Its All Too Much

9 comments

Hi Kika. I recently heard an author being interviewed on radio about overconsumption. Unfortunately can't remember his name or the name of his book. He believed that a lot of effort is put into making people feel unok about themselves which keeps them consuming in order to feel better. Emphasis on physicality = encouragement to buy clothes, make-up, skin and hair products, plastic surgery etc. Emphasis on status encourages people to buy products to create beautiful homes, snazzy cars etc. He went into far more complexity but the gist was that we consume well beyond our practical needs for the sake of appearance. Somewhere along the line material consumption and self esteem have become intertwined compared with yesteryear. 

Here is another angle. My 15 year old washing machine broke down so I went to buy another one yesterday. Learned that they are making them differently now, using different materials in the motors/computerised parts, designed to only last 5 to 7 years. So unnecessary!!!

There is a conspiracy going on to keep us all massively consuming. The corporate world, the media, governments are all driving the consumer train and we are all passengers.

I've noticed that too Robi

Goods seem to last just past their warranty date

Then you have to buy a new one as the repairs in lot of cases cost as much.

We are a disposable society polluting the earth.

Agreed, Robi.

Goods have built in obsolescence.

Planned obsolescence or built-in obsolescence in industrial design is a policy of planning or designing a product with an artificially limited useful life, so it will become obsolete, that is, unfashionable or no longer functional after a certain period of time.The rationale behind the strategy is to generate long-term sales volume by reducing the time between repeat purchases (referred to as "shortening the replacement cycle")

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence

Planned Obsolescence Definition | Investopedia

www.investopedia.com/terms/p/planned_obsolescence.asp  

Products ranging from inexpensive light bulbs to high-priced goods such as cars and buildings are subject to planned obsolescence by manufacturers ...

But .. The whole point and sucess of Free enterprise is that " I will come up with a better light bulb .,,

Seggie. Yes, Robiconda and Abby are right. My washing machine washes OK but hasn't been spinning well for some time. Out of warranty, rang to find out if distributors recommended a reliable serviceman who then gave me three names. Naturally I rang the one who was the closest. He did nothing but complain about the size of my laundry, said he couldn't do much but messed around with the hoses. Ended up flooding the laundry and charged me well over $100. All it means is that I have to leave the clothes on the line or under the porch for a few days longer. With summer coming, it shouldn't be too much of a problem. I would like to buy a new washing machine but I'm very wary. Any recommendations? Don't want a front loader as I am extremely careful with water.

Rebecca Koffel Why not just get a simpson 7.5kg washer for $500. I bought one last month and its awesome! The best machine ever! Just spend the extra $100 and save all the hassle!8 · September 4, 2013 at 8:48pmpp

From ask Mum

seggie,

Choice Magazine provides recommendations and comparisons between products ranging from soap-powder to vehicles.  It is quite comprehensive.

My Fisher Paykel was purchased 6 years and 7 months ago for the sum of $679 and has not missed a beat.

 It is a top loader and I am very careful with water also and do my whites first and take out if I only have a few and then use the water to do the dark colours.

I prefer a top loader as you can do this.  Would probably go with Fisher Paykel again.  Have always had their refrigerators as well.

As an aside my National food processor was purchased in 1974 and is still working as well as the day I purchased.

There is not one post on this site (I would venture to say) that does not go off on a tangent.  I recently  put one up and on the third response it is already off in a different directon.  Yes, it can be frustrating for the person who put up the post but you have to go with the flow.  

All conversations in life do the same thing at times;  that is just how it is.

Another vote here for Fisher Paykel.  Have had mine at least twelve years, and never had a problem with it.   It's only the second washer I've bought in my life, and can't remember the brand of the earlier one.

I have a Samsung 6.5 KG top loader - only a small washer but does all I want it too - just means I have to wash more frequently ?

It is over 20 years old - bought at DJ's for $350 as a demonstrator off the floor - never missed a beat - touch wood. I remember being a bit weary of the touch buttons in those days but not a problem once I got used to them. Perhaps old is good - wonder if the new models are as long lasting.

funny how this thread has changed from the topic of over-consumption to comparing washing machines.  next some of you will be comparing which laundry detergent works best.

no wonder so many are conned and seduced into buying more and more.  distraction from the destruction we are wreaking on earth's finite resources. 

 

Kika :)

That is how conversations go - maybe you can put it back on track by posting your own opinion ?

thanks abby, but i think the cartoon says it all much better than i can.

The cartoon says It's not me that consumes too much with people standing on various heights of rubbish

What does it mean ?

I see kfc talking about light bulbs and Vollvo car and Gerry talking about mobile phones ? Are they on the topic if wahing machines are not ???

I saw a program on TV a while ago on this very subject. Apparently, it all started with light globes. Manufacturers saw their sales falling because their globes had a long life span. Not much repeat business. They spent heaps on research and engineering to give their globes a shorter life span. Instant solution to sales problem.

Other manufacturers took up the baton and now pretty much every manufacturing industry builds obsolescence into their products. I remember as a young man, VOLVO used to advertise proudly that their cars were engineered to last 27.5 years or some such figure. I have not seen those ads now for the greater part of my life.

I bought a Speed Queen Top loader --as my 24 year old Kleenmaid died --Speed Queen made Kleenmaid I have had the new one about 2 months and very good so far -- expensive but a great machine --I bought the Commercial model

Re phones;  I only have an el chepo $78;  no bells and whistles as I only use for calls and text.  Next one may be a smart phone but it will definitely not be any more than $100.

 I will leave all the young ones to buy the latest models.  They appear to have plenty of money to spend on phones that cost almost a thousand dollars and of course they have to be the owner of the latest model.  

No wonder a great many of the younger generation are up to their eyeballs in debt.

Kika great post

It’s called planned obsolescence that’s when a product is deliberately designed to have a specific shortened life span. Products today are  designed to last long enough for a customer to develop a need for it and the feeling that they can’t get by without it. So now you’re hooked.Take for example a washing machine. Planned obsolescence means that the washing machine  is designed to last about two years, before it breaks down outside the guarantee time. Most of the components / parts have been manufactured from quality materials with the exception of some vital parts. Two years after purchase, the washing machine will only need minor inexpensive repairs. However, between 4 to 5 years the vitals parts begin to wear out and a replacement machine is required. So now they’ve got you,we now have to go and buy another one and the manufacturers get richer and richer. You may be lucky though and with good care the item could outlast what the manufacturer hoped for.

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