A bit harder with appliances. There are innovation but really on the margin. With an iphone, if I don't upgrade I can't load new apps and get better cameras. With a toaster, my sliced bread is still the same shape and fit into a toaster made in the 70s. My water still boils the same way into the kettle.
I know it is a bad comparison to Apple but reliability is important, people won't pay premium when they experience reliability issue, it certainly the case for me ....I found a brand doesn't last I tend not to buy it;
I dont expect it to last forever but long enough for you to satisfied that it build to last 5-10 years is an acceptable time frame.
I certainly accept if I buy cheap and nasty stuff I expect it can blow up any time and have no issue with it
but for me to pay quality and premium I expect it to last.
another example which I think is more closer to the mark, I had a holden about more than a decade ago when they on fire, first Holden and will be the last I ever own in this lifetime.
it is a good car price is the same as Japanese counterpart, but I have so many little issues that pretty much rule me out from ever buying holden again... I since has 3 Japanese cars and would again buy another Japanese car.
How many aussie owning holden today? not many and I reckon it come down to they build car that won't last and it pay no attention to little details that can be annoying.
it not about them not building the right car, they have all sort of models, small, large, SUV but the public has move on because their stuff don't last.