Are the devices as sturdy as manufacturers and sellers claim? 60 Millions assessed their reliability through a new study.
Our household appliances break down less often! This is what our new study of 6,000 consumers reveals, published in the September 2023 issue of 60 Million consumers (buy • read).
This large survey allowed us to calculate a reliability rate (from the number of breakdowns on our respondents’ devices less than ten years old) as well as a satisfaction rate (ease of use, performance, noise level, etc. .) for seven classes of devices: washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, built-in ovens, vacuum cleaners, food processors And espresso coffee makers.
Household appliances more reliable than two years ago
We also took into account, for each class of device, the availability of spare parts. After examining our respondents’ questionnaires, the 2023 vintage obtained an average reliability of 88%, compared to 84.8% for our study carried out two years ago.
Three more points compared to the previous edition, that doesn’t seem like much. But, in detail, certain brands are experiencing strong growth. And, ultimately, all classes of devices show better reliability. Brand recommendation scores are also on the rise, while we have rated the criteria for assessing the reliability rate and availability of spare parts more strictly.
These good results do not really surprise Flavie Vonderscher, head of advocacy for the Stop Planned Obsolescence (Hop) association. “The arrival in 2021 of the repairability index, a score out of ten listed on labels, which assesses the repair potential of many electronic products, has encouraged professionals to manufacture more durable devices, she analyzes. Even if some do not yet make enough effort…”
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Breakdowns and lack of spare parts
Among the poor performers with a breakdown rate greater than 20%, we include Arthur Martin (washing machine), Vorwerk (Thermomix food processor), but also Dyson, weighed down by the perfectible reliability of its cordless vacuum cleaners. “Our studies indicate that more than half of stick vacuums are used every day, compared to 30% for sleds, which could explain your results,” says Camille Beurdeley, general delegate of the Home Appliance Brands Group (Gifam).
More efforts could also be made on the spare parts part. In small household appliances, it is not uncommon to come across a manufacturer marketing spare parts for a period of five years or less, which we consider very insufficient. The dunce in this category being Silvercrest and its Monsieur Cuisine robots, the components of which are made available for only three years. A duration similar to cordless Dyson vacuum cleaners purchased before October 2022. After this date, and this is to be welcomed, the availability of spare parts – excluding batteries! – increases to thirteen years for around thirty devices (listed in point 3.1 of the manufacturer’s general conditions).
Low prices, big problems?
“This lack of availability of spare parts in the small household appliances sector is partly explained by low prices, which encourage consumers to buy a new product rather than repair their broken appliance,” deciphers Erwann Fangeat, coordinator of the digital and sustainability center for the Ecological Transition Agency (Ademe). This is why a “repair bonus” was put in place at the end of 2022. It is supposed to reduce the repair bill for around thirty classes of devices.
All types of products combined, the availability times of spare parts must now be mentioned, according to article L. 111-4 of the Consumer Code, which is not always the case. If the Darty and Boulanger sites generally display the information, it is more difficult to find at other merchants such as Cdiscount. More transparency would be desirable.
Household appliances: here are the most reliable brands
Washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators, ovens, vacuum cleaners, food processors, espresso machines… Which brands have the fewest breakdowns? Which offer the most spare parts? Which ones still have work to do? Discover all the results of our survey in the September 2023 issue of 60 Million consumers (buy • read).
Journalist: Adrian from San Isidoro. Design engineer: Alain-Henri Duval
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