How long are long lasting durable good designed to last?

Answer 1

It depends on the goods proven history of durability. For instance, the normal "life" of a refrigerator for home use is 15 years. Advances in technology and energy efficiency make this product more effective if one replaces it every 15 years. It will work for much longer, but it is not cost effective to work the product longer than that.

A vehicle is designed to give good value for about 100,000 traveled miles. If it is maintained well, this can be as few as 3 years or as long as 12 years.

A home is usually the most permanent "durable goods" product. Structurally, this product will last over 200 years, given proper maintenance. But we all know of homes which are less than 30 years old that are uninhabitable.

For the most satisfaction in purchasing such goods, it pays to do the research to determine the length of time the product is supposed to work and which brands of the product actually deliver on the promise.

Answer 2

The length of time long-lasting durable goods are going to last depends on the type of goods.

A rule of thumb is to go by the average warranty. Twelve months, say, for kitchen another small appliances; two years for whitegoods and browngoods (refrigerators, television sets, and so on). Many goods such as motor vehicles, major furniture items, home fixtures and fittings, vary widely within the goods themselves, different parts of the same goods having different life expectancies.

Nobody offers a warranty in the hope lots of people will claim on it; would you? If a two-year warranty is offered, you can expect the manufacturers estimate the goods will last a bit over two years. Where extended warranties are offered at extra cost, they'll still only cover the manufacturers' best estimates of durability.

In many countries, goods are subject to implied warranties whether or not these are in writing. When you buy something under this type of legislation, you're entitled to expect it to last for a reasonably forseeable period of time, and to do the job it was advertised as doing and purchased to do. Depending on quality and price, a pair of socks might reasonably be expected to last at least a month; a pair of shoes to last, say, three to twelve months; oven dishes and saucepans might live longer than their users, but a reasonable life could be considered to be six to twelve months.

Local laws will differ, but generally there will be some kind of trade practises legislation which defines the rights and responsibilities of the manufacturer, retailer and consumer.

Some retailers attempt to avoid local legislation by posting 'no refund' signs referring to, for example, sale items, or signs suggesting goods will be exchanged but refunds not given. In many places this signage is illegal, but isn't policed by local authorities with any great enthusiasm. Signs saying breakages must be paid for are also frequently illegal. On the other hand, you aren't usually entitled to either a refund or exchange if you decide you don't like the goods after all, but there's nothing wrong with either the goods or the method of sale.

Check with your local government's consumer law department to learn more about these matters.

Large chainstores and some smaller retailers offer instant refunds with no questions asked; some might even waive sighting a receipt provided it's obvious you bought the goods from them personally. This is a courtesy, not a legal requirement.

It's good business to give refunds on request, and bad business to be obstructive over legitimate consumer grievances. Successful businesses learn this quickly; many fail to learn and so lose consumer confidence and, ultimately, business.

Use your commonsense when parting with your money: don't expect retailers to lose money just to please you, do expect them to do the right thing by you. And always remember, if a bargain seems to good to be true, it is. You can't expect something reliable from a market stall which won't be there tomorrow when you find your bargain wasn't a bargain at all.