Is This The End for Planned Obsolescence?
Planned Obsolescence
Planned Obsolescence
Webster’s dictionary defines Planned Obsolescence as “a method of stimulating consumer demand by designing products that wear out or become outmoded after limited use.” and this practice was developed and began in the 1920's and 1930's, when manufacturers learned they could sell more items if they employed this practice.
Since that time, it has become commonplace to introduce a product, knowing it will be replaced or need repairs within a certain amount of time, guaranteeing more items will be sold and more money will be made. Items that need repairs sometimes end up in shops like ours, and we get the parts replaced and rebuild the item, saving you money. Other times, items may end up in a landfill, with many other items like it, when people realize it might be "easier" to buy a new one.
Recently, at the CES (consumer electronics show) 2012, it was showcased that manufacturers like Samsung and Ford are thinking progressively by beginning to introduce products that do not use the Planned Obsolescence practice. Instead of planning for these items to be replaced or repaired, Ford and Samsung are attempting to make products that can be "upgraded" by use of software.
Is this the end of Planned Obsolescence? Probably not, since the software will most likely replace the function the parts and broken items, themselves used to serve. Instead of having a broken unit, you might end up with an item that simply cannot do what its newer counterparts can. Or perhaps, the developers can (and will) "shut down" the software, rendering the item useless without the newer software. However, this proves a significant advance in technology and its part in our lives. Instead of having to go out and buy a new connector or LCD screen, you might have to go out and get a new software disk. It simplifies the process.
However, since this is a relatively new idea, we can't expect to see this practice really gaining momentum quite yet, and we still need repair shops for those pesky electronic repairs that always seem to come out of nowhere. ;)
If you need a free estimate on a repair for your machine or part, please call us at 1-800-331-5941 or email our Sales Team for information on where to send in your item!
Combotronics is an Industrial Electronics Repair facility. If you need electronic repair, re-manufacturing, or rebuilding, call us at 1-800-331-5941, or email us at tech@combotronicsinc.com.
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-RR
Posted by Combotronics Team
