Americans’ spending on home appliances increased 53% between 2013-2023 even as appliance prices decreased 12% during the same period.
This is because appliances have become more complex and difficult to repair, leading to higher replacement costs when issues arise.
“We’re making things more complicated, they’re harder to fix and more expensive to fix,” one appliance repair expert said.
Regulations aiming for energy efficiency have added sensors and electronics that make appliances prone to more frequent problems.
Basic repairs that used to be simple for consumers to do themselves are now challenging due to integrated computer systems.
This planned obsolescence has pushed a consumerist culture where replacing broken items is more common than repairing them.
It has also reduced skilled trade jobs and pushed more people into low-wage retail and stocking roles.
Regulatory demands for efficiency and industry desires for frequent purchases have combined to negatively impact consumers, workers and the environment.
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