I bought a Food Saver in 2005 and paid $129.99, not including bags. A few days ago, it failed to seal and extract air so upon examination, I noticed the "foam rubber gasket" is broken. I called Food Saver for this necessary item--that is an essential part to making my $130.00 machine operate. They don't make it anymore but said they would sell me a new one for $130.00.
I said I have an expectation of quality products that are fairly expensive to work for many years. Regarding the parts that deteriorate over time, like a foam rubber gasket, they should make them for at least 10 years after the date of manufacture.
Is it too much to ask? I think it says a lot about the manufacturer of Food Saver. I am really dissatisfied because for a $3.00 part, I now have to replace the entire machine!
What are your expectations regarding products you buy that you use frequently and cost over $100.00?
TIA
Yep, I totally want everything to cost next to nothing and last forever!
(But really, if you divide $130 by 8 years, that's a pretty reasonable yearly Food Saver budget, right? Maybe time for a new one?)
:(
My trash can i bought at Christmas is a dual bin, stainless steel type, it has two pull out bins one for recycling one for trash. It was 120.00. Ive never spent that much on a trash can in my life! But i figured it would outlast 5 trashcans and save me a lot in the long run. NOT SO. The bins are cracking and one of them has handles that have completely broken off. YOu would think theyd sell just the bins, but no, i cant find them anywhere.
i swear i still have some of my parents stuff from the 70s and it is better quality than what we can buy today.
Hi Diana,
I understand where you are coming from, but I think your expectations are unrealistic. The usual iteration rotation for anything that is electronic usually averages 3-4 years, with 5 years being the max.
My cell phone had a version 2 out within a year. So, if anything had gone wrong I would have been 'upgraded' to the newer model.
Software (thinks Windows operating systems: 98 / 03 / XP / 07) is a usual iteration of 2 years before the last becomes obsolete.
With cars (and things that cost over $10,000) I think they continue to make parts that will fit the newer model (or you have to get them from a junkyard / auction if they are no longer manufacturing the items).
Best Buy is now offering trade-ins for newer models at 2 years from purchase. Which means that is THEIR expectation of how long you should expect to want to keep an item you purchase.
That sucks though. I feel your pain.
Frustrating, to be sure!
But, as someone mentioned...anything electric has a finite lifespan.
As for the replacement part--eBay is a wonderful thing!
Our 6 yr old dryer is not holding up as well as the one it replaced that came with the house. A lightbulb is out now, and we just deal with it. But it's NOT THAT OLD! Crazy. I think they don't make things to last the same as they used to.
There is nothing worse than paying for something and it not doing exactly what it is supposed to do. I get upset when the internet provider is on the fritz at home and thats minimal expense each month.
Back to your question, you state you bought it in 2005, so that's almost 8 years old. I agree if you used it frequently it should have lasted. Most rubber gaskets fail do to lack of use, so not sure how often you used it.
I believe the price of these has come down over the years, or maybe try another brand. good luck
look on ebay....they sell some sort of gasket on there for foodsaver. If not sell your foodsaver on ebay as is, i sell broken things and get reasonable prices, there are ppl out there that want to fix things for themselves.
Too bad for your loss!
I have high expectations...regarding most things.
My DH works in the large scale printer industry.
He has been told by manufacturers themselves that they could make parts that would last decades...but instead they make them in cheap plastic so that they break after a few years.
Apparently, there is not enough money in making high quality products anymore. :(
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A foam rubber gasket that lasted for 10 years would be priceless, but the nature of it makes it pretty much impossible. Also, from what I see from other people's blogs/comments on the internet, the gasket problem is a common one.
Try eBay for the replacement part or Google the part and see what comes up, you just may be able to find the part you need. For instance, I Googled it and while I don't know the model number you have I found one for $1.59:
http://www.thepartsbiz.com/FoodSaver-Vacuum-Food-Sealer-R...
And my expectations are: If I paid $130.00 for something 6 years ago that would come to less than $22 per month, about $.75 per day, and if I divided that between the members of my family even less. If it had helped me save and store food and thus save money on food I would think I got my money's worth : )
Same as yours. I would AT LEAST expect that they have a replacement part available for a reasonable cost, in your case the foam gasket for under $10.
Would foam weatherstripping that you place around doors do the trick?? The trick would be to get it to be continuous with no gaps.
Six years for something that is only $130 is beyond expectations and that is probably true for most. That would be why they no longer make the gasket for that product, you are the only one looking for it.
I have bought things that have replaceable parts like the gasket. What I do is buy extras when I first buy the product. That way the worst that is happening is I am throwing away the three dollar gasket if something else breaks.
No one should expect a company to make parts for small appliances beyond three years.
I would start looking on ebay and other places for a replacement that works then you'll have the part you need.
I would look at it kind of like a monthly expense. It looks like it costs roughly 1.80 per month, maybe more if you saved food in the process. Is it worth it when you think of it like that? It would be nice if you could find the gasket though, good luck!
Yes, you are expecting too much. They don't even make ovens to last more than 8 years now adays, and they cost a lot more!
If things don't break, companies can't make money. Ain't capitalism great?
