One of the things that is wrong with how our economy works

[nadinbrzezinski]

Close to thirty years ago I walked into Woolworth's (went away over ten years ago), and bought a fancy looking espresso \ cappuccino maker from Salton. Yep, I saved to buy that 25 dollar machine, which back then was a lot of money. I made 3.35 \ hour flipping burgers at the college cafeteria.

But I wanted and I liked lattes and even then they were expensive. So getting this little machine made sense... I just used it to make myself a soy latte. It still works... it's been a few decades.

My clothes washer, which I bought new in 2008... yes the friday after Thanksgiving.. and yes Sears was empty, which was not a good sign... well it is more expensive to fix it than to replace it.

We have a coin operated machine outside. We are just tempted to stop playing the game. We fixed the plumbing. that needed to be done. But I am tempted to just use the coin operated machine OUTSIDE and NOT replace the washer. This designed obsolescence will NOT stop, at least IMHO, until we say ENOUGH. Just as I intend to use the computer I am typing on right now until it dies, and I have no choice but to replace it. (It's a Mac, I suspect I have some life left in it)

But, but if we do not consume we will not get jobs... let's revise that... we used to have other types of jobs that no longer exist in the US... you know the repairmen... and things were designed to last a good long service life. The logic is... well if I can sell you ten, instead of two and keep fixing them.... for the primary producers that is a good logic, for the rest of us it is not. Nor is this good for the environment either. On those grounds alone this will need to stop, sooner or later.

In the meantime enjoying the latte produced by the old coffee maker, that was not designed to fail ten seconds after it's guarantee ran.

[fascisthunter]

1. Consumers are being hosed

not only are manufacturers using slave labor to make products, but the products themselves are made from the cheapest possible materials. People think they are getting bargains, but what they are really getting is suckered into buying crap and then having to replace it a couple months later.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. And my choices, apartment living and all

are not that large. Though the repairman suggested, if we had the space, which we do not... a regular sized LG... as he put it, LG used to be crap. Their model now is to make quality products... like what we used to.

Our space is small, so we need a really small machine... and those there are like three models between all makers.

[handmade34]

5. right, not many choices

I am in the market for a dryer and I am committed to buying only made in USA (in everything I buy now)... Staber and Speed Queen are the only manufacturers that I have been able to determine are made here. Good luck...

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. The apartment has quarter operated machines

outside... so I have that choice... yes, I need to go out, but... I suspect it is also cheaper electricity wise.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

9. AMEN! You just told the whole story in 2 sentences! I'm going to pass it around nt

[CrispyQ]

16. We are consuming our eco-system for the profit of a few.

And filling landfills with junk. David Brin wrote a sci fi novel where one of the character's family made their living by sifting through landfills & re-claiming our junk.

[fascisthunter]

17. There's a Video Game set in which you scavengeparts to create weapons

long after the Earth had been nuked. Great statement on how shit could go so terribly wrong.

[handmade34]

2. oh, how I understand

my rant comes soon... we must begin manufacturing quality products in the USA once again

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Yep, and among other reasons for environmental reasons

[elocs]

7. I have the single guy's philosophy about doing laundry,

and that is if I have enough socks and underwear I can put off doing laundry for a long time. Usually I can get by nearly a month and one trip to the laundry mat and I can be done in 2 hours.

Meanwhile my 42 year old fridge (a Philco) still works fine although I have to defrost it a couple of times a year. I wonder if the very best fridge you could buy now would still be running in 42 years?

[Sherman A1]

8. I grew up with fridges that were

run on natural gas and the damn things lasted forever.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. The only but to your 42 year old fridge

is efficiency... but no, the compressor would not last that long.

[Johonny]

11. It take a while to figure that out

I remember the first time I went to Wallmart. It was like OMG all these goods I want but as a poor graduate student couldn't afford. Then like 6 months later everything was broken. When I finally got a job and money I became more selective and never go to Wallmart. Buy good products that last, most cheap stuff isn't REALLY cheap because you have to buy more often. Same thing with my first car. It was toast after 4 years. That's ok I guess because so many Americans flip car in that time. Me I thought that car would run forever. My next car I researched and is still with me today with no problems.

Not sure consumerism is totally a problem. I mean it is what help get the economy rolling post WWII. I think an economy based on selling cheap crap that isn't manufactured here and doesn't expect to be repaired is the problem. It use to be companies relied on good products and brand loyalty based on quality and it being American made and serviced. Today it seems companies expect brand loyalty because they can deliver it to you cheap and that it.

[CrispyQ]

15. I have a bunch of swing arm lamps - the kind that clamp to your desk/table.

The switches stopped working on three of them. I couldn't find anyone who could replace a 35¢ part so I had to buy new lamps - which are not made as well as the other ones, so I wonder how long these switches will last. :crazy:

[pansypoo53219]

12. more reason for me to continue to buy used OLD american

made fans + heaters. shame i dropped my pre WW2 german nut grinder. that baby worked. if i could fix the on botton, i bet it would still work.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Well I know some of the stuff my mom has in her kitchen

I want to get dibs on it.

[socialist_n_TN]

14. Planned obsolescence along with consumer

fetishism. The capialists want things to wear out, so they can dazzle you with their new trinkets. That will ALSO wear out. So they can dazzle you...etc.

Kind of like Carlin's first name. The one that never ends. G E O R G E O R G E O R G.....