Bad Experience with Fil Appliances

welcome to the Philippines!!  Yes many things here are not meant to last mainly china produced items and the repair shops >> well they get parts from Manila I am still waiting for a part for my washer it has been 6 months thank God it can still be used but we must control the water flow

Yeah, toasters fail, hot water heaters fail.. anything with a heating element. Microwaves too. So I hear 'ya.. Sony TV is doing fine though.

I bought her an expensive LG washer a few years back - hoping for the best. It plays a nice tune at the end, haha. My Maytag at home doesn't do that. And we have Samsung Fridge. It's kind of cool also - you can configure the upper or lower to be fridge/freezer or make it all one. I think the Korean appliances are better built and have more creativity put in them but we'll see how they hold up.

Sure sometimes depending of bad quality, but often breaking by irregular electricity.. Do you use electricity stabilisator?

China make both crap and good quality. Many "western" brands with good reputation are made in China 

coach53 wrote:

Do you use electricity stabilisator?

Thanks for informing something I never heard of before. I did a brief Google check and see them for sale and some of them do a whole lot of different things.

The actual stabilizing 220V seems to be on an individual device for each appliance. (unless you want to run extension cords with a lot of outlets)  Whole house stabilization seems beyond my means (cost+installation). I guess anyone considering building a house in the Philippines should include this in the construction.

Yet I'm not sure this is the problem but I can't eliminate the idea.

Do you or anyone else have experience with a stabilization device?

Bob, for TV's there is often a fix. We had a 42 inch Samsung purchased about 12 years ago, after 6 years it started getting slower to turn on, lots of clicking (relays throwing) A little "google" research online, pulled it apart, replaced all the power supply capacitors and perfect for another 5 years,,,,,,, then died.
A four year old 55 inch TV we shipped when we moved started to not turn on properly, would say loading for a minute then shut down. I left that one with Ben who is a little more savvy and again "google" turns out it simply needed a software upgrade and perfect now. Next will be the 65 inch curved screen I suppose.
We have been here for 2 years now and yes replaced 2 pedestal fans recently, a little WD40 in the bearings helped but not for long. Perhaps the salt air is the problem,,,,,, yes it is.

As for warranties, ha. I remember buying a toaster and kettle in SM when I first moved here 8 years ago,,,,,,, They are by the way still working but when Purchased them the sales lady unpacked both items, put water in the kettle and turned it on, what are you doing I asked? "To show you it's working Sir" But they are under warranty, "no Sir" "that's why we show you now that they work" (then your'e on your own Pat Malone). She did the same with the toaster but no free breakfast. It's the same with light globes.
Ben had a new screen and battery put in my 5 Y/O iPhone 6 three months ago, it died on Friday but a 4 month warranty, after 6 hours in a queue waiting to get the transponders for the tolls installed then braved the iPhone repair man,,,,,,,,, Yes sir leave the screen and we will send it to Manila to see if it's covered by the warranty,,,,,,,, did you drop it or step on it sir? No, It's a glitch in the screen and you know it, come back in 3 days and we will have an answer, Ben called me, probably had me on speaker phone, I said would you like me to come there and deal with that, silence, No Steve they will put a new one now.

I don't think you can blame Filipino's for the failure of products purchased as most are not made here. What we can whinge about is so called warranties, after sales service, customer satisfaction and the typical "fobbing off" approach that wears many frustrated consumers down to a point where they give up. I won't even get into the problems we have had with a new car purchase, another time and story but all based on the above.

OMO.

Cheers, Steve.

Enzyte Bob wrote:

coach53 wrote:

Do you use electricity stabilisator?

Thanks for informing something I never heard of before. I did a brief Google check and see them for sale and some of them do a whole lot of different things.

The actual stabilizing 220V seems to be on an individual device for each appliance. (unless you want to run extension cords with a lot of outlets)  Whole house stabilization seems beyond my means (cost+installation). I guess anyone considering building a house in the Philippines should include this in the construction.

Yet I'm not sure this is the problem but I can't eliminate the idea.

Do you or anyone else have experience with a stabilization device?

