Another thing about those home invasions and burglaries, well known to law enforcement and insurers, is the follow-up burglaries a few weeks later, to pinch the replacement goods!
Or the ones that are triggered by the householders openly putting out the cartons from the new gear for collection.
Cheers, Gadge
"ODK Mods can explain it to you, but they can't understand it for you..."
"Crazy can be medicated, ignorance can be educated - but there is no cure for stupid..."
The article is fine and challenges how WE became a throw-away society. Manufacturers need to come on board too by:- - making repairable goods; and - Having a pricing policy that makes repairs economic.
Hi Jack They are making what they believe are the right noises but nothing will ever change as long as the world has China churning out the millions of tons of products that are sent around the world because as we know it is cheaper to buy that repair. The thought of using the Mens Sheds as repair places has as much ability to achieve anything as wind farms. Makes people feel all warm and fuzzy but that is about it
The thought of using the Mens Sheds as repair places has as much ability to achieve anything as wind farms. Makes people feel all warm and fuzzy but that is about it
Hi Norm I can't say I disagree - but we can't go on like this...
As Paul Kelly has reminded us, ... From little things big things grow.
We are finally getting a "men's shed" and the one and only parts and tools supply guy in town, in conjunction with KC Tools, donated a huge tool chest with all brand new spanners and stuff. The retailer also has promised that any machines returned that are not under warranty and not economical to repair labor wise will be sent to the men's shed for them to repair and resell to help fund the shed but secondhand stuff is hard to sell out here even if it is overhauled and running like new. I guess it is the shiny toy syndrome but also being a rural area I guess the tax write off of new machines might make more sense than taking on something with no warranty.
The Chinese appear to have taken the whole idea one step further. Make a crap product that is only designed to last a few months beyond the 12 month warranty and flood the market place with it. Make no spare parts at all. Sell it cheaply. Consumer throws it away and goes back to the store to buy a replacement. None of the new parts will fit the older models. In most cases the product cannot be recycled and ends up as landfill.
But I wonder how long this kind of wasteful attitude can last? It is certainly not sustainable and flies in the face of so-called modern efforts to "reduce, re-use, recycle". In all truth people recycled more things in the past than they do today, and it was out of economic necessity.
The Chinese method worked fine during the economic boom time but as soon as the GFC hit the world stage, China was hit badly. Products disappeared from our "cheapie" stores virtually overnight. They have gradually been replaced, but the cost has risen considerably. An item that was once sold for $2 is now sold for $8.99, and often more. I guess the prices are more realistic, but also far less affordable. But it is a sure sign that the Chinese method of selling cheap crap for landfill is not working. They too will be forced to improve the quality of their products if they intend to increase the prices while staying in the game. I think the same sort of thing happened to Japan after WW2. Most of the stuff coming from Japan during the 50s and 60s was cheap crap that broke shortly after you bought it. But they gradually improved and anything Made in Japan today is usually top quality and expensive.
Taiwanese products are now respected like Japanese. I now see anything stamped made in Taiwan as a plus both for trustworthy quality and good value for money. I can remember when that was not the case at all. The quality of Chinese made deeply depends on the company concerned. If it's a company from outside China with a good name that has set up shop in China, they can churn out top shelf stuff, especially when the technical comonentry is likely sourced from Japan or Germany anyway. My Kodak easyshare from 12 years ago is still going strong and feels solid as a rock in my hand and was made in China.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
I bought a new 10 inch chainsaw a couple of weeks ago, looks well made, cost $89 delivered. Cut through about 3 branches and it threw the chain. When I looked closely at the chain it had about 9 pins that I believe had been pressed too tightly and this was the problem. I will inspect the new chains when they arrive before I fit them. Apart from that the saw was only intended to do one job and I after that probably never used again, but it is easy to justify buying stuff at this sort of money if the use is only occasional. I have a new view on the cheap small mowers after last weekend where I witnessed the fact that the only way to get the mower into the back yard of a unit was to take it through the house with probably 5 mins mowing time out there.
Yes indeed Norm, blocks of land are so small today. What people call "lawns" today is what I would call a patch of carpet. No wonder some people are not bothering with growing the real stuff and just laying down a few strips of artificial lawn. The whole concept of gardens has changed fast. Now a garden is something that you can grow in a pot beside a wall on top of pavers.
Another thing I noticed during the drought years, lots of councils and private residences were dispensing with lawns entirely and replacing them with colourful stones a few inches deep.
This topic - the right to repair - is getting some AUS interest. At a time when the public cannot have faith in recycling, this issue is more important at this juncture than ever before.
This is such a complicated issue. It not only involves a right to repair.
The message must include an expectation given to manufacturers:
- Please make machines designed for repair; - Please make service tools available to all; - Please make parts pricing viable for repair; - Please take pride in what you make; - Please don't treat your customers with contempt.
I am so angry I want to go out and put a lounge chair on a ride-on!
One wonders whether some of these 'makers' have any pride in their product. One wonders: what a wonderful world ...
