Have you noticed that things are no longer made to last?

[mystery-ak]

September 15, 2024
Have you noticed that things are no longer made to last?
By Eric Utter

Nothing lasts anymore.

I should say nothing lasts very long anymore. Liberals used to disdain the concept of ‘planned obsolescence,’ yet they say not a word about the increasing short lives of appliances and other items. Their own policies, supposedly designed to reduce carbon emissions and conserve energy and water, are part of the problem.

Those of you who are old enough to have had appliances from Whirlpool, Maytag, et al. in the distant past and have recently purchased new ones will know of what I speak.

My family once had a refrigerator that lasted 40 years. The original washer, dryer, and dishwasher that we purchased in 1994 for our then-new house just quit working in the past couple of years. One of their replacements already died. In our latest excursion to a very reputable appliance outlet near where we live, we were told flat out: “Appliances which used to last for decades are now only going to last you maybe seven, eight, nine years tops.”

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https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2024/09/have_you_noticed_that_things_are_no_longer_made_to_last.html

[banddag]

Liberals used to disdain the concept of ‘planned obsolescence,’ yet they say not a word about the increasing short lives of appliances and other items. Their own policies, supposedly designed to reduce carbon emissions and conserve energy and water, are part of the problem.

Does everything have to be about left versus right anymore?

Liberalism has ZERO to do with it.

Corporations for the last 20-25 years have cut back on  quality to make an extra penny per item. Corporations and board members are under extreme pressure to max out dividends to make their shareholders happy.

[catfish1957]

HVAC has seemed to have the biggest drop in quality due to left wing environmentalist standards.  Used to be, your Unit (A-Coil/Compressor) would last 10-15 years with minimal maintenance.

Now?  These have become the least dependable of all of our modern conveniences . I have had 6 major repairs (3 houses) in the past 5 years.

[Timber Rattler]

Yep, 3-5 years at most for most appliances and electronics, with disposable shoes and clothing and such.  NOTHING is made to last anymore because the companies want people to buy more. 

[libertybele]

HVAC has seemed to have the biggest drop in quality due to left wing environmentalist standards.  Used to be, your Unit (A-Coil/Compressor) would last 10-15 years with minimal maintenance.

Now?  These have become the least dependable of all of our modern conveniences . I have had 6 major repairs (3 houses) in the past 5 years.

We have a heat pump unit made by Carrier and we have service maintenance performed on it every 6 mos.  We've been told by the techs that Carrier makes a great A/C. It gets it's workout during the summer months and the unit is now 6 years old, so we shall see.

[libertybele]

Yep, 3-5 years at most for most appliances and electronics, with disposable shoes and clothing and such.  NOTHING is made to last anymore because the companies want people to buy more.

I have found over the years the the best appliances the have lasted us (last buy over 20 years) are made by GE.  When we sold our house and moved into this house, the appliances were new and came with the house. They are now 6 years old and are Frigidaire brand; I find that they are cheaply made. The dishwasher now only works on the 'heavy cycle', the stove handles keep coming loose and the oven racks are thin. The refrigerator is holding up fine. The washer sounds like a jet engine when the spin cycle is on and it's so loud that I have to close the door to the laundry room and you can still hear it. The dryer works fine.

I would love to replace them, but I'll keep them till they stop working as I don't have the money to replace them just because I want new. When the time comes, I'll replace them with GE brand.

[catfish1957]

We have a heat pump unit made by Carrier and we have service maintenance performed on it every 6 mos.  We've been told by the techs that Carrier makes a great A/C. It gets it's workout during the summer months and the unit is now 6 years old, so we shall see.

The up side, is that these repairs are mostly in the window of warranty.  Considering the breakage, I am wondering how these mfg's are making any money.

[mountaineer]

The cost of a service call for most appliances is so high, one really must do careful cost-benefit analysis to determine it makes more sense to repair or replace an item.

[libertybele]

The cost of a service call for most appliances is so high, one really must do careful cost-benefit analysis to determine it makes more sense to repair or replace an item.

Indeed ... we went to replace a supposedly top-of-the-line (LG) dishwasher that we paid a ridiculous amount for that lasted 2 years -- the service call/repair was going to cost about the same as a new cheaper brand (GE). We opted to replace the Samsung. I know I keep mentioning GE, but so far, they've lasted the longest -- they may not come equipped with all the fancy new gadgets, but they seem to last.