Yes my walking stick,,,,,, not yet and joking Bob.
I have monitored the voltage here for close to 2 years and it's pretty stable from +3 to -5 volt variation but my equipment is eyes on and doesn't record spikes which can be nasty, we have surge guards on all our electronics and to date no problems, perhaps lucky? We have scheduled power outages every month or two for some hours or a whole day, we have breakdowns in the system from time to time with no warning and every thing is still working, time will tell. Surge guards are inexpensive so look at them.

We also have a lot of ceiling fans for 2 years now and all good and will install more. less cheap pedestal fans on the floor.
BTW we have 2 Panasonic water heaters in bathrooms that were here when we purchased the house 4 years ago and working perfectly,,,,,,,,, touch wood.

Cheers, Steve.

bigpearl wrote:

Bob, for TV's there is often a fix. We had a 42 inch Samsung purchased about 12 years ago, after 6 years it started getting slower to turn on, lots of clicking (relays throwing) A little "google" research online, pulled it apart, replaced all the power supply capacitors and perfect for another 5 years,,,,,,, then died.

OMO.

Cheers, Steve.

Hi Steve. . .Saw that fix on youtube about replacing the capacitors in the power supply for many brands some time back.

Although I have repair experience (a licensed Extra Class amateur radio license). I'm not aggravated enough to do the repair. The TV works fine then turns itself off and reboots at various times during the day. Sometimes reboots 6 or 7 times before it stays on.

I'm not ready to dig as far as looking for the values of the capacitors and Then trying to find replacements.

I know somewhere in one of our many Balikan Boxes is my soldering iron. (my wife has unpacked and repacked many of our balikan boxes from the states.) Some real good goodies are still in those boxes.

Enzyte Bob wrote:

coach53 wrote:

Do you use electricity stabilisator?

Thanks for informing something I never heard of before. I did a brief Google check and see them for sale and some of them do a whole lot of different things.

The actual stabilizing 220V seems to be on an individual device for each appliance. (unless you want to run extension cords with a lot of outlets)  Whole house stabilization seems beyond my means (cost+installation). I guess anyone considering building a house in the Philippines should include this in the construction.

Yet I'm not sure this is the problem but I can't eliminate the idea.

Do you or anyone else have experience with a stabilization device?

Many have told me they have gpt things broken by the electric spikes, which are common when brown outs and black outs ENDS.

Where I live now it isn't a problem with spikes from electric companies' brown out endings, so I don't have any central one here, but I will probably have one central or several local after I move to rural Phils.   
OR do as Filipinos = disconnect electric devices when not in use, but I believe I'm to lazy to do that all the time   

Here I only use single socket protection against electric spikes from LIGHTNING. Back when using fax machines one such protection saved mine. The type I used did cost around 12-15 USD but they are ONE time protection, the protection device get destroyed when doing it's work.
Things which have TWO  connections with both electric line and phone line have extra risk to get broke by lightning, so I had protection just at the fax mahine and internet modem back when such were used.   Nowadays I try to disconnect the router and computer when it's risk for lightning and sometimes TV, but it's less risk for one connections.

Well, seems you're continuously updating your list of bad experiences in the Philippines, and you're expecting more (A/C). So sad! Why then you choose to stay? Bet you don't have any good experiences here.

jojobesande wrote:

Well, seems you're continuously updating your list of bad experiences in the Philippines, and you're expecting more (A/C). So sad! Why then you choose to stay? Bet you don't have any good experiences here.

Well jojoesande you are a little late to the party I have about 800 posts on this forum and you would lose that bet concerning my good experiences. I imagine there might be a few positive ones.

You joined this forum on December 27, 2020 and this is your second post. Without being
insulting  (not really) do your homework before you call somebody out. Giving you the 
benefit of a doubt maybe your 3rd post will add some your positive experiences.

I'm surprised you don't tell me to go back where I come from and I'll answer that,  I come from my mothers womb and she has passed away.

