Hmm I guess you're right

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_bscfynyaE
- https://youtube.com/watch?v=UiS27feX8o0
  
  It was only a matter of time for him to come up.

Oh, man you whippersnappers. “If it doesn’t say Amana, it’s not a Radarange !™️”
- Kids these days...

There's only one company that makes microwaves.
The electronics are so particular that creating more than one supply chain doesn't make sense.
Every brand just whitelables microwaves assembled by Midea

I had a microwave-air fryer combo that broke last week. It's been agony trying to replace it because I bought it for $150, and now they're going for like...$300-$400. Even a solo microwave is like $180 for a decent one.
When did microwaves get so expensive?
- Yeah I inherited a built-in microwave with the house I purchased. The microwave model was from like 2009 but it still worked so I just kept using it. Then recently it died - turns out it is some obscure form factor that is no longer made, so if I want to replace it I have to either find "new old stock" from 2009 or I have to tear out half my kitchen. Awesome.
  
  Try a repair place. There's lots of cheap failure modes that can be fixed (interlock switches, waveguide issues, fuse replacements)
  
  My parents had this exact problem recently. They were able to buy a model of their 2010 over-the-range GE microwave from some guy who goes to Amazon warehouse auctions as a hobby. No idea how they found the guy, but they have a working one now, and it was cheaper than ripping out the kitchen exhaust system for sure.
- I'm curious what part of the world you live in, a basic microwave can still be had for like $40 in my area
  
  I spent $150 on our microwave within the past few years in the U.S., however it was name brand and a special miniature model that would leave us with more counter space. If you buy a no name brand you can still get one for under $100, but that also means ordering from like Amazon or something, which is hit or miss.
  I do think $100-$150 is reasonable for a good microwave that will last!
  
  I think it's the air-fryer part that makes it substantially more. I agree that a microwave can be bought for $40 in USA. My partner asked for an air fryer two years ago and I probably spent $120 getting one of the best ones on Amazon, but there were cheaper ones for sure. I don't know anything about prices above that or prices today.
  
  I'm in Canada!
  I could probably get a $40 no-name microwave from Walmart or something, but I don't know if it'll last more than a couple of years and I don't really want to create more e-waste (hence "a decent one" in my og comment). I've been looking at Panasonic ones because those seem to be the ones people recommend for longevity.
  Additionally, it's the combo air fryer/microwave that's troublesome to find under $250 here. I don't really have the counter or storage space currently to have multiple appliances, so my previous appliance was a huge convenience.
  If any Canadians have any input or recommendations, I'd be happy to hear it!
- A temporary solution can often be found for cheap or free in local classifieds like Craigslist or at a thrift store like Goodwill.
  Edit: whoops, didn’t see the reply. My b.
  
  No problem, I appreciate the sentiment all the same!
- When did microwaves get so expensive?
  When households started having 3+ children who won't bother cooking. Idk if is a generational thing, but I've noticed most people my age won't even bother to learn how to cook SMH.
  
  Should...shouldn't that make it cheaper?
  We DON'T live in a supply side utopia?? 😱
  
  Why do you think you can't cook with a microwave? 😭

I have because I watched 30 Rock and the first 3 seasons of that show have so much GE product integortion
- I have because I watched 30 Rock and the first 3 seasons of that show have so much GE product integortion
  Ugh don’t even get me started on all the integortioning in that show. On daytime television no less!

That's my favorite kind of product, which doesn't need ads, because it just does the thing you want for a reasonable price, a.k.a. commodity goods.
- I'd argue no product needs ads, just unbiased reviews. Ads just add bias to whatever company has the better marketing team, not necessarily the best product.
  
  Well, the products themselves might need it. Some of that garbage would not sell without an ad campaign. But yeah, for consumers, they're typically more misleading than informative, unless it is an ad for a commodity.
- Exactly, you just can't get a cheaper forge

Infomercial, early 2000's, around 1am. They cooked a Turkey.
- I only remember being told to set it and forget it. I'm interested in this microwave competition.
  
  I had one of those. For all that infomercials are functionally the worst thing in the world for getting a valid perspective on a product, that thing cooked everything they said it did, and it did it deliciously.
  
  Maybe this is it? I never paid all that much attention lol. So memory ain't too good

I've never met anyone that doesn't know that Coke exists, but they still have ads everywhere. It's older than the microwave!
- That's because cokes are consumables, so more ads might make you buy them more frequently.
  
  And they're addictive with all that sugar and caffeine so an ad can trigger a compulsion.

