To think things don’t last as long as they once did?

[K8Davidson]

I bought a new toilet seat a year ago, and it broke yesterday. I’m very frustrated because when one issue is solved, something else breaks.

My furniture is mostly antique because I know they will last for the rest of my life!

I don't think electrical things do but I'm ok toilet seat-wise 🤣

Then again, when I was growing up in the 70s, we had a TV repair man who would come round and replace all sorts of parts and a washing machine repair man.

The high streets always had repair shops too, for lawn mowers, portable heaters and even your hair dryer if it went kaput.

Now we all tend to just bin and replace.

There are still options which last. They just cost more.
The difference is that (relative to wages) everything was generally more expensive without the cheap options we now have.

I agree with the comments above. Things like televisions, washings etc were big purchases and repaired where possible. Then goods started being made so they couldn't be opened, so people had no choice but to chuck and buy again.

The market is flooded with cheep goods and credit is easy to get. People don't have to wait and save up to get what they want/need or enter into a H.P agreement. It's consumerism at its worst, but that's what you get in a system purely based on capitalism.

Up until the late 60s early 70s, things were made to be repaired and last for decades. Sometime in the late 70s companies discovered they could make a lot more profit by building things with “planned obsolescence” and have repeat customers for life. The lifespan of things seems to get shorter all the time and people have been conditioned to accept it.

There is a website called Buy Me Once that has tried to address the problem, but I’ve never bought anything there.

I also prefer older meant-to-last items. I’ve tried to explain to my daughter how my mother’s1950s well-seasoned and completely non-stick cast iron pan will outlast me and I never have to worry about the safety of non-stick coatings. She has no interest in me passing it on to her, she is the generation of Temu and would rather buy a new pan every year in whatever is the most current trendy colour. ☹️

I am just about old enough to remember my parents buying their sofa and chairs for the living room. They are around 30 years old now and still look brand new!
Most people I know are replacing their sofas every 4 years, they go to scs or dfs and buy them on credit. As soon as they finish paying for them they sell them on fb market place for a few hundred pounds and enter into another credit agreement for 4 years.
I do wonder about the antiques of the future, I can't imagine anyone wanting to buy B&M wall art or IKEA furniture but I'm sure our great grandparents felt the same about their belongings 🤔

My grandmother kept a Hoover twin tub washing machine going for 35 years, repairing it herself when needed. Nowadays, you’re lucky to get five years out of many appliances. And yes, planned obsolescence. I do have things repaired when possible, including clothes.

Absolutely with you about antique or vintage furniture. Far too much cheap melamine ends up in landfill, broken.

It’s hard to avoid other new things like white goods, though. Planned obsolescence makes me absolutely livid.

You can still get things repaired. It is harder to find places that do it but it’s possible. The sofa thing really annoys me though. How is it possible that a shop that sells sofas can’t make one that lasts?

Agreed.
We have a lot of hand me downs of electrical items that work like a dream and barely need maintenance.
My DGF when he passed away I inherited his swan fan from the 50s and it works fantastically never an issue.
I had one before that made in china from 2012 snd it broke after a couple years.
I have also inherited an ood top loader washing machine.still works fantastically. Loooove being able to check in last minute items.

I could go on. I have so many items that are old and fantastic condition even clothing. And compared to what I have purchased in the last 15years that didn't even make it past the return policy of 30days

My sofas are wood framed from Scandinavia, and were apparently bought by their first owners in the early 1970s. Still going strong!

I got the set for £30 second hand nearly 20 years ago, and I’m never ditching them.

Dyson have made sure to make that near imposssible with newer models.
Iphone and Apple also the same.
Companies do not want your ti repair they want your to be a massive consumer and keep buying cheaply made crap.

My DH repairs cars for a hobby and he used to be able to do everything on his old car. But he purchased a new one as our family grew and his older car was onlynsuited for 4 people. And the newer car he can only repair a few things. Other things are locked and only professionals can get access. It is very very cheeky.

They sound amazing! My sofas are second hand, I am not sure how many years they have left but they will not be replaced until absolutely necessary.

I’ve managed to get my LG tv and washing machine repaired recently….not by the same man though!

The TV took 6 weeks to repair, but I had another TV to use.

I thought the EU had changed the rules and that manufacturers had to continue to make parts for the machines they made.

However, don’t get me started on printers 🤬🤬🤬

I moved into my home in 2019 and bought all new white goods; dishwasher/washing machine/tumble dryer. They all broke last year. One after the other.

If one changes their phone everytime a 'newer' version is launched, or change their car regularly, then you are adding to the problem.

My toilet seat from Next has lasted years so has my Croydex one from Amazon

You can definitely replace filters and batteries on a Dyson yourself or take it to a repair shop. (I did it last month and it was easy). Phones and tablets can be repaired as can computers etc. I still don’t think they are as robust as they were but some life extension is possible.

I find it a bit frustrating when people say "my xxx has worked for 10 years" etc when recommendedding a new item... Will a modern one work as well?

My grandfather built furniture himself. He was a master craftsman and I have inherited most of what he made for the family. I treasure it! I also have some of the Scandinavian mid century modern furniture that my mum and stepdad bought on their honeymoon in the 60s. I love antiques!

There is more cheap tat around, for sure, with the likes of Amazon, Shein and Temu.

But if you are more discerning and do your research you can still get decent quality stuff.

It costs a bit more so you have to save up for longer but that was always the case.

I agree about toilet seats. My one is crap, and it's only about 2 years old. It's loose and no matter what I do it always bloody moves. My parents ones are about 30 years old and are solid and don't bloody move.

I agree - and part of it is that our attitude has changed - we have just been through a time of great affluence (which appears to be coming to an end).

People became complacent and happy to throw away and buy new rather than repair, because it was convenient and they could afford it.

I think that might change a little over the coming years.

Where did you get it from/ how much did you spend on it?

Yes everything is shit these days and why cant toilet seats fixed firmly so they don't swivel about anymore. plastic is flimsy and breaks and cracks so easily. even glass drinking glasses are made so thin they smash if anything taps against them. Even high end expensive products are not the same quality. Metal is flimsy these days, i could go on as absolutely everything is shit in comparison.
And as for things becoming obsolete, I have an older printer still in good working order but the manufacturer has now stopped making the ink cartridges and it will not accept compatibles. working printer is now going to have to go in the bin and il have to fork out for a new one.