Sony Walkman SRF-59 AM/FM Radio

I have bought 4 of these because I can find no other
brand or model that can deliver its performance. I
regret to say that I will no longer be purchasing this
model again because without fail after a year or two
of service the AM band becomes defective and unusable.
I am not sure if it is planned obsolescence on Sony's
part or just bad design to begin with, but enough is
enough. I have kept the model dry and supplied with
fresh batteries and all four have developed the same
problem with the AM band going defective. I refuse
to buy another and will just get the cheapest I
can find and be done with it. Shame on Sony either
for planned obsolescence or not fixing a crucial
design flaw.