Built-in obsolescence should be illegal. It's so wasteful
this post was submitted on 16 Apr 2026
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Hmm, there are some products that should have a defined "end of life". For instance, computer networking hardware which will eventually be outdated and no longer get security updates. The trick is, the EOL date should be clearly marked on the product at the point of sale so that the buyer can make an informed decision.
This is built-in obsolescence, but it's better than the current situation where Cisco will sell you a firewall at full price and then decide 6 months later that they aren't supporting that model anymore and you have to buy a new one.
Yeah, I get that. I just feel like the general EOL of 2 years also works perfectly well with 15 years for most products.
computer networking hardware which will eventually be outdated and no longer get security updates
I don't think that means that the correct approach is for the manufacturer to build in obsolescence. Sometimes the security threats don't matter to some users, so they should be allowed to accept the risk and keep using the item. Or, there could be a rule in place that if the company no longer wants to maintain something, it is required to release the source to maintain it.
In europe it is illegal. Guess what, it destroys everything nonetheless. Seems like laws apply only to workers...
I am never again buying a post 2010 car. I've driven a few modern cars, and they have truly gone to shit. STOP BEEPING.
Why does it say keep my eyes on the road? I can only read that by taking my eyes off the road.
2024 car window button broke before it was a year old... the car was not even commuted in. Less than 10K miles in a year. The button was used maybe a dozen times? At most. This was a "high-quality" vehicle, the best reviewed of kind. Resets with updates, all settings lost. I have to go through menus to use radio, three menus? It beeps and dings constantly. I am enraged every time I drive it.
I hate you so much. I wait for death
My mom bought a 2024 Toyota Aygo X, and it will constantly beep at you if you go 2kph over the limit. You can turn it off by going into the menus but it'll just turn on again on the next start
Particular annoying when it constantly gets it wrong. Like it read the traffic sign of the side street.
I would drive it directly off a cliff. That sounds like something they make you do in Hell Lite.
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Right to repair laws would help things so much. If you didn't like the firmware that came with the car, you could install alternative firmware. If the dealer sold a car that was known to have some terrible components, there would be a business opportunity for a car modder who would buy factory vehicles from the dealer and replace the most trouble-prone parts, then re-sell the car with a slight mark-up.
It used to be that when it came to high performance cars, there were groups like Alpine, AMG, Abarth, Shelby, Saleen, etc. They were often race teams, or associated with race teams. Sometimes they would buy stock cars and modify them for racing, or at least modify them for high performance. But, most of those have now been brought into the company most associated with them. Mercedes owns AMG, Alpine is part of Renault, etc. I would bet one reason that this is not as common anymore is that cars are heavily computerized, and the computers can use DRM to restrict anybody but the original manufacturer from modifying them.
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Not only that, but you can't even use price as a proxy for quality anymore. Choosing to splash out on something you want to last just means you're going to be more disappointed when it inevitably breaks.
This is what got me. I started a really well paying job so me and the wife decided to splurge on some better, name brand appliances. I've replaced every single one in less than 5 years. Fuck GE, fuck LG, and definitely fuck Samsung.
But you got all those sweet touchscreens and stuff right?
I wonder if there are good brands still. Bosch? Miele?
1
Personally, I like the industrial kitchen look. Now I just need 10 grand.
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For washer/dryer it's speed queen. Or it's usually still easy to find people selling working older quality washers/dryers that are foolishly looking to upgrade to modern garbage.
My rule is if they’ve ever made a TV or a Cell Phone I’ll NEVER buy their appliance.
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The boots theory is dead
WTF happened in 1971‽
In 1974, Congress re-wrote the tax code, and baked in Trickle Down Economics, and the permanent financial landscape improved greatly for the wealthy. The rest of us were dealing with high inflation (Remember Ford's WIN buttons - Whip Inflation Now?), gas lines caused by the OPEC oil embargo, interest rates over 20%, etc., and didn't recognize what was happening.
So when Reagan came along and pushed Trickle Down Economics, it was already in place, and ramping up, he was just introducing it, and selling it to the American people, and it became standard dogma for a long time.
The result has been a decades long re-distribution of wealth to the upper incomes, at the direct detriment of the working and middle-class.
That's why it appears to start before Reagan - because it did.
New York Mag: http://nymag.com/intelligencer/amp/2020/09/rand-study-how-high-is-inequality-us.html
Fast Money: https://www.fastcompany.com/90550015/we-were-shocked-rand-study-uncovers-massive-income-shift-to-the-top-1
That can't be accurate. The reality is way worse. The top 1% wouldn't even be visible on the chart at that scale. What am I missing?
this must be of only the working class
I'd believe that the top end of the working class has a net worth of 15 million at the start of retirement
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And includes ads. And needs an internet connection and only works if you agree if your data can be used "to improve their products and service". And you need their app to control it, or it won't work. A free app, with in app purchases. And more ads. And it has a camera and microphone for no reason which can't be turned off. And 2 weeks after the warrenty, the fridge dies or they stop supporting the app basically bricking the device. While all you want is a damn fridge, washing machine, bike, oven, etc. which only does what it's supposed to, longer than just 3 years.
Back in the days you were the product if something was for free. But now at least you need to pay to have your data stolen.
Wow, no AI. It would be a pleasure to have such stupid device.
Oh yeah, forgot about that. Friend of mine has a new commutity washing machine which has AI. Everything comes out half clean. So he uses the other one next to it, a 20 year old one which only has washing functions. It's far superior, everything comes out clean.
The term is skimpflation
I know it as shrinkflation.
That's when they make products smaller for the same price. When they lower the quality of the ingredients/materials for the same price, it's skimpflation
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What a jagged pill
Life is short but unfair
no literally
We all suffer together!
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