The phrase “just buy a new one,” is one you’ve probably heard before and probably also done before. This simple phrase is a perfect example of consumerism. Consumerism is the theory that consumer spending is the principal driver of economic growth and a central measure of the productive success of a capitalist economy. In layman’s terms, it asserts that the more someone buys, the better it is for the economy. Now, it may not be the consumer’s intention to participate in consumerism whenever he buys a replacement watch or trades in his phone for a new one, but it’s the intention of the manufacturers who make it. The practice and art of repairing a broken item is slowly dying out, and that’s intentional. Planned obsolescence is the practice of designing something to eventually fail and be replaced with a newer version. When you buy a phone, one thing you’re told is for how many years it’ll receive security updates. After that 4 to 5 year period, your phone’s security and the data on it is liable to be breached, unless, that is, you buy a new one. Some manufacturers take this a step further and design their product in such a way that actively discourages repair. Although “warranty void when removed” stickers actually mean nothing in an American court of law, tactics such as unavailable replacement parts, fragile assembly, and manufacturer-exclusive tools are all valid and legal ways companies make sure their product only lasts as long as they want it to.
However, all hope is not lost. Legislation within America and especially the EU are starting to force manufacturers to make their products more consumer friendly, requiring the availability of replacement parts, specialized tools, and the like. Unfortunately, some tactics, like fragile construction or limited software updates, can’t be dealt with as easily, and there’s not much the average consumer can do about it. However, the blame doesn’t lie solely with manufacturers. Social media influencers are also guilty of promoting consumerism, and some have entire careers based around it. Whether it’s watching someone unbox a brand-new, limited edition playing card, or someone coming back with a haul full of designer clothes and jewelry, they’re actively promoting and profiting from consumerism. It doesn’t take long to find “get ready with me” videos where everything they use they un-box new, every single time. Rather than reuse their plastic take-alongs and metal, insulated water bottles, they use brand new ones every time. Why? It’s appealing, and there’s no denying it. Whether you like peeling the plastic packaging or the smell of something brand new, opening and using new stuff is an experience like no other. The saddest truth is that so much of what we use on a daily basis could last even longer if we took the time to maintain and repair it, rather than toss it and get another. The next time you are about to “just buy a new one,” don’t. Clear a workspace, grab some screwdrivers, tear it apart and figure out what went wrong. Even if you cannot fix it or if you make it worse, there is nothing to say you can’t do it the next time, and, either way, you’ll have at least tried, and, fail or succeed, you’ll have learned something new. Whether it’s why it broke, how you can avoid breaking it again, or why it broke, you’ll have gained knowledge about something you use daily, and that’s worth something.