That's because you're an infant. Used to be lots, like this one for an Amana Radarange. I was a teenager in '75.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/296814620117
Edit: I say infant not as an insult, merely to compare your fresh youth with my advanced decrepitude.

Microwave companies twisting their nipples - and be like what are you going to do? not buy one? (laughs mynaically and spends marketing budget on cocaine)
- I don't have one. Gas stove and the ol reliable iron pan make wonders
  
  With the exception of very tight space constraints, I can't imagine anyone not appreciating the benefits of having one. Even if used rarely, the speed, non-agitative cooking mechanism, and convenience is unparalleled.
- Broke microwave? No problem, I'll get a used one.
  
  I was gonna say both of my microwaves were free hand me downs. One is a nice one that goes over the top of your stove. Apparently they had an undersized breaker because it kept tripping and blamed it on the microwave. I hardly use it but it works no issues! Free microwaves for all!

I imagine it's because their use is evident (no need to advertise what they do, since they've been common in households for the past half century), and they've likely peaked in terms of function. You can't really improve much beyond what we have now, the last great advancement in the microwave was probably the turntable for consumer units, and the moving fields that commercial units have. You're limited in power output by the outlet you plug it into, so "faster cooking" is a no-go (unless you stuck a 240v plug on the end, and good luck getting that to fly with your average consumer in the US, we already find those annoyingly sparse for dryers and ovens and such) -- what else can you innovate to differentiate your microwave from every other microwave on the market?
- what else can you innovate to differentiate your microwave from every other microwave on the market?
  My ideal microwave:
  800W, always full power
  A dial to set the time/make it go
  Pull door to open, not pushy-button-open-nonsense
  I have never needed to use power variation, defrost settings, popcorn button, or any of the other junk.
  Innovate through simplicity. Less features means less to go wrong, and cost savings that can be put into either making it cheap or improving component quality.
  
  Could I tempt you with:
  Touch screen
  Bluetooth control via proprietary app
  AI, for reasons
  
  Also, a single fucking ding when it's done. I don't need it to beep five fucking times goddamnit I HEARD YOU
  
  You want a commercial microwave, basically, except the wattage will often be higher. Try restaurant auctions for a cheap(er) one
  
  popcorn button
  I discovered the existence of those on online forums, it literally blew my mind. Manufacturers engineering microphones in microwaves because US people can't be arsed to stay for two fucking minutes next to the oven. Fucking unbelievable.
  
  I briefly rented an apartment with a microwave that was also a toast oven. Grandet, it had a dumb, slow, digital screen to control. But it was really nice inside. There was no turn table but still heated everything evenly, and due to its size, it was much more efficient that a normal oven at baking. The door also opened forward like an oven.
  That is to say, I agree with you thst I want a dumb dial, but there are some nice features out there that I wouldn't mind having.
  
  All i care about is that it's stupid. After that, 1000W and a +30s button.
  My current microwave has a dial with 5deg rotation per minute. So hitting 30s often just turns it off. Was super cheap though so 🤷
  
  Pretty much agree, would probably prefer 700w myself. Get rid of the damn clock too. There are commercial grade ovens like this. The consumer ones are packed full of total crap (looking at you motorized rotational platter). I've always wondered why a couple of infrared thermometers to allow for a closed loop heat cycle hasn't been done though. I think I'd like that if it worked halfway decently even if just for soup/liquid (more homogeneous).
  
  Popcorn button is useless but many people don't know how to use the power variation.
- One could almost say the same thing about cars. But there are ads for those everywhere.
  But similarly, you never see an ad for a stove/oven anymore.
  I think you’ll occasionally see an ad for a fridge or washer/dryer but it’s usually actually an ad for a local appliance retailer. The manufacturers themselves don’t seem to make ads.
  
  It's because demand is inelastic. Every household needs one. No more, no less.
  
  I imagine, the difference is that profit margins are higher for cars and they're more of a status symbol, something you're seen publicly with.
- They can rebrand, make it a lifestyle thing. Like how convection ovens got rebranded into airfryer.
  
  The main difference between an airfryer and traditional convection oven is less space to heat (i.e heats up quicker) and the heat is on all the time. A conventional convection oven will cycle the heat on and off. So yeah, the same core technology, but with different tradeoffs.
- Even at 50% efficient 110V on a 20A breaker is 1100W. I only have guesses as to why 700 or 800W is the standard for the cheapest models.
- But ours has four doors and wheels!

Great Caesar's ghost!

https://youtu.be/90Cl-0iRdJA