How long should things last?

[dodge man]

Do people have unrealistic expectations on how long things can last. I know sometimes I do.

My brother in law was complaining about something breaking or wearing out, I can’t remember what it was even. His exact words “there junk”. When pressed for details he admits he bought it 20 years ago, probably didn’t maintain it and like the proverbial horse, was probably rode hard and put away wet. I thought to myself it lasted about as long as it should have.

A few days later I was having problems with my “newer” garden hose being stiff, brittle and leaking. My newer garden hose I realized was probably closer to 20 years old.

So do people have to high of expectations on how long things should last?

 

[MossRoad]

Do people have unrealistic expectations on how long things can last. I know sometimes I do.

My brother in law was complaining about something breaking or wearing out, I can’t remember what it was even. His exact words “there junk”. When pressed for details he admits he bought it 20 years ago, probably didn’t maintain it and like the proverbial horse, was probably rode hard and put away wet. I thought to myself it lasted about as long as it should have.

A few days later I was having problems with my “newer” garden hose being stiff, brittle and leaking. My newer garden hose I realized was probably closer to 20 years old.

So do people have to high of expectations on how long things should last?

If it's your money, no. If it's my money, yes.

But seriously, about anytime I try and think of how old something is, or how long ago something happened, in reality, I'm usually off by a factor of at least 2.

Just the other day, in the car, wife and I heard a DJ talking about an album that we both liked. It came out in 1975.... that was 50 years ago.

 

[ponytug]

Do people have unrealistic expectations on how long things can last. I know sometimes I do.

My brother in law was complaining about something breaking or wearing out, I can’t remember what it was even. His exact words “there junk”. When pressed for details he admits he bought it 20 years ago, probably didn’t maintain it and like the proverbial horse, was probably rode hard and put away wet. I thought to myself it lasted about as long as it should have.

A few days later I was having problems with my “newer” garden hose being stiff, brittle and leaking. My newer garden hose I realized was probably closer to 20 years old.

So do people have to high of expectations on how long things should last?

Me? Most of the time.

 

[ponytug]

I have kind of a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde approach to purchases. Things that I think I will use over and over again, I have no trouble moving up a notch or three on quality for better design, easier use, whatever. Things I don't know if I will ever use more than once in a blue moon...

For example, I have a heavy duty garden hose that is splitting at the seams, but still works. Am I annoyed at the splits? Yes. Did I get it for free 18 years ago? Yes. Has it been used every year since? Yes. Do I need to remind myself that it isn't/wasn't junk? Yes...

All the best,

Peter

 

[newbury]

So do people have to high of expectations on how long things should last?

What is this "people" you write of? TBN'ers? GenZ? us old people passing gas?

If it has a warranty I expect it to last near the warranty. But a lot depends on the item. I'll give 3 examples:

1. Looks like I need to replace the tires on my 2019 Escape at ~45K. These tires have seen mostly 70+ mph on 900 mile trips with the Escape fairly full loaded, going back and forth from Northern Va. to Mississippi. They seem to have done well.

2. My DeWalt 20v tools have a 3 year warranty on the batteries, I've got a whole bunch of the tools and batteries, last count ~5 to 7K worth, most bought between 2012-2021. Have not had a tool fail, had about 4 of the early DeWalt batteries fail from stuff bought pre 2016.

3. My Wyze cameras - These are cheap, which I expected to last a year or two at the best. I've 3 places to monitor and at any given time I'm running about 20 cameras outside with lots of spares. I lose about 1 or two a year. I had planned on a lot more.

If I buy something with no established track record I figure I'm taking chances.

 

[Oz_Kioti]

I took a load of electronic stuff to the tip yesterday, and all of it working perfectly well in the way it was designed. So what's the story?

Obsolescence! Two were flat screen tv's with digital tuners. Then the FTA (free to air) broadcasters upped the ante with now mostly high definition channels, which these early digital tv's couldn't display. So out they went!

Then there was the HP flat-bed scanner, for which HP stopped making drivers after Win XP or somewhere about that time. But it was a noisy bit of kit, so I didn't mind too much giving that the heave-ho.

