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There are some companies that do build long lasting appliances. For example, one can buy a Speed Queen washing machine for home, and they're supposed to be comp
by jfim 5y ago
There are some companies that do build long lasting appliances. For example, one can buy a Speed Queen washing machine for home, and they're supposed to be comparable with their commercial laundromat offerings. They're also 2-4x the price of a similar washing machine.
The big problem is that on the consumer side, it's pretty much impossible to evaluate durability of goods. Is the $80 toaster much more durable and better built than the $40 one, or is it just a "premium" offering that has the same internals but with a fancier appearance.
- Gigachad 5y agoAnd then is it even worth thinking about which toaster will last 50 years vs 10 years when the price may as well be free for how cheap they are.
- jfim 5y agoThat assumes that the sticker price is the only externality. If it breaks, one has to throw away the toaster and order a new one, potentially being without toast while the new one is shipped. For me, it's less about cost and more about not leaving a pile of cheap toasters in a landfill for future generations.
- Gigachad 5y agoFor me, there is a store I can walk to and pick up a new toaster within 200m, and I have never seen a toaster break since they are dead simple. Avoiding needless landfill is by far the most important part here but a toaster is pretty low on the priority list. Food packaging and just food production in general for a year would outweigh several lifetimes of toasters.