Planned obsolescence

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Planned obsolescence is a business strategy where a product is designed in such a way that it will inevitably fail or become obsolete and require replacement with a non-obsolete product. Planned obsolescence directly harms the consumer by reducing product lifetime and by generating unnecessary waste.

How planned obsolescence impacts consumer rights

Planned obsolescence is undeniably harmful to consumers as it directly harms product functionality, in addition this obsolescence inevitably generates waste.

Excessive waste

Planned obsolescence is implemented with the intent that the consumer will replace their dysfunctional product with a functioning one; companies would like the dysfunctional product to disappear into the void but obsolete products usually end up being discarded if they cannot be recycled.

Obfuscation of true product value

It is difficult for a consumer to predict how planned obsolescence will damage their purchase overtime which will make them unable to come to accurate conclusions on whether a purchase is worth the price.

Digital obsolescence

see Discontinuation bricking

Dependence on third-party repairs

Some consumers may be interested in maintaining their device by replacing obsolete components with newer ones, consumers will inevitably look to third-parties for repair which may open the user to security and safety risks. Companies make this difficult by putting DRM into their products to prevent unauthorized component replacement thus which worsens the waste problem.

Examples

• IPhone planned obsolescence incidences - These definitely exist someone has to write an article.