| "For that matter, how many people even change their own brakes (one of the easiest DIY tasks, IMO)?" Most poor people, middle class (what's left). Although rental agreements, and section 8 leases prohibit working on any vechicle on said properties. The average person should know how to repace at least the front disc brake pads. (Jack, torx, or 12-13 mm socket, c-champ to push fluid back into reservoir, and pads. 2 hour job.) Yes, a manual clutch is another story, but if you have access to a garage, or lot, it's a weekend job. Still it's two jacks, socket set, 3/8 torq wrench (most shops don't bother torque), flashlight, jack stands, clutch pack set, with includes plastic clutch alignment tool. It's a long weekend job. It goes quicker if you have a friend who's done one before, or a strong young person who's been under a vechicle at least a few times. So yes, there are so many of us who just don't have the funds to hire people to do things. I am one of those people. Hell, I still cut my hair with a vacuume cleaner? Poor people are in a bind when trying to fix their jalopy because rental housing is so restrictive. (In other parts of the country, I imagine it's not so bad, but in the Bay Area landlords usually have 42 pages of cant's.) My point is so many Americans just don't have the luxury of having someone else do the work anymore. In my world, the repairability of a product is of utmost importance. Then again, I am stumped over anyone spending $1000 for a dumb phone. Giving money to a company who builds their products overseas, and can't figure out what to do with their profits. I do give them props for security though. I guess if I was important enough, iron clad security would be worth a lot more than a grand? I will use my three Apple products until they die. I will then rely on the surplus of perfecly good products discarded by the wealthy, or people whom think things will will always be ok. Sorry about the rant. There's so many products that are unfeasible, or impossible to fix. It's like the government forgot The Sherman Anti-trust Act? I feel weird about bringing up the Act? Why? Because we are talking about a phone. A dumb phone? It's not so dumb when you can't get schematics on on the electronics in your boiler, or can't get repair codes off your vechicle. |
How do you cut your hair with a vacuum cleaner?