Why are Washing Machines more expensive than TV's here?

[rajagainstthemachine]

In my investigation I have found that a decent washing machine can cost 3 times as much as a decent TV.
This inequality in pricing seems bizarre, does it mean that people watch TV more than wanting clean clothes?

All this started when the washing machine I had broke down and I had to buy a new one and the pricing for for these products were astonishing.
Normally washing machines are cheaper than TV's in most countries.

[BillyB]

Washing machines cost between 500-2000 here. A decent TV will cost upwards of 4-5k. Doesn't seem like an anomaly at all, but then we all define quality in different ways

[beppi]

Side-loaded washing machines (with glass door) are more expensive than TVs, because they clean the laundry AND provide a more interesting programme to watch than Singapore TV stations!

[sundaymorningstaple]

^^This!

[rajagainstthemachine]

@Beppi Rofl!

the cheapest side loader that I saw was about 380 upwards , a decent 32 inch LED costs about 400+ thats ok, but say you want a nice side loader it will cost somwhere like 1300-2500 its bizarre because those same side loaders cost much lesser in other countries, this is what is confusing.

some weird maths this is
from the courts ad on newspaper:
bosch 8 kg side loader = 1800
50inch fully HD LED toshiba TV = 1300
cheapest LED TV = 265 $


1 bosch 8kg side loader worth 1800 = 6 Cheap LED TV's?
food for thought

[zzm9980]

By weight and size, a washing machine is much much larger and more expensive to ship. I've always assumed a large reason for the high costs of so many things in Singapore is shipping costs: small market, low demand, bad economies of scale.

That said, TVs cost less than washing machines in the US also.

[zzm9980]

Anyway, since there is such a price range in TVs and washing machines, it's hard to really give you a good comparison. Who is to say X size TV is comparable to Y model of washer?

Anyway, I went to Bestbuy.com (rough US equivalent of Courts or something, good variety, average prices) and compared washers to LED TVs. If I look at Washers, sort by Best-Selling, and the look for the cheapest side-loading, I see a Whirlpool for $629 US. If I do the same for LED TVs, there is a 32" LED TVs for $179 US.

[rajagainstthemachine]

zzm you explanation is plausible, maybe the trend nowadays is to watch stuff on classy TV's and have a shitty washing machine

[zzm9980]

zzm you explanation is plausible, maybe the trend nowadays is to watch stuff on classy TV's and have a shitty washing machine

why buy washing machine? got maid kena handwash leh

[Wd40]

In the 2nd hand market its opposite. Washing machines are dirt cheap you can get top loading Samsung 7 kgs for $50 where as TVs hold their value pretty well.

I guess the fact that transportation of the washing machine is a pain, causes its value to plummet. I would never buy a new washing machine in Singapore, rather buy a cheap hardly used one.

[rajagainstthemachine]

your comments are right about 2nd hand washing machines, its a buyers market out there, and then after buying a brand new one I noticed a place which sold old ones by the dozens and I went to check the place out of curiousity and found that I could buy a fairly decent one around 180+ but then again some were in pretty disgusting condition, but if you do look hard enough you can get a really nice one.
I might consider a 2nd hand dryer though.

[rajagainstthemachine]

zzm you explanation is plausible, maybe the trend nowadays is to watch stuff on classy TV's and have a shitty washing machine

why buy washing machine? got maid kena handwash leh

maid run off with bangla boy leh

[zzm9980]

In the 2nd hand market its opposite. Washing machines are dirt cheap you can get top loading Samsung 7 kgs for $50 where as TVs hold their value pretty well.

I guess the fact that transportation of the washing machine is a pain, causes its value to plummet. I would never buy a new washing machine in Singapore, rather buy a cheap hardly used one.

Electronics (circuits and such) generally do not break over time. Mechanical moving pieces do. A TV is composed primarily of the former, a washing machine the latter. Most people recognize this, thus the depreciation.

[zzm9980]

your comments are right about 2nd hand washing machines, its a buyers market out there, and then after buying a brand new one I noticed a place which sold old ones by the dozens and I went to check the place out of curiousity and found that I could buy a fairly decent one around 180+ but then again some were in pretty disgusting condition, but if you do look hard enough you can get a really nice one.
I might consider a 2nd hand dryer though.

How do you know what's decent and what isn't? By how shiny the outside is, or how clean the lint filter is? Or are you actually opening it up and looking at the motor, belts, springs, etc and inspecting them for fatigue?

[Strong Eagle]

your comments are right about 2nd hand washing machines, its a buyers market out there, and then after buying a brand new one I noticed a place which sold old ones by the dozens and I went to check the place out of curiousity and found that I could buy a fairly decent one around 180+ but then again some were in pretty disgusting condition, but if you do look hard enough you can get a really nice one.
I might consider a 2nd hand dryer though.

How do you know what's decent and what isn't? By how shiny the outside is, or how clean the lint filter is? Or are you actually opening it up and looking at the motor, belts, springs, etc and inspecting them for fatigue?

Most people aren't going to let you take their washing machine apart to check it out. What matters is age and rust. Nothing older than 3 years, 2 is better. Signs of rust anywhere means there will be rust everywhere.

I successfully bought used washing machines for two places... both were still running when I left.