Has "disposable" replaced quality?

[M_Six]

It seems cheap, disposable stuff is replacing anything of quality. Simple stuff like a good lawn sprinkler that isn't mostly made of plastic or electrical stuff that isn't a fire risk. You can find the same POS item on Amazon being sold by a dozen different "companies" that are here today and gone tomorrow. Even places like Lowe's and Home Depot sell plastic junk. I have no problem paying the price for quality items, but it seems they're simply no longer made. Maybe I should just accept that I'll need to buy cheap lawn sprinklers new every year?

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by M_Six

It seems cheap, disposable stuff is replacing anything of quality.

That bugs me as well. Just check the origin of the products Slave labor discounts over local workers. 'Nuff said...

[chassis]

Originally Posted by M_Six

It seems cheap, disposable stuff is replacing anything of quality. Simple stuff like a good lawn sprinkler that isn't mostly made of plastic or electrical stuff that isn't a fire risk. You can find the same POS item on Amazon being sold by a dozen different "companies" that are here today and gone tomorrow. Even places like Lowe's and Home Depot sell plastic junk. I have no problem paying the price for quality items, but it seems they're simply no longer made. Maybe I should just accept that I'll need to buy cheap lawn sprinklers new every year?

What is your price point for a lawn sprinkler?

[Maynard]

Short answer: yes. And it is the big corporations chasing ever more profit, not the people making this crap - slave labor issues aside, they could produce quality items if that is what they were tasked with.

But not impossible to find better stuff. I use these guys a lot, they have slid a little into overseas production, but still quality controlled. Their forte is woodworking tools, so there are likely better garden suppliers: https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop...ion/sprinklers

[kscarrol]

That is a broad statement. You can't ignore the consumer wanting low prices and many will happily choose price over quality. Often companies are giving the consumer what they want...

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by chassis

What is your price point for a lawn sprinkler?

Originally Posted by Maynard

Short answer: yes. And it is the big corporations chasing ever more profit, not the people making this crap - slave labor issues aside, they could produce quality items if that is what they were tasked with.

But not impossible to find better stuff. I use these guys a lot, they have slid a little into overseas production, but still quality controlled. Their forte is woodworking tools, so there are likely better garden suppliers: https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop...ion/sprinklers

I wouldn't have a problem paying the Lee Valley prices if I knew the stuff would last a few years. I was able grab a couple of all metal impulse sprinklers at Walmart today. We'll see if they survive long.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

That is a broad statement. You can't ignore the consumer wanting low prices and many will happily choose price over quality. Often companies are giving the consumer what they want...

Yep. Everyone wants quality until it comes time to pay for it. Makes me wonder how it is that Apple can sell millions of $1200 iPhones when many of the same users balk at paying for quality elsewhere.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by kscarrol

That is a broad statement. You can't ignore the consumer wanting low prices and many will happily choose price over quality. Often companies are giving the consumer what they want...

...and it all started when the cost to build/ship a brand new widget in the third world dropped lower than the labor rate for a first-world repair person to fix something old that broke.....

[chassis]

Originally Posted by M_Six

I wouldn't have a problem paying the Lee Valley prices if I knew the stuff would last a few years. I was able grab a couple of all metal impulse sprinklers at Walmart today. We'll see if they survive long.

Lee Valley is plastic, isn't it?

What use case do you want? Oscillating or impulse?

[Ohio Enthusiast]

I'd also add that manufacturing has improved a lot in predicting lifespan of parts. This means that instead of designing for x10 design factor we can get away with x2 or even lower. This makes stuff cheaper but also far less likely to last longer than it was designed for.
As a recent example, my cheap waffle maker bit the dust last week. I looked for upmarket alternatives, and the only ones that actually advertise replaceable parts and stock them are $450 units (with the plates (the most wear prone item) going for $65 each). I can buy 20 cheapo waffle makers for the price of one of those.
Reminds me of Terry Pratchett's Vimes' monologue on boots...

[spazzyfry123]

Lawn sprinklers aside, we’re in a state of everyone wants the latest thing. Everything is disposable. What a market it is of leasing cars as an example.

Everyone is on to the next shiny object, so why make quality? They’ll hang on to it for a little bit and find something that can sprinkle water 6 inches further. Time for a new one!

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by chassis

Lee Valley is plastic, isn't it?

What use case do you want? Oscillating or impulse?

I have a row of hedges that we planted in Spring 2022. With this ongoing dry spell we're having, I need to keep them healthy. I tried drip irrigation and it didn't work very well. I just need to water those hedges, so whichever device that allows me to best limit the spray area. I have two impulse sprayers out there now and they seem to be doing ok.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by Ohio Enthusiast

I can buy 20 cheapo waffle makers for the price of one of those.

