Aftermarket business

Subject: Aftermarket business Thu Sep 04, 2008 12:35 pm

Our transient society and products.
I will mention just two items designed for the aftermarket business.
Wristwatches
A quality wristwatch that one could wind and have for many years was replaced with “self-winding” that had a short self-winding life. Then came the battery cell. Battery replacement was a requirement usually within a 6 - 9 month period. Since most people either don’t know how to open the back of their watch and then find the right battery size, or don’t want to be bothered, take it to a watch maker for battery replacement. The cost of the battery plus the service cost equates to the price of a new inexpensive watch. You can get a watch for about $10 that will last at least as long or longer than the life of the cell in the more expensive watch. The watch market now belongs to designer watches that carry a high price tag.

Car Bumpers
At one time car bumpers were made out of steel that withstood bumping. Some manufactures, like Mercedes Benz, used a shock-absorber mechanism and the bumpers had a hard rubber coating. People could actually bump a bumper without damaging it. They could also push another car if needed. Now there are wraparound plastic or fiberglass bumpers that are seldom repairable. A rub against them and the damage is done. Don’t think of pushing another car, just worry that no one “bumps’ you. Replacement costs are exorbitant.

Can you think of others?
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Subject: Re: Aftermarket business Thu Sep 04, 2008 3:11 pm

Many products appear to be designed for a short shelf life before being tossed out when something breaks.

Now, there's no such thing as taking a radio, TV, VCR, toaster, or clock to a local repair shop and having it fixed. It goes into the trash and you have to buy a new one.

Malcolm
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Malcolm R. Campbell

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Subject: Re: Aftermarket business Fri Sep 05, 2008 1:09 am

Abe I remember those bumpers and miss them! The bumpers they use now are more like eyebrows--fashionable but practically useless!

Other things not worth fixing...calculators, blood sugar test machines and my favourite example of all...last year I bought a battery powered (rechargable) lawnmower. This year, the battery was crap and the warranty expired. Cost of a new battery $85. The lawnmower, brand new was $139. Sheepers.
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Pam Robertson

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Subject: Re: Aftermarket business Fri Sep 05, 2008 1:47 pm

All good examples of why I liked the world in the old days far better than I like it today. For nearly a decade I earned a decent living repairing radios and TV sets. Today, as Malcolm mentioned - forget it.
When I was driving a cab you had to report every bumper-to-bumper contact even though no damage was done. It couldn't happen today without damage being done. That's progress, I guess.

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