I’ve noticed that a lot of products I’ve purchased over the years seem to stop working soon after the warranty period expires. It almost feels like manufacturers intentionally design items to have a limited lifespan—a practice known as planned obsolescence. The idea is that by making products break or become obsolete, companies encourage consumers to keep buying new ones, which drives continuous profits. One striking example I came across is the story of a light bulb in the United States that has been burning continuously for decades. This bulb’s exceptional durability stands in stark contrast to most modern products designed to fail early. The company that made it eventually went out of business, perhaps because creating something so durable went against the profit-driven motives of capitalism. Many manufacturers today are incentivized to produce goods that don’t last a lifetime, so they can maintain a steady demand from consumers. This also ties into a broader economic narrative where the system benefits from an endless supply of consumers who need products replaced regularly. It’s frustrating because better-quality, longer-lasting products would be more sustainable and cost-effective for buyers but less profitable for companies focused on short-term gains. Personally, I try to seek out brands that offer repair-friendly designs or explicitly advertise longevity. Although sometimes these options are more expensive upfront, they save money and reduce waste in the long run. It’s important for consumers to be aware of these practices and demand higher standards from manufacturers to push the market toward sustainability and genuine quality rather than planned obsolescence.