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Links 🔗
- This is why we can’t have nice things
What if I told you that lightbulbs could be made to last longer, like a LOT longer, but are manufactured to die on purpose.
Here’s the story:
- In 1924, a secret meeting was held among top light bulb companies around the world i.e Phillips, General Electric, Tokyo Electric, OSRAM etc.
- They were called the Phoebus Cartel.
- They agreed to limit the lifespan of their lightbulbs to not last beyond ~1000 hours (even if they could make them last 3000 hours).
- They would test each others’ products to make sure each batch doesn’t outlive the agreed lifespan.
- Or else, a penalty would be charged.
Why intentionally ‘sabotage’ quality?
- One word: PROFIT
- If lightbulbs failed more often, they could sell more lightbulbs.
- People won’t need to buy new lightbulbs if theirs can last a lifetime.
- Over the years, the tactic worked, together with lower cost of components.
- This practice is called ‘Planned Obsolescence’.
- Planned obsolescence is prevalent in the tech industry (ie. Apple, Samsung).
- Eg. Phones lag more when new models are released.
The argument is that if things could last a lifetime, then manufacturing would go out of business and people will be jobless. However, I think we should let humanity run that course to overcome it, rather than manufacturing false ‘comfortable’ loops. The ethics and repercussions of all this is debatable, I’d love to hear opinions, especially if you disagree with my POV, DM me 👇
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