Throw Away Society

[joea]

It is be coming increasingly evident we are now a throw away society.

Ceiling Fans: In the old days a ceiling fan came in 5 speed or variable speed(Crompton Parkinson),(they lasted for ever) then the brains of society got together and changed that, and went with a three speed fan. Now we all know that on a 3 speed fan the low is too slow, the high is too fast so essentially we have a one speed fan.
Now the little control bit in the wall keeps "stuffing up", so people throw away the fan or get the local electrician to put another gadget in the wall.(for the rest off your life).

Gas Cook Tops. We purchased a gas cook top. Works really good, but then the electric starter failed. Well you cannot put a new starter in unless you dismantle it from the top. So I ring up the gas guy, but he is booked up for 6 months with warranty jobs, but gets on the phone to my electrician son to explain how to fix it..
So when you snap off all the stainless screws, and when you stuff up all the o-rings associated with the burners you get to the electric starter and replace it. Then drill out the screws and easy-out whats left then purchase the spare parts.
Or better still throw it away and buy a new cook top.
So I did a survey of the locals, and found every gas top installed in the area needs a B-B-Q gas lighter.

Buy a V8 ute or diesel ute and you go down to the local(mechanic) and he replaces the majority of the exhaust system, installs a new system, throws in a better chip and you drive away with more power, and 100 - 150 klms better fuel economy per tank. The original system goes in the steel bin.

Now we move to Politicians, when they pass the use by date, they are discarded and in the latest case recycled as the speaker of the house.

So while we have developed into a throw away society some recycling is still in progress.

joea

 

[Aussiejeff]

It is be coming increasingly evident we are now a throw away society.

Ceiling Fans: In the old days a ceiling fan came in 5 speed or variable speed(Crompton Parkinson),(they lasted for ever) then the brains of society got together and changed that, and went with a three speed fan. Now we all know that on a 3 speed fan the low is too slow, the high is too fast so essentially we have a one speed fan.
Now the little control bit in the wall keeps "stuffing up", so people throw away the fan or get the local electrician to put another gadget in the wall.(for the rest off your life).

Gas Cook Tops. We purchased a gas cook top. Works really good, but then the electric starter failed. Well you cannot put a new starter in unless you dismantle it from the top. So I ring up the gas guy, but he is booked up for 6 months with warranty jobs, but gets on the phone to my electrician son to explain how to fix it..
So when you snap off all the stainless screws, and when you stuff up all the o-rings associated with the burners you get to the electric starter and replace it. Then drill out the screws and easy-out whats left then purchase the spare parts.
Or better still throw it away and buy a new cook top.
So I did a survey of the locals, and found every gas top installed in the area needs a B-B-Q gas lighter.

Buy a V8 ute or diesel ute and you go down to the local(mechanic) and he replaces the majority of the exhaust system, installs a new system, throws in a better chip and you drive away with more power, and 100 - 150 klms better fuel economy per tank. The original system goes in the steel bin.

Now we move to Politicians, when they pass the use by date, they are discarded and in the latest case recycled as the speaker of the house.

So while we have developed into a throw away society some recycling is still in progress.

joea

Phew!! Thank heavens we re-cycle the more important bits (pollies), eh? LOL.

At least they feed us lots of throw away lines...

 

[Wysiwyg]

Computers, monitors, mobile telephones and many electronic gadgets. Next year there is something faster with more features.

 

[Bill M]

I wouldn't be so throw away if they had cheaper servicing or made better longer lasting products.

My Dell LCD screen stuffed up, won't work and was out of warranty by a few weeks. To call the Dell guy out for a cash in the hand house call it will cost $50 plus any parts. He might just cost $50 to tell me it can not be repaired. I went and bought a brand new LCD screen bigger and better for $213 with a 3 year warranty. The Dell screen went in the bin today. What can we do?

Same as my old fridge, it would cost me $200 to $300 just for a call out and minor repair. I can buy a brand new one for $400 with warranty for 3 years, it just isn't worth fixing anything anymore, servicemen just charge over the top fees these days.

 

[Smurf1976]

Computers, monitors, mobile telephones and many electronic gadgets. Next year there is something faster with more features.

True with those things although I can't see much opportunity for progress with a gas cooktop... (and "upgrading" computer monitors will become pointless before much longer - how much space do you actually have on the desk for a bigger one?).

