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America's Junk Epidemic

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Just Joe:
http://theweek.com/articles/759271/americas-junk-epidemic

Perhaps it is the first step in collectively recognizing that America has a shopping problem?

I don't know that the article is pointing out anything unique or new.

Haven't we always had dime stores and drug stores to sell us a little something new for cheap?

Its interesting that the author brags about the clarity of a landline like nobody has used one for so long that they would need to be reminded.

Sibley:
Considering that if you're 25 or younger, there's a decent chance you've never spoken on a old style corded phone... yes, I'd say we could use a reminder.

NoStacheOhio:
Yes and no.

I mean, I've spent (or been gifted) a total of like $50 on coffee brewing devices in the last seven years or so. All three of them work perfectly, and will continue to do so in perpetuity unless I drop them. I mean, none of them use electricity, but that's really unnecessary anyway (Hairo cold brew and V60, Farberware Yosemite percolator). A $170 Bunn is total overkill unless you're caffeinating large groups of people (but I have my grandmother's electric percolator for that).

I don't think Apple is really as much of a problem as the author seems to think. In my experience, their products are robust, durable and mostly easy to use. They generally work well for years. They won't last 20 years, but that has as much to do with current battery technology as it does the rest of it.

Jeans, yes. I find that I can get a pair of Levi's to last five years at most (worn 2-5x per week, washed sparingly).

Shoes are another pet peeve of mine. Especially with my kid. I'm not super hard on my own shoes, so they last a long time. My five-year-old likes to drag his toes when he rides his bike. He wore holes in the tops of his $25 Sketchers in one week. My wife found an online shoe company called Plae that's like double the price, but he's going to outgrow these shoes and they still look new.

ketchup:

--- Quote --- Most $30 pairs [of jeans] will last six months — less if they are worn a few times a week, the way jeans should be.
--- End quote ---
I don't know where this person gets their jeans, but this can't be right.  My jeans are typically $4.99 from Goodwill (though typically fairly close to new when I buy them) and last at least two years while wearing the same single pair at least 300 of 365 days each year (far more than "a few times a week").
--- Quote from: NoStacheOhio on March 13, 2018, 01:25:51 PM ---I don't think Apple is really as much of a problem as the author seems to think. In my experience, their products are robust, durable and mostly easy to use. They generally work well for years. They won't last 20 years, but that has as much to do with current battery technology as it does the rest of it.
--- End quote ---
Yeah, shockingly I've found Apple to be the least-bad in terms of planned smartphone obsolescence.  Current iOS supports devices going back 4-5 years; good luck finding that elsewhere.

mm1970:

--- Quote from: ketchup on March 13, 2018, 02:38:30 PM ---
--- Quote --- Most $30 pairs [of jeans] will last six months — less if they are worn a few times a week, the way jeans should be.
--- End quote ---
I don't know where this person gets their jeans, but this can't be right.  My jeans are typically $4.99 from Goodwill (though typically fairly close to new when I buy them) and last at least two years while wearing the same single pair at least 300 of 365 days each year (far more than "a few times a week").
--- Quote from: NoStacheOhio on March 13, 2018, 01:25:51 PM ---I don't think Apple is really as much of a problem as the author seems to think. In my experience, their products are robust, durable and mostly easy to use. They generally work well for years. They won't last 20 years, but that has as much to do with current battery technology as it does the rest of it.
--- End quote ---
Yeah, shockingly I've found Apple to be the least-bad in terms of planned smartphone obsolescence.  Current iOS supports devices going back 4-5 years; good luck finding that elsewhere.

--- End quote ---

This is funny because of a convo I had at work this week.

A coworker said "nice sweater, is it new?"  I said "no, it was a gift from my mother.  I love it.  She died in 2011."

He honestly could not believe, for a minute, that I'm wearing a sweater that is more than 7 years old.  I mean, it's held up very well.  Not all sweaters do.

But he loves shopping and clothing and started offering me clothes (for myself and my husband) because he has a lot, plus a lot of his kids' clothing, because he likes to shop.  My officemate made a joke "can you see her working at a makeup counter?"  Ha.  I mean, I had a few years in my 20s where I bought fashionable clothing, then eventually returned to my cheap country girl roots.  No makeup, jeans, sweaters or T-shirts.

I pointed out that I don't need new clothing.  We replace our clothing when it wears out.  I do have 2 pairs of jeans that I should probably not wear anymore.  They are >10 years old, and are wearing out on the inner thighs.  I still occasionally wear them.  So on one hand, I don't understand wearing out jeans in 6 months.  On the other, my husband's jeans - he has two pairs, and they wear out in 12 months (get holes in the knees, usually).

It seemed sad and strange to him, but I find it wasteful.  Plus I hate shopping.  I have a favorite pair of $15 jeans from Costco.  Every time I go there, I look for another pair.  They are not fashionable, but comfy.  No luck.

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