But these three items (along with more bits and pieces) were all around 15 years old, so from what I've heard, I did well that they still functioned when switched on!

 

[old and tired]

My 2005 Kubota battery hasn't given me any problems... it better not quit the next time I'm up there - only has 1010 hours on it...

My 1993 Minivan lasted until 2009, Have Tacoma and a Versa that I don't plan on ever replacing...

Don't ask how long I kept my roof shingles together!!! I can't count that high!

 

[Oaktree]

Don't ask how long I kept my roof shingles together!!! I can't count that high!

Maybe 6 months ago I was in the southern part of the state, just for grins drove past my house from when I llved there. Still had the same roof I put on it in 1977! Guess I got the good shingles!

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Do people have unrealistic expectations on how long things can last.

I'm absolutely amazed at how long I've lasted.

Had I known I would've tried to be much nicer to my body. And my apologies to all the guardian angels I've driven to drinking, quitting, or worse.

But they say that God protects drunks and idiots, so here I am. Double safe.

 

[jrsavoie]

If it's your money, no. If it's my money, yes.

But seriously, about anytime I try and think of how old something is, or how long ago something happened, in reality, I'm usually off by a factor of at least 2.

Just the other day, in the car, wife and I heard a DJ talking about an album that we both liked. It came out in 1975.... that was 50 years ago.

I'm always surprised that some of the music that I thought was late 70's, was early 70s or older.

Who wears short shorts?

 

[grsthegreat]

I only get pissed off because Chocolate never lasts around me.

 

[Jstpssng]

Who wears short shorts?

That'd be the Purple People Eater. Thankfully, I never had to witness it first hand.

 

[Dftodd]

I only get pissed off because Chocolate never lasts around me.

Ice cream doesn't last around me

 

[Jstpssng]

I like to cook up hamburg, chicken, or pork a couple of pounds at a time and freeze it for quick meals later.
I tried doing that with bacon but it doesn't work. A pound of cooked bacon in the freezer is like a bowl of M&Ms on the counter.

 

[grsthegreat]

I like to cook up hamburg, chicken, or pork a couple of pounds at a time and freeze it for quick meals later.
I tried doing that with bacon but it doesn't work. A pound of cooked bacon in the freezer is like a bowl of M&Ms on the counter.

 

[Jstpssng]

View attachment 3854638

This is something general stores do to make you hungry... fry up bacon so that when you go in to pay for your gas you end up buying breakfast. I've also accused them of buying aerosol cans of baking bread scent for the same reason...

 

[Hay Dude]

Catch me hungry and I can make 10-12 strips of bacon go away fast.
Too bad it’s like radioactive bad for us.

 

[ultrarunner]

I’m a big fan of lifetime warranties which were a thing from auto batteries, mufflers, tools, etc.

I’ve also done well with them and keep my receipts.

My gripe is too often 99% of something broken is good but the 1% part needed no longer exists.

In the 1980’s I was still buying Model A Ford parts from my Ford Dealer… well over 50 years since it was made… new carburetor, gaskets, tune up parts.

I have a brake machine built in the 1930’s and needed a part… I called the manufacturer that had acquired the company in the 1970’s and asked to speak to the design engineer with the longest tenure…

He said let me look around the warehouse and get back to you… he said I have what you need plus more… I’ve been here 50 years and retiring next week… how’s $75 sound for all of it…

I think the shift is not how long should something last to we don’t want it too last too long… as it cuts into company profit according to the accountants…

 

[CalG]

I have completely different expectations for objects that WEATHER than for those that break of wear.

The sun is immutable! That's on me if I want rubber parts to last.

If anything but a kids toy, I want to rebuild,or repair "real" things.

Consumer electronics become obsolete about the same time that they fail. Just an expense...no different than groceries.

 

[ultrarunner]

My Apple//e has never crashed…

I still have the original box with packing foam and 2 floppy drives etc…

A collector wanted to buy for a good price for a display and the original box and literature I think was valued more than the computer…

I decided to keep it for my museum…