Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Generation Junk

walterkirn.substack.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–60 of 471 posts

Re: Generation Junk

#51

Post by jdksmdbtbdnmsm »

roenxi wrote: post #13
drcode wrote: post #4

I feel arguments like this always ignore the fact that buying a toaster in 1950 was a major investment for a family, and if you want to spend $2000 on a high-end toaster in 2023, which is probably equivalent in inflation-adjusted price to the 1950s toaster, it will probably also be very nice.

It is also important to be aware that there is huge sampling bias. All the 1950s artefacts that were fragile went to the junk heap a long time ago.

All of the toasters sold today will be in the junk heap within 10 years

Re: Generation Junk

#52

Post by marginalia_nu »

willis936 wrote: post #27
fullstop wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A toaster in 1951 was $21, which is about $250 today. I would argue that a $250 toaster today is still not a "buy it for life" item, but it would certainly have a lot of bells and whistles and almost no user-serviceable parts.

Toasters are an interesting case study. I went on a tear last year after being fed up with every toaster doing the same bad job. I thought maybe someone made a proper toaster. What I found is that when you pay more the coat of paint gets nicer and maybe there's an MCU+LCD, but the guts and logic are identical. There is no good commercially available toaster today. It's sending a very loud message about how markets op…

Big part of the problem is the disappearance of brick and mortar stores, along with the constant bait and switch from e-rerailers making product reviews impossible.

That rave review was for an identical toaster with different guts, or with amazon reviews, something else entirely.

Re: Generation Junk

#53

Post by loloquwowndueo »

twodave wrote: post #17

At least as far as coffee grinders go, find a reputable company that will repair them. My Baratza Encore stopped working after about a year or two of operation, and I sent it in for repairs. It was probably just a small short somewhere, but I'm not an electrician. They sent it back to me after a week or so, cleaned inside and out and working better than new. I keep saying I'm going to replace it with the one from Fel…

Baratza publishes service and diagnostic manuals too - if you’re handy enough you can disassemble your grinder, locate the faulty component, and order a replacement from them. I replaced our grinder’s faulty motor (died after 8 years or so) and the grinder is still going strong 5 years later.

Re: Generation Junk

#54

Post by readthenotes1 »

fritzo wrote: post #29

Author neglects selection bias: antiques that stopped working after 1 or 5 or 10 years have been in landfills for a long time. My grandfather (1922-2006) opined: "Some folks say things aren't made like they used to be. But I remember those junky old cars that would break down every 50 or 100 miles. I remember that unreliable crap. I'd far rather have a modern car, even if I can't fix it." (He was more of a carpenter…

My granddad was just telling me of cars in the '40s that needed an oul change and "lube job" every 1000 miles.

Re: Generation Junk

#55

Post by citizenpaul »

A huge number of the things most people buy weekly are made on machines not even made last century. Your grains, rice, cereals beans were probably made on a machine from the 1800's. Yep all the big brands.

My brother works at a co that makes custom repair parts for these machines he sees them all the time. They often have to fly people out to the factory to do measurements and calibrations because no documentation exists.

(Its sadly not a small mom and pop shop its one of the biggest mfg part corps in the worls. If you hoped it was some mom and pop shop that keeps these running.)

Re: Generation Junk

#56

Post by jonahss »

fritzo wrote: post #29

Author neglects selection bias: antiques that stopped working after 1 or 5 or 10 years have been in landfills for a long time. My grandfather (1922-2006) opined: "Some folks say things aren't made like they used to be. But I remember those junky old cars that would break down every 50 or 100 miles. I remember that unreliable crap. I'd far rather have a modern car, even if I can't fix it." (He was more of a carpenter…

I listened to a bunch of Car Talk episodes from the 80s and early 90s and holy cow, those cars were all breaking down constantly!

Re: Generation Junk

#57

Post by asylteltine »

fullstop wrote: post #11
drcode wrote: post #4

I feel arguments like this always ignore the fact that buying a toaster in 1950 was a major investment for a family, and if you want to spend $2000 on a high-end toaster in 2023, which is probably equivalent in inflation-adjusted price to the 1950s toaster, it will probably also be very nice.

A toaster in 1951 was $21, which is about $250 today. I would argue that a $250 toaster today is still not a "buy it for life" item, but it would certainly have a lot of bells and whistles and almost no user-serviceable parts.

I’ve had the same toaster for at least 5 years and it’s fine. It’s… a toaster

Re: Generation Junk

#58

Post by jastuk »

It feels at least some of it has to be survivorship bias. Although I do believe there’s tons of cheap, low quality products now more than ever.

Re: Generation Junk

#59

Post by plaidfuji »

I’ll offer a list of things I’ve owned that have lasted a lot longer than I’d expect:

- 2017 MacBook Pro and iPhone SE

- honestly, the Dre beats that came with above MacBook

- every Lexus sedan ever, hybrid or not

- Tumi backpack and carryon

- Sonos soundbar

- M Audio 88 key midi controller keyboard (survived 7 moves)

It sounds like the author’s problems largely center around things with motors and pumps, which tbh doesn’t surprise me. The high-end brand I’ve been most disappointed with in that regard has been Dyson. Been through about 4 of their full size and hand vacs.. so many random issues. Really not worth it.

Re: Generation Junk

#60

Post by ropeladder »

TehShrike wrote: post #2

This feels like something that could be ameliorated by trustworthy curation, but The Wirecutter hasn't given good signal for years now, if it ever did, and I haven't seen anything else yet. Maybe I should try paying for Consumer Reports

You can probably access CR for free through your local library!
Post reply on HN