How Capitalism Killed Quality: The Dark Story of Planned Obsolescence

Imagine this — your phone stops working just two years after you bought it. Your printer says the cartridge is empty even though you can clearly see ink. Your lightbulb burns out again. Ever wondered why?

It's not bad luck. It's deliberate.

Welcome to the world of Planned Obsolescence, a shady strategy that thrives on the infinite greed of modern capitalism.


What is Planned Obsolescence?

In simple terms, planned obsolescence means designing a product to fail or become outdated sooner than necessary—so you’re forced to buy a new one.

Manufacturers build in weaknesses, stop software updates, and use marketing to make your perfectly fine gadget look like a fossil.

This isn't a conspiracy theory—it's a well-documented business model.


The Lightbulb That Wouldn't Die: The Centennial Light


Here’s a bulb that exposes this scam better than anything else.

In Livermore, California, a single lightbulb has been glowing since 1901. It’s called the Centennial Light.

Over 120 years old.

No modern bulb even dares to compete. Why? Because that kind of durability is bad for business.


Enter: The Phoebus Cartel


Back in 1924, top lightbulb companies like Osram, Philips, GE and others came together in secret.

They formed the Phoebus Cartel and agreed to limit lightbulb life to 1,000 hours—even though longer-lasting bulbs were already possible.

Companies that produced bulbs exceeding that lifespan were fined!

They weren't making better bulbs; they were making sure you'd buy them more often.

This was the birth of global planned obsolescence—and it hasn’t stopped since.


Henry Ford vs. Greedy Capitalists


Henry Ford, the father of the Model T, had a different vision. He wanted cars that were simple, reliable, and lasted a lifetime. He even refused to change his car’s design every year.

His philosophy was-

"Why make a good thing worse just to sell it again?"

But then came General Motors, led by Alfred Sloan, who introduced "annual model changes".

They made your last year's car feel old-fashioned just by changing a few curves and colors.

Suddenly, a car wasn’t a one-time investment—it was a subscription to consumerism.


East Germany’s Super Glass: Too Good to Exist


In pre-1980 East Germany, scientists invented something extraordinary: a scratch-proof, heat-resistant glass called Ceverit (also known as Superfest or CV-Glas).

It was used in cookware, industry, and lab equipment. It could last for decades.

But when Germany reunified, West German corporations bought and destroyed the factories.

Why?

Because this glass was “too durable.” It threatened profits of companies selling cheap, fragile glassware.

Once again, quality died so capitalism could live


Planned Obsolescence in Your Pocket

Let’s talk gadgets.

Smartphones with glued batteries that can’t be replaced.

Laptops where RAM is soldered on.

Software updates that magically stop working on 3-year-old phones.

Printers with chips that disable cartridges before they’re empty.

They could make it better. They just won’t.

Because profit > ethics.



Defenders of Obsolescence: Their Arguments vs Reality

 

The Way Forward: Build What Lasts

It’s time we ask: Who benefits when things break?

Not you. Not the planet. Just the corporations addicted to infinite growth on a finite Earth.

The world doesn’t need more stuff. It needs better stuff. Repairable, upgradable, timeless.

Planned obsolescence is not just bad economics—it's economic sabotage in the name of greed.


We live in an age where capitalism doesn’t reward excellence—it rewards repeat sales.

But that’s not progress. That’s a trap.

The future must belong to durability, repairability, and ethics over endless profits.

Because true progress isn’t about selling more—it’s about building better.


Like, share, and comment if you’re tired of products dying too soon.

Let’s make sense, not nonsense

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