To think everything is built to break these days

[RainSoakedNights]

I’ve got a pair of AirPods. I’ve had them for just under two years, never spilt water on them etc.

They started breaking a week ago. I contacted apple support who ran “diagnostics” on them via my phone and basically, the hardware has gone.

So they say they can send me replacement units at £79 per AirPod and £129 for the case! I can purchase them for cheaper than that. When did it become the norm for things to break in under two years?!

My last washing machine lasted just under 2.5 years.
Previous ones have lasted 13+ years and 9+ years.

Companies don’t want things lasting decades as they make more money with irreparable breakdowns just out of guarantee!

It depends. Maybe they do. I am getting a free new battery on my 2 year old Google Pixel because they are bursting into flames!

But, I have a 20 year old dishwasher, 20 year old cooker, 28 year old fridge and freezer. Washing machine coming up for 15. We have three cars, one 14 years old, and two 10 years old, all in pretty good nick, no major issues (yet).

Electronics, yes, they become obsolete very quickly which is extremely irritating.

Companies don’t want things lasting decades as they make more money with irreparable breakdowns just out of guarantee!

I don't agree with that assumption. For every anecdote of a product breaking there are millions of the same that don't break. It makes no commercial sense to build in poor quality deliberately. CE mark as was ensures products especially electrical are made to expected standards.

If someone has to buy a replacement they are highly likely to shop around, research on Trust Pilot, Amazon and go for a product with high reliability ratings. Reputation is everything in this day and age where consumers can find out about product quality more easily including via AI.

Products with lots of engineering, moving parts like a dish washer or washing machine is unlikely to last decades. Products like fridges, hair straighteners will go on much longer as they are less likely to wear out the same way.

The technical term is 'in-built obsolescence'. In other words, a product deliberately designed to break after a certain period of time, do you have to buy a new one. Or, in IT terms, 'we are no longer providing security updates'. Both are utterly infuriating.

It’s just infuriating. I was paying for Apple care for the AirPods and it did nothing! It’s not good for the environment either, a pair of AirPods is done in less than two years!