What is up with manufactures these days

[cSpike]

I have an old style clam where the base is two fold over sections about6" in depth. the skin stretches over the frame and hooks on a small plastic hook. these hooks break. I just tried to order more hooks and they don't make them anymore. So I ended up using small marine hammock hooks. Shack is still in great shape yet I can't get parts.
Then this weekend the mr heater starts to not light right away. I was told to get a new thermo couple. Its a model 3000 and was bought way back when I got the clam (could be 20 yrs not sure). Guess what. Mr heater can't even give me a part# for the damn thing. So now I have to replace the whole heater just because the thermo couple went? 

If these people are going to produce products that last this long the least they can do is support them with parts!

Spike

[water walker]

It has become a throw away world.  Fewer people know how to, or want to, fix anything.  Something breaks, they throw it out and buy a new one.

[cstolp]

So now I have to replace the whole heater just because the thermo couple went? 

If these people are going to produce products that last this long the least they can do is support them with parts!

Spike

It probably isnt too hard to retrofit a thermo couple from another source.

[eyedoktr]

I guess if you're that upset about it, the next time you buy something, buy a spare and never use it except for replacement parts. What does the $/year of the heater work out to? Not much if you've had it 20 years.

Things don't last forever. When they break, move on and buy the newer technology. Do you really expect a manufacturing company to keep all those parts in stock for 20, 30, 40 years?

[sturgeon]

It has become a throw away world.  Fewer people know how to, or want to, fix anything.  Something breaks, they throw it out and buy a new one.

Yeah its terrible how we are major consumers and just buy new stuff, Terrible for the environment, look at the landfill site they are at there maximum capacity because of the way society is always buying new stuff instead of fixing.

It is cheaper to buy new in most cases but I would try and fix stuff if I can just cause of the environmental aspect. If we want to continue to have these nice lakes to fish on we have to take care of the Environment.

Sturgeon

[cSpike]

I guess if you're that upset about it, the next time you buy something, buy a spare and never use it except for replacement parts. What does the $/year of the heater work out to? Not much if you've had it 20 years.

Things don't last forever. When they break, move on and buy the newer technology. Do you really expect a manufacturing company to keep all those parts in stock for 20, 30, 40 years?

That upset? Didn't know you could tell that by a post.
 Anyway I was just commenting on how long those two products lasted for me and the fact that I can't get any parts for them. As for the heater, yeah technology has come a long way....not. It's a propane heater, not a computer. The new model looks exactly like the one I have. In fact if I was a betting man I'd say the parts from the new model would work fine on my older model. But instead of figuring that out I get some wet behind the ears lazy worker that finds it easier to just tell me over the phone that they don't make parts for them anymore. I ask them for a part # to find it somewhere else maybe and I get we don't have any documentation on that anymore. Now I was born in the day but it wasn't yesterday. Of coarse they have documentation on it. Everyone that ever built anything has it documented. He was just to damn lazy to look it up. Another pet peeve of mine: Useless tech support.

I guess if I was and eyedoktr I could afford to replace everything at a whim. I'm not so I can't. BTW thanks for supporting the economy (jk).

Oh yeah if I'm really upset I TYPE LIKE THIS:).

[eyedoktr]

CaptSpike. I am NOT an "eyedoktr". That is a screen name. I actually have been working at a large photographic company for many (38+) years. All I was trying to say is that if an item has served you well for that many years and you were happy with it, what's wrong with buying another? If I get even 5 years out of most of today's products, I feel that's good. I replace most things (cameras, t.v.'s, trucks, fishing electronics, etc), much more frequently than every 5 years, much less 20

Yes, I have alot of toys, but I've worked hard for them.  Everyone has to set their priorities.

[cSpike]

CaptSpike. I am NOT an "eyedoktr". That is a screen name. I actually have been working at a large photographic company for many (38+) years. All I was trying to say is that if an item has served you well for that many years and you were happy with it, what's wrong with buying another? If I get even 5 years out of most of today's products, I feel that's good. I replace most things (cameras, t.v.'s, trucks, fishing electronics, etc), much more frequently than every 5 years, much less 20

Yes, I have alot of toys, but I've worked hard for them.  Everyone has to set their priorities.

I know what you were saying. It was the condesending way you said it. I never said you were and eyedoktr (eye doctor), only meant "if I was you".
All I was saying was "if a product can last that long why not support it with spare parts". I'll have you know I bought a new heater this weekend. Its a Poulin and looks EXACTLY like the MR. Heater I have. I mean if I measured it with verniers it would be the exact same size and same parts. So I ask why then can't someone tell me if I can use the same parts from the new model on my old model?
Why?
Cause they want me to spend the $50 for the new one and they don't have to look anything up while getting paid for doing nothing. Where can I get a job like that?
Spike

[Bean]

OK. Let's keep this civil, before it gets blown out of proportion. 

[esox slayer]

Now I can't say for sure on this thermocouple deal...but I do know in all my years working for an LP company that "most" of them could be replaced using a universal thermocouple....any hardware store should have them in varying lengths...and the ones we used had about 4 different additional parts included in the package for a wide variety of mounting...this may help....just a suggestion..Esox