Another aspect has entered into the discussion beside a voltage stabilizer and now Spike Protection

From reading about voltage stabilizer, this regulates the incoming voltage. Now on spike protectors, I have six way extensions that have spike protection from lighting strikes, matter of fact my computer, monitor, printer, OOMA Telo (voip) are all on this extension from my 110V line.

The best and easiest way to protect the whole house from lightning strikes is a MOV (metal oxide varistor). Being a ham radio operator with a lot of aluminum (beam antennas)  on towers and lots of wire antennas, (probably the tallest thing in the neighborhood (stateside) was a magnet for lightning strikes which never happened.

Now going back to stabilizers and line voltage. I had transformers short out on high power rf amplifiers. The cause was high line voltage 254.5 volts. I tried to get the power company to pay for the repair, they put a chart recorder to measure the voltage 24/7. They told me if it was 255 volts they would have. So I bought a variac to dial down the voltage. For technical purposes heat was generated in the insulation of the windings of the transformer, the insulation degraded causing a short between windings. The cause is know by I squared R losses.

Now back in the states I've had  appliances, some very old, that never broke down.
Like washers, driers, refrigerators, air conditioners, micro wave and ovens.

Breakdowns: 10 year old hot water heater, blower motor in furnace, hard drive and power supplies on computers.

I,ve always NOT wanted a washing machine, or any other machine for that matter that plays a tune. Its just so tacky

jojobesande wrote:

Well, seems you're continuously updating your list of bad experiences in the Philippines, and you're expecting more (A/C). So sad! Why then you choose to stay? Bet you don't have any good experiences here.

Perhaps if you read all of Bob's posts you would know that he said he is stuck in the Philippines,  could not afford to return to the USA.

mugtech wrote:

jojobesande wrote:

Well, seems you're continuously updating your list of bad experiences in the Philippines, and you're expecting more (A/C). So sad! Why then you choose to stay? Bet you don't have any good experiences here.

Perhaps if you read all of Bob's posts you would know that he said he is stuck in the Philippines,  could not afford to return to the USA.

I should clarify on that, I've invested "myself in the Philippines". I have two adult children in the states, both have made me a Grandfather, with my Grand Childrens ages, I could be a Great Grandfather. . One lives in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and the other in Tucson Arizona and I lived in Las Vegas Nevada.

My wife of 11 years, we met and were married in Las  Vegas. She wanting to return to her children we both retired and decided to move to the Philippines.

We liquidated everything and before moving we sent 18 balikan jumbo boxes. I took a leap of faith, selling my "Loved" Lexus SUV at a big loss. Liquidating everything at a large loss, somethings collected over a lifetime.

In the beginning, both working together, the first thing we did was pull my three stepsons out of public schools and sent them to private schools. After graduation they all went on to college, two graduated and one dropped out.

My oldest stepson studied nursing and in the nursing exam scored in the top end of the top 1%. He was on the staff of St. Lukes Hospital for two years and then was recruited to a hospital in London.

Now all the time my wife & I were in the states we supported our children $1000 USD per month and extra when they needed it.

My wifes house in Pasig City was showing it's age, it was the house she grew up in. We had the house torn down and completely rebuilt. Before moving to the Philippines we added a third floor for us, about 60 sq meters.

So returning to the states at my age with really no family would be unrealistic, because I would not want to live with my children in Pittsburgh or Tucson. I loved Las Vegas.

I have an obligation to my family in the Philippines, I am the only father my three sons have ever known and they treat me like their father, they appreciate everything their mother and I have done for them. We are all involved as a family. Also my sons wife lives with us and a nephew.

I don't particularly  like living in the Metro Manila area, my son in England has bought a nice piece of property and when the time comes will build a bungalow  for my wife, I and our maid.

Sure I could run out on them, I could return to Vegas, so the choice would be them or me. I have no reason to abandon them. So I'm stuck in the Philippines, but that is by choice.

I really don't have any past to return to, especially at my age.

My last connection to the states & Las Vegas arrived by email. The motor vehicle department of Nevada notified me that my drivers license will expire in April. The only test I would need is an eye test, if I did not want to appear than a letter from my Doctor saying I'm in good health would do.

