I bet this also applies to cars. Seems like cars are getting worse since the pandemic.
Huh? Cars are lasting, on average, longer than they ever have.
The lifespan of large appliances is shrinking
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Re: The lifespan of large appliances is shrinking
#12I bet this also applies to cars. Seems like cars are getting worse since the pandemic.
I provide software to car restoration industry. Absolutely this … modern cars are becoming paperweights much quicker than their previous generations. Now are they safer/quieter/more efficient, absolutely ! Are they in landfill less than 10 years, absolutely…
Re: The lifespan of large appliances is shrinking
#13It might be an unpopular opinion, but globalization did this — the consolidation and exportation of manufacturing out of the west has decimated manufacturing capabilities in the countries.
My father was a tool maker (top of his profession, top shop at Molex for a time). He and everyone he knew had such pride in their work. They also knew who would use their products. They cared about the quality and worked hard to deliver. It was a personal pride thing, as much as anything else.
When you export manufacturing, people don’t know who they’re building for. Nor does near slave labor in some places create quality.
Not to mention, companies are trying to maximize profit. To contrast, the owner of molex at one point heard my dad needed a surgery. He came down on the shop floor, called him over and sent my dad (and our family) to the Mayo Clinic for 2 weeks to have the surgery done (all expenses paid). It wasn’t for profit, it was for a good business.
Re: The lifespan of large appliances is shrinking
#14It's hard to maintain a revenue stream if your product is good enough to last, so the products are engineered to either be part of a subscription, to be replaced far sooner than necessary, or both. They're worried more about their revenue sustainability than they are actual product "sustainability."
The "buy-it-for-life" brands ran into this problem because once you sell someone the classic product, they aren't going to sell another one unless it's to another (new) customer or purchased as a gift for someone by their existing loyal customer. So then they start entering into new product areas and eventually end up compromising quality.
As other have mentioned, this is becoming particularly annoying with home appliances and cars. "They don't make them like they used to" are true words.
Re: The lifespan of large appliances is shrinking
#15Re: The lifespan of large appliances is shrinking
#16Earlier quoted context omitted.
Huh? Cars are lasting, on average, longer than they ever have.
I drive a 98 BMW, albeit with lots of maintenance (that I do my self). You think today's cars will last that long?
For sure. Most cars today are more reliable than cars 20-30 years ago. More cars are lasting well past 100K miles and often 200K miles.
Sure you have some few cars that have survived since ‘98 but they are not numerous.
Re: The lifespan of large appliances is shrinking
#17on the other hand, my 10 year old mac mini still runs fine, although it no longer supports the latest OSX and many of the more recent APP's. But as a media/entertainment device, light duty file server, and even coding the occasional throwaway program, it comfortably holds its ground.
Re: The lifespan of large appliances is shrinking
#18Re: The lifespan of large appliances is shrinking
#19I bet this also applies to cars. Seems like cars are getting worse since the pandemic.
Huh? Cars are lasting, on average, longer than they ever have.
How can you say that so confidently? New cars (post-pandemic is very recent) inherently don't haven't been around for long enough to say for sure what their lifespan will be. We just have to guess based on how they feel.
Re: The lifespan of large appliances is shrinking
#20I bet this also applies to cars. Seems like cars are getting worse since the pandemic.
Huh? Cars are lasting, on average, longer than they ever have.
Is there a good source of data on this? On the one hand, I could believe that newer cars have better engineering which makes many components more reliable. On the other hand, crumple zones and expensive bodywork mean that modern cars are Fabregé eggs that can be easily totaled in minor accidents. And increases in the complexity and scope of what cars do can increase the cost of maintenance and make them go obsolete faster.