Posted on 12/02/2007 8:22:35 PM PST by Coleus
I have two words for you: planned obsolescence.
Yes, but have you ever tried to haul one of those steel monsters up and down the stairs? It is not easy. I have an old Kirby and my late MIL's Electrolux -- both vacuum incredible well, but they are heavy and not very manueverable.
This was a really neat story of appreciation for not only something well made, but something that was handed-down. Thanks for posting.
In matters of style maybe, but quality is something else.
How do you define quality - your definition, don’t use a dictionary or anything like that.
I have some old tube radios from the 40s. All of them were US made and most still work. A couple even have evidence of repair work done long ago. How many people would get a small table radio repaired these days?
American quality went out the window when American companies realized 1) that their products could be made more cheaply in China, and 2) that it would be better for the bottom line if their products were only made to last a few years before wearing out and forcing their consumers to buy new replacement products.
I would like to borrow the Super Dynamic and give David Oreck a thorough beating with it before he appears on my TV or radio again.
The thing was ridiculously overpriced and actually had less suction power than the old Dirt Devil it was to replace.
The instructions that came with the Dyson were like something I've never seen. It was all drawings with circles and arrows with no text.
I think Dyson is a big con game with such chutzpah that it takes one's breath away.
How much did it cost in 1950?
It was in the 1950’s ...According to old advertisements by Hoover and other vacuum cleaner manufacturing companies, vacuum cleaners ranged from $35 to $65 in price depending on the model.
http://www.geyservac.com/information/vacuum-cleaners-1950.html
You don't like David Oreck, creator of the incredible 8 lb Oreck XL?
LOL.
I have a hunch it wasn’t made in China.....but it’s only a hunch.
A vacuum costing $35 to $65 in 1952 would cost $262 to $487 today.
One reason quality has gone down is that for many types of products people aren’t willing to pay more for the quality. Low quality drives out high quality unless people are willing to pay a premium for the quality product.
A vacuum costing $35 to $65 in 1952 would cost $262 to $487 today.
One reason quality has gone down is that for many types of products people aren’t willing to pay more for the quality. Low quality drives out high quality unless people are willing to pay a premium for the quality product.
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Inflation?
Free trade with cheap foreign labor operates outside the laws of inflation (and laws of gravity). Free trade is better then sliced bread, more pure then the wind driven snow. A religion. A godly standard to live up to.
Its suppose to deflate the cost of goods by 1,000%.
I do know you can buy a quite functional vacuum cleaner for about $100, which is considerably less than you would have had to pay for an equivalent in 1952.
BTW, I haven’t bought a vacuum in many years. I just pick up discarded ones at the curb and check them over. About half the time the only thing wrong is a clog (usually as from sucking up things like pennies or hair pins), a jammed brush or a belt needing replacement. If people can’t operate a piece of equipment, quality isn’t going to do them much good.
I have an old Rainbow a friend was going to toss out. All it needed was a new cord. It's a great vacuum cleaner, but no way would I pay for a new one. I think they ask around $2,000 for them these days.
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