4 ms·
I'd give that award to the light bulb cartel at the turn of the century that agreed on 1000 hours as the target lifetime.
by Scaevolus 8y ago
I'd give that award to the light bulb cartel at the turn of the century that agreed on 1000 hours as the target lifetime.
- Judgmentality 8y ago> light bulb cartel I know nothing about this and have no strong opinions about it one way or the other, but that phrasing is hilarious.
- kup0 8y agohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoebus_cartel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoebus_cartel > The Phoebus cartel created a notable landmark in the history of the global economy because it engaged in large-scale planned obsolescence to generate repeated sales and maximize profit. > The cartel conveniently lowered operational costs and worked to standardize the life expectancy of light bulbs at 1,000 hours (down from 2,500 hours) and raised prices without fear of competition. The cartel tested their bulbs and fined manufacturers for bulbs that lasted more than 1,000 hours.
- JohnJamesRambo 8y agoThere's a special circle in hell that should be reserved for people like this.
- oftenwrong 8y agoThey get to serve in the devil's cabinet.
- coryrc 8y agoIncandescent light bulb life is inversely proportional to efficiency. The current choice already costs many times the purchase price in electricity use, so if anything, they chose a value too long.
- dwighttk 8y agowhy would making the cost to operate equal the cost to purchase be desirable?
- TeMPOraL 8y ago> The current choice already costs many times the purchase price in electricity use, so if anything, they chose a value too long. But is it still "many times" when you factor in the costs of manufacturing it (all the way to marginal costs of mining the materials) and transporting it to the stores? I really wish products were evaluated in terms of total costs; the shop price gives near zero information about the sustainability impact of a product.