Has the concept of durability in consumer goods gone out of the window?

Question

Things made an hundred years ago seemed to last for years and years whereas things now.. a small part breaks, chuck the whole thing out and buy a new one. Great for profits, but... hard on the purse!

Answer 1

Most likely. But with all this concern for global warming, we may see a resurgence in durable goods or consumer goods that don't become obsolete so fast.
I heard Apple is already feverishly at work trying to make the first generation iPhone obsolete before it even hits the stores. They want to make 1st gen users envious of the 2nd gen users.

Answer 2

The "great for profits, hard on the purse" argument needs a second look.

If it really did pay off to buy something that would last longer, then there would be an economic incentive for a manufacturer to enter the market and offer the longer-lasting alternative.

And consumers would, if it was indeed harder on the purse to throw things away, choose to buy the longer-lasting alternative.

The profit motive is actually an incentive to manufacture things that meet consumers' wants at the lowest possible cost--as long as you're in a reasonably competitive market, which I'd say the market for furniture (as one of the above posts mentions) most definitely is.

As an example, Toyota and Honda, which have reputations for lasting much longer than Ford and GM products, command a premium in the marketplace, and Toyota and Honda enjoy higher profits.

Answer 3

you see, true communism does abound in the hearts of the people and they do not realize this,..the people allow this corrupt form of economics to press on but not all of us will capitulate to the capitalist economic propaganda machine,..then one asks what would happen to industry and employment if goods were durable enough to last thirty, forty, fifty years, we say that there would be more agrarian minded societies to feed and nourish the citizens, put technology to work towards the prosperity of all,..let us work together to turn deserts into agriculturally sustainable land, build new york style twin tower living quarters,..this may be asking too much from current capitalist scientists, but lets get into terraforming such places as the moon, mars and beyond,..the universe is a vast expanse,..i am sure the mind expansion types would love to get on a durable space travelling vehicle, take their earthen method to catch the buzz and watch another galaxy form up close, cool visuals,..or go and conquer some 'ewox', get a pet 'wookie', trade with 'vulcans' and the such,..we let the big corporate entities control the population as they make a not so durable good for a penny, sell it for $500 a clip, pay an employee a penny to mass produce said good, use a little advertising voodoo mindcontrolling craft to make many want said good, sit back and watch the masses flock to their market, then come up with another version or type of a not so durable good and the sequence restarts,..there is so much other propaganda, obvious and hidden in plain sight, out there, such as the evolution theories, global warming trends, religious fervor, pharmaceutical industry forms of population control, infanticide, free masons, welfare and so forth, i will seek out those topix on the other boards,..

i e a e,..
unificationist,..

Answer 4

Durable goods should have a "lifespan" relative to their cost. As consumer goods wear out or break from normal or abnormal use they will be replaced. The need for replacements will ensure employment and a stronger consumer based part of our dynamic economy. One must also keep in mind the importance of recycling the goods that we will replace. This is very important for the future of our children and our country.

Answer 5

It is due to style and fashion changes besides technology.Due to fast changes in technology products become oboslete or out of fashion.The use and throw atttitude is due to that.Secondly it is to create demand.Demand is of two types ie, demand for new items(fresh demand) and replacement demand(replacing old goods).If the period of durablity is increased ,replacement demand for goods and services will decrease.If you make a car lasting 50 years,who will buy new?Reduction of durablity is necesary to sustain demand and keep the industry going.

Think of an advanced country like USA where all people have got car.Cars last 50 years.There will be no demand virtually for new cars.What will happen to industry?employment?

Answer 6

Today things are built to sell not built to last. Sometimes they are even designed to have a short life so that you buy another one. My HiFi went temperamental as soon as the guarantee was up, very suspicious. Everything being disposable has implications for the environment. If things are built to last and repaired when they go wrong, they can last as long as we do. Companies think they have to make things as cheap as possible, and spend their money on advertising. If they spend the money on making the products quality, then their reputation would boost sales and they wouldn't have to spend a fortune on advertising.

Answer 7

You raise a very intersting point. I once got sacked as a furniture salesman because I advised a couple to ignore our range of chipboard bedside cabinets and go and get an antique one which had already lasted 100 years, and would almost certainly last another 100 years!

Unfortunately I was overheard by the shop manager!

Answer 8

The concept is still there, It's all about economics. If you buy something cheap, don't expect it to last. cheaper materials and inferiour workmanship all add to the equation. Premium products on the other hand have more durability, better construction, blah blah. Ofcourse there are exceptions :)

Answer 9

In todays society, we live in a world of cheaply made mass produced goods with a built in life expectancy.
A hundred years ago goods were built/produced with pride, and to last .
Today they are built to be used X number of times, and then be replaced

Answer 10

Yep today it's about immediate satisfaction. Who cares ten years down the road..right? Because by then we want new sshit!! We are a materialistic country and it's getting embarrassing and shameful!