What are modern goods not as strong as those from the good old days

Have you noticed that the quality of products has gone down in recent years? I'm not talking about the state of the world, but the actual things we buy. They just don't seem to be made as well as they used to be. I started thinking about this when my coworker Izzie had to replace a bra that fell apart quickly. I realized that many people I talk to have had similar experiences with different products - coffee machines, phones, computers, sweaters... they all seem to break or wear out faster than they used to. So, what's going on? And is there a way to escape this cycle of buying and throwing away low-quality products? Let's explore this issue starting with how products are designed.

When a company wants to create a product, like a jacket, they consider three main things: functionality (does it work well?), appearance (does it look good?), and manufacturability (is it easy and affordable to make a lot of them?). A good product usually has a good balance of these three factors. But lately, this process has gotten out of whack. Let's take clothes, for example. In the past, if you needed a new jacket, you'd go to a tailor, get measured, choose the material, and have it custom-made. Then, for many years, instead of going to a tailor, we bought mass-produced jackets at department stores.

In the past, shopping was a more personal experience. We had many stores to choose from, and we could try on clothes before buying them. We could see the quality of the material, the stitching, and the overall craftsmanship. But now, with the rise of online shopping, we often buy things without even seeing them in person. We click "add to cart" and make a purchase without ever touching or trying on the product.

But it's not just how we buy that has changed - it's also how often we buy. We seem to be buying more and more, and replacing things faster than ever before. And that's exactly what some companies want us to do. They want us to keep buying, to keep consuming, and to keep replacing.

One of the people who helped shape this way of thinking was a man named Ernest Elmo Calkins. He wrote a paper in the 1930s that suggested the government should support the idea of "consumer engineering". This means designing products to become outdated or unnecessary after a certain time, so people buy new ones. It's like planned obsolescence, but instead of just making things break, it's about making us feel like we need something new.

For example, you might buy a new jacket every season because it's out of style, not because the old one is worn out. Or you might buy a new phone every year because the latest model has a slightly better camera. It's not because we need these things, it's because we're convinced that we do. And that's the power of consumer engineering.

We've been conditioned to constantly crave the latest and greatest, and to ditch last year's model like it's yesterday's trash. And let's be real, who doesn't love the thrill of the new? But our insatiable appetite for the next best thing has gotten out of control. We're surrounded by trends that come and go at lightning speed, and we can't get enough. Remember Stanley cups? Yeah, they're so last year. Now it's all about Hydro Flasks.

The stats are mind-boggling. A survey in 2021 found that nearly 40% of UK consumers buy clothing as often as once a month! And according to the UN, between 2000 and 2014, the average person was buying 60% more clothing, but keeping each item for half as long. That's a lot of fast fashion, folks!

And here's the thing: because we're replacing our stuff so often, we don't want to spend a lot of money on it. Which has an effect, too. We're perpetuating a cycle of disposability and waste, and it's taking a toll on our planet. So, what's the cost of our consumption habits, really? Is it worth it?

Let's face it, we're all hesitant to pay more for something we bought a while ago. I mean, if you paid $30 for a bra 10 years ago, it's hard to stomach paying $50 for the same thing now. But here's the thing: labor costs have risen over the past decade, so something's gotta give.

To keep up with our demand for cheap products, companies have to either hire more people, change how they make their products, or both. But they also have to keep prices low enough for us to keep buying. So, they might start using cheaper materials like synthetic fabrics instead of cotton or silk. Or, they might use a simpler stitching pattern that doesn't hold up as well.

So, if you're still paying the same price (or close to it) for a product that looks the same after 10 years... well, something's changed. And it's probably not for the better. We're stuck in this crazy cycle of demanding low-cost products, and it's affecting the quality of what we buy.

So you might say, "okay, Divine, fashion trends are moving too fast and we buy too much stuff. I get it. I get it." "But why does my washing machine suck?" And that's a great question. Let's talk about technology.

Remember when computers and smartphones first became a part of our daily lives? It made total sense to upgrade devices frequently because the differences between a 2-year-old device and a brand new one were huge! There were massive leaps in technology, and each new model brought significant improvements. Take the iPhone, for example. The first one was a game-changer, and subsequent models like the 3GS and 4S introduced major upgrades like better resolution and front-facing cameras. For a while, these giant leaps between models were the norm. But now, we're not seeing those massive changes as often anymore. It's like we've reached a plateau where the upgrades are just incremental, and it's not as exciting as it used to be.

Instead of making significant upgrades, companies now make tiny tweaks to their products every year. So, your dryer might now play a fun little song when the cycle ends, instead of just screaming like it used to. But here's the thing: as devices got more advanced and complicated, a new problem arose for consumers. These products were designed to be thrown away, not repaired. When they break, it's often impossible to fix them because they're made with specialized parts and technology that's hard to access. You can't just whip up a new circuit board in your garage, right? So, you're at the mercy of the manufacturer to sell you parts and tools, which they often don't do. And sometimes, it's just not possible to fix because they cut corners, like using plastic and glue instead of metal and screws. This is a problem across the board, from your phone to your toaster to your electric wheelchair to your car. It's like, we're forced to just keep buying new stuff instead of fixing what we already have.

Take a walk around your home and start counting how many things you own that have chips in them. You'll be surprised at how many things rely on technology! It's eye-opening to realize how much of our stuff is controlled by tiny chips. But here's the thing: we can't just throw our hands up and say "oh well, this is just how it is". We actually have a lot of control over this situation. We can fight for the right to repair our own stuff! And you know what? It's actually working! By standing up for our right to repair, we can make a real difference. We don't have to feel guilty for buying into this system - we can take action to change it. So, let's feel hopeful and empowered to make a change. We got this!

Hey, here's some good news! New York State just passed a right to repair bill in 2022, and while it's not perfect, it's a start! With fashion, let's try to avoid those micro-trends and fast fashion traps as much as possible. Instead, let's buy with intention and learn to take care of the things we already have. Think of your clothes and objects as needing maintenance, like your car! Read those care labels and take care of your stuff. It's gonna take some time for us to break free from the cycle of disposability and retrain our brains, but we can do it! We can take small steps to take back control of the process. Remember, all this stuff is supposed to be made for us, so let's make it clear what we want: quality, sustainability, and the right to repair!

What do you think about this. Let us know in the comments below. Remember it's your 24 hrs to live. Stay blessed. Stay bubbly.