the present economy is actually very good at making exactly what people want to buy
Don’t take this personally, but that’s bullshit.
Look at cars and phones as an example. Manufacturers decide what the customers want and then push it on us. No one asked for a phone that doesn’t have a replaceable battery, doesn’t have a headphone jack, has microbezels, is covered in glass so if you drop it you have to buy a new one, or you have to buy a case to wrap it in. No one asked for a car that is sending all of your data to the manufacturer, has a huge-ass touch screen that can’t be customized in any way, has features that don’t work while the car is in motion, lets your insurance company know when you accelerate too quickly, and plays ads when you are at a stoplight.
I’ve been looking at getting a new washer and even those are terrible and require connecting the appliance to a wireless network and installing an app on your phone to get full functionality.
There are VERY few manufacturers of anything out there that actually give a shit about what the consumer really wants, and instead will provide the minimum needed to get the consumer to buy while providing the maximum return for investors.
Okay, so this got long, but only because you made so many separate points.
No one asked for a phone that doesn’t have a replaceable battery
Pretty much necessary for waterproofing, makes the design a bit simpler, and most people DGAF about e-waste.
has microbezels, is covered in glass so if you drop it you have to buy a new one, or you have to buy a case to wrap it in.
All aesthetic features that are popular, even if people aren’t aware of where the wow comes from exactly.
The headphone jack is the only forced example here.
No one asked for a car that is sending all of your data to the manufacturer
You’re not the customer, and most people have no problem with being the product. Which is really dumb of them, but true.
has a huge-ass touch screen that can’t be customized in any way,
It’s still a new enough trend that I’m not sure where it sits, but it does come with the advantage of displaying whatever menus you want really directly.
has features that don’t work while the car is in motion,
Liability, I assume.
lets your insurance company know when you accelerate too quickly, and plays ads when you are at a stoplight.
Again, you’re not the customer.
I’ve been looking at getting a new washer and even those are terrible and require connecting the appliance to a wireless network and installing an app on your phone to get full functionality.
Ditto. Most consumers either don’t know/care or actually like whatever shitty “smart” feature. And aren’t tracking their cybersecurity very closely.
In a nutshell:
There are VERY few manufacturers of anything out there that actually give a shit about what the consumer Bob Robertson and CanadaPlus really want,
I don’t want to create an entire thread arguing because I believe that you value your viewpoints as much as I value mine, but I think this might be the main area where our viewpoints diverge because when I’m buying something, then yes, I am the customer. And when I buy something then my expectation is that I will then own that something and I will do with it as I please.
Yeah. That wasn’t a normative statement, just a descriptive one. We should be the customer, we just economically aren’t. I bet you and me buy the same kind of stuff.
The points I was arguing against in OP are that everything is built worse than it used to be, and that it’s because some group can just decide so unilaterally for personal gain. Some stuff is worse, some stuff is better, but it’s true that regulations haven’t kept pace with technology this century.
Nothing you typed is true. Bob Robertson is right about every point. And I will piggyback off of him and continue to prove him right and you wrong if necessary.
Nothing is being produced for the consumer anymore. We are the Mark. I broke a little plastic gear for turning the chute on my snowblower and cannot buy a 30¢ chunk of replacement plastic. They told us the internet being recategorized as a luxury service instead of a utility service would improve service. It’s gone up in price 5-10x in the fifteen years since, Sucka. Everything is trying to transition you to a subscription service so you will own nothing and be happy, Sucka. Stop carrying water as a useful idiot, Sucka.
Don’t take this personally, but that’s bullshit.
Look at cars and phones as an example. Manufacturers decide what the customers want and then push it on us. No one asked for a phone that doesn’t have a replaceable battery, doesn’t have a headphone jack, has microbezels, is covered in glass so if you drop it you have to buy a new one, or you have to buy a case to wrap it in. No one asked for a car that is sending all of your data to the manufacturer, has a huge-ass touch screen that can’t be customized in any way, has features that don’t work while the car is in motion, lets your insurance company know when you accelerate too quickly, and plays ads when you are at a stoplight.
I’ve been looking at getting a new washer and even those are terrible and require connecting the appliance to a wireless network and installing an app on your phone to get full functionality.
There are VERY few manufacturers of anything out there that actually give a shit about what the consumer really wants, and instead will provide the minimum needed to get the consumer to buy while providing the maximum return for investors.
Consumers are far more cost conscious than they say. A lot of consumers will go for a cheaper product rather than pay more for certain options.
It is the reason why most planes aren’t first class only. The majority of flyers would rather have a cheaper ticket than leg room.
Okay, so this got long, but only because you made so many separate points.
Pretty much necessary for waterproofing, makes the design a bit simpler, and most people DGAF about e-waste.
All aesthetic features that are popular, even if people aren’t aware of where the wow comes from exactly.
The headphone jack is the only forced example here.
You’re not the customer, and most people have no problem with being the product. Which is really dumb of them, but true.
It’s still a new enough trend that I’m not sure where it sits, but it does come with the advantage of displaying whatever menus you want really directly.
Liability, I assume.
Again, you’re not the customer.
Ditto. Most consumers either don’t know/care or actually like whatever shitty “smart” feature. And aren’t tracking their cybersecurity very closely.
In a nutshell:
I don’t want to create an entire thread arguing because I believe that you value your viewpoints as much as I value mine, but I think this might be the main area where our viewpoints diverge because when I’m buying something, then yes, I am the customer. And when I buy something then my expectation is that I will then own that something and I will do with it as I please.
Yeah. That wasn’t a normative statement, just a descriptive one. We should be the customer, we just economically aren’t. I bet you and me buy the same kind of stuff.
The points I was arguing against in OP are that everything is built worse than it used to be, and that it’s because some group can just decide so unilaterally for personal gain. Some stuff is worse, some stuff is better, but it’s true that regulations haven’t kept pace with technology this century.
deleted by creator
Nothing you typed is true. Bob Robertson is right about every point. And I will piggyback off of him and continue to prove him right and you wrong if necessary.
Nothing is being produced for the consumer anymore. We are the Mark. I broke a little plastic gear for turning the chute on my snowblower and cannot buy a 30¢ chunk of replacement plastic. They told us the internet being recategorized as a luxury service instead of a utility service would improve service. It’s gone up in price 5-10x in the fifteen years since, Sucka. Everything is trying to transition you to a subscription service so you will own nothing and be happy, Sucka. Stop carrying water as a useful idiot, Sucka.