Buying appliances: would you pay more now if you save later?

These are impressive differences, and with electricity costs rising it is important that we think about running costs when purchasing fridges, freezers and anything else that runs continuously or is in use for extended periods. Some manufacturers deserve congratulation and others need to get their act together.

I am convinced that the way forward is to promote the fact that people can save money by choosing energy-efficient appliances. Mentioning the environmental benefits falls on a lot of deaf ears.

I had a Whirlpool large fridge freezer for 10 years before it broke down, I had a Beko large fridge freezer as recommended by Which for for four and a half years, replacing parts all the while,I suggest the public and you draw your own conclusions about Beko, utter rubbish

Could the author explain why seven years was chosen for payback comparisons? Frdiges and freezers should be lasting very much longer than seven years and it ill-behoves Which? to produce figures that imply seven years is expected.

In fact it would be very helpful, as noted in many posts, if the long term durability of items was something Which? covered. My fridge and freezer are both around 20 years old and this despite the rough and tumble of three moves.

At the beginning of Connect we who joined were promised access to the data. This never happened which is more than a shame but a scandal. The surveys could easily be improved so actual data on brands and even models was available to the subscribers.

As you know, Patrick, some of us have volunteered to help to improve Connect surveys, to no avail. I don’t think I will bother to answer any more unless I have the opportunity to see all the questions so that I can decide where best to add information.

I had a fridge for around 25 years and a freezer for 34 years. I should have replaced the freezer a year or two earlier because the electricity consumption had risen due to a worn compressor.

Many people replace appliances before they stop working. It’s depressing to see a collection of white goods sitting next to the skip when people have a new kitchen fitted. I would be surprised if many reuse integrated appliances and these are not likely to interest charity shops.

Not everyone takes appliances when the move home. The previous owners of my house scrapped a fridge, a freezer, a washing machine, a tumble dryer and would have disposed of the dishwasher if I had not asked them to leave it.

Another reason for scrapping white goods is the fact that the extended warranty has expired. Quite a few people have told me this. The most depressing reason I’ve been given is that ‘it’s quite old’, referring to a five year old tumble dryer, apparently in working order. The owners had kept the previous Parnall dryer for 30 or 40 years, but that was before they had inherited quite a lot of money from their parents. Yet another reason is that cheap white plastic can start to yellow in a few years. In the rental sector, a property is more attractive if it has been decorated and has new white goods.

I’m not convinced that white goods are quite as unreliable as is sometimes claimed.