Consumerism, the environment and the economy

Really2

But there is repairable new technology also.

Miele equipment, Desktop or Tower Computers, cars etc.

The problem is not spending enough on the item you are purchasing in the first place if it is uneconomical to repair.

So if you buy Sh*t and replace it with Sh*t that is how it works.

A washing machine would have been 3-4 weeks wages 30 years ago who pays that now when they can get away with a cheaper one.

The options are out there, but it depends on the path you chose.

The good thing about the cheaper items id that things are available to the masses if some one on the minimum wage had to spend over £1000 on a washin gmachine it could be very serious for them.
So cheap can be good for some, but even saying that there are still some good cheaper makes.#

The good thing about recent technology it has been pushed down the route of being less and less power consuming, that is a good thing no matter your point of view.
If you had a an old telly and it went wrong I would rarther they replaced it with a new telly that was economical to run than another old telly personaly.
Technology does not only just make things faster, larger, cheaper etc. It also drives lower power useage.

So in my eye it is people wanting things cheaper and cheaper that drives this throw away culture. If you paid more for it it would be better quality, better supported and more economically viable to repair.
If your average 40" TV cost £2K they would be a lot more economically to repir and there would be more scope for better quality internals.

Considering this is a money saving site a fair few on here must sholder the blame, if you buy cheap cr*p you are supporting demand for it in the end.

Mr.Brown_4

We are lucky that we have a handy bloke up the road who can fix stuff. Washing machines, kettles, vacuum cleaners and so on. And he's reasonably priced too, cheaper than buying one of those rip off guarantees from the shop. He's just fixed the compass facility on my iPhone 3GS which hadn't worked since I bought it, no matter how hard I shook the thing. Got it back this morning, only cost ten quid and what he's done is superglue a proper compass on the back of it. It won't ever go wrong again, unless the magnet gets too close to a loud speaker I think.

Is that MSE enough for ya, punks?

IveSeenTheLight

Mr.Brown wrote: »

We are lucky that we have a handy bloke up the road who can fix stuff. Washing machines, kettles, vacuum cleaners and so on. And he's reasonably priced too, cheaper than buying one of those rip off guarantees from the shop. He's just fixed the compass facility on my iPhone 3GS which hadn't worked since I bought it, no matter how hard I shook the thing. Got it back this morning, only cost ten quid and what he's done is superglue a proper compass on the back of it. It won't ever go wrong again, unless the magnet gets too close to a loud speaker I think.

Is that MSE enough for ya, punks?

Not really, the superglue and compass would have cost you less than the tenner.
You should have done it yourself to be pure MSE

Really2

IveSeenTheLight wrote: »

Not really, the superglue and compass would have cost you less than the tenner.
You should have done it yourself to be pure MSE

Or learnt about the position of the sun, moon, stars and the effect of the seasons.

OK, just remembered we live in the UK, it is rare we can see the first three of that point.

mbga9pgf

Really2, I agree, although I tend to buy 2 or three from the top. Kenwood vs KitchenAid and Miele if you catch my drift. You can end up paying for the brand otherwise as well.

Only exception to this is audio/visual, I cringe when I see some of the crap pushed out by the big high street supermarkets. Yes, Bose or Sony cost an arm and a leg, but kept in a smoke-free home, will outlive the owners. We bought top of the range when we got our TV and furniture and are laughing now as we reckon we have saved a fortune in the long run. Although again, you have to be careful. Some of Bose's recent stuff is starting to err on the consumerist throwaway, which is a concern. Their Ipod dound docks arent particularly solid either.

Clothes wise, I wear a lot of outdoor gear, Marmot/TNF/Mountain Hardwear, its hard wearing, practical and lasts for ages. Again costs a lot, TNF are going a bit throwaway, but typically lasts ages if looked after.

I have to be honest, I buy cheap PCs. Although I have my own dell precision for work purposes (2k new, bought for 400 quid off ebay 1 year old ), as I was getting through 2 laptops a year when I bought cheap n nasty. This one feels solid. I always buy at optimum performance vs price, never pay for cutting edge. I used to, then found out you end up as a case study for manufacturers design teams, as cutting edge doesnt equate to reliability imho. (Especially Cars, I NEVER buy a 1st Gen new design). Parts once a PC break go on ebay, you find your typical laptop is worth 50% of its residual value by selling screen/Processor/battery/keyboard/memory and electric adapter. You just need to be gentle taking it apart.

