[Harp-L] PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence

["Frank franze" <Franze52@xxxxxxx>]

Below is part of the article that you can find at 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence> 

Planned obsolescence or built-in obsolescence[1]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence#cite_note-CIWeb-0> is the process of a product<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_(economics)> becoming obsolete<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsolete> and/or non-functional after a certain period or amount of use in a way that is planned or designed by the manufacturer<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manufacturer>.[1]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence#cite_note-CIWeb-0> Planned obsolescence has potential benefits for a producer<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Production,_costs,_and_pricing> because the product fails and the consumer<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer> is under pressure to purchase again, whether from the same manufacturer (a replacement part or a newer model), or from a competitor<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competition_(economics)> which might also rely on planned obsolescence. [1]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence#cite_note-CIWeb-0> The purpose of planned obsolescence is to hide the real cost per use from the consumer, and charge a higher price than they would otherwise be willing to pay (or would be unwilling to spend all at once).
For an industry, planned obsolescence stimulates demand by encouraging purchasers to buy again sooner if they still want a functioning product. Built-in obsolescence is in many different products, from vehicles to light bulbs, from buildings to proprietary software. There is, however, the potential backlash of consumers who learn that the manufacturer invested money to make the product obsolete faster; such consumers might turn to a producer (if any exists) that offers a more durable alternative.

Planned obsolescence was first developed in the 1920s and 1930s when mass production<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_production> had opened every minute aspect of the production process to exacting analysis