[roamer_1]

Simple systems... non-computerized... last a long, long time It's normally a sub-board failure, that cannot be replaced without purchasing the entire mb package, which costs more, on purpose, than the new machine.

It is planned obsolescence as a purposeful and widely accepted business strategy.

[Fishrrman]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRgbfxJ8MTQ

[mountaineer]

Indeed ... we went to replace a supposedly top-of-the-line (LG) dishwasher that we paid a ridiculous amount for that lasted 2 years -- the service call/repair was going to cost about the same as a new cheaper brand (GE). We opted to replace the Samsung. I know I keep mentioning GE, but so far, they've lasted the longest -- they may not come equipped with all the fancy new gadgets, but they seem to last.

I saw a discussion on Facebook about refrigerators and every single person said don't waste your money on a Samsung.

We have Kenmore appliances (range, refrigerator, microwave) in our kitchen and they've lasted 15 years so far, although one of the burners on the gas range isn't working properly. We may be able to troubleshoot it on the Kenmore website - just haven't gotten around to it.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Yep, 3-5 years at most for most appliances and electronics, with disposable shoes and clothing and such.  NOTHING is made to last anymore because the companies want people to buy more.

And/or people usually want new shit after a few years anyway. My family all get rid of perfectly good appliances because they weren't stainless steel.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Simple systems... non-computerized... last a long, long time It's normally a sub-board failure, that cannot be replaced without purchasing the entire mb package, which costs more, on purpose, than the new machine.

It is planned obsolescence as a purposeful and widely accepted business strategy.

A lot electronic sensors and such are soldered onto the logic boards now, that should be illegal IMO.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

The up side, is that these repairs are mostly in the window of warranty.  Considering the breakage, I am wondering how these mfg's are making any money.

I bought a new Samsung washer from Lowe's (don't btw). It busted, bricked, wouldn't spin or anything, no codes. Lowe's attempted repair 3 times and could not fix. Warranty repair guy told me that they billed lowe's for $1500 for a $500 washer. I don't get it either. We ended up getting a free floor unit from lowe's, not a fancy front loader, but a simple top loader. We had a baby on the way and couldn't be without a washer so I was grateful.

[roamer_1]

A lot electronic sensors and such are soldered onto the logic boards now, that should be illegal IMO.

More than that... many, many appliances work just fine with mechanical (thereby repairable) controls. Most of em shouldn't have electronics in the first place...

I get it though... as an instance, I prefer HEI ignition to an old points system... HEI is durable, and better, until you're thirty miles up in the boondocks and the truck won't start... then you'll be wishing you had points to file, I'll tell you what.

Same goes with appliances. pretty much anything from the 50s, 60s, and 70s can be fixed... Doesn't matter what's wrong. 80's are on the bubble... altogether too much plastic... 90's, fuggetaboutit. It'll be some solid state electronics that either the board ain't made no more so you have to bet on used (if you can find it), or it costs three times what you'd pay to replace the whole thing...

And the rubbish pit out at the dump is turning into a mountain.

[roamer_1]

I bought a new Samsung washer from Lowe's (don't btw). It busted, bricked, wouldn't spin or anything, no codes. Lowe's attempted repair 3 times and could not fix. Warranty repair guy told me that they billed lowe's for $1500 for a $500 washer. I don't get it either. We ended up getting a free floor unit from lowe's, not a fancy front loader, but a simple top loader. We had a baby on the way and couldn't be without a washer so I was grateful.

So happy I bought the heavy duty Speed Queens with mechanical controls... not a single problem with em since '12... and they'll go another 10 years, easy.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

So happy I bought the heavy duty Speed Queens with mechanical controls... not a single problem with em since '12... and they'll go another 10 years, easy.

They're great but expensive. Commercial units that last forever. We looked into them but dropping $1200 on a washer wasn't in the cards.

[Sighlass]

We have the Speed Queens washers/dryer (mostly manual settings, but does have like a fingerprint on), I do have to wash my clothes on Heavy Duty.... But they work now for 4 years which was about all we got out of the other brands... so far, no problems. Wife is big on washing the hell out of clothes... me not so much, if it looks fine, I wear it another day... I tend not to have a BO problem for some reason, but have sweaty feet, so I do more socks and less jeans and shirts. I do my own laundry, cause I prefer to do it myself and she gets pissy at times about how I do her clothes... (love ya babe, but it is what it is)...

