Throw away society

[KAG]

When I moved to YYZ in 2006 I bought all new furniture and small kitchen appliances. 4 years later within a week of each other the toaster and coffee maker I bought at superstore have failed. My huge leather sectional couch is starting to spilt and tear. The repair guy told me it’s not worth fixing as the type of leather (yes it’s real leather) is what he calls “chunk leather” and is kind of like particle board with a nice finish. It’s not meant to last. Don't get me started about my car...

My sister last night called to complain about her (second, new) water cooler that had just failed and spilled half a jug onto her floor. Even giants such as Toyota are becoming victim to this ever increasing lack of quality.
I expect to buy crap from a dollar store, but even the big chains and high end stores are peddling this stuff.

Meanwhile my mother has been using the same stuff for half my life. Her waffle maker is from her teens, and her small kitchen appliances are from my teens.

How hard is it to make a toaster that can toast, a coffee maker that will brew, or a water cooler that not only cools it actually holds it’s water? All this broken plastic made in China crap needs to go somewhere…
People want to save the world, make a difference then how about demanding we get good quality products that won’t fail after a year or two. At least make those products recyclable.

[Phlyer]

Amen Brother. Something has got to change.

[bandaid]

I got 17 years out of my hot water tank, the guy who installed the new one couldn't believe it. They are made to only last 10- 12 years. I got a bonus.
So far as cars go, keep that in mind when you buy the next one. You know they are not going to last, so get a bargain and forget about who makes it.

[beaverbob]

So far as cars go, just buy one or two year old and let some other sucker swallow the depreciation.

[iflyforpie]

My daily driver is fast approaching its thirtieth birthday. Side draught carburetor, points and condensers, and four on the floor (STD). Unless it blows up I don't have much motivation to replace it.

But technology--especially the electronic kind--is so cheap these days it is usually impossible to even fix things for less than it is worth. Made in China, Malaysia, Vietnam, or Bangladesh where it is manufactured under cheap labour. With things like printers it is sometimes cheaper to buy a new one than buy new ink cartridges.

You can blame our society that constantly wants higher wages making these types of manufacturing jobs impossible to keep in Canada. Pretty soon you will have self-serve coffee the next time you go to Tim Hortons.

[North Shore]

When I moved to YYZ in 2006 I bought all new furniture and small kitchen appliances. 4 years later within a week of each other the toaster and coffee maker I bought at superstore have failed. My huge leather sectional couch is starting to spilt and tear. The repair guy told me it’s not worth fixing as the type of leather (yes it’s real leather) is what he calls “chunk leather” and is kind of like particle board with a nice finish. It’s not meant to last. Don't get me started about my car...

My sister last night called to complain about her (second, new) water cooler that had just failed and spilled half a jug onto her floor. Even giants such as Toyota are becoming victim to this ever increasing lack of quality.
I expect to buy crap from a dollar store, but even the big chains and high end stores are peddling this stuff.

Meanwhile my mother has been using the same stuff for half my life. Her waffle maker is from her teens, and her small kitchen appliances are from my teens.

How hard is it to make a toaster that can toast, a coffee maker that will brew, or a water cooler that not only cools it actually holds it’s water? All this broken plastic made in China crap needs to go somewhere…
People want to save the world, make a difference then how about demanding we get good quality products that won’t fail after a year or two. At least make those products recyclable.

This is not an attack, as we are all guilty of it...Did you buy cheap sh!t? We all want stuff that will last forever, but want to pay made-in-sweatshop-of-your-choice prices. Want the espresso machine, but won't pony up for the made in Italy job, like the leather couch, but buy it from The Brick, rather than a proper furniture shop.....

A few years ago, just after Mrs. Shore and I got married, Mrs decided that we needed a hutch to store our wedding china. She dragged me around to endless stores with dozens of hutches: all fancy with lights, and glass doors and shelves and the like. Most of them were in the $2500 to $3k range. However, closer inspection showed that the fancy walnut exterior was actually a thin veneer on top of cheap particle board - as the song goes: "A three dressed up as a nine..." I baulked, and the Mrs pulled out the tears. I still refused to pay $2500. Mom and Dad came to the rescue, when they found a solid oak hutch in an antique store on the mainland. $800 for a piece of furniture that was built in the 20's, and that will probably last the Mrs and I until we die. No more cheap crap furniture for me. I'm also on the lookout for a wartime toaster and blender - if they've survived this long, and are still operational, then they'll probably last another 70 years....

