Are you buying now because you anticipate higher prices?

[JeffS7444]

....and one would hope that as many people as possible know who exactly the elephant in the room is.

I blame everyone who thought they could get quick fixes for complex problems.

 

[ta240]

Subscription services have become the new bane of digital life. I can’t believe I can no longer even buy a friggin app, but have to becomes part of a subscription service. Hard to keep track of them all. Which I think is by design.

It has gotten to the point of "want remote start to work on your car? then sign up for a subscription"

 

[JeffS7444]

Not buying a cloud-connected dishwasher:

 

[Somafunk]

I bought a power pack and expansion battery. I did a lot of research on manufacturers. Bluetti was the first to go to LiFePO4 cells which are heavier but have less problems with fires than other lithium ion chemistries. The

A mate has a self converted camper van (ford transit) and has recently bought a bluetti battery pack for it, about the size of a small microwave with multiple outlets and he says it’s one of the best things he’s bought for his trips away. Quite expensive compared to others on the market but you get what you pay for with these things

 

[DMill]

I’m a Canadian and I used to buy gear from the USA and have them sent to one of those cross porter pick up services, where I would cross the border and pick it up in the USA and bring it back home.

Now I would not only consider the higher price of the gear due to the tariffs, but the wisdom of even crossing the border, given all the shenanigans going on there.

Half my family lives in Toronto or Ottawa. I live in New York about an hour from the border by car. Crossing the border has always been a time consuming pain in the ass. I used to stress about 3 Cuban cigars on the way home. I’d like to think spending time with my family is not going to be such a chore that we no longer spend time together. We typically meet in the summer in the Adirondacks but a few cousins are already opting out.

 

[restorer-john]

Not buying a cloud-connected dishwasher

We recently bought a new Bosch Series 6 dishwasher. I had no interest in the app and thought it was a stupid gimmick. You certainly don't need to use it.

I installed the connected app just for fun and had a play with it. It's absolutely awesome and I was wrong.

Maybe if the dude in the video hadn't bought the cheapest poverty pack special, he'd get all the functionality and the displays he desperately wanted. And he can always install the app, set the favourite he wants and then delete the app for his basic machine.

The display on ours:

We named her Beryl.

 

[PierreV]

A mate has a self converted camper van (ford transit) and has recently bought a bluetti battery pack for it, about the size of a small microwave with multiple outlets and he says it’s one of the best things he’s bought for his trips away. Quite expensive compared to others on the market but you get what you pay for with these things

Well, mine is as dead after a bit more than two years... Batteries seem to be OK (they charge) but it doesn't turn on anymore...

 

[EJ3]

Subscription services have become the new bane of digital life. I can’t believe I can no longer even buy a friggin app, but have to becomes part of a subscription service. Hard to keep track of them all. Which I think is by design.

Subscription service is designed to keep an ongoing stream of income to the company's. Governments like it a lot because it creates an on going stream of taxes (or whatever else you want to call the names of the money that they get from us).
At any rate, there are a lot of entities promoting this form of enterprise due to a predictable income with less overall effort on the company & governments part once you are in (I think the cell phone companies and cable TV companies where the first to do it well. But, before that government & utility companies (power & water).
Eliminate competition, consolidate and lock in the clientele. Note how solar & went from individuals powering their own properties to part of "The System".
It is also why the government is actively working to restrict the quality and availability of free over the air TV/Radio, etc.
It bears watching who is promoting what rules & what their motives are.
I am a minimalist as far as subscription services are concerned. {Probably as far as a lot of things are concerned) And do a lot of "free" (not free, that's why there are advertisements) over the air FM radio & TV.
Over the air HD TV is certainly good enough for me. Although the TV will be lonely a lot (I have not owned one since 2007 [I'm thinking about getting one again within the next 12 months, though]).
I purchase Albums, CD's DVD's, Blue Rays, $K of ones that I want to watch more than one time, as that is not that many and is (for me) much more economical & convenient than any other way.
I guess that, compared to other's, I am outside, enjoying the natural world more than most (the phone is usually nearby [IF I am in an area that has phone coverage] for my convenience (others may not be able to get through on it & that is mostly just fine). I know where I need to stand & how to hold it to get a signal (IF that is possible where I am).
Yes, subscription services are a major bane.

 

[EJ3]

Not buying a cloud-connected dishwasher:

My stove tells me to connect the app once in a while.
If it stops functioning because I don't do so, it will become part of the so called environmental problem, as a kiln will melt it into a hunk of useless junk and then it will be some sort of piece of art. (possibly yard art).

 

[Liberal Democracy]

We recently bought a new Bosch Series 6 dishwasher. I had no interest in the app and thought it was a stupid gimmick. You certainly don't need to use it.

