I don't remember a "Toys R Us" or all the box stores of today. There was a Woodwards with a modest toy department and the wish book : ) So this is how I grew up.
If something broke, my dad fixed it. He has some mad skills, but you had to. I don't ever remember my dad taking our car to a mechanic. Hell no, he got in there and figured it out. We had no choice. We had little money and it was fix it or take a bus. I always helped my dad and learned a lot of "manly" things.
Now fast forward in time to today. Everything is disposable. Everything is designed to be replaced. Not fixed!...replaced! I have seen this with our TV that is already crapping out, with Chad's computer that had issues early on. And our vacuum. No....our last TWO vacuums!
Five years ago I bought a cheap vacuum from canadian tire. Yes it was cheap, but we have hardwood floors mostly, it isn't doing very hard work. It mostly craps out. So we put it downstairs to use by the litterbox and get another Canadian Tire special. It lasts (upright cannister) not even 2 years.
So that's it..no more Canadian Tire specials. We get a new Dyson, pay more money but get a 5 year warranty. But NOW, we have to figure out what to do with these 2 dead vacuums.
It makes me realize how much waste we all generate on this planet. We end up taking them to the eco centre where I hope the hunks of useless plastic and parts can be re-cycled somewhat. But I don't know. That is 2 vacuums just from our household alone. What about all the cell phones and PDA's that we will get rid of every time our contract is up for renewal. Come on..you need to upgrade!
If you watch any of those hording shows you realize that each of those people is generating enough garbage and waste for about 10 people. Buy stuff, take it home, and pile it up. Buy more stuff, take it home and pile it up higher. What the hell is this obsession we have with stuff?
I can't help but think we are going to end up like Wall E, having to move to a new planet cuz we have so many piles of crap on ours. Good lord, Steven Hawkings is right!!! So is Pixar!
Dyson is awesome! Great customer service.
ReplyDeleteWhen we packed up our condo to move here we got rid of a lot of junk we had collected or junk we had moved from the previous house before the condo. If I didn't use it while we were in the condo, it was tossed or donated.
Also used Kijiji to sell some stuff that was worth selling. Such a great place.
I think a lot of it is lack of interest and lack of time to get the interest. I have one neighbour who researches the hell out of every purchase, he'll spend 6 months looking for that perfect thing and then it won't matter what its cost, because he's found that one item he wants. Hell he redid his kitchen 4 years ago and still hasn't bought the movable island they want, cause he hasn't found that right one yet. Electronics he's the same way.
ReplyDeleteOn the reverse end is another neighbour who is as frugal as you can be, but in 5 years he's had 4 computers because he buys cheap computers, then loads them up with programs, most of which run in the background. Then he complains his machine runs slow and he needs a new one. No matter how many times I've told him to just go out and get more ram, instead he'll buy brand new. When he does things around the house, sure it gets done, but the job doesn't look that good, cause he went cheap on buying stuff.
I do think its a balance act though. If I'm going to buy a new computer, its the mobo that is most important, cause everything else I can upgrade easier and cheaper later. Which is what I've done with my computer that is 7 years old. But on the whole, making sure you're getting quality goods is better than going cheap.
Cars. Who can figure them out when you need specialised computers just to see its its running right. I'm lucky I can find the battery these days.
Cell phones are a conspiracy though. A phone a year old and you can't buy batteries for it anymore. THAT is planned.
@Cliff, can I use this as my post for today? :)
You are right Brad, there was a time when an average guy could work on a car, but now you need scopes and electronics. So many things are like that. Hell, Toyota is learning a lesson from that right now. Do we really want our brakes relying on a bother board of sorts??? Good lord.
ReplyDeleteMany new things are like that and the technology changes so fast you get to the point where you have to upgrade.
Even lots of products I buy like woman's makeup has ridiculous amounts of packaging that seems unnecessary. I guess though we have to be smart consumers and make better choices. Adding RAM and parts to a computer is the way to go.