Have you noticed lately (or not so lately) that things just aren’t made like they used to be? Last weekend I was talking to an older friend about cars, and somehow we got talking about money, go figure! She mentioned that her sister-in-law’s first big purchase as a newlywed was a car. Apparently the whole family, “talked” about her choice of car, a new Volvo. I mean, “who spends that kind of money on a car? She must think she married into another family” was the general attitude. I guess the purchase relative to their income at the time was pretty extravagant. However…18 years later she had the “last laugh” when the car was passed along to their 16-year-old daughter. Funny how things used to be built to last, right?
They Don’t Make Em’ Like They Used To:
Microwaves. My parents bought their first microwave shortly after I was born (1983) for over $500. It lasted (no joke) until I was in my early twenties. The waves from that humungous machine will probably make us glow in the dark, but it heated food reliably for over 20 years! My friend recently purchased a used microwave on craigslist for $20. It was only a year old, but shortly after she brought it home, she noticed that it periodically turned on by itself. Obviously, she had to throw it away for fear that it would turn on and burn down her house while she was away.
Clothes. Some people say you get what you pay for when it comes to clothes. Truthfully, I don’t think they make clothes (even high end designer clothes) the way they used to. Some of my favorite clothing stores and designers have fallen short of my expectations lately. When I was in high school I purchased two pair of khaki shorts at American Eagle to wear at the pool (I was a lifeguard). 10 years later I still have those shorts and they’re still wearing strong (when I can squeeze myself in them). Unfortunately, I can’t say the same thing about two Gap sweaters I recently purchased. After a few wears they were already getting pilled and looking worn out.
Shoes. In particular, ladies’ shoes! I swear they make them to purposefully break after a few wears. In particular, the “dressy” shoes that you’d wear to a fancy occasion seem to be cheaper and cheaper (quality, not price). I’m a woman, so I only know about women’s shoes. Is this true for mens’ shoes as well?
Cell phones. I bought my first cell phone when I was 16. It was one of those old school Nokia bar phones. That phone was a work horse and I actually go decent reception with it in Downeast Maine (something that still doesn’t happen 15 years later when I visit my parents). I once spilled a whole cappuccino into, literally into, the keypad of the phone when I was driving to school. I opened up the phone poured out the liquid and gave it a quick rinse in the sink when I got to school. 2 days later when the phone dried I reassembled the pieces and the worked without issue. Just imagine rinsing your iphone in the sink! I dropped that phone at least 100 times. Every time I dropped it the back broke off, but the screen never cracked.
Cars. When I was in high school a had a friend named, Priscilla. Priscilla’s first car was a huge old Mercedes diesel. It was a tank of a car that had over 200k miles. That car was older than she was at the time, but she ran like a charm and nothing ever broke. It was sturdy and the pieces were well made, unlike those little plastic pieces that can break off (even expensive) cars these days.
What do you think? Is quality going down while price is going up? Are well-made products still out there?
Image: Pedro Riberio Simoes, James Whatley, The People’s History