Note: Speed Queen Washer is top load, S.Q. dryer is front load....

I do not have a dish washer (other than these hands)... and our fridge does not have hooked up ice makers... Hate ice makers cause they break down so often. Yes we have ice trays and freeze plastic bottles for summer use.

[Lando Lincoln]

My son bought an older home a few years ago in Bismarck. It came with the exact Maytag washer and dryer models my Mother had who passed in 2006. When the drier unexpectedly quit, he opened it up diagnosed the problem - and fixed it. They really were simple machines back then. The new stuff with sensors and controls have added layers of complexity that is simply not needed for the intended function.

[roamer_1]

They're great but expensive. Commercial units that last forever. We looked into them but dropping $1200 on a washer wasn't in the cards.

Buy once, cry once... But that is significantly more than I paid for mine.

But they keep on hummin...And that's no small thing - Granted, they're loafing with only me in the house, until the clan's women get to going at it with spring cleans, and horse blankets, and linen whenever we have a whole tribe come out to visit...  All them womenfolk know them machines are here for auxiliary purposes.

[Smokin Joe]

Washer: three load, top load stainless tub, industrial model. doing fine so far, no computer. Amana dryer, no computer. Have replaced the timer, the wheels the drum rolls on, all the thermal switches in back (there are four) at least once (about $20 for the set). still going strong. Water heater: replaced the thermocouple/burner assembly once. Still going strong. Furnace is from the '60s. Huge footprint (natural gas, forced air) but I replaced the drive belt on the blower and oiled the bearings on the motor and cage, and keep up with the filters. Works fine, no computers.Thermostat is an old bimetallic mercury switch. works fine. Fireplace backup.
A/C accomplished with three window units and a small box fan, keeps the house livable when we hit triple digits here (yeah, that happens). A unit goes out, it is replaced, under $500, no service call.
Fridge and freezer are new units, no automatic icemaker/water cooler, so no plumbing. one less set of timers. Still chugging along.

I had a set (Whirlpool Duet) of the newfangled front loaders, and they were, imho, junk. We went back to basics and never looked back.

So far, so good. None of it can be hacked, none of it is interwebbed. Just the way I like it.

[Kamaji]

If longer-lived goods were really in demand - based on peoples' actual conduct, not what they might say in polls - then they would still be produced.

The average person doesn't really want a washing machine that will last for 20 years, or a car that will last for 20 years, or ....  That's just a fact.

[deb]

So happy I bought the heavy duty Speed Queens with mechanical controls... not a single problem with em since '12... and they'll go another 10 years, easy.

I want, I want, I want! Can I come do my laundry at your place? Please? 

[the OlLine Rebel]

I remember my grandparents still had their ‘50s refrigerator when they sold the old Victorian in the ‘80s.

My parents had washer/dryer by Westinghouse for 30 years.  Actually there was nothing wrong with them.  My sister and I bought new GE for them.  No more than 15 years and they replaced it with new Whirlpool.  The kind with no agitator (agitating because you still have to place the clothes in a circle as if there was one WTH) and locks into cycle can’t stop it.  As stated nothing really wrong with the old Westinghouse from the ‘60s….we finally gave up because the washer had developed rust-thru holes that were dripping rust stains on the clothes.  It still worked fine.  So did the dryer but this was funny -the plastic clasp had broken in the ‘80s and we locked the door by shoving a broom between the door and the furnace for some 15 years!  Other than that, nothing wrong!

[Smokin Joe]

If longer-lived goods were really in demand - based on peoples' actual conduct, not what they might say in polls - then they would still be produced.

The average person doesn't really want a washing machine that will last for 20 years, or a car that will last for 20 years, or ....  That's just a fact.

I reckon I'm just different, then. I have things that belonged to my great grandparents, that I will pass on to my great grandchildren. That includes a small fleet of vehicles that will not need to be registered every year because they will have antique status.

[roamer_1]

I remember my grandparents still had their ‘50s refrigerator when they sold the old Victorian in the ‘80s.

I made quite a side hustle out of refitting old art-deco fridges and giving em custom paint jobs... What a guy will pay for a one-of-a-kind beer fridge... pretty crazy. Best one ever was satin on gloss black with live flame and a night time mountain scene... That guy paid me nearly 18k ... but that beer fridge was fabulous.

