Our computer quit working one week after the warrantee expired a couple of years ago. We had to have a new hard drive installed. It had a 2 year warrantee on it, and again we started having trouble after the warrantee expired. We spent $500.00 to fix it two times. The third time, we decided just to get another computer.
Now one of our air conditioners stopped working (and it is just after the warrantee has expired). So I am beginning to wonder if it is not programmed into the product (if the product has anything electronic in it) to quit working after the warrantee expires.
2006-06-27 09:38:42 · 4 answers · asked by care4ub0y 2 in Consumer Electronics ➔ Other - Electronics
While anything is possible given time, energy, and money, such planned failures are unethical, expensive, and just plain bad business. I doubt seriously if anything bad was programmed to happen at certain date. If buyers weren't properly notified before purchase, it is probablly illegal as well.
What IS possible is, manufacturers can plan to use certain quality of parts so that it will at least last during the warranty period. It will avoid them spending money for warranty service, and it will also prevent certain parts lasting much longer while other parts fail. Many electronics components are available from source for various quality when purchased in large lots. Higher quality parts cost more than lesser (of course). In tech fields, they are called MTBF. It means, Mean Time Between Failures. It is an average time where certain parts fail.
Is it planning for failure (ie. programmed failure?) I don't think so. Most of the times, there are ample buffer that whatever the item is, will last much longer.
This is a side effect of quality control and cost optimazation. When manufacturers have to make products at least cost, it makes business sense to keenly control every components that go into a product.
Does this help?
2006-06-27 12:23:52 · answer #1 · answered by tkquestion 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
that would be unethical, but it reminds me of a story i once heard...
in the 1970's a company came up with a way to make lightbulbs which never went out. the only problem was that they never went out, so no one ever had to buy more, so the company went out of busisness. now, all companies could make everlasting lightbulbs, but choose not to in order to make a profit.
2006-06-27 09:43:21 · answer #2 · answered by Alex 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I think they are. Someone has to make money somewhere down the line...
2006-06-27 09:42:42 · answer #3 · answered by bananalvr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it seems they are....
btw... was your computer a gate way... if so then oh yeah it does...
2006-06-27 09:43:39 · answer #4 · answered by Fantasy Kel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