This may come as a shock, but some of the most trusted brands to which you’re loyal are selling you things that are designed to break or otherwise become useless after a period of time. There’s a name for this shady practice — planned or intentional obsolescence — and it’s rampant in retail. I call it: the intentional obsolescence scam.
That’s right — you’re buying duds, and you don’t even know it.
Virtually no product category is exempt, including tools, textiles and technology. And you’re probably thinking, why would my favorite brand intentionally sell me something with a limited lifespan? For one, simple capitalistic reason: They want to make more money off you.
Here are five methods manufacturers use to take advantage of intentional obsolescence:
Low Quality Goods
One way Walmart keeps prices low is by focusing on quantity, rather than quality. Let’s use metal flatware as an example. It’s going to tarnish and even rust well before you’ve gotten a reasonable amount of usage out of it because it’s made from cheap materials.
Kitchen tools, too, are another area where the low cost of the item is attractive, but in the long run will cost you more than a more durable, immediately more expensive item because it will have to be replaced sooner. I have experience with Walmart brand flatware and kitchen tools — like their baseline can opener, which retails for about $5. I’m here to tell you that it’s in your time and money’s best interest to loosen your purse strings and spring for names that have proven their durability instead of the Walmart brand. The latter will break far sooner than the former because the materials used are not high quality.
Pro Tip: Avoid the least expensive item at all cost. Choose something more mid-range, with quality materials and a reasonable life span.
Audience Captivity
Most of us know what a monopoly is — cornering a market with a good or service — and it’s a restricted practice in the United States. An oligopoly, on the other hand, is a market structure in which few firms dominate. Neither is ideal for the consumer. After all, limited buyer options are why people complain about their phone, Internet and cable services. But wouldn’t you know that if you want faster Internet, your local provider can grant you access to it for an increased fee. Funny how that works.
Pro Tip: Don’t let your local service providers call the shots. Take back your tech-dependence by researching and choosing the specific services that make the most sense you’re your needs and your budget.
Brand Loyalty
Here’s another intentional obsolescence scam. While you may think you’re buying a quality product that will last many years, the retailer knows differently. It’s a classic case of pulling the wool over someone’s eyes, and that someone is you.You may be thinking, “I’m not dumb enough to fall for that trap!” Au contraire. You have in the past — and you still do today — because of brand loyalty. Some brands know that you’re not going anywhere else to buy certain items, which means that they can offer whatever quality product they want. You get what you pay for — except that’s not always a good thing.
Pro Tip: If you’re continually replacing a certain item more frequently than you think you should, start questioning the brand. Perhaps it’s time to break free from the shackles of brand loyalty and try other suppliers.
Technology Advances
There’s not too much you can do about technological advances, and it’s not entirely industry’s fault that advancements make certain products obsolete in a short amount of time. Unfortunately, this facet of intentional obsolescence is a product of our times. However, the burden falls entirely on the consumer. In other words: if you want the latest and greatest, you have to pay for it. And in many cases these days it’s not long after you purchased the previous model.
Pro Tip: Reevaluate what technologies you need in your life. Is it necessary to have the works, or can you get by with limited access? If the latter is possible, you can shave a good chunk of change off your expenses.
Frequent Version Updates
Needing something and wanting something are on opposite ends of the intentional obsolescence spectrum. On one end, producers are making limited lifespan products that you need like that cheap can opener I mentioned earlier. On the other, producers are making products that you want — make that must have. And there’s nobody better at this game than Apple. Anybody with an iPhone 12, which was released in 2020, will tell you that they didn’t need an iPhone 13 (2021), or iPhone 14 (2022). Rather, they wanted it — and Apple took their desire all the way to the bank.
Pro Tip: Don’t allow yourself to be hypnotized by every new gizmo and gadget that hits the market. If what you already have suits your needs, skip the version update until new technology makes an update worth your while.
Photo Credit: Abode of Chaos
You should include: many electronic products sold these days have, somewhere in them, a circuit which is designed to blow after so many cycles based on the materials or, more accurately, the specific mix (wt%) of materials which go into its creation. Much research in materials science has been done to determine with relatively good accuracy just how many cycles certain electrical circuits can handle before they fry. These circuits are out there, in almost everything. They can make circuitry with better durability, but that is directly linked to lower sales, and so they don’t.
How do I know? I am directly involved in such research! I’ve reviewed dozens of papers for SCI (high impact) journals.
So, I am certain.
I also suspect that concrete research has investigated different mixes, as well as bitumen (road repair) and even the painted lines on roads. In all of these cases, materials science has found much better materials for known circumstances (like temp ranges and weight requirements) but those materials aren’t used because the repair industry would be out of work.
Thanks for the report, BB. Regarding painted road lines: There is still one road that I know of in Southern California where they are actively testing different highway paints (they even have a sign advertising it). Of course, that doesn’t mean they are looking to use the best one. As you suggest, maybe they’re trying to discover the worst-performer!
You’re right and I’ve seen it all over the place.
It’s especially bad with Samsung TVs. I’ve had numerous Samsung TVs need repaired for a bad capacitor or power supply. The replacement aftermarket parts always had a higher rating on these parts and since I’ve replaced them; have lasted years now.
Last week, I decided to purchase a new laptop because mine was not helping me anymore. I made a lot of research before buying a new one, I didn’t pick an expensive model, but I chose a laptop that has a good specification.
My brother bought an expensive German SUV new and was ‘shocked’ when a series of expensive repairs were needed just weeks after the warranty expired. A work colleague of mine experienced the same phenomenon on his new sedan from the same manufacturer. Both guys asked around and found this to be common behavior for this particular brand. They now believe these vehicles are selling for cost and the profit is coming from all of the required service on the back end. I always buy cars used, and that’s one brand I’ll avoid!