Lotus Eater wrote:

I,ve always NOT wanted a washing machine, or any other machine for that matter that plays a tune. Its just so tacky

A wife takes her husband to a Psychiatrist and tells the Doctor my husband thinks he is a refrigerator.

The Doctor says "What's so unusual about that"?

Well the wife replies, when he sleeps with his mouth open, the light keeps me up.

Ha ha ha.. funny one.

From jojo.

"Well, seems you're continuously updating your list of bad experiences in the Philippines, and you're expecting more (A/C). So sad! Why then you choose to stay? Bet you don't have any good experiences here."

A good call jojo but an uneducated one.
What you probably don't realise is that us whinging foreigners did exactly the same in our own countries with some degree of success unlike here where most Filipinos tend to accept their lot in life and don't stand up for moral and most times legal rights, simply fobbed off.
Read my post here #6 and my better half was having no luck getting my faulty screen replaced until I got on the phone, fixed, not 3, 4  days or a week without a phone.

You have to admit jojo that after sales customer service here stinks and to get anything done you have to fight for it, what happened to "people power?" I won't get into the political debate but!

I chose to live here to be with my partner and his family, deal with the antiquated systems and frustrations we do and yes I was fully aware of how the inefficient system works here before we moved back. BTW there are plenty of cheaper and more conducive places to live than here or we simply could have stayed in Australia, away from our family here.  Allow us foreigners to have our little b*tches and the positives as I don't see any complaints about the amount of capitol we inject here helping our local community and a third world/developing economy. Bring on the 21st century to the Philippines,,,,,, please.

OMO.

Cheers, Steve.

Lotus Eater wrote:

I,ve always NOT wanted a washing machine, or any other machine for that matter that plays a tune. Its just so tacky

My Samsung washing machine plays a tune when it's done.  I like it. The tune sounds like that of an ice cream truck. Better than the usual buzzer alarm. I think it would like it more if, when it's done, it would play a song like "I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash or "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles.  it's gonna be a bright bright sunshiny day . . . for drying clothes.

The Samsung washing machine that we have now is the best one we've ever had.  So easy to use. I've been told that when automatic washing machines like this stop working, it's usually due to a problem with its motherboard, which is a bit pricey to replace.

I had a problem recently with my GE microwave. The keypad didn't work. Luckily, it's just a five-minute drive to the repair center. They replaced the keypad. They charged us PhP1,750 for the part and PhP900 for labor.

bigpearl wrote:

A good call jojo but an uneducated one.
What you probably don't realise is that us whinging foreigners did exactly the same in our own countries with some degree of success unlike here where most Filipinos tend to accept their lot in life and don't stand up for moral and most times legal rights, simply fobbed off.
OMO.
Cheers, Steve.

Agreed very much more can be achieved offcourse with rules of engagement in place.

Fil-Am Mom wrote:

Lotus Eater wrote:

I,ve always NOT wanted a washing machine, or any other machine for that matter that plays a tune. Its just so tacky

My Samsung washing machine plays a tune when it's done.  I like it. The tune sounds like that of an ice cream truck. Better than the usual buzzer alarm. I think it would like it more if, when it's done, it would play a song like "I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash or "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles.  it's gonna be a bright bright sunshiny day . . . for drying clothes.

The Samsung washing machine that we have now is the best one we've ever had.  So easy to use. I've been told that when automatic washing machines like this stop working, it's usually due to a problem with its motherboard, which is a bit pricey to replace.

I had a problem recently with my GE microwave. The keypad didn't work. Luckily, it's just a five-minute drive to the repair center. They replaced the keypad. They charged us PhP1,750 for the part and PhP900 for labor.

Our Samsung washing machine plays its regular tune also when finished, a minute later slaps us with a louder tune but unfortunately won't hang the washing out, lazy b*tch. Agree a better tune. The fridge and freezer (LG) plays a tune when the door is left open "stop right there" Meatloaf. The microwave is a pain in the derriere and continues its retinue every 30 seconds if you don't bow down and grovel.

