It is cost-cutting that was enabled by technological progress, so all of the above. They've traded repairability for cost, which was a good trade. The time and expertise of the refrigerator repair man are on an inexorable rising trend, just like all other human labor. By making the refrigerator cheap and disposable, they've avoided those costs for the average consumer.
If you want a refrigerator built to last forever, they are on the market. They cost $10k+ and require regular professional maintenance. Restaurants prefer these. You don't need one in your house.
They've traded repairability for cost, which was a good trade.
Such a good trade that they publish mean time before breakdown figures, right? And please don't pretend that the only alternative to a fridge with a more durable compressor is one that costs $10k+ for restaurants. My fridge was a reasonably priced consumer model, and has been functional for about 10 years now without any maintenance, so clearly its possible to build one for under $10k and without requiring regular maintenance. It's just hard to distinguish those models for ones that will break after 2 years.
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It is cost-cutting that was enabled by technological progress, so all of the above. They've traded repairability for cost, which was a good trade. The time and expertise of the refrigerator repair man are on an inexorable rising trend, just like all other human labor. By making the refrigerator cheap and disposable, they've avoided those costs for the average consumer.
If you want a refrigerator built to last forever, they are on the market. They cost $10k+ and require regular professional maintenance. Restaurants prefer these. You don't need one in your house.
Such a good trade that they publish mean time before breakdown figures, right? And please don't pretend that the only alternative to a fridge with a more durable compressor is one that costs $10k+ for restaurants. My fridge was a reasonably priced consumer model, and has been functional for about 10 years now without any maintenance, so clearly its possible to build one for under $10k and without requiring regular maintenance. It's just hard to distinguish those models for ones that will break after 2 years.