As soon as the warranty expires, the lifespan of many electrical appliances is already over. They simply give up the ghost. Just a coincidence? Even if the manufacturers reject the criticism: According to a study by the Green Party, they design their goods so that they only work for a certain amount of time - in order to make more profit. They build so-called predetermined breaking points into the goods, i.e. deliberate defects. The consequences: Consumers always have to buy new products and a lot of technical waste is created. To protect yourself, you should ask the seller how you can open and repair the device. Companies often glue the components together so that they cannot be easily replaced or worked on. If this is not possible, it is better to keep your hands off the product.
Service life of electrical appliances: Vacuum cleaners fail because of the cable and hose
Who hasn't experienced this: after a short time, the cable can no longer be rolled up properly. The hose and fasteners can also break quickly. Stiftung Warentest's winners were the "Miele S8340 EcoLine" and "Siemens Q 5.0 extreme silencePower" models.
Dishwashers: Better to go for well-known brands
A dishwasher can last 20 years - but very few do. Some manufacturers use extra fragile plastic components so that a new one will soon be needed. Regular test winners are brand-name machines, such as those from Siemens or Bosch.
Lifetime electronics: When TV sets get too hot
Flat screens are not nearly as robust as old tube televisions. The backlighting breaks down quickly and heat-sensitive parts are installed in places where the appliance will heat up in any case. Brand televisions usually achieve the best results in tests.
Smartphone
If the housing and internal components are glued together, the smartphone cannot be opened and repaired. It is important that you can replace a defective battery, otherwise you will have to buy a new device. This is possible with the "Samsung Galaxy S5" or the "Nokia Lumia 630", for example.
Kitchen appliances
You can't always rely on the service life of electrical appliances such as toasters and the like. They often give up the ghost quickly. Sometimes manufacturers use inferior materials that cannot withstand much, such as plastic gears in blenders. It is therefore best to compare reviews on the internet (e.g. at www.testberichte.de).
Lifespan of electrical appliances: Some washing machines only last five years
The problem: poor shock absorbers or heating elements are often installed in the machines, which wear out quickly. You should not be too frugal when buying. Tests have shown: With models under 550 euros, many are broken after just five years.
When printers suddenly give up the ghost
The durability of electrical appliances such as printers is also often disappointing. Although there is nothing wrong with the technology, some printers simply give up the ghost after a certain number of pages. This is because the companies install a special counter. Brand printers such as those from HP often perform very well in tests.