"Ivan" wrote in message
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"Radiosrfun" wrote in message
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"Ivan" wrote in message
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"Radiosrfun" wrote in message
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Like most everything else - Quality Control has gone to hell - too. Its
all about the "buck" - never mind how you get it.
Years ago - I sent in a piece of test equipment to the manufacturere -
to be repaired and calibrated. I paid like $15 to ship and $75 for
repairs. They "supposedly" fixed it and shipped it back. I had it a
week and it did the same damned thing. So much for that. I wasn't about
to shell out another $15 to ship it again. I called the company to
complain and they told me how to fix it myself - to which I asked -
then what did I pay you for? I finally acquired a schematic and
repaired and aligned it myself.

These companies are becoming a real trip to deal with. They want top
dollar for their stuff, make it cheap and expect top dollar to repair
it. The consumer gets screwed. Lately it is more so the case - than
not.

I agree, and the way the whole world is now geared to buy and throw away
IMO almost borders on the obscene.

A classic example, about 4 years ago my wife bought me quite an
expensive electric razor. A year ago it stopped working and from memory
the last one I looked at (a very long time ago!) consisted of an
extremely simple kind of (virtually foolproof) vibrating AC powered
motor which drove the cutting head to and fro.

However on dismantling this one I was surprised to find a small electric
motor and a SOPS (self oscillating power supply) and I found out pretty
quickly that the problem was due to an open circuit quarter watt 2.2 meg
resistor, total cost to replace about two pence and suffice to say that
the razor has been functioning perfectly ever since.

Now I understand perfectly well about labour costs, which would probably
have ruled taking it to a service depot and having it repaired, but at
same time I couldn't help wondering how many electrical items are dumped
into landfills every single day, just for the sake of a couple of
pennies worth of components.. probably millions on a worldwide basis,
which to me begs the question, just how much longer can our profligate
lifestyles be sustained?


L.



When I was in Elementary School - they showed us "Film Clips" of
"Recycling Plants" - to do paper, glass, cans, etc.... Said a few existed
in the world but more to come - it was the way of the future - to recycle
and save our environment. Yet - here we are - producing JUNK - and
filling the landfills with it all - and as for "Recycling" - it is NOT
used in all areas for the "Intended" items and certainly not for
electronics. Yeah, I agree - sooner or later - we're going to have some
real problems.

One of the bigger towns near me "started" to do Recycling, but like all
"phases" - it passed. People are using the allocated color coded bins -
for other things now - much like those milk crates you buy in a store.
"Our" community has never offered recycling.



I don't know if it's the same where you are, but in one of the side
effects now beginning to manifest itself here in the UK is the
increasingly growing numbers of ancient churches having the lead stripped
off their roofs and even railways and electricity substations are also
being targeted and literally put out of action because of copper cable and
fittings being stolen. Apparently there is now such a famine of raw
materials in China that scrap metal is becoming a very big and lucrative
business.



L.



Some areas a few miles from me have had copper stolen from homes (plumbing,
etc) being built, siding stolen off the homes being built "and" lived in.
Theives went to places where stockpiles were kept - too some of it. Some
were even stealing the bronze flower vases off of Cemetary markers. Was it
for "China" - I don't know - but doubt it. Probably more like "drugs". Some
idiot tried his luck here ripping out plumbing from a home of a
"vacationer" - and let the water run - doing about $10,000 worth of damage.
He was busted in a week. Our cops caught him as he was making last minute
reservations to go to Florida. That was his first and last stint - here in
town.

L.