2 ms·

> Anything that gives customers more accurate information should lead to better-functioning markets. Not if the information is vague or subjective or manipulab

by swatow 12y ago

> Anything that gives customers more accurate information should lead to better-functioning markets. Not if the information is vague or subjective or manipulable (as I think "expected lifespan" would be), or if that information is very costly for the manufacturer to estimate, or for the government to verify. Sometimes its better to let the market work on its own, e.g. through product reviews.

molyss 12y ago
unfortunately, product reviews don't give any information whatsoever on the lifespan of any product, instead focusing on the instant gratification, ease of use and shiny new things. Maybe that's what the consumer wants, but maybe that's just the only information they have access to in order to decide how to get the most bang for their bucks. Giving different information will at least let everyone decide what they believe is the most bangs (lifespan vs shiny new things) and buy accordingly
- swatow 12y ago
  You're not considering the cost of obtaining this information. And plenty of reviews that I read contained information on the lifespan (usually in the form of "this broke! zero stars!")
  - molyss 12y ago
    any company a little bit serious will do some statistical analysis on expected lifespan of their product. Without speaking about planned obsolescence, you want to know what warranty to give to your customers, which parts will break first and so on. We are already paying the price to get the information. We just don't have access to it. And "it broke" just tells me it has a very short lifespan, but won't let me know if some stuff has a 6 months vs 6 years lifespan. "short lifespan" is fundamentally different from "not working". We're used to the former (unfortunately), but won't consider the latter acceptable, except maybe when buying obviously overly cheap stuff
Shivetya 12y ago
my concern would be, would this open manufacturers up to litigation if items sold with expected lifespans that fail before then even if outside of warranty? to be honest, I very much doubt I would post an expected lifespan greater than warranty. personal note, many of my small appliances are purchased used off ebay for prices similar to new or even less and they all work fine, my toaster is sixty years old, table fan almost a hundred, and I never worry they won't work

by swatow 12y ago

molyss 12y ago

unfortunately, product reviews don't give any information whatsoever on the lifespan of any product, instead focusing on the instant gratification, ease of use and shiny new things. Maybe that's what the consumer wants, but maybe that's just the only information they have access to in order to decide how to get the most bang for their bucks. Giving different information will at least let everyone decide what they believe is the most bangs (lifespan vs shiny new things) and buy accordingly

swatow 12y ago
You're not considering the cost of obtaining this information. And plenty of reviews that I read contained information on the lifespan (usually in the form of "this broke! zero stars!")
- molyss 12y ago
  any company a little bit serious will do some statistical analysis on expected lifespan of their product. Without speaking about planned obsolescence, you want to know what warranty to give to your customers, which parts will break first and so on. We are already paying the price to get the information. We just don't have access to it. And "it broke" just tells me it has a very short lifespan, but won't let me know if some stuff has a 6 months vs 6 years lifespan. "short lifespan" is fundamentally different from "not working". We're used to the former (unfortunately), but won't consider the latter acceptable, except maybe when buying obviously overly cheap stuff

Shivetya 12y ago

my concern would be, would this open manufacturers up to litigation if items sold with expected lifespans that fail before then even if outside of warranty? to be honest, I very much doubt I would post an expected lifespan greater than warranty. personal note, many of my small appliances are purchased used off ebay for prices similar to new or even less and they all work fine, my toaster is sixty years old, table fan almost a hundred, and I never worry they won't work