Doesn't any company make a decent microwave oven any more?

[LiberalEsto]

Our LG countertop microwave died after 1 year, 1 month and 3 days. It stopped in the middle of cooking. I called the 800 number on the oven and was told to take it to a particular appliance repair place. This repair shop had very poor Yelp reviews, so I am not going to waste money on it.

We bought the LG oven from Best Buy after returning another microwave that lasted only a month or so. Can't remember the brand. Before that we had a GE microwave for a couple of years. but the interior started rusting.

We seldom use a microwave, just popcorn and the occasional frozen dinner or cup of water for coffee. So it's not as if it got heavy use. When the LG died, I was using it to thaw and warm some homemade dog food for our two small dogs.

After looking at Consumer Reports and Amazon and doing various online searches, I could not come up with a single medium sized model that I would bother buying. Even the best-recommended ones had numerous one-star reviews complaining that the ovens stopped working after a short period of time. It seems like microwaves have become disposable items, which is crazy, because we don't need to be dumping thousands of them in landfills.

It seems like this is true of many other consumer products. Things are made like crap and the companies don't care. They are not held accountable unless there is some serious hazard.

[hollysmom]

1. I had my first microwave/convention oven for 20 years

after it died one day, I bought another, it lasted just until the warranty expired. bought another one, but it eventually would not shut off, on a third one now, could not find a convection/microwave big enough, they are all pretty small now. maybe if I search on the internet, but not in the stores. I had to buy a separate toaster over. still to small for a turkey like my first would have cooked.

a lot of products are built to fail so that we have to buy new, a disposable society in a place were we ar running out of places to dump stuff. I would rather pay more for one that would last. PS my first microway giant convection over cost 500 dollars abut 25 years ago and was worth it.

[Duppers]

2. I've a Maytag over-the-stove that's going on 17yrs

Last edited Mon Mar 21, 2016, 06:12 PM - Edit history (1)

of constant use. It's door is opened and closed up to 20xs a day, heating coffee, hot tea, leftovers, etc. It stays so busy that we need a 2nd one to keep up.
It was expensive, over $550, but well worth it. After reading your post, I'm dreading buying another one.

[Fumesucker]

3. Thrift stores, flea markets, yard sales...

I have one of these Samsung compact round front microwaves and other than the inside lamp finally burning out it works great, I got it at the flea market for three or four dollars. People throw stuff away and sell stuff that's still perfectly usable.

[mopinko]

8. ^^this

thrift shops are the way to go for this stuff.
i am still kicking myself in the ass for spending big bucks on a coffee marker that is a piece of shit. the grounds overflow all.the.time. and the built in grinder is a royal pain it the ass. clogs up about every third pot. i dont even use it. i use my trusty ebay find grinder.

everything is junk these days. the good old good ones are out there.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. You are right, they are just disposable items anymore.

I don't have any suggestions, but will look at the one at work Wednesday when I am back in the office, because it gets lots of use and has held up well. And it is a more recent buy.

Another reason for me to respond here is to see if anyone has suggestions, since my microwave was bought in 1980 and is still working, except that the light is burned out. Who cares. But I keep thinking that one day, it will die and I will be up shit creek, like you seem to be now.

[GeorgeGist]

5. We've had a mid-size Panasonic for 3 years without any problems.

[csziggy]

6. I like my eight year old Daewoo microwave

Got it at Target for under $50. My requirements are that it be at least 1 cubic foot, 1000-1200 watts, have a handle to open the door (instead of a button), and a real key pad rather than pre-programmed buttons. I wasn't really looking for one, but this Daewoo had everything I wanted, looked good and was on sale so I bought it. I have no regrets about buying it. It works good, is easy to clean and does everything I need it to do.

[Phentex]

7. No. They are all basically crap now...

I think they have become like ink jet printers: disposable. And it really sucks. Like you, I don't use it that much but it's too convenient for the quick reheat. I feel like I need to have one.

[CCExile]

10. I've had the same with coffee makers...

Cheap ones actually seem better than expensive ones.