Cheap microwaves are cheap junk (or, you get what you pay for these days)

[Mosca]

We got some new kitchen appliances in late 2018. We looked at microwaves, and figured that 1) they’re all about the same, 2) they all have about the same features, and 3) they all cost about the same. So we picked one we liked the look of and moved on. I don’t remember how much it cost, but they’re all between $100 and $200. Not a lot, considering. It’s not $20, but it isn’t $2000 either.

I’m going to back up a second. I got my first microwave oven in 1981, and it was a hand-me-down from my mom, who probably got it 4-5 years or so before that. That microwave lasted until we moved into this house, in 1991; then the microwave we replaced it with lasted until 2018. None of these were expensive, relative to the market; the first one probably cost the most, actually, because microwaves were new tech then. But the second one was in that $100-$200 range. I mean, that’s what they cost, that’s what they’ve always cost.

So this is what I got right now:




That’s right. Rust. inside a microwave that’s less than 5 years old.

That’s bull. My freakin’ car is 10 years old, and sits outside in Pennsylvania weather, and there’s no rust on it.

Im going to send the photo to GE. I don’t expect them to do anything about it, but someone should at least hang his or her head in a tiny bit of shame. And, also, I know they’re all made in one or two factories somewhere in Asia and then rebranded. But still. This is bull.

[Jerod Broussard]

While that does stink. Park your car in a garage and keep the garage heated during the winter. It'll give that microwave a run for his money.

I was given a small, HEAVY microwave in 1994 when I moved off to college. It had been in storage at my grandparents for years. That dude lasted me past 2010.

[texastweeter]

Mine is $600‐$800 regularly.

[Oak Smoke]

When we first bought our house we were getting $800 monthly electric bills. We had an electrician come in and check where the greatest draws were. Turns out they were everywhere. We replaced both heater-AC units with new heat pumps inside and out and both hot water heaters because they were full of lime. We also replaced the water softener to stop the lime build up. We now have electric bills that run from $275 to $400 a month. The changes will pay for themselves quickly.

[Mosca]

We don’t have AC, just a couple bedroom window units. We have baseboard heaters. One room is closed off, and we only turn on the heat in the basement when the outside temp drops below 10°, to keep the pipes from freezing. At 10° I also plug in the heat tape on the water line in the garage, and also a small space heater near the water heater, that’s where the pipes usually freeze; at entrance, and at the water heater.

The flip side is there’s no gas bill, and electric in the summer is like $40.

[Sid P]

You’re right, that’s BS.

Your post is bumming me out because I’m afraid I’ll be going through the same thing. Our home from 1987-1991 had a GE Spacemaker microwave that was several years old when we moved in, and it always worked perfectly. We remodeled the kitchen of our new home in 4/92, and intentionally bought that same model. That microwave died right before Thanksgiving, meaning it lasted 30 years and 7 months.

We bought another GE, but it’s ridiculous flimsy and just doesn’t feel like a quality piece.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

We have a Frigidaire it was cheap, everything works great except the exhaust fan... but I've never seen a microwave hood vent actually do anything anyway.

[jfmorris]

Anyway, when I flipped the kitchen, I actually vented the microwave hood through the cabinet above it, using the rectangular vent on top, took a 90 into the wall, then a 90 up inside the wall, and into the attic. The bear was me up in the attic cutting out a 3x10 section or whatever it was of the header of a non load bearing wall to make that happen. Then it transitions back to the round duct in the attic.

Obviously up and out is not an option if you have a 2 story house.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

jfmorris yep 2 story, personally I hate sink and dishwasher on exterior wall in any house where temp even tickles 35F during the winter, if they'd put the sing where it should be the oven and microwave would be on exterior and life would be good

[jfmorris]

Oh yeah - our sink and dishwasher are on an outside wall, so it meant leaving the water trickling and the cabinet doors open at night when we were down in the single digits. Same thing with the master bath sink. All other plumbing is on interior walls.

I guess they think folks like to sit and look out the window while washing dishes, so they put the sink under a window in most kitchens...

[jfmorris]

I've not seen rust, but have seen some filthy microwaves over the years due to folks who just don't care not covering up their plate and letting stuff spatter everywhere.

Right now we have a Frigidaire microwave/convection/hood combo that we in part chose because the inside is all stainless rather than painted or powder coated. Stays looking nice and is very wipeable if it gets messy. And probably shows the dirt and spatters less than a white interior would.

No appliances are made like they used to be. Parts are cheaper, less reliable, and have a shorter lifespan. All the sheet metal keeps getting thinner and flimsier. Heck - even my Weber Genesis II (bought in January 2019) is a good example, or the Spirit II I helped my son assemble in 2018. The metal is cheap and flimsy compared to my 2002 Genesis.

