that's correct Sir.. I worked in the retail industry for many years and today their parts are not durable.. some remain metal but that's typically structure.. and yes.. years ago there were lifetime warranties.. then they moved to limited lifetime, now it's mainly 1 year only..

and today.. KitchenAid, Maytag and Westinghouse (to name just a few) are all manufactured by the same company.. and relative to my point earlier that companies are buying their competition while keeping the name brands separate, thus they create their own competition with all profits going to the one (or mother) company now..

Dammmm..... never thought of that. Clever way to monopolize on the money

clever yes.. but deceptive none the less.. the quality has changed on each.. you're only now paying extra for the NAME.. sadly.. so I'd suggest buying a lesser brand, as you'll get the same quality as the known brands, without the hefty 'brand' price

What ever happened to " Customer service"
Instead of being greeted by a human voice, you're greeted by a phone prompt, then connected to someone in another country who doesn't speak English, who then connects you to another company that doesn't service the product you called about.....Go Figure

that's a bone of contention for me as well..

the reason you're talking to "foreign" workers that barely speak English (if at all) is cuz it costs way less to use their services than to use North Americans.. most companies prefer paying $2/hr for a rep as opposed to paying $15-18/hr (the minimum wage) in the states/Canada instead ..

Don't worry, you will be able to choose the voice type you like most, male, female, etc. like some Sat Navs.

More seriously. I can see with the advancement of AI all these offshore Customer Service agencies will reduce and possibly close, replaced by a Chat bot. Billions are being spent on these very sophisticated AI systems like Chatgpt, but dedicated to a business or particular sphere. I recently heard on the tv news, how students here in the UK are now taking in to consideration the future advancement of AI when choosing their course of study at university. With some courses already affected by fewer student enrollments. So the professions will not be excluded from these advanced AI systems, areas such as finance and law, limiting future prospects in what are very well paid jobs, because far fewer professional people will be needed in those types of businesses in my opinion.

Start prepping for the next virus.... it's coming soon.

Times are sure a changing....we are moving to a communist kinda state OR we are moving to Utopia....in both scenarios we are gonna have to do nothing ....its all rest and recreation all the way....ha ha !!!

There is growing fear here in the UK. The coming advances in AI and its introduction into all kinds of businesses will cause unemployment to increase, the fear is by how much it will increase. If this were to be very high, the welfare state system is in serious danger of collapse, unable to meet the required benefit payments to all those becoming unemployed.

And here I am, totally happy even though I have to make do with welfare.
To be honest I cannot even afford to buy clothes, go to a hairdresser, get new shoes, go on holiday or even daytrips.
Hell, I can't even go out to dinner!
So what the hell are you all whinging and whining about with your negativity?

I got a roof over my head, a garden that's too big to maintain properly but I do what I can and it is beautiful. Loads of flowers & roses.
My 3 cats are happy to have their domain :)

If it wasn't for my mum helping me out I wouldn't have been able to keep my car, which I need since I live in backwater country with as good as non-existent public transport.
Not sure how I have to sort it when she eventually passes.
The car is 17 years old and will need replacing in the very near future. How? I haven't a frigging clue.
Yet I'm happy.

I got food on the table even though I have to be mindful how much I spend. My cats gets fed properly.
I got my paints, canvases and my inner Light.

I think ya'll have to stop watching the news and do some Soul searching. Find some inner Light & joy.

seriously? you DO know where the money for welfare comes from I hope.. from tax paying people with jobs that work their azz's off so you can sit back and be "totally happy" with what you have.. so.. while you feel "happy" about your situation.. just remember.. you're living the 'good' life off others (including your mother.. wow) busting their butts so you can have a roof over your head, food in your stomach, food for your 3 cats, and money for your paints & canvases..

after being hit by a car, I could've been on welfare but I chose instead to create my own "business" in order to pay for myself and my kids needs (not wants) while being a handicap no less.. I even managed to buy my own home cuz I chose not to waste money on myself.. but I paid my taxes and earned my every dollar.. and thankfully I taught my children to stand on their own two feet and be independent financially.. while earning their own way in life..

you're a grown azzed woman who claims to have all this abundance of knowledge, why not use that to create your own income, instead of living off the labors of others?

and FYI.. they have every right to whine & complain.. cuz they're paying for you, and others like you, to have an easy life.. but if they all lose their jobs.. that money would have to go to them.. so where would that leave you?

First of all no one was so called whining they were merely stating what life was like and what they thought life was becoming... But yet you seem to want to take the Topic a whole different route...shshs

Humm I must agree with Zee. As a mother that raised two kids on my own bought my own House by myself after my Divorce.. Yes I did actually go on Welfare for 6 months after my divorce till I could figure out what I needed to cut out in order to make it..But never reapplied for it after that time.. I learned to manage my money..

Heck I made it on a waitress salary... And never asked anyone for help..And at 67 I'm still working taking care of my self financially.

But yet your on the system with others giving you their hard earned money for you to live and enjoy your fruits in life many don't have.. Sounds like you are bragging..

So if you call it whining from those that work and want the World to be a better place and just discussing how the world was and how it is becoming ... then you might be part of the problem...