Doesn't everyone hate having to replace their phone, printer, washing machine or hairdryer every so often because it breaks? You might have heard older people say that quality tools don't exist anymore and that everything used to last much longer.

Some say that the root cause of this is companies actively planning their products to break after some time. But is that actually true? Are companies deliberately making products that break after some time in the hope you will renew them?

What is planned obsolescence?

Planned obsolescence is the act of artificially limiting the lifetime of products with the main goal of increasing sales. Common examples could include phone batteries becoming worse over time or old devices no longer receiving software updates. But next to this, also clothes becoming unfashionable and therefore unwearable and replaced could be seen as planned obsolescence.

The obvious and main goal of this act is to reduce the time between repeat purchases. This directly results in higher sales and more money being made. The main question is, are companies deliberately doing this or is there another reason for this perceived 'planned' obsolescence?

Is planned obsolescence really such a thing?

Consumers are always looking out for the best deal. If a $200 freezer and a $1000 freezer both keep your meals cold, then most consumers will pick the $200 one. Even if the $1000 would last 10x longer than its cheaper counterpart.

This is what's called 'survival of the cheapest'. And because of this, companies need products to be made as cheap as possible. Only then they can be sold as cheap as possible. Engineers are given the task of making a fridge that lasts at least 2 years with the cheapest parts and labor processes possible.

So although some planned obsolescence definitely exists, most obsolescence is not planned but rather a result of consumers choices.

What can you do about this?

First and foremost, if you are a consumer who will always pick the cheapest option available then you are supporting this system. Consider looking past the cheaper options and possibly finding a way better deal in the long term.

However, be very aware that a more expensive option is not always a better option. For larger expenses, just a little bit of research about what you want to purchase can save you from a lifetime of headaches. For smaller purchases, just be mindful that if one option is cheaper than another, it's not always the best option.

A good rule to help you make more sustainable choices is the following:

"If something breaks before it is reasonably expected to break, avoid buying anything else from that same brand."

By doing this you are voting with your money, which is really the only vote that matters for most companies. And even though you might think this does not matter on a small scale, if more people vote against some companies like this then the companies must follow, or they will inevitably go bankrupt.

Repairing broken stuff

Of course, not everything you own will stand the test of time. Some things will break, that's for sure. In this case, it's obviously better to repair instead of buying new. It is however not always possible to repair your stuff.

Some things might just be broken beyond repair. But in a lot of cases, there are other factors impacting the 'repairability' of your item. For example, weird custom screws might be used to discourage repairing. Or a company might straight up refuse to sell replacement parts. These are exactly the situations which the 'right to repair' is trying to fight.

And you can help. You are in control of how you spend your money. Try to be mindful with your purchases and use your money as a vote. Vote for companies with principles you can stand behind. Vote against companies that do not meet your standards.

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Written by dazf3865
June 23, 2024