That's my point. Cheap shit breaks, but it's cheap, so just replace it. Sometimes you make out better cost-wise than if you spent a bundle on something that's designed to last. It's just a PITA when stuff does break, because it usually happens right when you need it most.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by M_Six

It seems cheap, disposable stuff is replacing anything of quality. Simple stuff like a good lawn sprinkler that isn't mostly made of plastic or electrical stuff that isn't a fire risk. You can find the same POS item on Amazon being sold by a dozen different "companies" that are here today and gone tomorrow. Even places like Lowe's and Home Depot sell plastic junk. I have no problem paying the price for quality items, but it seems they're simply no longer made. Maybe I should just accept that I'll need to buy cheap lawn sprinklers new every year?

It's INSANE. Every god damn year my hose manifold goes to shit. I've burnt through maybe half a dozen easily. I store it properly away fromt he weather but nope, always fucking dies. Hose connectors in general cause me an insane amount of grief.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Yep. Everyone wants quality until it comes time to pay for it. Makes me wonder how it is that Apple can sell millions of $1200 iPhones when many of the same users balk at paying for quality elsewhere.

Originally Posted by M_Six

That's my point. Cheap shit breaks, but it's cheap, so just replace it. Sometimes you make out better cost-wise than if you spent a bundle on something that's designed to last. It's just a PITA when stuff does break, because it usually happens right when you need it most.

You can't go on price alone as an indicator of quality. Your example of $1200 of iPhones or Apple anything is a good case study. Look up Louis Rossmann on Youtube. He has a laundry list of design issues Apple has and refuses to fix. In addition to their serialization of components to prevent independent repair shops from fixing Apple products, Apple has locked down the supply chain telling ODMs to not sell any components to anyone but Apple. It's not just Apple doing it now. Lots of manufacturers are doing this. Making it hard to repair things you "bought".

This is all part of our disposable society migrating to the "you own nothing and will be happy".

[carseatsm5]

To answer the thread’s title question: Yes.

[cooolone2]

Built-in obsolescence isn't anything new! Add in those who just got to have the NEW anything, color or design... The paradigm trickles down to even the smallest mundane item.

Nothing new...

[2000cs]

There used to be a tv repair shop in every town; haven’t seen one in years. Disposable now.

I have a friend who worked for a Big 3 automaker in the 1990s in finance. He told me they would get really upset if any part for a new car had a design life longer than 100k miles. Any part. Today I don’t buy cars built after 2000 (+/- depending on the mfgr) because they are all disposable, already have NLA parts (or incredibly expensive parts when they can be found). They are meant to be leased and disposed. And as an old fart, I have a lot of trouble disposing and with the implied cost of a new car leased or owned for just 100k miles.

We like inexpensive, and manufacturers have accommodated that with cheap.

I have yet to find a magazine or on-line review of any new product that discusses its useful life.

[spazzyfry123]

Originally Posted by 2000cs

There used to be a tv repair shop in every town; haven’t seen one in years. Disposable now.

I have a friend who worked for a Big 3 automaker in the 1990s in finance. He told me they would get really upset if any part for a new car had a design life longer than 100k miles. Any part. Today I don’t buy cars built after 2000 (+/- depending on the mfgr) because they are all disposable, already have NLA parts (or incredibly expensive parts when they can be found). They are meant to be leased and disposed. And as an old fart, I have a lot of trouble disposing and with the implied cost of a new car leased or owned for just 100k miles.

We like inexpensive, and manufacturers have accommodated that with cheap.

I have yet to find a magazine or on-line review of any new product that discusses its useful life.

This is why I buy Land Cruisers

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by 2000cs

And as an old fart, I have a lot of trouble disposing and with the implied cost of a new car leased or owned for just 100k miles.

My first and last BMW is essentially totaled with only 31K miles on the odometer, by an AC/heater failure where the cost of repair exceeds the car's value. It'll be the cleanest car in the junkyard in a few months.....

[spazzyfry123]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

My first and last BMW is essentially totaled with only 31K miles on the odometer, by an AC/heater failure where the cost of repair exceeds the car's value. It'll be the cleanest car in the junkyard in a few months.....

Holy smokes!

[floridaorange]

This began in 1990 - please let’s not act like we aren’t all culpable - depending on age - we all allowed greed, ignorance and gluttony to prevail so that our capitalistic society could prioritize price over people and quality. Don’t act the least bit surprised please 35 years in.