Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

I won't connect my dishwasher to your cloud

jeffgeerling.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

171–180 of 682 posts

Re: I won't connect my dishwasher to your cloud

#171

Post by dredmorbius »

geerlingguy wrote: post #78
klipklop wrote: post #56

I feel Jeff should have bit the bullet and just returned it. I know it's a waste of time, but these products have to be rejected at retail. Retailers will eventually get tired of the extra support burden and demand manufacturers drop stuff like this. They should all get hit with the open box problem from the returns.

I'd love to take a stance like that, but the reality is I've already sunk about 6 hours total into the whole operation, and I have quite limited time for my home maintenance + improvement projects as it is (my bench currently has a new faucet set to fix the leaky bathroom faucet, as well as an exhaust fan to fix the broken one in our bathroom... and those are just the things that are currently broken , not the dozen…

Assuming you're American, your state's attorney general office is responsible for consumer complaints.

It's free to file an issue, and in most cases you'll get a direct response. The issue here is product fails to perform as expected, and resolution is that the manufacturer remove the unit at their cost and give you a full refund.

Arranging an alternative purchase is your issue.

And contact your local news media as well. They love stories, particularly if there's existing footage they can air. VNRs (video news releases), the original "fake news" became a hot item in the 1990s Because Reasons. And you've already got the footage and audio.

Re: I won't connect my dishwasher to your cloud

#173

Post by criddell »

geerlingguy wrote: post #138
loteck wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Jeff's opposition to this technology is not based on principle, rather it is based on the question of convenience of a few hours of time. A lot of commenters reacting to this story based on principle should take note of how many others gripe but roll over for it. Certainly, vendors are taking note of that.

My hope—which has been borne out by some correspondence I've already gotten today—is that some other consumers may be spared the experience I had. Since I have a tiny bit of reach online, I figured I'd use it FWIW to maybe impact Bosch's sales by like 0.000001%. Because that's better than 0.000000001% :)

We are going to be replacing our dishwasher in the next year and Bosch is off my list for now. I’m a little afraid I’ll find out that a dishwasher wanting engagement is the new normal.

Our current dishwasher is a GE and it does a great job washing dishes, but has developed a few quirks that leads me to believe we are living on borrowed time.

Re: I won't connect my dishwasher to your cloud

#174

Post by kube-system »

consp wrote: post #145
dorfsmay wrote: post #131

Bosch! I ran into the same situation. I specifically told the salesperson I didn't want wifi, and they told me it's only if you want it to operate from your phone. I was done installing it and got rid of the packaging by the time I read that it needs to use their website for some functions. Beside the fact that I doubt the store would take it back after using it for a week or two and havi go no packaging, I had no ti…

> I specifically told the salesperson I didn't want wifi, and they told me it's only if you want it to operate from your phone. Don't know where you are but in most countries that would be a valid reason to return it at any time you found it out. They lied to get your money, willfully is almost never a requirement.

Yeah, misrepresentation is basic contract law stuff that would be generally valid in the US too, but:

1. there's probably no evidence of it

2. the workers at the store will deny it

3. the workers at the store likely have no grasp of contract law and will insist on whatever their store policy is

4. hiring a lawyer to return a dishwasher is a waste of time for most anyone knowledgable enough to know that this is a valid legal issue

Re: I won't connect my dishwasher to your cloud

#175

Post by criddell »

dsalzman wrote: post #121

This is why I buy “commercial” appliances when I can. My speed queen washer and dryer each have two knobs and a start button. Thats all you need. I doubt I will need to ever replace them.

Last I checked, commercial dishwashers are very loud. I’ll trade some longevity for an appliance that is easier to live with.

Re: I won't connect my dishwasher to your cloud

#176

Post by nextts »

teruakohatu wrote: post #161
averageRoyalty wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Australia you're not required to keep the packaging, and the company you bought it from must cover your shipping costs. This would constitute a Major Problem[1]. 1. https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/problem-with-a-product-or-...

That is a really good system you have over there. I suspect the company would just respond “the dishwasher is working fine the owner just refuses to enable features as per the manual”.

Take them to court then! Get a group action or just small claims it. Do a CC charge back. They really can't deliver garbage.

In 10 years that appliance may not connect to your wifi if the scheme has changed e.g. 2.4Ghz is dropped or something.

Re: I won't connect my dishwasher to your cloud

#177

Post by cyanydeez »

gigel82 wrote: post #111

I get everybody wants to lock you in, but how do we incentivize manufacturers to add local support? Bosch is already high-end so it's not price.

vote for better regulations. Capitalism doesnt care about your actual needs. They just raise the costs to offset the loss of "poor" consumers.

Re: I won't connect my dishwasher to your cloud

#178

Post by dbg31415 »

Like, sure—I can download a new ringtone for my dishwasher… but you know what the dumbest thing about internet-connected appliances is?

I still can’t set my oven clock without doing some weird finger kung-fu combo. Why? WHY?? Why can’t it just sync with my phone or, I don’t know, the internet—like literally every other clock on every other device does now?

And don’t even get me started on the range hood. Why can’t I have the light turn on automatically, say, an hour after sundown? Or have the fan kick in when the gas turns on? That would actually be useful! But nope—no timer, no automation. The only feature my Wi-Fi-enabled range hood has is pure, unfiltered disappointment.

Or take my fridge. Why can’t it send me a photo of what’s inside while I’m at the grocery store? Or tell me how often (and when) I open the door every day? I know it’s tracking that data—just show me a copy instead of feeding it straight to Zuck!

Honestly, the features these things come with right now are all pretty much useless. And the worst part? Leaving them connected means someone could just push a kill command one day that bricks my garbage disposal. “Oh, profits are down this quarter? Time to end-of-life that model from 6 months ago!”

Re: I won't connect my dishwasher to your cloud

#179

Post by nothercastle »

ryao wrote: post #112
geerlingguy wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd love to take a stance like that, but the reality is I've already sunk about 6 hours total into the whole operation, and I have quite limited time for my home maintenance + improvement projects as it is (my bench currently has a new faucet set to fix the leaky bathroom faucet, as well as an exhaust fan to fix the broken one in our bathroom... and those are just the things that are currently broken , not the dozen…

Do you have a Home Depot or Costco near buy that offers free installation and haul away? Most people who get these appliances have the store do all of the work you did.

It’s cheap but it’s not available for 1+ months so you have to live without a dishwasher for a month. Idk about your family but mine would struggle for more than a week without one

Re: I won't connect my dishwasher to your cloud

#180

Post by hollerith »

nothercastle wrote: post #179
ryao wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you have a Home Depot or Costco near buy that offers free installation and haul away? Most people who get these appliances have the store do all of the work you did.

It’s cheap but it’s not available for 1+ months so you have to live without a dishwasher for a month. Idk about your family but mine would struggle for more than a week without one

If only there were some temporary method to get dishes clean without a dishwasher. Because it is temporary, it would be acceptable if the method required more human labor than the dishwasher method.
Post reply on HN