I won't buy a house less than 10 years old. It's not planned obsolescence, but there is a lot of shitty construction in same flavor as "the cheap version is just as good".

Harbor freight tools vs one of the professional brands.

I still buy harbor freight for tools I’ll barely use… like the giant socket to change my lower fuel filter… I only use it once a year, I’d rather spend 4.00 than 40.00

It’s not as simple as that. You’re having some shitty manufacturing across the world it’s hard to say hey let me pay more for higher quality… they’re gonna say sure absolutely and make the same thing, or maybe not. They do it because there is a market for the cheapest product regardless of quality, so why bother if their target customer doesn’t care.

You know, in my superstitious family, giving a loved one a knife "cuts" the relationship...

It worked well for my sister's stupid ex

Hard work...and property.

So...I had something really creepy happen about a week ago. I could use some spiritual guidance adhesion...or something.

I didn’t know I needed this.

If a waffle cookie essentially

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizzelle

https://imgur.com/a/cbzgxos

Oh this is where I can shine. Design/manufacturing engineer.

So the three variables are materials, processes, and tolerances (design and employee skill are the 4th and 5th but we’ll leave that alone).

Cheap stuff have cheap materials and generous critical tolerances. They also skip some processes that contribute to quality (aka-reliability, but that’s a slippery topic).

You can absolutely quality stuff. It just costs a lot more and you have to know whatvto look for.

Most manufacturers know that people want the most features for the lowest cost, which is the opposite for durability. But there are still plenty that do the opposite.

What are you looking for?

What’s a pizelle

On for superstitious people. The rest of us can happily live without.

Then why can you buy long-lasting appliances?

I'll give a simpler explanation: most consumers just don't care about durability as much as they say they do.

Here's a fun experiment you can do: ask a friend of yours how much they would be willing to pay for X appliance that lasts 20 years. I guarantee that number will be well below what that kind of appliance actually costs.

My wife's family thinks I'm insane for much I spent on my appliances even though I tell them it will last until I'm retired. And they are not poor.

Durability/longevity are one of those things that people talk about but never put their money where their mouth is.

yes! way more affordable and way better quality

Discard appropiately...if you will

Planned obsolescence isn't a thing. It is a myth.

I am an engineer and I know dozens of other engineers across multiple industries. None has ever been asked or told to make things fail faster.

Even your own example doesn't really work: the lighting industry moved from incandescent to LED despite LED lasting much much longer. According to planned obsolescence that cannot happen.

It doesn't even make sense: if I have something that breaks immediately after buying it, why would I go out and buy from the same manufacturer? It just sends people to their competitor.

You can also find long-lasting appliances or whatever without issue. Again, planned obsolescence says that shouldn't happen either.

We’re celebrating 10 years of being together with a trip to a and e for our son - this feels like a better idea! Congratulations x

I just bought a new wallet from them after losing my previous Saddleback wallet.

This stuff is legit and awesome

I've had Dickies, Carhartt, even Craftsman tool belt suspenders. The clasps universally suck.

Was at Duluth Trading Company and saw some that bragged how they hook under the belt. I'm a Boomer but will never, ever, ever simultaneously wear a belt and suspenders.

I think I'm getting some for Christmas that attach to belt loops and look forward to this.

BTW suspenders are a godsend. I'm thin and pants always slide down when I'm working. Along with bib overalls they're the most practical and comfortable things ever.

So you want a company to willingly make a product they make 25% more profit on but instead of customers having to buy another one within a year, they buy another one in 4 years? Do you see why this is a bad business model?

I’m not saying I disagree, but given your post here I think you understand why they do it. A company needs profits to compete. If everyone buys a product that lasts forever, you eventually run out of customers.

Dad still has his. I have his second generation one bought in the 90s with the variable speed control. Which was a big deal back then. This is rad to see and I hadn’t thought about that drill in forever.

The price bump is more like pay 300% more for BIFL quality

I used to work for a company that made consumer products. At the beginning of the product cycle, the marketing people would tell us they needed, say, a $4.99 item, a $7.99 item, 2 $14.99 items and a big $49.99 item. That comes from the retailers. From there, everything is developed to meet that price point and the required margins for us and the retailer. I’ve literally sat in meetings where they cut out the one thing that made the product special just to save a nickel on the ex-factory cost. Then they wonder why it didn’t sell.

I'm the same way with RedWing Iron Ranger boots. Life boots. God boots. I'm 55 years old and I'll die with these looking as raw and pristinely useful as they do today.

Saddlesoap wash once a year. Mustang Paste (horse oil out of Japan) once a year after the wash. Set it and forget it.

My collection thus far, those owned and those previously owned:

Brooks Bros 4556 Limited Edition Iron Ranger (out of production / hard to find and spendy)

Black Harness 8114 Iron Ranger (the classic)

Beckman Klondike 9060 Limited Edition (Japan order only / rare)

Redwing 8059 Oxford (Derby Shoe) (nearly impossible to find)

...

Like your satchel, there is just something uniquely satisfying to know that you own a bit of functional clothing that will last longer than the body that employs them on a daily basis.

It's a good metric via which I chose to spend my money on something or not. lol.

Unless it comes to computer equipment. Then I just go crazy and basically plan on bankruptcy. LMAO.

...