I agree.. It's really hard to fathom that a Maytag top loader ran about $2500 in the equivalent of today's dollars, but they were built to last.
I for one, would welcome paying more for things knowing that I would get quality engineering and that corners weren't cut to keep the price "Within the market."
That's why, for example, I'll buy Breville and Calphalon small appliances instead of anything made by Black & Decker and Procter-Silex. The quality difference is just downright amazing.
Even still though, I've noticed that Breville has cheapened out on their K-Cup machine, using a plastic handle instead of the metal handle they used to use. It makes me wonder how many other "Cost cutting" measures they have taken in the last few years.
Toyota is a perfect example of people willing to pay more to get a higher quality product. Now, their products are just as reliable as everyone else, but they still command a stupid premium. Case in point, back in 2003, I was looking at buying a new car and considered the Toyota Celica GT-R. A new one was $40k! Hyundai and Ford were both selling a coupe which outperformed the Celica, for nearly $10k less! IMHO, there is a time to charge more for quality and there isn't.
When I was citing the HP Laserjet 3/4/4+ series previously, one thing a lot of people forget is that it was a different climate back then. Laser printers were supposed to be expensive while everyone else had to suffer with cheap Dot Matrix printers. (How ironic that it is Dot Matrix printers which are now expensive and laser printers are cheap!)
Regardless, Sudsmaster is correct in saying that it does irk me that modern appliances today seem to be designed so that they're not repairable, whereas the old ones were. (Like how the front of a Maytag comes off with two screws.) That really bothers me.
I think the biggest thing which is going to force the hand of manufacturers to abandon planned obsolescence is going to be the drive to be much more environmentally friendly. The only way that is going to happen is if laws are put into place to ensure that appliances can last a certain number of cycles without problems.. The only way to do that is to mandate and regulate Quality Assurance testing.
Of course, considering how US politicians are in bed with the corporate infrastructure in the states, that most likely won't happen until we are facing a serious materials and energy shortage. (Sorry, but this aspect of my post really does belong in Dirty Laundry.)
I for one, would welcome paying more for things knowing that I would get quality engineering and that corners weren't cut to keep the price "Within the market."
That's why, for example, I'll buy Breville and Calphalon small appliances instead of anything made by Black & Decker and Procter-Silex. The quality difference is just downright amazing.
Even still though, I've noticed that Breville has cheapened out on their K-Cup machine, using a plastic handle instead of the metal handle they used to use. It makes me wonder how many other "Cost cutting" measures they have taken in the last few years.
Toyota is a perfect example of people willing to pay more to get a higher quality product. Now, their products are just as reliable as everyone else, but they still command a stupid premium. Case in point, back in 2003, I was looking at buying a new car and considered the Toyota Celica GT-R. A new one was $40k! Hyundai and Ford were both selling a coupe which outperformed the Celica, for nearly $10k less! IMHO, there is a time to charge more for quality and there isn't.
When I was citing the HP Laserjet 3/4/4+ series previously, one thing a lot of people forget is that it was a different climate back then. Laser printers were supposed to be expensive while everyone else had to suffer with cheap Dot Matrix printers. (How ironic that it is Dot Matrix printers which are now expensive and laser printers are cheap!)
Regardless, Sudsmaster is correct in saying that it does irk me that modern appliances today seem to be designed so that they're not repairable, whereas the old ones were. (Like how the front of a Maytag comes off with two screws.) That really bothers me.
I think the biggest thing which is going to force the hand of manufacturers to abandon planned obsolescence is going to be the drive to be much more environmentally friendly. The only way that is going to happen is if laws are put into place to ensure that appliances can last a certain number of cycles without problems.. The only way to do that is to mandate and regulate Quality Assurance testing.
Of course, considering how US politicians are in bed with the corporate infrastructure in the states, that most likely won't happen until we are facing a serious materials and energy shortage. (Sorry, but this aspect of my post really does belong in Dirty Laundry.)