[KAG]

North shore
Yeah I bought cheap, well not really cheap price wise, just quality. I bought the coffee maker for about $70, basic design with a removable, cleanable filter – I wanted to cut down on waste. It won’t pump water anymore. The toaster is a 4 slice that has a jammed/bent side and will now only do 2 slices. Not cheap either.

Bought the couch at the brick. I know it’s not a good quality spot, but I didn’t figure the leather would be failing this fast. What I didn’t mention was the repair guy recommended going to a used furniture store or Salvation Army and look for an old couch/chair that weighs a ton. He said it would be made of hard wood and has industrial strength springs. Spend $1200 getting reupholstered with good quality leather and it would last you a lifetime.
Our next furniture purchases will be Amish made wood products. I’m at a point now where I’m willing to spend more money for something that’s going to last, not just a label.
My next car will either be 2-3 years used or a demo Hyundai.

Back in our grandparents/parents time these products were made more locally. Those workers made good money; the middle class was thriving. Somehow between now and then things changed. Someone mentioned wages driving manufacturing out, to keep prices down. Wages corrected for inflation have been basically flat lined for 30 years. I would say it’s more a function of corporate greed focusing on unit price then wages. Quality takes a hit, not that most people notice because their too focused on the newest and greatest. Why do I need a TV built into my fridge? I don’t.
I hope there is a resurgence of simpler, quality products that don’t need replacing every other year.

[2R]

Are you looking forward to flying the chinese built airbus clones ?

[Mach1]

How many of you just threw out your last cell phone to buy that nice new iPhone? How many threw away a working computer/stereo/TV to get the latest and greatest model?

It’s not about the wages as much as it is about the need to have the latest and greatest… combine that with the corporate greed of the top management and their need for bonuses and stock option performance and there is no incentive to sell you anything that will last more than a couple of years. They know you will throw it out and buy a new one… it’s better for them if you do. Terribly hard to keep a factory open if your product lasts 20 years and works like a charm. Unfortunately, this current business model is unsustainable in the long term and may well cause catastrophic failure of the entire environment. (Think Wall∙E)

I am a terrible consumer… I guess it was the way I was brought up (couldn’t afford to buy a new one so look after the stuff you have), but if it’s still working I will keep it instead of buying a new one. If I can fix it and I like, I will fix it.

It’s no longer about money, but about a lack of desire. The bright and shiny doesn’t hold that much interest for me anymore… it’s about experience instead of ownership (property) for me now… as I know it will all wind up in the same place as I one day will… in the ground.

I am Mach1 and I am an accidental environmentalist.

[Inverted2]

3 words: Made In China

[Go Guns]

Whoops! took a wrong turn and ended up in this conversation....

... which way to nearest Wal Mart?

[mattedfred]

people generally don't take the time to do any research when they make a large purchase let alone a small one. mrs mattedfred and i sometimes take forever to finally buy something that we think we need or know we want. if it is twice as good surely it is worth twice as much.

our priorities are; quality, local, eco-friendly, good value

[Rowdy]

Kag you are so spot on!

I look around the room I'm in right now and you can just tell the differences in cost and quality. The desk is 6yrs old from ikea and already failing. The nightstand 3yrs from ikea and the tracks dont slide for a shit as the 8 or 9lbs in there (less than half the alotted space) is too much for the cheap fiberboard and laminated siding. The booze/wine rack was a gift from my aunt when I turned 19.. she bought it from an antique store.. it looks fantastic and is completely solid.. mind you its steel and good quality glass. The vilas dresser was my grandfathers.. the date stamp inside shows 1933 and its the cleanest most sound piece in the entire room. The book shelf next to it, same deal has been in the family for over 40yrs.. looks like it was brought home yesterday! I inherited a lot from my grandfather when he passed away. At first i was reluctant due to the age, but damn, the quality and the materials are amazing in comparison to the modern crap! We truly have turned into a throw away society.

Ever wonder how miraculously that cell phone that you bought on a 2 or 3yr contract fails just soon after the contract is up? Ever wonder why vehicles start to come apart mechanically after 120k? How about the flat screen you bought on sale at bestbuy 3yrs ago.. warranty is up now dontcha know.. it all boils down to corporate greed.. this huge loss of quality and throw away culture.. If you werent forced to buy a new one every 3 or 4 years.. you probably wouldnt!

