"The Great Washing Machine Scam"
Despite being sold to us as eco-friendly wonders, modern appliances are a mixed blessing: expensive, often unrepairable, and ecologically damaging in hidden ways. Our gumshoe sets out to learn why.
Dear Friends,
Many household appliances have evolved into overly complex, computer-chipped mysteries of technology. Modern washing machines, for example, with their dizzying array of high-tech features, are sold on the promise of being more hands-off—and more environmentally friendly—than their old-school forebears. But there's a catch: along with all the new bells and whistles, the quality of these household workhorses has plummeted. Their expected lifespans have also been much abbreviated, and repairs are increasingly complicated—sometimes impossible. How and why did this happen?
In this week’s story—an exposé delightfully written in the style of Dashiell Hammett and the hard-boiled detectives of the great Film Noir era—journalist Aaron Britt digs into the dark corners of the appliance industry in, "The Great Washing Machine Scam." It’s a fantastically fun read, which I hope you enjoy as much as I did.
Coming up next week, just in time for holiday shopping, we’ll be releasing a newly updated version of our Shaving Gift Guide, written by Michael Ham, a veritable savant of shaving knowledge, and widely known (and loved) online as “Leisureguy.”
And if you’re in need of another idea for easy, thoughtful, sustainable gifts for your like-minded friends, may I humbly suggest a subscription to Craftsmanship? It’s still only $60/year or $6/month, and you can schedule your gift to arrive in the recipient’s inbox anytime you like.
You still have two weeks to share your Repair Rants & Raves with us. Tell us about some item you’ve owned, loved, and kept working forever, and why it matters to you. Or tell us about what you’ve bought that should have lasted but turned into another throwaway piece of junk. It only takes a few minutes, and we’ll share the best stories through the end of this issue.
“The Art of Repair” will continue through early December, thanks in part to our issue sponsor, the Culture of Repair. Each week, we’ll release a feature story, short article, mini-documentary, photo essay, or podcast that relates to our mission—to “create a world built to last.” So please, stay tuned.
In the meantime, I hope you'll always find something intriguing to read, watch, or listen to within our pages. We welcome your thoughts via email, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Thank you for reading and sharing our stories, for donating to our cause as you can, and for being such a loyal part of the Craftsmanship community.
Sincerely,
Todd Oppenheimer
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, Craftsmanship Magazine
Craftsmanship is a reader-supported publication. To help sustain our ad-free, independent journalism, please consider a paid subscription here on Substack.
Fall 2023: The Art of Repair
In a culture addicted to novelty and fast profits, the humble art of repair has declined almost to the point of extinction. But it’s not too late: In this issue, we’ll delve into the history of planned obsolescence, and the reemerging ethos of restoration. From the patient hands of watchmakers, piano restoration experts, and veteran appliance repairmen, to the story of a young French woman who got her country to ban planned obsolescence, we’ll explore what it really means to create, maintain—and truly value—a world built to last.
This issue is supported in part by a grant from the Culture of Repair. Interested in sponsoring an upcoming theme or project? Contact us at publisher@craftsmanship.net.
Our Readers Share Their “Repair Rants & Raves”
RAVE: My Swiss-made Felco pruners. Felco will replace every single piece of these pruners! I’ve had them for decades.
RANT: An IKEA TV stand that broke under the weight of the TV. I replaced it with a $12 oak table bought at a yard sale, which I still have.
- Patricia M. (New London, CT)
This issue is all about "The Art of Repair," and we want to hear about the belongings you love most for their usefulness, beauty, and longevity—and those you love to hate. We'll share the best entries. Submit yours here.