Re: [Harp-L] PLANNED OBSOLESCENCEhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence

["Tom Muck" <tom@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'm not so sure that harmonicas fall into that category. For a harmonica to 
be used long term, somebody would have to invent a quick-replace reed 
system. Reeds, like guitar strings, wear out. Any metal that bends has a 
limited number of times that it can bend before it breaks. If they are 
riveted in place and can't be bought easily, it's cheaper to buy a new 
harmonica than get an old one fixed.

Tom


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Frank franze" <Franze52@xxxxxxx>
To: "harp-l" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 10:45 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] PLANNED 
OBSOLESCENCEhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence


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
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