[roamer_1]

I reckon I'm just different, then. I have things that belonged to my great grandparents, that I will pass on to my great grandchildren. That includes a small fleet of vehicles that will not need to be registered every year because they will have antique status.

Big dittos. I have tools older than my children. Most of dad's tools now reside with his grandson. Three of my rifles were my dad's. Our first washer and dryer belonged to my grandparents long before me.

I set store by things that work like they meant it.

[roamer_1]

I want, I want, I want! Can I come do my laundry at your place? Please? 

Might as well... Everybody else does. Besides, I bet you'd be a delight gabbin over sweet tea on the porch, waiting for the dryer. 

[roamer_1]

So far, so good. None of it can be hacked, none of it is interwebbed. Just the way I like it.

The only thing I wish for in that respect is for local routers to supply a time server... And that every dang thing with a clock would go ask the router for date and time any time the power goes out. I'd pay money for that. My stove and my coffee pot are still blinking from a storm nigh on a month ago.

[roamer_1]

There's this thing I used today, almost mindlessly, it is so much a part of me, and of my family.
Its a dumb little thing, a walnut 'grinder', that I bet anyone who bakes would know...

It's of an hourglass shape, roughly two hands tall, the upper being the hopper, made of yellow plastic with a white lid, the lower being of clear glass to catch and store the output, and between the two, a flail, powered by a hand crank.... or perhaps better called a finger-crank, it is that small.

But I remember shelling walnuts to feed into that little piece of magic, that my grandmother would use in the creation of her glorious cookies... It was a whole thing then, see... the shelling, and then the grinding, all as a single thing, if you wanted any cookies to be around.

That is a thing well made... My grandmother's, my mother's, and now mine, and probably my daughter's after me. All of American business should look to that little gadget.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

The only thing I wish for in that respect is for local routers to supply a time server... And that every dang thing with a clock would go ask the router for date and time any time the power goes out. I'd pay money for that. My stove and my coffee pot are still blinking from a storm nigh on a month ago.

There is a shortwave service that does that actually, independent of the internet. It's analog station, which a digital tone that manufactures can use to set clock automatically.

[roamer_1]

There is a shortwave service that does that actually, independent of the internet. It's analog station, which a digital tone that manufactures can use to set clock automatically.

Alright... but the router is right there, already providing service... and the machines would have to know how...

But then...

There they'd be...
Blinking...
Waiting for me to log them in so they could go get the time...
That login by way of some infuriatingly absurd pushing of buttons in some arcane and unreasonable fashion... So ridiculous to accomplish that I'd rather put up with the blinking...
Except for the damn microwave, that won't work at all until you punch all that in... The POS. 

And the more things change, the more they stay the same 

[Kamaji]

I reckon I'm just different, then. I have things that belonged to my great grandparents, that I will pass on to my great grandchildren. That includes a small fleet of vehicles that will not need to be registered every year because they will have antique status.

You are different than most -  nothing inherently wrong with that - but it does mean that since you’re in the minority, most manufacturers will not cater to what you desire.  Just a fact of life, not a judgment.

[deb]

You are different than most -  nothing inherently wrong with that - but it does mean that since you’re in the minority, most manufacturers will not cater to what you desire.  Just a fact of life, not a judgment.

Smoking’ Joe may be different, but in a good way. 

Not to change the subject, but I like your avatar. One of my favorite shows of all time. And Molesley was a great underdog character.

[berdie]

There's this thing I used today, almost mindlessly, it is so much a part of me, and of my family.
Its a dumb little thing, a walnut 'grinder', that I bet anyone who bakes would know...

It's of an hourglass shape, roughly two hands tall, the upper being the hopper, made of yellow plastic with a white lid, the lower being of clear glass to catch and store the output, and between the two, a flail, powered by a hand crank.... or perhaps better called a finger-crank, it is that small.

But I remember shelling walnuts to feed into that little piece of magic, that my grandmother would use in the creation of her glorious cookies... It was a whole thing then, see... the shelling, and then the grinding, all as a single thing, if you wanted any cookies to be around.

That is a thing well made... My grandmother's, my mother's, and now mine, and probably my daughter's after me. All of American business should look to that little gadget.

I have one of those! It was my granny's. Like you said, it still works like a charm. I know you are a computer guy and it's really a good thing most of the time. But when integrated into every day appliances and cars/trucks it goms things up.