My day to day watch is a Suunto Observer and for evening dos, I dont go far without my Breitling Navitimer.

mbga9pgf

Really2 wrote: »

Or learnt about the position of the sun, moon, stars and the effect of the seasons.

OK, just remembered we live in the UK, it is rare we can see the first three of that point.

Tree moss typically grows on the north side. Makes for easy dense forest map reading (no sun or stars), especially when on the rapid move. Laugh at others confusing themselves with silva/Suunto watches/Iphones whilst I can do it without a compass! I love navigation techniques without tech, it is a bit of a pasttime for me. quite fun being able to work out your latitude within 5 miles with a nautical alminac and a bit of arithmetic. especially seeing as we cover 7 miles a minute in the cruise.

Really2

mbga9pgf wrote: »

Really2, I agree, although I tend to buy 2 or three from the top. Kenwood vs KitchenAid and Miele if you catch my drift. You can end up paying for the brand otherwise as well.

Only exception to this is audio/visual, I cringe when I see some of the crap pushed out by the big high street supermarkets. Yes, Bose or Sony cost an arm and a leg, but kept in a smoke-free home, will outlive the owners. We bought top of the range when we got our TV and furniture and are laughing now as we reckon we have saved a fortune in the long run. Although again, you have to be careful. Some of Bose's recent stuff is starting to err on the consumerist throwaway, which is a concern. Their Ipod dound docks arent particularly solid either.

Clothes wise, I wear a lot of outdoor gear, Marmot/TNF/Mountain Hardwear, its hard wearing, practical and lasts for ages. Again costs a lot, TNF are going a bit throwaway, but typically lasts ages if looked after.

I have to be honest, I buy cheap PCs. Although I have my own dell precision for work purposes (2k new, bought for 400 quid off ebay 1 year old ), as I was getting through 2 laptops a year when I bought cheap n nasty. This one feels solid. I always buy at optimum performance vs price, never pay for cutting edge. I used to, then found out you end up as a case study for manufacturers design teams, as cutting edge doesnt equate to reliability imho. (Especially Cars, I NEVER buy a 1st Gen new design). Parts once a PC break go on ebay, you find your typical laptop is worth 50% of its residual value by selling screen/Processor/battery/keyboard/memory and electric adapter. You just need to be gentle taking it apart.

TBH on laptops two parts make up the bulk of the value the Motherboard and the screen.

If either go after one year and you do not know how to replace it yourself they are pretty much BER because the tech advancement and prices falling.

Good choice on the precision 3Y NBD warranty also (you can get 5) so it should last long enough for it's usefull life.

TBH the computer option I was just stating you can go repairable if you like if you buy a Desktop. But to be honest I only use laptops now

mbga9pgf

Any one get REALLY annoyed about how mobile phones are now throwaway 1 year designs? I buy second hand and use them till they break. Usually 3 years later. I never spend more than 30 quid on mine and am on an o2 sim only business contract, paying a monthly rate 1/3 of an iphone contract!

Absolute lunacy imho.

Graham_Devon

mbga9pgf wrote: »

Any one get REALLY annoyed about how mobile phones are now throwaway 1 year designs? I buy second hand and use them till they break. Usually 3 years later. I never spend more than 30 quid on mine and am on an o2 sim only business contract, paying a monthly rate 1/3 of an iphone contract!

Absolute lunacy imho.

I had my last mobile for 5 years. I was getting various comments from people though! Only upgraded as the 0 key was no longer working. Got a stupid phone now with internet, MP3 player, camera, video and a load of tatt I don't use and abslutely hate it. May sell it soon actually. It's all screen too, no buttons, and it's a complete nightmare to use, especially writing texts!

But I can play youtube videos on a widescreen touchscreen thingy, woop etc.

Best thing is, thanks to all this technology the battery lasts 2 days max. Brilliant. :rolleyes:

Only got it as the actual contract was a very good deal.

treliac

mbga9pgf wrote: »

Any one get REALLY annoyed about how mobile phones are now throwaway 1 year designs? I buy second hand and use them till they break. Usually 3 years later. I never spend more than 30 quid on mine and am on an o2 sim only business contract, paying a monthly rate 1/3 of an iphone contract!

Absolute lunacy imho.

It feeds on the need, of some sections of society, to always have the very latest look, technology, etc. to show off.

I'm still wondering how that mentality will be able to change.