Cheers, Steve.

bigpearl wrote:

Our Samsung washing machine plays its regular tune also when finished, a minute later slaps us with a louder tune but unfortunately won't hang the washing out, lazy b*tch. Agree a better tune. The fridge and freezer (LG) plays a tune when the door is left open "stop right there" Meatloaf. The microwave is a pain in the derriere and continues its retinue every 30 seconds if you don't bow down and grovel.

Cheers, Steve.

If I could program in a song to a fridge which would tell me that I forgot to close its door, I would pick "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler.

Every now and then I get a little bit lonely and you're never coming 'round . . . Turn around, bright eyes.

jojobesande wrote:

(To Enzyte Bob) 
Well, seems you're continuously updating your list of bad experiences in the Philippines, and you're expecting more (A/C). So sad! Why then you choose to stay? Bet you don't have any good experiences here.

Well. Compare us Swedes, we complain at "everything"     which are stupid and unfair, that's why Sweden is steady among 4 lowest corrupt countries.  (There are some corruption in Sweden too but much less.)
Example: An expected next prime minister lost the leader position in the expected winning party by investigating journalisst found she had paid chockolate    with a card ment for parlament costs. That's probably the most known corruption case among Swedes.  Lost the leader post in te party because the party expected loosing the election otherwice...
Later a minister in a government  from an other party got kicked out when it was noticed he had cheated to avoid paying a fee at 40 usd per month.

Normaly it's very low risk to be even prime minister in Sweden, sometimes he didn't even bother to have boidy guard when walkingg at evening in Stockholm city. Then he got murdered.  Still unclear by which organisation, he had protested official against big missbehavings by Sovjet, USA and South Africa. Back when it was appartheid Sweden was the only not African country taking side with Nelson Mandela..
Well. It's known one by who, but it's so sencitive so it isn't told to the public so it has to be Sovjet, USA or parts of Swedish security police, who are far right wing political.    My father did work for the government back then, he was boss handler of  their data bases sso not political. He told us in familyhe had been told who was behind the murder, but he kept that secret to his grave. Concerning some things he was very secret, he didn't even told us in family what he voted at. I guess he didn't vote for the government party he worked for    because his oppinons were more as a party in the middle supporting rural regions.

Because of this "neutality" protesting in all directions     Sweden have got te top positionsfor both organisations as Amnesty International and UN and as mediators in armed long time conflicts. 
(I played in same soccer team as the son of the Amnety internationl boss and one of my closests friends have gpt several assinments for UN to try to build up justice protection for common people after civi wars has ended.

Ombudsman is a Swedish invention.  The Philippines has one such too to try  to stop very much missbehaving officials as even governor. Common people can complain to Phils Ombudsman, but it has far to litle capacity compared to the need.

Bloody USA        Since 9-11 they have forced other countries to ridicilous bank handling "to stop terrorists" but they only make it hard for NOT terrorists...

As today I expected no problem to send my money in Sweden from house selling and part of inheritance from my father to finance buying real estate for the new business in Phils, but the bank didn't allow it!!! They demand notariced contracts showing what the money will be used to in Phils!!!  As if that would be their business!
That's big problem in Phils by rural locals are used to NOT sign until  they get the payment at SAME time...   (At least the rural locals who want to sell cheap to me   
And I want to send money  to a second purchase - not yet decided which -  at same time, plus to cover the costs for e g salaries until we start earning, so there can't be any contract about the second now...
I have a contract between me and my business partner telling what the money will be used fpr, but the bank don't allow me to send it digital to them anyway!!!  And I live far from the bank where my inheritance is.

Left to see how the idiots expect it to be solved.  I wait for a phone call  from the bank in Sweden where the money I inherited are...

coach53 wrote:

chockolate   

Sorry...but i think the movie
"CHOCOLAT" was directed by a "Lasse Hallstrom" (He's swedish & he also directed almost all music videos by pop group ABBA)
A classic movie...Go watch it buddy if you haven't already.

Fil-Am Mom wrote:

If I could program in a song to a fridge which would tell me that I forgot to close its door, I would pick "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler.

Every now and then I get a little bit lonely and you're never coming 'round . . . Turn around, bright eyes.

