Consumerism pressure is real. I do think after you reach that point of seeing how much useless or cheap crap you own, you get really turned off by it all and hone in on what you really want and need. The last few years the air fryer has been trendy. Friends can't believe I don't have one. Family wants to buy me one as a gift. I don't want it, don't need it, and people don't understand that. I know in a few years that would be sitting on a shelf in storage and, like you, I'd be thinking about the money wasted anytime I see it. We're in a heavy consumer society.

It's all a crapshoot. I'm happiest with super cheap purchases that accidentally end up being BIFL, looking at the $1 solid brass hose nozzles I picked up at Big Lots years ago. I'm most disappointed when I spend a lot and the product doesn't live up to my expectations (1990s Electrolux vacuum, decades later I'm still pissed!). I like to plan good purchases, but if the choice is not absolutely clear, buy cheap and hope for the best, knowing I can replace it once or twice for the same cost as the better option, meanwhile hoping an even better option comes along.

That's one of the advantages of having a Miele or other nice vac vs a Hoover or whatever off the shelf of a big box store. They service them, honor the warranty, etc.

Do you have a Miele dealer you could take it to? Your local dealer should be able to diagnose the problem and let you try a loaner to see if you actually want to fix it or return it.

Another vote for the EZ-DUZ-IT. It's not BIFL, I've had one fall apart after years of near daily use, but still easily outlasts others.

In other recommendations, I have a pair of old Tevas, over 20 years, still going strong that I wore daily for a good portion of their life. I can't speak yet to longevity, but I choose my Taos Trulies over Birkenstocks most days.

I dont think so. But if you decide to do that, I'd recommend pony up for the real leather. I bought a pair of the new birkibuc, some kind of synthetic suede-like mashup. I feel like they'll fall apart like "vegan leather" eventually. EDIT: I'd like to change my answer to "maybe". I don't know about repair costs, but you should definitely get your money's worth without repairs. I'm a little biased because I'm learning I just don't like Birkenstocks. I had a suede pair in the 90s that lasted at least 5 years before I passed them on still in great shape to a friend. I bought a new pair recently and kind of regret it. All in all, if $100-150 shoes last me more than 3 years, I'm satisfied.

Yes, we've had to have a metal fabricator shop create some stuff for ours.

Is that a King? We use one my husband has used his entire life. It's getting hard to find replacement bricks and grates. It was our only heat source for a time. Waking up at 4 am and running to stoke the fire to warm up the house in the morning and sprinting back to the warm bed to wait, people take modern heating conveniences for granted.

Mine is a CT650 blender. I assume it's one of their more basic blenders. It's full size and not a food processor, so probably not what you're looking for, but the motor is strong and the moving bits and plastic parts aren't wearing out at all. I feel like it's solidly designed and if I were in the market I'd definitely look at their lineup.

Second looking into Ninja. I'm a small appliance destroyer. I received a Ninja blender as a gift around 2016 and it's designed well. It's used regularly for smoothies, soups, marinades, and occasionally for frozen mixed drinks. Fingers crossed, it's showing no signs of wear or weakness anywhere.

I'm 7 years into my McKinley Leather Furniture couch and with dogs and kids. I think I'll be tired of it long before it wears out. I'm from what was once the furniture capital of the world in North Carolina but it's hard to find good quality furniture anymore. Even the recognized better brands are actually cheaply made overseas garbage now. Search carefully and you can still find some good US manufacturers. It'll cost a little more, but it's the built to last stuff.

I've heard Bosch is the way to go for a new one.

I'm sure my new one saves water (in theory, but since I have to handwash before I load now, maybe not), but it certainly must use more electricity with it's circuitry and 3 hour cycles.

As the owner of a new dishwasher, do everything you can to never let that one die! New ones are quiet, but they don't do a good job.