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| SuperNova said: I hate planned obsolescence in household producs more than anything. I mean how many times are you going to reinvent the mixer for christssake? Just give me something sturdy that will last. I'd even pay extra to get around this planned obsolescence bull. It should be my decision if and when i want to adopt new hardware, not the sellers. I see the benefits of a refrigerator or a washing machine that uses less energy and I might even get one without my old model failing first, but small household appliances like mixers, juicers and graters should be build to last. Printers are one of the worst offenders of this. I haven't had a single one in recent memory last me longer than 3 years and they are usually build to discurage repairability, with moving parts like the printerheads build in and impossible to replace. |
I bought a Vitamix, expensive, but looks promising that it will last. Most stuff is so flimsy nowadays, old toasters, microwaves, mixers, ovens were so much more durable. I blame cheap plastics. I can't even find a well made water cooler here made from aluminum or other lasting parts. You can get a chrome housing for looks, yet the important part where the bottle sits and the levers, all plastics. I fixed the levers on the previous one we had a couple of times although the collar was already cracked, then the heater water tank started leaking. Can't win.
It's the same with the hot water tank for the house. You rent that nowadays and it's not build to last. When ours started leaking the people that came to replace it complained about it themselves, max 10 years is what they're rated for. That's their job nowadays, haul in and out, rapairman is not really the right job title anymore. We can send people into space, can't build a lasting water tank.
Printers are like razors. Build as cheap as possible, profit margin is on the ink. I bet my dad's first matrix printer still works. That still worked with an ink ribbon and chainlink paper. These new ink cartridges never last, usually dry out before even halfway used.
Different times. When I grew up it was still the norm to get the soles on your shoes replaced. Shoe repair shops were a regular part in department stores and shopping plazas. But that was when shoes were still made with real materials. Nowadays my new winter boots leak before the end of the winter and the shoelaces are broken.