Ceiling fans - get your electrician to install a higher capacity fan speed controller rather than the standard 75VA type and you'll have far less trouble. These also have infinte speed control from 0 - 100% so no more "low is too slow, high is too fast" problems either. The parts you want are Clipsal "31E 1000L" or alternatively model "2031E 1000L" which has a more modern cosmetic appearance. Both these fit in a space the size of a standard light switch and are rated to 1000VA so won't be at all stressed running a single fan and therefore should last a long time.

 

[joea]

Went to Cairns and asked for a stainless steel fan, because it was going on the patio.
Was asked if I wanted the stainless steel that rusted or the one that didn't rust.
So I went along with the so called joke and asked for the one that didn't rust.
Not sure what fan I got but paid the extra, and you guessed it, it rusted.

I am thinking of writing a letter to the rich people to find out how they go about this.
joea

 

[Wysiwyg]

True with those things although I can't see much opportunity for progress with a gas cooktop... (and "upgrading" computer monitors will become pointless before much longer - how much space do you actually have on the desk for a bigger one?).

I would like a dollar for every CRT monitor still in use around the world. Matter of fact I couldn't get a dollar, I couldn't even give one away.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

I threw a wheel away today.

Useless.

gg

 

[pixel]

I would like a dollar for every CRT monitor still in use around the world. Matter of fact I couldn't get a dollar, I couldn't even give one away.

I asked the local Good Sammy shop whether they'd be interested in a 55cm flat sceen CRT TV; works perfectly with a set top box.
No, they don't take them any more; can't even give 'em away. Their clientele won't touch something old as that.
Until 2 years ago, at least our Lions Club was still collecting computers with CRT monitors. They were reassembling desktop systems to ship to partner organisations in developing countries. One step above "Throw away", I guess; but I dread asking where those "systems" will end up in 2 or 5 years' time

 

[Smurf1976]

I would like a dollar for every CRT monitor still in use around the world. Matter of fact I couldn't get a dollar, I couldn't even give one away.

Maybe... But if you've already got a perfectly good LCD then what benefit could their possibly be in buying a new one that is technically no better?

It's sad but we've become a society where throwing away perfectly good items and replacing them with something substantially the same is viewed as "progress".

There are companies that actually throw away brand new 17" monitors that come with computers because everyone apparently wants a 19". And no doubt once everyone has 19" they'll be going to 21". And then to widescreen. And then they'll change the aspect ratio again.

It's all pretty much pointless when you think about it - selling things that are already obsolete just so that another one can be sold in a year or two. On the positive side, I never need to pay for a monitor at home - just get a brand new one that's "rubbish" which the IT people are happy for me to take free of charge. There's quite a few places that do this, you just need to know who / how to get the stuff.

All that said, I'm looking at an old CRT right now. It's a 17" and I just haven't got around to putting one of the free LCD ones in place of it. It's working fine so no hassles with it.

 

[kimcasablancas]

Yeah I think this is pretty clear. Back in the day people used to buy quality things made to last, and now things just get replaced quickly. Even clothes were supposed to last or be repaired, but who darns socks anymore?

I'm not really a fan. I darn my socks!

 

[Bill M]

I had a 21" NEC "stereo" TV that I bought in 1985. It was latest model going, cost me $1,500 then. It died in 2006, for the 21 years I owned it I did not have to call a serviceman once.

In 2006 I bought a Samsung LCD 32" TV, paid $2,100 for it. My 5 year warranty is running out this Month. How long do you people think this TV will last? My guess is another 1 or 2 years. They just don't build them like they use to.

 

[DB008]

I had a 21" NEC "stereo" TV that I bought in 1985. It was latest model going, cost me $1,500 then. It died in 2006, for the 21 years I owned it I did not have to call a serviceman once.

In 2006 I bought a Samsung LCD 32" TV, paid $2,100 for it. My 5 year warranty is running out this Month. How long do you people think this TV will last? My guess is another 1 or 2 years. They just don't build them like they use to.

BiNGO.

 

[Glen48]

Saw a woman in China pulling a fan armature apart to get the copper, it was worth some thing to her.
Here in the Philippines kids ride around looking for any thing that is sale-able nails bits of wire card board plastic stainless steel so can't go to school .

If you could get those throw away parts here they would pull the apart and fix them if it took two day so what.
TV repairers use a multi meter and soldering iron no fancy oscilloscopes.
Shows what money and easy credit will do.

 

[Starcraftmazter]

My TV is at least 30 years old. Still works great (Sony).

 

[xyzedarteerf]

Buying a new printer is cheaper than buying INK for it.

 

[Tink]

Yep, sadly it has come to that, cheaper to buy a new one than to fix them, depending on what it is.