Are Your Appliances Built by Slaves? The Ugly Truth Behind Cheap Manufacturing
May 21, 2025
As an appliance repair technician, I spend every day inside homes across Central Ohio. I see which machines last and which ones don’t. I see the cutting corners, the brittle plastic, the failing electronics. And lately, I’ve been seeing something even uglier behind those failures:
Slave labor.
It’s uncomfortable to say—but it’s true. Many popular appliance brands rely on components made in parts of the world where people are forced to work under threat and coercion. And every time we buy a machine with parts from these regions, we’re helping that system continue.
Let’s break down why that matters—and what you can do about it.
What Counts as Slave Labor?
We’re not just talking about low wages or long hours. We’re talking about real, documented forced labor—especially in places like Xinjiang, China, where ethnic minorities are detained and compelled to work in factories under surveillance and punishment.
These factories don’t just make cheap toys or fast fashion. They also produce:
Electronic control boards
Wiring harnesses
Motors and fan assemblies
Plastic tubs and molded components
In short, the very parts inside your dishwasher, fridge, washer, and dryer.
Why It Hurts You — Not Just Them
Forced labor is immoral, period. No one should be enslaved to build your home appliances.
But even beyond that, there’s a practical reason to avoid these products: They’re lower quality.
When someone is working against their will, they’re not thinking about craftsmanship. They’re trying to survive. That leads to:
Fragile parts that break during normal use
Cheap electronics that burn out quickly
Poor soldering and weak assembly
Machines that fail within months of installation
And when those parts fail, you call someone like me—and you foot the bill.
How Can You Know What to Buy?
Unfortunately, appliance brands rarely advertise where their parts come from. But that doesn’t mean you’re powerless. Here’s what I recommend as someone who sees hundreds of machines a year:
✅ Stick With Brands That Audit Their Supply Chains
Some manufacturers do care. They publish audits, avoid high-risk regions, and build more of their products in areas with labor standards.
Brands I trust based on current supply chain transparency:
Whirlpool Corporation (includes KitchenAid & Maytag): U.S.-based, strong compliance record, known for ethical sourcing
Miele (Germany): Builds in the EU, with strict labor regulations
Bosch / Siemens (BSH): Another EU-based brand with clear public ethics policies
❌ Be Cautious With No-Name or Off-Brand Appliances
If a product is drastically cheaper than everything else, there's probably a reason. In many cases, that reason is exploitation.
How You Can Take a Stand
- Ask questions: If you're shopping for a new appliance, ask the retailer where the brand sources its components. If they can't answer, that should concern you.
- Spend intentionally: Even if a brand costs a bit more up front, you’ll often save money in the long run with fewer breakdowns and better parts.
- Support laws like the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act: These measures help block goods made with slave labor from entering U.S. supply chains—but they only work if customers care.
Final Thoughts
Appliances should make your life easier—not someone else's life a living hell.
At Blue Dragon Appliance Repair, we fix machines. But we also believe in fixing the system. That starts with calling out injustice and choosing products built the right way—by free people, paid fairly, and trained to do the job right.
We believe in freedom, quality, and craftsmanship. If you do too, start asking where your machines really come from.
And if they break? You know who to call.
Need help choosing a reliable, ethically-built appliance?
Call us anytime or send us a message. We're happy to point you in the right direction—even if you’re not a customer yet.
Blue Dragon Appliance Repair – Our No-Nonsense Warranty At Blue Dragon Appliance Repair, we don’t hide behind legalese or fine print. We believe in fixing things right — and standing behind our work with integrity. 2-Year Warranty – Parts & Labor Every repair we perform is backed by a full 2-year warranty on parts and labor. If the same part fails for the same reason, we’ll fix it again at no charge. No exclusions. No tricks. No “limited coverage” gimmicks. If we fixed it and it fails again, it’s our responsibility — period. What If Something Else Breaks? Life isn’t always simple. If an unrelated issue pops up after our repair, we’ve still got your back. Within 12 months: You pay only for the new part — we’ll cover the labor. Between 12 and 24 months: You pay the part cost and a basic service call. No full labor rate. No new repair fee. This way, you’re never left thinking, “I should’ve just replaced the machine.” Return Visits & Recurring Issues If we have to return for anything related to our original repair — even if it’s borderline — you won’t pay another service call fee. Whether it’s a fluke wiring issue, freak pest damage, or something weird that no one could’ve predicted, we’ll still stand by our work. We’re not just fixing appliances — we’re building trust. Exclusions & Common-Sense Limits To keep our policy sustainable and fair: Warranty does not cover issues caused by misuse, neglect, pest infestations, power surges, or external events (unless we choose to waive the fee anyway). Warranty is void if the appliance is moved, altered, or tampered with by another party. We reserve the right to deny coverage if there’s evidence of abuse or intentional damage. The Fine Print (Still in Plain English) We prefer honesty over legal gymnastics. But here are the standard terms: Scope : Warranty applies only to the specific repair and the parts we installed. It doesn’t extend to unrelated components unless stated above. Damage Exclusions : No coverage for cosmetic issues, physical damage, flooding, pest intrusion, or manufacturer defects unrelated to our repair. Transferability : Warranty is valid only for the original customer at the original service address. Parts : We use OEM or high-quality equivalent parts. We’re not responsible for factory defects or discontinued parts. If a part fails under its own manufacturer warranty, we’ll help you process the claim — but labor may not be included unless covered under our policy. Right to Refuse Service : We reserve the right to deny warranty work in cases of repeated abuse, fraud, non-payment of previous invoices, or unreasonable service demands. Goodwill Clause : If something falls outside the exact policy but feels unfair, we may still offer a solution at our discretion. We lean toward fairness — not finger-pointing.
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