for high prices. I saw a Brazilian made one running off unscrubbed digester gas fed from the excreta of two immense pigs on a farm in Belize in 1996.

               My 2004 RV has one and runs whenever I need it. I'd insall it in my house but I'd need to build a cabinet, chimney and gas piping for it first... so instead I have to listen to a compressor spinning when it runs.

               No obsolescence, no spare parts, no breakdown, no posibility for continuing profit. Bad ideaQ

               1. 4d4m · 1790186320 · focus · HN ↗

                  Awesome tech! Just generates heat and is inefficient compared to a compressor so it is less popular in the US. There are also electric absorption fridges.
               2. Kirby64 · 1790198740 · focus · HN ↗

                  They’re also substantially less efficient. No full size fridge would ever use them because they’d chew tons and tons of power to cool in a residential house.

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