Coffee-Makers Unreasonable Product Life Span Due to Poor Design
Ever wonder why it's so hard to find a coffee-maker that lasts you quite a few years before breaking down. I often wondered the same thing myself and didn't realize until after doing some deep research, that it in fact has a lot more to do with the cheap, low-grade parts manufacturers use to make these appliances.
Of course, it's okay for them to keep charging us an arm and a leg for these products, and then only offer us a measly 1-year warranty that, in most cases, doesn't even cover the cost to ship it back to them for repairs should the product break down within that 1-year time period.
I've gone through quite a few coffee-makers of my own in a relatively short period of time and are quite dismayed that these companies are allowed to get away with selling the public these pieces of junk that break down so soon after a purchase is made.
Why not mandate that these manufacturers be required to build better quality products in the first place, thereby creating less of a financial burden on consumers.
In reality, we are literally compelled to perpetuate this vicious cycle of planned obsolescence because as it stands now, we the consumers have no choice but to purchase these poorly constructed products from the offending companies, a majority of whom seemingly assume little to no responsibility when these products start to fall apart due to their poor design.
If stricter standards are imposed upon the manufacturers to use quality parts, this in turn would help to balance production with durability, thereby also creating less strain on the environment due to a reduction in waste, since we would then have a product that we could hold onto a lot longer before having to consider a replacement.
The apparent lack of standards in this industry is appalling, especially when a person can literally spend hours on end simply reading through one bad review after another about why customers regretted buying a coffee-maker that they thought would have a reasonable life-span, especially considering the price that most people end up paying for these money-pit-style kitchen appliances.
This petition is meant to engage industry law-makers to create tougher standards for companies that produce these types of products which most people use in their daily lives, specifically with regard to coffee makers.
Why can we buy a new car that may last 15 to 20 years without any serious issues, but when it comes to our everyday cup of coffee, well it would seem that we are just compelled by these companies to shell out hundreds of dollars every year or two for something far less complex and time-consuming to make than a motor-vehicle! ---- It just does not make logical sense no matter what excuse these companies may come up with in an attempt to justify their lack of standards in manufacturing these products.
Links
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This following links below are but a handful of the many complaints made regarding coffee makers for just about every company that makes them:
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http://www.epinions.com/review/Bodum_Santos_Electric_Vacuum_Coffee_Maker_Small_Appliances/content_514751499908
http://mark.koli.ch/2010/03/fixing-broken-krups-km7000-coffee-maker-triangle-head-tamper-proof-screws-too.html
http://www.epinions.com/review/Bodum_Santos_Electric_Vacuum_Coffee_Maker_Small_Appliances/content_418223132292
http://www.epinions.com/review/Black___Decker_TCM800/content_276518506116
http://www.epinions.com/review/Black___Decker_SpaceMaker_II_ODC425_Coffee_Maker/content_216494083716
http://www.epinions.com/review/DeLonghi_8_Cup_Drip_Thermal_Coffee_Maker_DC77TC_Small_Appliances/content_186956156548
http://www.epinions.com/review/pr-KitchenAid_KCM514/content_459152330372
http://www.epinions.com/review/KitchenAid_14Cup_Programmable_Coffeemaker_Black_KCM534OB/content_502664629892
http://www.epinions.com/review/pr-Mr_Coffee_TFTX85/content_500920848004
http://www.epinions.com/review/Mr_Coffee_Programmable_Coffeemaker_12-cup_URX33/content_140719328900
http://www.epinions.com/review/Cuisinart_DTC_950BK_Thermal_Carafe_Coffee_Maker_Small_Appliances/content_189227896452
http://www.epinions.com/review/Hamilton_Beach_One_hand_dispensing_no_carafe_no_pouring_no_spills_Coffee_stays_fresh_longer_Enclosed_brewing_s_1/content_435335106180
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Included below is a list of consumer websites that are full of resources for everything from filing a complaint to searching a "Safe-Product" database, as well as knowing your rights when purchasing products and services from any merchant whether at a retail store or online.
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Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Federal Trade Commission
Shopping For Products & Services / Your Rights
Better Business Bureau
Consumer Product Safety Commission
National Association of Consumer Advocates
SaferProducts.gov (Safe Product Database)
ConsumerAffairs.com
Consumer Advocacy Group of America
Consumers Union
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