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Because it causes massive unsustainable externalities when that business model is applied by many firms across the economy as a whole? The only reason that man
by quanticle 7y ago
Because it causes massive unsustainable externalities when that business model is applied by many firms across the economy as a whole?
The only reason that manufacturers can get away with planned obsolescence is because they don't have to pay any disposal fees to recycle/remanufacture their equipment. If they took a hit to their bottom line every time a consumer threw out their product, I'm willing to be they'd design products to be a lot more durable and repairable.
- cycrutchfield 7y ago... how much do you think device disposal actually costs?
- quanticle 7y agoDepends on what you mean by "disposal". I'm talking about a system where no part of the device ends up in a landfill, much like what we have with car batteries today.
- laughinghan 7y agoex·ter·nal·i·ty noun a side effect or consequence of an industrial or commercial activity that affects other parties without this being reflected in the cost of the goods or services involved (emphasis added) https://www.google.com/search?q=define+externality https://www.google.com/search?q=define+externality
- cycrutchfield 7y agoOh wow, thanks. They must not have covered that topic in all of the Economics classes I took in college. Thank goodness you were here to regurgitate the definition of such a basic concept to me on this fateful day. I will be forever grateful.
- laughinghan 7y agoI was clarifying. Interesting that you clearly read this and the other reply yet you don't have a substantive response.
- cycrutchfield 7y agoBecause it’s silly. The cost of disposing of or recycling a cell phone is negligible compared to its margins. What are the margins on an iPhone?
- laughinghan 7y agoAre iPhones an example of planned obsolescence? I think of iPhones as much more durable than cheap Android phones. Don't you think those would be less cheap if it weren't "free" to toss them in 2 years?
- cycrutchfield 7y agoI thought that's what all the Apple-haters say online. They claim that iPhones are the epitome of planned obsolescense.