As I grow older I’m disappointed by the increasing proliferation of the throwaway society. We have been conditioned to believe that the things we buy all have inbuilt use-by dates. Everything is built to a price with the implicit expectation it will not last. Corners are continually cut to save on materials and production time, and we’re expected to always seek the newest incarnation of the products we purchase. This trend pervades almost everything we buy from clothing and tools to white goods and toys.
I’m cynical enough to realise I have no chance of stemming this sinister tide — repeat consumption is the lifeblood of any manufacturer. There is little profit in selling a product only once to a customer in their lifetime. The goal is to have the customer come back as often as possible to buy it again and again.
