The
more advanced the technology, the lesser the lifespan of a product, claims an
old-timer.
AD: Hi, where are you taking that fan?
BC: This is the third time it’s going for repairs.
And it’s hardly a year old.
AD: You probably keep it on all the time.
BC: Don’t get me started… My other fan is
almost 30 years old and works like a...
AD: …breeze?
BC: It’s not funny. Today’s ads talk about
how products are made with the latest technology, but they just don’t last.
AD: Listen, your fan could have been a
faulty piece, but…
BC: It’s not just about fans… Your Dad’s
Lambretta scooter lasted for decades, as did your first TV or any other gadget.
AD: But they’re all outdated now.
BC: The only reason people changed their
black and white TVs was because colour TVs came into the picture, not because
their old TVs stopped working. The same goes for music systems that played
audio tapes, until CDs came along…
AD: Maybe customers don’t want to hold on
to their gizmos for long. Take mobile phones for instance…
BC: My old Nokia 3110 and 6610 went on for
years…
AD: Who would want to keep a phone for more
than a couple of years? Smartphones today, smarter phones tomorrow…
BC: That’s not the point. If new technology
is meant to be superior, why does it not translate into better quality
products?
AD: Of course it does. Take cars for
example. Haven’t features like precision steering, disc brakes and safety
parameters resulted in better cars today, compared to the ones manufactured a
few decades ago?
BC: Not a week goes by without an
automobile major recalling tens of thousands of its models to replace or repair
a faulty part.
AD: As Ford famously declared, you should
choose a vehicle that’s ‘built to last’.
BC: That tagline reminds me of your
granddad’s ancestral house – it’s almost a century old and is still standing
strong. Compare it with today’s buildings that develop cracks and leaks in a
matter of years.
AD: Just because a couple of builders do a
bad job…
BC: Hold on, is this all that you can
achieve with CAD solutions and simulation software? Paints, roofing,
waterproofing, insulation - everything's become better with technology, and yet
the houses don't stand for as long as they used to...
AD: Listen, old-timers like you want
everything to be picture-perfect…
BC: Even our pictures were better than
yours. The black and white pictures of your dad’s wedding are still intact, but
your college snaps have already yellowed and faded despite the latest
technology in printing, developing, resolution…
AD: During your times, technology wasn’t
evolving as fast as it is today. Maybe people had to hold on to their existing
TVs and scooters until the next big thing came around…
BC: How can you use this argument to
justify poor quality?
AD:
Perhaps today’s manufacturers are worried that people won’t buy newer
products if the older ones lasted forever…
BC: Can’t they see value in the fact that good
quality will lead to positive word-of-mouth feedback...
AD: ...which will ultimately increase
sales?
BC: Absolutely! Right now, their only
concept of value seems to be the figure on the price tag...
AD: It’s called planned obsolescence… Create products with a limited lifespan and
allow technology to phase them out.
BC: Isn’t that a pity?
AD: What do you mean?
BC: The latest technology can help sales go
through the roof, but cannot stop irate customers like me from hitting the
ceiling.
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