[Jfrosty27]

Ha! Just what we’re going through. Remodeled the kitchen in November of 2018. New Frigidare appliances. Last Friday I reached for the handle on the microwave and it pulled right off. And the way the door is built, you cannot open it without the handle. Wait. It gets better……

So I call the store where we bought it to arrange a service call. No problem there. The service guy calls me same day and says “I can fix it but that model is discontinued and I can only get the entire door assembly. $475 all in. The damn thing only cost $299 when I bought it! So of course I’m not fixing it. Go to the store and they find a GE model that looks exactly the same but for the labeling. It’s an over the range model with outside venting and an exact fit to the old one. Same mounting bracket even. Yup. $299 plus tax. Anyway, it gets installed tomorrow for $425 all in including hauling away and disposal of the old one. Hanging those things is a bitch so I paid for the installation. What a world…..

[jfmorris]

Ouch! I've got a Frigidaire, but thankfully see no way for the handle to separate from the door. And if it was gonna come off, my kids would have destroyed it during the time before they all got married and moved out in 2018-20. Even now, when they come to visit, I get onto my youngest daughter for slamming the microwave door...

[Michael_in_TX]

After 15 years our above-stove microwave, a GE, died. So we've been replacing it (what an odd verb phrase) with table-top models. We're on our third in five years. The first two were cheapest off of Amazon. This one is an LG and has lasted the longest.

[jfmorris]

I would go to a counter top model, and put in a regular range hood, but my wife hates to lose counter space. She is constantly moving counter top appliances to cabinets, pantries, the laundry room. If its not in use, aside from the coffee pot, she doesn't want it taking up space...

[Mosca]

We’ve always been countertop.

[Michael_in_TX]

jfmorris Absolutely. The built-in microwave/range hood is recessed such that it only covers the back burners. I'd really like to have a hood that covers all the burners.

[Mosca]

I just did a Google search, and apparently this is common. They actually make microwave safe paint to repair it. Most of the rust in ours qualifies as surface rust, but the dark spot on the right is pretty bad. I sent a query to GE, I’m not expecting anything but who knows.

[Spinaker]

My Micro has been out of commission for 6 months now. I honestly do not miss it.

[Santamarina]

Ours has been out for 1-2 months, and each day that passes my desire to repair it goes down. Not sure we need it 99% of the time.

[Spinaker]

Yeah, I kinda forgot that I had one. It was kinda like not having a TV, weird at first, then I got used to it and forgot what it was like to have one. Santamarina

[FireMan]

Use my nuke mochine a lot, at least a couple times a day. Especially after Doc Blonders interview awhile back.
I also live in a differnt world as some you may have deduced. My lectrick bill last month was some change under $37.

[Huskee]

I'm averaging $250. Sigh.....

[texastweeter]

I have a kitchenaid pro
ventahood microwave and convection oven all in one. Love it. 7 years old and going strong.

[captainlee]

I have the Kitchen Aid Pro wall micro and Pro wall oven. Both flawless after 16 years.

[Old Glory]

We have the Kitchenaid wall Micro and oven as well. 10 years now. Knock wood.

[jfmorris]

We have a Frigidaire "Pro" convection/microwave/good combo. Don't use the convection mode as often as we probably should - maybe once a year when we need to bake more than fits in the regular wall oven.

[gboss]

I just want to point out that a $200 microwave in 1981 would be $682 in today's dollars. A $200 microwave in 1991 would be $441 today.

If you're paying $200 for a microwave today, that's half or a third of what they used to cost in adjusted dollars.

The rusting isn't even happening just at the forming bends, that's pretty bad. Probably made from the heads or tails of a steel coil or someone was just asleep at the pickling bath and somehow it got through QC.

[texastweeter]

Thats not taking in account that the reduction due to manufacturing either.

[FireMan]

An added note, paid 75$ fer mine & works just fine while I’m at eleven 0 ninety nine. 🕶

[Alan Brice]

Our first set was a GE dbl stack black n chrome, came with the house in 2003. When that micro puked, I went to Habitat 4 Humanity n purchased the exact same thing for $75. Finally that and the matching oven died and nothing the same size could be found. Mind you these are built in and my buddy and I built the cabinets. I found a GE dbl stack that I could shoehorn in the hole with a bit of whittlin'. Marked down from $3000 to $2000. Micro is a big dog! 20x8.5x17 deep. Going fine since 2016. We probably use that more than any other appliance. I just refuse to spend if I do not have to. (squeek when I walk)

[STEbbq]

We are on our third microwave in 10 years. I think they are all junk so I just find one that I like and cross my fingers. I paid $450 for this new one as it looks fancy.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sku/5920300.p?skuId=5920300

Of course, the damn thing is now $400. I regret this post already.