When I HAD to replace my 35 year old washer and dryer I went with SQ. I paid a little more. Actually, I thought to myself, berdie these won't last 35 years like the old ones did. But then I thought, berdie if you are still alive and washing clothes in 35 years...

Refrigerators really tick me off. The expected life span in ridiculous. And I need a new wall oven but put off buying it. Dishwasher? Mine hasn't worked in years and would like to have a new one. However, it's an odd size and replacement is too darn rich for my blood. I have become used to hand washing dishes.

As  already been stated, not only do companies plan for obsolescence...people just play along because they want the new, prettiest, most better. I like old and reliable...and able to be repaired.

[Kamaji]

Smoking’ Joe may be different, but in a good way. 

Not to change the subject, but I like your avatar. One of my favorite shows of all time. And Molesley was a great underdog character.

One of our favorite shows as well.  We binge watch all the time.  And Molesley is an awesome character.  We just wish they'd properly developed the relationship between him and Ms. Baxter.  That was moving along quite naturally, and should have been allowed to flourish.

[roamer_1]

Smoking’ Joe may be different, but in a good way. 

That's right... But not so 'different' around here. 

[roamer_1]

I have one of those! It was my granny's. Like you said, it still works like a charm.

 

This is kinda a dumb thing... But I can't eat raw walnuts. One or two is alright... but something in the oil will eventually irritate my mouth... And once that starts I am sore and swollen for days. Something about heating em makes a difference, and I can eat all I want... So in baked goods, and even in oatmeal (which I do quite often), I can eat all I want. So that little tool is particularly well used around here.

I get these mixed nuts from the Costco... It's their 'heart healthy' mix... There is a mental exercise in every bag, as I sort out the edible nuts from the preponderance of walnuts. After a few days of picking through em, I am left with such an overburden of walnuts that the Pickens are getting Slim (didja see what I did there?)... So that's what I did today. Dumped that bag into a bowl and started shoving walnuts through that machine... Filled it five or six times, picking out all the almonds as I went, of course, till there were no walnuts left, or almonds for that matter (which being the best prize).

All that walnut crumble will get use soon enough. I will feed it into my oatmeal on the stove, or into my cookie dough, and by next month there will be another bag to pick through.

That's how it works these days. I wonder for my grandchildren who have never learned all that - I mean, their cookies come from the grocery... They never learned the quality and discipline of making those cookies, not to mention shelling the nuts, being very careful to pick out the pith, to make that sheer gold found in a mere what, cup and a half of walnut crumble?

There's a something missing that can be found there.

I know you are a computer guy and it's really a good thing most of the time. But when integrated into every day appliances and cars/trucks it goms things up.

Oh no, darlin, I hate it. HATE it. Just as I was tipping over, I was running into small engine machinery governed by computer chips. SO DUMB. Tons and tons of small appliance, same thing... The actual thing still works... I can hot-wire it to make it go... But it's hopelessly busted because of some plastic POS, or a computer board that always goes out on em, and so it is never found used (because all of em busted the same way)... And you can't get the part - Forcing the otherwise good thing to be thrown away to go buy a new one. It is our doom.

When I HAD to replace my 35 year old washer and dryer I went with SQ. I paid a little more. Actually, I thought to myself, berdie these won't last 35 years like the old ones did. But then I thought, berdie if you are still alive and washing clothes in 35 years...

LOL! That's right. I make a load a week if I try hard. Them big heavy duty machines are flat loafing left to me. But I do admire how they bring the womenfolk around... Somebody is always comin by to shove something in there... And that they are around means I get to see them -  A thing all too rare otherwise, as they are all worrying over their own houses or around my mother, which is only proper.

Refrigerators really tick me off. The expected life span in ridiculous. And I need a new wall oven but put off buying it. Dishwasher? Mine hasn't worked in years and would like to have a new one. However, it's an odd size and replacement is too darn rich for my blood. I have become used to hand
washing dishes.

That again... I got lucky. Well... not exactly, as I am a tinker in my own right, and my uncle spent his whole life fixing appliances... So just a call to Uncle Johnny, and he will guide me down that trail. In fact, he bought me those Speed Queens as a house warming gift. And he recommended all the major appliances I own. I have had ZERO trouble since '12, except for coffee makers (which he did not recommend), and microwaves (also outside of his ken). Microwaves have been my bane, having replaced that 4 times.... And it's mounted hard, over the stove, so it's a thing.

