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Planned Obsolesce of Razor Blades
Replacement electric razor blades are a perfect example of what is wrong with our society. I first got my Norelco electric razor about six years ago and replaced the set of blades twice for a total of three sets. It was twenty bucks each time. It was now getting dull again and pulling so I went to Wal Mart and then Fred Meyers on a quest for replacement blades.
It ends up that they change the size and design of the replacement blades every couple years so that the ones on the market are incompatible with the previous generation of hardware thus forcing you to buy a whole new electric razor every couple of years. This is know as planned obsolesce and car and computer makers do it all the time. Also it is impossible to order the older parts and they will sue the ass of anyone who makes compatible replacement parts and considers replacement razor blades protected by their patents.
This reminds me of the star key lock that American car makers use to lock brakes on cars making it next to impossible to replace the break pads on your own with out an authorized key or taking your car to an authorized dealer. Yeah technological lockout! Now they actual replacement blades are twenty to thirty bucks and I doubt that it cost anywhere near that to make it in a factory in mainland China. This is probably the biggest markup of a cheap product since nine. bucks for movie theater popcorn and a soda. This also brings to mind the current generation of super cheap ink jet printers that use lock out chips so that third party ink cartridges can't be used and existing ink cartridges can't be refilled. BBQ and I are actually pretty lucky to have printers that existed before the hardware makers started screwing over their customers with thirty fucking bucks for several ounces of ink in a small plastic box.
But all is not lost. I am wearing a pair of boots that I go when I was sixteen and I have had them resoled and mended twice and after some new laces, inserts and some polish they are good as new and more comfortable than a pair of new boots. I have upgraded my computer about as high as it can go and have extended it usefulness for years.
So in the end I had to plunk down fifty five bucks for a new electric razor and I am tempted to buy some extra blades so I will not be screwed over the next time they plan to change the design of the replacement blades but I do think that 20 bucks for three small bits of chinese made metal is dirty tactics.
Damn them..
Jake at April 20, 2003 
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Comments
"I'm no longer a slave to the Gillete Corportation" - Homer Simpson.
You had a lucky run with shoes - I tend to 'upgrade' once every couple years with my last pair falling apart on me after a couple of months. I'm wearing a l33t pair of Doc Martens (which I got off my dad) and they are reallly good wearin'.
Posted by: l33t k1w1 at April 20, 2003 1:20 PM
Hmmm... that sucks. At least your not a woman... just about every damn thing is like that for us... Stockings, make-up, bras, clothes... don't even mention shoes... and styles... Shit, planned obsolesce is about the only thing we can count on. It's a good thing most of us like to shop. ;o)
Posted by: Judy at April 20, 2003 9:29 PM
My shoelace broke today >_<
Posted by: l33t k1w1 at April 21, 2003 12:44 AM
Well Kiwi I am guessing that your laces can be replaced for less than the cost of a new videogame. I could have gotten Devil May Cry 2 but.. Noooo I had to get a new razor because they don't make the blades any more.
Posted by: Jake at April 21, 2003 12:52 AM
Well, I am a woman, and I hate to shop. I hate buying anything (except for video games or the occassional gift for a loved one). That is one of the reasons I buy certain named brand clothing and shoes, because I know they will last as long as I need them to, therefore putting off an inevitable shopping trip as long as possible. This can also apply to my policy for buying video game accessories. Why buy something that is not going to last? Of course, I do feel your pain, Jake, as it is a fact of life that all things seem to be made to either wear out or become obsolete. Such is life.
Posted by: Mici at April 21, 2003 9:29 AM
i absolutely hate it when a shoelace breaks when you are at work or something. It ruins the whole day and people point and say over and over again "dude....shoelace is broke man" as if you didnt know. Planned obscolescence is not really that bad in the PC community. I think it is because too many people with computers are smart and know what they are doing....it is harder to fool them.
Posted by: pete at April 21, 2003 10:03 AM
i hate shaving...anything...and that's all i'm gonna say b/c i've probably made you spit your OJ now...;)
Posted by: Lilly at April 21, 2003 11:35 AM
I hate it when a search engine finds results for your carefully worded search, and it turns out to be a page... like this.
Dave
Posted by: Dave at January 2, 2004 4:21 PM
Boo fucking who Dave.
Posted by: Jake at January 2, 2004 5:33 PM
Search engine tangents are FUN! I hate when people hate... Per Gillette and Schick: We'll give you the razors, we are actually a steel mill, so you'll buy our blades! Ink jet printers are like razor blades too (safety style) Epson and Canon printers are the way to go. Only 12 dollars for 1 color as you need it. I won't be watching the Super Bowl either.
Posted by: Bob Frankenberger at February 6, 2005 6:39 AM
