4 ms·

In what way do you think that strategy is an inescapable consequence of capitalism?

sdegutis 10y ago
Capitalism isn't a bad idea, it just needs proper regulation. What we have is an unregulated mess which gives both stupid and unscrupulous execs the advantage.
- duncan_bayne 10y ago
  That doesn't answer my question, at all. What is it about capitalism that makes the strategy you describe a) inevitable, and b) worthy of regulation (since you brought that up)? Also, I disagree that the modern economy is unregulated. Quite the contrary, in fact. And it's regulation, bailouts and crony capitalism that protect companies who make awful products.
  - rhizome 10y ago
    What is it about capitalism that makes the strategy you describe a) inevitable, and b) worthy of regulation (since you brought that up)? The profit motive covers (a).
    - wyager 10y ago
      No, it doesn't. Consumers value products that last a long time. This is a big reason Apple is the world's largest computer computer company despite charging more for the same transistor counts. People are actually willing to pay a huge premium for reliable stuff that they don't have to junk after a year. The market gets it right.
    - NoPiece 10y ago
      It doesn't cover why it would be an inescapable consequence.
    - PKop 10y ago
      A company that built lasting products of high quality wouldn't earn profits? Hmmmmmm[0] [0] https://www.google.com/finance?q=NASDAQ%3AAAPL&fstype=ii&ei=VtAbWMHSI86je5Kuv_AJ https://www.google.com/finance?q=NASDAQ%3AAAPL&fstype=ii&ei=...
      - odbol_ 10y ago
        haha is this a joke? Apple basically forces you to upgrade your phone every two years, by releasing a mandatory OS update that makes older phones slow as dirt. I'm talking about my mom's 1957 Ford pickup that still runs great today. I'm talking about the Ostrisizer can opener from the 1970s that my family still uses in their kitchen. 5 years lifetime for a $800 product is not "built to last".
        ceejayoz 10y ago
        A 1957 Ford pickup is going to be an absolute deathtrap in an accident. I'm not sure that's a great example. Not quite that exact combo, but you get the idea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPF4fBGNK0U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPF4fBGNK0U
        PKop 10y ago
        I had my MacBook Pro for 6 years before I upgraded, and didn't really need to. Are there many better examples within the computer / smartphone industry than Apple? Capitalism allows $1000 to buy progressively more powerful computers year after year. Oh but you're talking about pickup trucks and can-openers. Oh ok my bad. Were those created by socialist / communist economies now? What are we even talking about here? Did capitalist economies develop these things or not? Does the profit motive not motivate the auto company and can opener company to produce a better product?
        odbol_ 10y ago
        We're not talking about capitalism vs. communism. We're talking about capitalism vs. consumerism, aka Planned Obsolescence. Capitalism _could_ produce products (even high-tech products like phones) that last for longer than 2 years (e.g. swappable chips/boards/screens, etc), but it doesn't, because the rapid, constant growth demanded by investors is antithetical to making products that are built to last.

Capitalism isn't a bad idea, it just needs proper regulation. What we have is an unregulated mess which gives both stupid and unscrupulous execs the advantage.

duncan_bayne 10y ago
That doesn't answer my question, at all. What is it about capitalism that makes the strategy you describe a) inevitable, and b) worthy of regulation (since you brought that up)? Also, I disagree that the modern economy is unregulated. Quite the contrary, in fact. And it's regulation, bailouts and crony capitalism that protect companies who make awful products.
- rhizome 10y ago
  What is it about capitalism that makes the strategy you describe a) inevitable, and b) worthy of regulation (since you brought that up)? The profit motive covers (a).
  - wyager 10y ago
    No, it doesn't. Consumers value products that last a long time. This is a big reason Apple is the world's largest computer computer company despite charging more for the same transistor counts. People are actually willing to pay a huge premium for reliable stuff that they don't have to junk after a year. The market gets it right.
  - NoPiece 10y ago
    It doesn't cover why it would be an inescapable consequence.
  - PKop 10y ago
    A company that built lasting products of high quality wouldn't earn profits? Hmmmmmm[0] [0] https://www.google.com/finance?q=NASDAQ%3AAAPL&fstype=ii&ei=VtAbWMHSI86je5Kuv_AJ https://www.google.com/finance?q=NASDAQ%3AAAPL&fstype=ii&ei=...
    - odbol_ 10y ago
      haha is this a joke? Apple basically forces you to upgrade your phone every two years, by releasing a mandatory OS update that makes older phones slow as dirt. I'm talking about my mom's 1957 Ford pickup that still runs great today. I'm talking about the Ostrisizer can opener from the 1970s that my family still uses in their kitchen. 5 years lifetime for a $800 product is not "built to last".
      - ceejayoz 10y ago
        A 1957 Ford pickup is going to be an absolute deathtrap in an accident. I'm not sure that's a great example. Not quite that exact combo, but you get the idea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPF4fBGNK0U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPF4fBGNK0U
      - PKop 10y ago
        I had my MacBook Pro for 6 years before I upgraded, and didn't really need to. Are there many better examples within the computer / smartphone industry than Apple? Capitalism allows $1000 to buy progressively more powerful computers year after year. Oh but you're talking about pickup trucks and can-openers. Oh ok my bad. Were those created by socialist / communist economies now? What are we even talking about here? Did capitalist economies develop these things or not? Does the profit motive not motivate the auto company and can opener company to produce a better product?
        odbol_ 10y ago
        We're not talking about capitalism vs. communism. We're talking about capitalism vs. consumerism, aka Planned Obsolescence. Capitalism _could_ produce products (even high-tech products like phones) that last for longer than 2 years (e.g. swappable chips/boards/screens, etc), but it doesn't, because the rapid, constant growth demanded by investors is antithetical to making products that are built to last.