Important to note, it's not China's fault for the low quality. It's just yet another developing country being used for sweatshops by western capital. "The Chinese" didn't make it bad, western capitalists made it bad but in China

We could also just mine more gold (not infinitely I know but more than we have). And given the state of the economy where 97% of the money is fake, what's to stop the rich from just digitizing gold too? We wouldnt need to physically get more gold just like we don't need to physically print more money for there to be more of it

Red ear sliders

Good thing the Netherlands isn't socialist

Unfortunately in our current economic system, successful firms aren't formed based on good ideas, but on profitable ones. Firms have found that as a whole it's more profitable to sell low quality products more frequently, so that's what we get to deal with

I don't think the answer has to be either planned obsolescence or consumer ease, but both. Companies make two categories of products (for the sake of argument) cheap and fragile, and good quality and durable. The worse product is cheaper, the latter more expensive. The consumer, seeing so much false variety in their products, gets overwhelmed and just tries to save money, which leads then to just buying the cheaper one. This "Coincidentally" makes the company more money because the consumer buys more fridges over their life for less money.

I would not apply planned obsolescence to a home, as you make a great point.

Although, a trailer, or mobile home, comes close to countering your point.

I have an old Steelcase chair like this. I like it a lot better than the modern mesh ones.

Yes, especially some countries in western europe beating up farmers, the Dutch and Belgium farmers have it even worse than the rest

Kinda useless fact, but france cares for their farmers, britain... kinda. Germany? Don't really know what to say about them

Not the prettiest bag.

Capitalism and socialism both have great and stupid ideas

I'm preferring centrism, wiping away the stupid ideas and making more out of the great ideas

The necessary legislation would be passings laws that both:

1. Restricted monopolies and oligopolies and

2. Secured the "right to repair"

If there were a more competitive market, it would incentivize the production of higher quality products to secure more of the market share. And if products were not designed in such a way as to hinder repair, they could be fixed for cheaper than the cost of buying a replacement. This would, in turn, reduce the profit that planned obsolescence brings. These laws have been proposed often and have even passed in some places.

But politicians are richer than their trade and deep pockets weigh heavily on the scales. Everybody has a price, and politicians don't often succeed based on traits of impeccable morality and stalwart resolution to their beliefs.

Good thing I live in the Netherlands,

Cause the developer of a products needs to state (almost) exactly how it's made, so you're less likely to be bamboozled

I'm also a sucker who hates socialism, but let's not get into politics now :)

Kind of unrelated, but it really depends on what products

For example, making houses break easily is clearly a stupid idea

Low prices usually means it's an energy hoarder

I always go for expensive ones, while they may cost around a 1000 euros, it will eventually pay back in the long run (in energy saving compared to cheap ones)

Also, I would always check the energy labels, if your country has energy labels

Painters turtle?! I had one as a child named Speedy

Quince makes some classic solid gold pieces and their prices are amazing.

you need suspenders with buttonholes and pants with suspender buttons

As everyone has already stated crony capitalism. All of the major manufacturers have conspired together to make low quality stuff.

Was gonna say these folks are not very superstitious.

For sure. Since these are sharpened 70/30, I send them away to Korin, where I bought them. They have someone there whose only job is to sharpen the knives. They turn it into a kind of performance. It’s neat! I don’t really trust folks around where I live now.

“Even the best electric sharpeners strip so much metal that the knifes balance is affected”. I disagree.

As with any sharpening method stop sharpening as soon as it’s sharp. That can be as little as 5 seconds with an electric.

There are plenty of bad electric sharpeners that won’t get consistent results. 4 years with a Chefs Choice and my vg10 knives still look new. Can shave arm hair and pass the printer paper test.

Not sure where you’re based but they have a decidedly non-Nazi history in the UK

Oh it's so out of style. Last year white kitchen cabinets were in but now our advertising is pushing so that you have to buy these new green kitchen cabinets or or house will look outdated !

I’ve got a few of their bags. Generally travel with a baby beast and thin briefcase. Both get compliments regularly.