I walked down the street with the camera in hand tonight as it was quite nice out and noticed not a single vehicle passed me by that was more than 10yrs old. Everything from the 80's and 90's was gone! Crushed most likely.. I come home to throw a classic DVD in.. (Vanishing point for those curious) and the damn 3yr old dvd player has decided to go on the fritz.. and You know what? That wasnt a cheap one! Brand name! I paid $150 for that panasonic hoping it would give me a solid 5-10yrs of service.. the high end wireless router (#3 in the past 6 years) is starting to humm and heat up... what has the world come to?

I'll be buying a first home sometime in the next few months and You can be sure it will get filled with tasteful relics and odes to the past. Why buy new junk, when you can for much less go and raid all the local antique stores? Its actually kind of fun. I've almost developed an obsession with vilas and old school stainless steel kitchenware. I'm making a ton of changes these days.. and this whole move to better quality and the wold world is part of it..\

I may even unplug from the digital world... naw.... I havent gone that crazy... Yet

[Inverted2]

When buying furniture I spent way more to buy locally made solid wood products. Most of the sawdust/veneer overseas made Brick or Leons stuff costs a fraction but falls apart after a few years. If a complete bedroom set is $1400 dollars it is for a reason. Plus some local chap got to keep his job for a few more weeks making my stuff!

[niss]

So is everyone here still clacking away from their 486 with Win 95?

[iflyforpie]

So is everyone here still clacking away from their 486 with Win 95?

Those didn't even work in 1995. At that time I was still using an Amiga 500 that was still as good as it was in 1988.

[BibleMonkey]

You young whippersnappers and your need for non-tube equipment.
Pfft




===================

Re: opening post-I hear ya.
Stainless steel coffee pot-$28 Princess Auto

After you buy a put-onna-stove-burner-or-campfire stainless steel coffee pot-that's it.
Stop buying anything else for the rest of the year.

You don't need it.

[TheRedPages]

Quality is still out there, Im driving a fine example right now.

420 000km, never stranded me, One main bearing seal at 190 000km, never any problems and dry as a bone underneath, Good on fuel, great on power and never anything more than regular maintenance, for an expensive car, aprts and service are cheep. the most amazing part is the complete lack of rust after almost 15 years. With some time and 3 stages of Mothers, the paint looks very good.

It is time for another though, Im looking at the Germans this time, prices are high, but they come well equipped, execellent performance and still a reasonable level of quality, At the end of the day you get what you pay for.

[The Old Fogducker]

Here's an example of quality from the vacuum tube era ... the Racal RA-17-C12 receiver used to monitor Soviet "fishing trawler" traffic off the west coast day in, day out for almost 20 years. Sold through Crown Assets Disposal and then made its way to be included in the AM station portion of my ham radio shack.

Next in my vintage Single Sideband station is a Collins S-Line that served on the Dew Line for many years, handling communications traffic and also morale-building "phone-patches" to talk to friends and family back home. This was rescued from the dump, laid out on the ground ready to be crushed by a bulldozer as manned operation of the Dew Line was being closed down.

Both examples of vacuum tube technology sound fabulous today and I receive superb signal reports when I fire it up.

73 de
The Old Fogducker

[Rowdy]

Wow fantastic stuff there Fog!!

[The Old Fogducker]

Thanks Rowdy. Since those shots were taken, I've added a lot of new stuff from Icom. Time will tell how well it stands up. If it works as well as the Collins in 40 more years, it will be saying something.

Oh, and that's just the right 25% of the station too.....more lurks on the left.

OFD

[KAG]

That is impressive.

[TG]

Fog, you are only missing a big red button to start a third world war

The funny thing (actually not so funny) about the quality of things being built now, it's the same with humans.
Who doesn't know an asthmatic kid ? or an allergic one ?

[niss]

Fog, you are only missing a big red button to start a third world war

The funny thing (actually not so funny) about the quality of things being built now, it's the same with humans.
Who doesn't know an asthmatic kid ? or an allergic one ?

True, I am always throwing kids away when I am done using them.

[TG]

True, I am always throwing kids away when I am done using them.

That's only because you're a pedophile









I'm kidding!