Get rich invent apps to tell you about the open fridge door and to let you know your washing machine has finished washing.

Samsung where are you when we need you?

Enzyte Bob wrote:

coach53 wrote:

Do you use electricity stabilisator?

Thanks for informing something I never heard of before. I did a brief Google check and see them for sale and some of them do a whole lot of different things.

The actual stabilizing 220V seems to be on an individual device for each appliance. (unless you want to run extension cords with a lot of outlets)  Whole house stabilization seems beyond my means (cost+installation). I guess anyone considering building a house in the Philippines should include this in the construction.

Yet I'm not sure this is the problem but I can't eliminate the idea.

Do you or anyone else have experience with a stabilization device?

I have no stabilization device in Ukraine and electicity can close 20 times a day. It cost 300 euros and guy who rent flat to me don't want install it.

I have no stabilisation devices/expenses in PH. only a few surge protectors shipped with  stuff from Australia, appliances purchased locally and nary a problem, our power drops randomly once a fortnight or longer for an hour or two, you can't control that sh*t and the facebook warnings every 6 to 8 weeks when the have an upgrade or tree trimming.
All our appliances are still working fine, I posted on another thread the voltage fluctuations here and all good.

As for our new to this site member, Philippines forum from the Ukraine ex Belgian.....(liubov2011) ?????
Having 20 power interruptions a day? I am in a third world country living in one of the provinces and as above we have never experienced such disorder. Mayhaps we need to re evaluate the Ukraines standings?

ALL and I repeat all our electrical tools and appliances shipped from Australia and purchased here locally are all still working perfectly, Oz and PH. have same voltage but different frequency, PH. 60 hertz, Oz 50 hertz, local stuff good, imported stuff was 50/60 hertz/cycles, everything at 50 cycles only was sold or given away in Oz  as those items would burn out/die.

I said this before but the Ukraine is never a thought for me and not on my bucket list, Belgium for me as a tourist is always fantastic, but I wouldn't live there and honestly I have mentioned this many times before both here and other sites that the Philippines was never on my bucket list, love......... No matter the country most sh*t you purchase comes from China with a limited or no warranty, sadly we deal with most things here in PH.
The choice to live here for me wasn't the failures of an appliance that was manufactured  here in PH., the USA or Australia, whatever, this is where we live and b*tch and whinge we do but I am here eating the dirt, a loving family, a quieter life and fortunately when and if an appliance dies or goes to bed we can afford to replace, is it any different to the Ukraine, Australia? God help us here in the Philippines?
Voltage regulators, save your money, we never had that in Oz nor here in PH.and will never bother. I mentioned this in another post, the kettle, toaster, sound system, TV, refrigerator, washing machine/dryer and the list goes on after 8 years are still working perfectly (TV needed repair 8 months after purchase and they came to the condo and fixed it)

I would only suggest to luibov to spend some time here, get your hands dirty, coming from Europe and perhaps never spending time in an Asian country? Not sure,,,,,,,, and their faulty appliances? Same Same as we say in Thailand.

Good luck Mate, enjoy the ride.

Cheers, Steve.

Fil-Am Mom wrote:

Lotus Eater wrote:

I,ve always NOT wanted a washing machine, or any other machine for that matter that plays a tune. Its just so tacky

My Samsung washing machine plays a tune when it's done.  I like it. The tune sounds like that of an ice cream truck. Better than the usual buzzer alarm. I think it would like it more if, when it's done, it would play a song like "I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash or "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles.  it's gonna be a bright bright sunshiny day . . . for drying clothes.

The Samsung washing machine that we have now is the best one we've ever had.  So easy to use. I've been told that when automatic washing machines like this stop working, it's usually due to a problem with its motherboard, which is a bit pricey to replace.

I had a problem recently with my GE microwave. The keypad didn't work. Luckily, it's just a five-minute drive to the repair center. They replaced the keypad. They charged us PhP1,750 for the part and PhP900 for labor.

Maybe I would make an exception Fil-Am Mum if it played this track from Kuh Ledesma https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9yaMfwYFtA