I installed the connected app just for fun and had a play with it. It's absolutely awesome and I was wrong.

Maybe if the dude in the video hadn't bought the cheapest poverty pack special, he'd get all the functionality and the displays he desperately wanted. And he can always install the app, set the favourite he wants and then delete the app for his basic machine.

The display on ours:
View attachment 444688

We named her Beryl.
View attachment 444689

View attachment 444690

View attachment 444691

View attachment 444692

Fortunately humble pie keeps especially well in a bosch fridge.. unrivaled temperature regulation.

I'm still more fond of Harry though.

 

[EJ3]

A mate has a self converted camper van (ford transit) and has recently bought a bluetti battery pack for it, about the size of a small microwave with multiple outlets and he says it’s one of the best things he’s bought for his trips away. Quite expensive compared to others on the market but you get what you pay for with these things

I have one of these type of devices in every room in my home (some small ones for just being able to run lights & some large ones for the refrigerator, freezer & washing machine).
And, because of tree cover, I could survive without AC (which doesn't run much). It rarely snows (about every 7 years we get a dusting of snow that is usually gone in a couple of days).
If worst came to worst (and it has), I have a couple of generators that could recharge them, as well as run things if necessary.
There is the occasional flood or hurricane that causes issues for a day or more (I was once without power from the grid for 21 days here. And another time for 4 months on an island overseas).
So I always have 90 days of food, water, prescriptions, toiletries, etc on hand and everything else that I may need.
A prep my parents taught me in the very late 1960's (I was 12-14 then) that has stood the test of time.
People think that it is funny that I am prepared (and usually have been throughout my life):
but I am usually living well, listening to my stereo (taking warm showers, etc.) and just being comfortable during most times of duress for others.

 

[Somafunk]

Well, mine is as dead after a bit more than two years... Batteries seem to be OK (they charge) but it doesn't turn on anymore...

Ahh bugger, is there not a 3yr warranty?, or perhaps you’re covered by fair use consumer rights of good warranty, we are in the uk for up to 6 yrs on stuff

 

[EERecordist]

A mate has a self converted camper van (ford transit) and has recently bought a bluetti battery pack for it, about the size of a small microwave with multiple outlets and he says it’s one of the best things he’s bought for his trips away. Quite expensive compared to others on the market but you get what you pay for with these things

Bluetti sells direct, the others sell through retal channels. Bluetti has sales all the time, which is when i buy. They have some teardowns on YouTube, they seem to be well built.

 

[Somafunk]

Whether direct or not they still have to comply with fair use warranty which is 6yrs in uk I believe.

 

[Esprit]

I installed the connected app just for fun and had a play with it. It's absolutely awesome and I was wrong.

I have had a Siemens dishwasher (sister of the Bosch) for years.
It never occurred to me to use the app.
Same goes for the LG washing machine.
The apps I use are the ones for heating and air conditioning with Daikin because I can control everything when I am not at home.
Thanks to your post I will install the apps for dishwasher and washing machine.

 

[Mort]

Thanks to your post I will install the apps for dishwasher and washing machine.

thread delivers.

 

[diablo]

My fridge, freezer and dishwasher didn't come with apps. Mind you, they will be celebrating their 25th birthdays soon.

 

[EJ3]

My fridge, freezer and dishwasher didn't come with apps. Mind you, they will be celebrating their 25th birthdays soon.

Nice! I would not be expecting that longevity out of newer ones, apps or no apps.
I am the type of person that tries to have a parts source available before bad things happen to stuff that I own. The older they are, the more difficult it is to source New Old Stock parts but I have found spending the time ahead of failure to find a place that has them (or has parts that were good, which were stripped from gear that failed for other reasons), to be handy.
May you continue to have the good fortune that you have had.
I service mine appliances annually, unlike many.
And have had similar good fortune.

 

[Mart68]

My fridge, freezer and dishwasher didn't come with apps. Mind you, they will be celebrating their 25th birthdays soon.

Mine are even older. Although I never bothered to plumb the dishwasher in, it just fills the gap in the fitted kitchen.

No idea what I will do when the fridge and washing machine pack in, I would run a mile from any appliance that needs to connect to the internet. What an utterly pointless complexity that is - at least for the end user. No doubt as he says in the video at some point they'll want $5.99 a month subscription off you.

Until they stop the service entirely to make you buy a new one.

He says typing this on new laptop which replaced a perfectly good older one that won't accept Windows 11.

 

[PierreV]

Ahh bugger, is there not a 3yr warranty?, or perhaps you’re covered by fair use consumer rights of good warranty, we are in the uk for up to 6 yrs on stuff

I didn't check. I always assume the standard 2yr warranty applies. I may open it and check the circuit, more fun than arguing with after sales, shipping it back, etc...