Ever looked at a 1950s Sunbeam toaster still browning bread perfectly on your grandma's counter and then looked at your own $80 "smart" toaster that died after fourteen months? It feels like a personal insult. We've all said it. They don't make them like that anymore, and honestly, it’s not just your nostalgia talking. It is a documented shift in how the world builds things.
It’s about more than just old-school aesthetics. It’s about the heft of a cast-iron skillet versus the flimsiness of a non-stick pan that flakes off into your eggs within a year. We live in an era of "fast everything." Fast fashion, fast tech, fast furniture. But when did we trade "built to last" for "built to be replaced"?
💡 You might also like: Over the edge photos: Why the internet's obsession with height is changing photography
The answer is a messy mix of economics, engineering, and our own shopping habits.
The Ghost of Planned Obsolescence
The phrase "planned obsolescence" sounds like a conspiracy theory whispered in dark corners of Reddit, but it’s actually a business strategy that dates back to the 1920s. Specifically, the Phoebus cartel. This was a group of lightbulb manufacturers—including giants like Osram and General Electric—who literally colluded to shorten the lifespan of lightbulbs. Before this, bulbs could last 2,500 hours. The cartel forced them down to 1,000 hours. If a company made a bulb that lasted too long, they were fined.
That’s the smoking gun.
Today, it’s rarely that overt. It’s more subtle. It’s "programmatic" or "functional" obsolescence. Think about your smartphone. The hardware might be fine, but the software updates eventually make the processor crawl. Or consider the "glue-and-solder" approach. If the battery in your sleek wireless earbuds dies, you can’t just pop in a new one. The casing is glued shut. To fix the battery, you have to destroy the device.
So, you buy a new pair. The cycle continues.
Materials Matter (And They've Gotten Cheaper)
Walk into a big-box furniture store. Lift a dresser. If you can lift it with one hand, it’s probably particle board or Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF). It's essentially sawdust and glue held together by a thin veneer that looks like oak if you squint.
Real wood breathes. It moves. It can be sanded and refinished. MDF? If it gets wet, it swells like a sponge and stays that way. It’s "disposable" furniture.
We see this in appliances, too. Older washing machines used heavy-duty copper motors and mechanical timers. If a gear broke, a repairman—or a handy homeowner with a wrench—could swap it out. Modern machines are loaded with sensors and delicate circuit boards. These boards are sensitive to heat and moisture, which is ironic considering they live inside a washing machine. When the board fries, the repair cost often rivals the price of a new machine.
Engineers call this "Value Engineering." It's a polite way of saying they found the cheapest possible way to make a product survive just past its warranty period.
The Efficiency Paradox
There is a flip side to the they don't make them like that anymore argument that we often ignore: efficiency.
That 1970s refrigerator in your garage is a tank. It’ll probably outlive us all. But it also sucks electricity like a vacuum cleaner. Modern appliances are significantly more energy-efficient. A 2023 fridge uses a fraction of the power of its ancestors. The problem is that to achieve that efficiency, we’ve traded away simplicity.
Variable-speed compressors and complex electronic expansion valves save the planet, but they are incredibly fragile. We've moved from "dumb and durable" to "smart and delicate."
Is it a fair trade? If you’re paying $2,000 for a fridge that dies in seven years, probably not. But from a global energy perspective, the math looks different.
Why We Are Part of the Problem
Let's be real. We like cheap stuff.
🔗 Read more: Costco Thanksgiving Deals 2024: What You Actually Need to Know Before the Rush
In the 1960s, a high-quality coat might cost a significant portion of a week's salary. People saved up for it. They expected it to last a decade. Today, you can buy a coat for the price of a fancy lunch. When it starts pilling or the zipper splits after five wears, we don't fix it. We toss it and buy another one because it’s cheaper than taking it to a tailor.
Our demand for "low prices every day" forced manufacturers to cut corners. You can’t have a $400 sofa made of kiln-dried hardwood and top-grain leather. It’s mathematically impossible. So, the industry adapted to our wallets. They gave us what we asked for: infinite variety at rock-bottom prices.
The Rise of the Right to Repair
There is a growing movement trying to fight this "disposable" culture. Groups like iFixit and the "Right to Repair" advocates are pushing for laws that require companies to sell replacement parts and provide repair manuals to the public.
Some companies are listening. Patagonia will fix your old gear for a nominal fee (or even for free). Framework makes a laptop where every single component—from the screen to the ports—is user-replaceable. It’s a niche market right now, but it’s growing as people get "replacement fatigue."
How to Find "BIFL" (Buy It For Life)
If you're tired of the cycle, you have to change how you shop. You have to look for products that are "over-engineered."
👉 See also: Why the Hot Tools Professional Curling Iron 1 1 2 Still Owns the Salon Scene
- Check the Weight: Generally, heavier is better for tools and appliances. Metal gears beat plastic gears every time.
- Look for Stitched Soles: In footwear, look for a Goodyear welt. This means the sole is stitched to the upper, not just glued. You can take these to a cobbler and have them resoled indefinitely.
- Search for "Serviceable": Before you buy a piece of tech, Google "[Product Name] teardown." If the experts say it's impossible to open, walk away.
- Embrace the Secondary Market: Sometimes the reason they don't make them like that anymore is because the old version was genuinely superior. Vintage KitchenAid mixers (the ones made by Hobart) are legendary for a reason. High-end vintage stereo equipment often sounds warmer and lasts longer than modern plastic soundbars.
Moving Beyond Disposable Culture
The reality is that we can't go back to a world where everything is handcrafted and indestructible. The global population is too large, and our consumption habits are too deeply ingrained. However, we can make better individual choices.
Stop buying the $15 shirt that you know will fall apart. Save up for the $60 one that won't. If something breaks, try to fix it before you click "Buy Now" on a replacement. Watch a YouTube tutorial. Buy a set of precision screwdrivers.
We vote with our dollars. If we keep buying junk, companies will keep making junk. When we start demanding longevity, the market will eventually have to shift. It’s a slow process, but it’s the only way to ensure that "they don't make them like that anymore" doesn't become the epitaph for every object in our homes.
Actionable Steps for the Conscious Consumer
- Audit your "Graveyard": Look at the last three things you threw away. Why did they fail? Was it a cheap plastic part? A battery that couldn't be swapped? Use this data to inform your next purchase.
- Prioritize Modular Design: Look for brands that explicitly sell replacement parts. If a company doesn't sell a replacement battery or power cord on their website, they don't want you to keep the product long-term.
- Learn One Basic Repair Skill: Whether it's sewing a button, soldering a loose wire, or replacing a faucet washer, becoming "handy" is the ultimate middle finger to planned obsolescence.
- Invest in "Heritage" Brands: Research companies with lifetime warranties. Brands like Darn Tough (socks), Le Creuset (cookware), or Zippo (lighters) actually stand by their products for decades.