Pro Tip: don’t assume a prestige brand will give you good reliability for the higher upfront cost. Ask around and check out Consumer Reports.
Okay, Freebird … I’m dying to know: Was it Mercedes, Audi, or BMW?
Last one. Another brother was unhappy with an SUV first on your list, although in that case it wasn’t expensive major repairs, just lots of little things that didn’t sit right. He did have good luck with a roadster from the one that’s not on your list.
Anyway what set me off was your first item, lots of people assume price equals quality, sometimes yes sometimes no. Don’t rely on a few anecdotes, ask around and read reviews from trusted sources to get the bigger picture.
Point taken. And thanks for sharing your opinion.
Repairs are one of the primary reasons that we became serial leasees of cars. Early in my career losing time off from work for a car repair would have been very damaging. Having the peace of mind that came with having a new car + a dealer that would deliver a loaner if needed reduced a major cause of anxiety.
Now-a-days neither of us commute by car, and our preferred model no longer comes with a manual transmission. For those reasons, we now own (as we can bare the risk of the car being at the shop).
It’s heartbreaking (Am I really using this term) that there are now brands I grew up with which are no longer available now. Why? Technology really changes so fast! And, it feels like we have to keep up with it. If not, we may get behind.
Totally agree with the mid-range buying tactic. I actually try to apply this in many different aspects of life – balance. Debt, saving, etc. all need to be done with balance. If you buy the cheapest model of something, it’s going to probably break or not live up to your expectations. If you buy the most expensive model, you will pay a premium, and it may or may not last as long as you’d expected. Oh and a newer model will come out quicker than you know. The mid-range is a good balance between the two. Great read!
Sage and practical advice.
A great read.
Question: A little out of context.. Is the same mid-range wisdom applicable to routine dining out?
I guess it is.
Planned obsolescence, and don’t forget “repairs”. I had an ethics class in engineering school and learned a bit about it. I’ve learned more about it at work – companies will sell you a million dollar tool, but the maintenance contract is hundreds of thousands a year.
Electronics are the worst! My husband once offered to buy me a fitbit-type thing for Christmas. (Though it was a Jawbone UP). He’d done research and chosen that one. I’m into exercise and fitness. Well, I did my own research, and from what I could see, these items last about a year with regular use. Some of them last longer – but reviews said “was great! lasted a year!” or “broke after 6 months, needed to be replaced”.
Like a phone, sometimes they come up with new features. Well. I wasn’t about to have him spend $125 on something that would only last a year. I’m not against electronics. Our household has a computer, two smart phones, two Google tablets, one I-pad, two kindles (the older kind), a Wii, a roku, and a home-built DVR. But I don’t see the point in replacing them if they don’t work.
Case in point: my husband’s google tablet is pretty old (he really wanted one for trips), but it tends to be very very slow now because of the memory issue. He was talking about how he wanted to replace it for it’s slowness, especially when he travels. I talked him out of it, basically by telling him he can take mine when he travels. “Won’t you need it?” Honey, when you are gone – between work and the kids (aged 9 and 2), I’m too tired – by the time I get the kids in bed, I brush my teeth and pass out.
Yes, Marcia, the real money resides in product maintenance and operation/sustainment, as anyone with a printer on their desk now knows.
Good point, Len. Except for one of my first printers (an old HP which lasted for almost 10 years!!), every one since, regardless of brand or where bought, even after researching them in various places like Consumer Rpts and CNET or comments from people at Staples and Best Buy, seem to give up “the ghost” after about a year or two. I thought I had some sort of bad juju surrounding printers, now I’m beginning to think it’s an industry-wide situation. And, fyi, I am an average or below average home print user and I buy within the mid-point range.
We no longer have a printer. We either go to the library for free printing or use printers at a local maker space,.
Though as time goes by, we. have less and less use for a printer.
This was an amazing article. when i was in a store i wanted to buy a new computer but my desktop computer still working, and i realized what i’ve read about Needs vs Wants Method. Whenever you buy just think about if you “Need it” or you just “Want it” that way you can save your money and think before you spend.
What about those black Friday TVs that have a “…BF” suffix on the end of the model number indicating they are the Black Friday model made with less quality that the original. LOL.
I remember when I was out shopping for a vacuum cleaner and noticed that vendors make a specific model of their vacuum for the Walmart stores of a slightly lesser quality to meet the price point of Walmart. Walmart has the volume where they can dictate that the price should be on their products.
I never heard of the special “BF” models, Don. Thanks for sharing that; I’m going to have to pay closer attention from now on.
This is so true. Printers! I now buy the three year warranty and am pleased to have it. In less than one year I’m on my third printer and each time the printer breaks I take it back to Best Buy and they give me a new one AND THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY IS AUTOMATICALLY RESET! We bought a new refrigerator and got the ten year warranty for the same reason as most of them die before 10 years. On another front I used to buy plaid flannel nightgowns from LL Bean, they wore like iron. The last one I bought was gossamer, as substantial as cobwebs and ripped within a month from shoddy, tissue thin fabric. I went on ebay and bought two New Old Stock flannel nightgowns from the 1970s. With postage they each cost 2/3 or less of what the new LL Bean nightgown cost. The 1970s nightgowns are beautiful, well made, very heavy weight flannel and I have used them for a couple of years and they are still serviceable, although quite pale in color. Buy kitchen implements used at estate sales and get great quality for pennies on the dollar. Buy old garden tools the same way, you’ll save money, save the environment, save America’s balance of trade and the 25% tariffs on Chinese goods. I buy almost everything including wonderful quality, natural fiber clothing preowned. If you don’t tell, no one will ever know.