As for dishwashers... Well, we had one once... One of them ones you drag out and hook up to the faucet... Never had one built in... And having one at all was rare. Seems to me thay never work very well, and have a hard time with stainless steel... By the time your done knocking off all the stuff it won't eat. you might as well do a proper job by hand.

As  already been stated, not only do companies plan for obsolescence...people just play along because they want the new, prettiest, most better. I like old and reliable...and able to be repaired.

That's right 
I think folks have been led down that garden path. I think a little knowledge would change that.
People are always amazed that I can fix a thing. They are flummoxed by the thought.
I think they don't do right by their kids, letting em play computer games instead of shucking corn, snapping beans, shelling walnuts, and cleaning stalls - The sort of thing that are taken for granted by you and me. Dishes, well they are like that too.

[berdie]

That's right 
I think folks have been led down that garden path. I think a little knowledge would change that.
People are always amazed that I can fix a thing. They are flummoxed by the thought.
I think they don't do right by their kids, letting em play computer games instead of shucking corn, snapping beans, shelling walnuts, and cleaning stalls - The sort of thing that are taken for granted by you and me. Dishes, well they are like that too.

Agreed!

I was having h#ll with a 2 year old hot water heater a while back. After using my normally called plumbers multiple times it seemed hopeless. Yes, it was under warranty, but if I want to take a shower and it's not working?

I was lucky enough to stumble upon a plumber that was older and was training his son. He told me that the younger folks want to replace...not repair. I believe that to be true. Between his son and him (on the cell phone) they fixed it. It turned out to be a problem with the propane tank regulator...not the water heater. Even had I replaced the water heater...it would have been futile. They were pricey, but worth it.

Since I was married to a plumber these things make me crazy! Car 54..Where Are You? lol

[roamer_1]

Agreed!

[...]

Since I was married to a plumber these things make me crazy! Car 54..Where Are You? lol

And being a redneck boy, and a tinker by way of that, I can't even tell you how many electric hot water heaters I have wallered out for lime, and replaced the elements - Propane is less problematic, so less known... But I'd a found it out, for sure... And charged you a whole lot less than a plumber.

It confounds me that my kind ain't down by you. There should be a shade tree mechanic under every tree. 

If it's already broke, why not try?

[Smokin Joe]

You are different than most -  nothing inherently wrong with that - but it does mean that since you’re in the minority, most manufacturers will not cater to what you desire.  Just a fact of life, not a judgment.

I don't mind being different, especially in that way. I understand my stuff, and don't have to call in a specialist often to fix it. Some of it is old enough that new parts are being made, just for folks like me (a niche market, granted).

I get that the manufacturers will generally cater to the masses, who have been 'sold' on having the latest 'gee whiz' whatever.

There is an odd comfort in waiting for the next wave of stuff and all the beta testing to be done before adopting new tech, and "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." is a mantra to live by.

 There may well come a time when we or our grand kids may have to re-create tech from the 50s and before, just to rebuild. The manufacturers can go their own way, but without my dime.
There is beauty in simplicity, and even the more complicated older mechanical devices have a gadgetry that is impressive.

[Smokin Joe]

And being a redneck boy, and a tinker by way of that, I can't even tell you how many electric hot water heaters I have wallered out for lime, and replaced the elements - Propane is less problematic, so less known... But I'd a found it out, for sure... And charged you a whole lot less than a plumber.

It confounds me that my kind ain't down by you. There should be a shade tree mechanic under every tree. 

If it's already broke, why not try?

Oddly enough, that's a philosophy I have long held, and even early on in the oil patch, working with gas detectors and the like, found out I could get a lot of them going. I had one hand look at me and question what I was doing, and I just said, "Well, it isn't working. If I get it going, great. If not, it wasn't working, anyway. " I moved up  pretty quickly in that outfit while I was there. (Then that boom died...and I was at the top of the scale for field hands...)

[roamer_1]

Oddly enough, that's a philosophy I have long held, and even early on in the oil patch, working with gas detectors and the like, found out I could get a lot of them going. I had one hand look at me and question what I was doing, and I just said, "Well, it isn't working. If I get it going, great. If not, it wasn't working, anyway. " I moved up  pretty quickly in that outfit while I was there. (Then that boom died...and I was at the top of the scale for field hands...)

It's how us redneck boys get nice things... Buy em busted for pennies on the dollar and fix em