Ok,
This post is 50% rant and 50% fairly legitimate question. I will start with the question, and feel free to skip the rant:
1.) Why the hell do people build houses where the only way to replace a defective water line valve on a washing machine is to cut open the wall? Seriously, about the dumbest thing I have ever encountered that is, "that's just how it's done" when I question more knowledgeable people. We had a new washing machine installed- they broke the valve when replacing the lines. After it flooded the laundry room, the appliance store informed me that, "it sounds like a plumbing problem, not a problem with the appliance-sorry." So, now I'm cutting open the wall so that I can remove the old valve.
And the rant:
2.) Why do people hold themselves and services/products/etc. to such a poor standard?! First that the, "local, hometown, friendly" appliance store I purchased these overpriced pieces of metal from won't repair something that their techs broke; secondly, why would you install such cheap (read plastic bits) on a a part of plumbing that is built into the wall,which I look at as should last the lifetime of the house; thirdly, why the worthless, plastic outlet box- it provides almost zero support for the valves or the water lines, and was another thing cracked by the techs.
Arghh- 5 hours, 2 trips to 2 different hardware stores, and all I have managed to do is stop the water from spraying all over my laundry room. Tomorrow I will decide if I will make an additional trip and try to finish the repair, or call a plumber. There are likely many typos because I skipped supper to try and finish this project before the stores closed and can't think worth a damn with low blood sugar.