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Generally, I think it's a mistake for anyone to generalize about the purchasing habits of millions of people, but I can list a few examples of disposable merchandise: (Imagine most of these things costing under 5-10$) * Toys for children that break very easily (wind up toys, small non-metal cars, plushies) * Garden equipment that breaks easily (hose buckets, nozzel adapters, hose winders, rakes) * Battery powered appliances (Flashlights, lanterns, noise makers) * Kitchenware (plastic cutting boards, knives, easily bendable "silverware", plastic plates) To answer your question about who can afford to buy them: In my own experience it's people who can't afford to buy better made, more expensive products. If you've ever, say, bought very cheap pair of earbuds or charging cable, and had it die in a month, that is the sort of product in question. It might make more logical sense to "buy right, instead of buying twice", but there are times where someone is either in a jam, or can't afford to get the quality version. |
And just because something is cheap crap, it doesn't mean that it gets thrown out. I have seen a lot of crap cutlery in my life (when visiting friends), but I always see the same crap cutlery when I visit them. They keep it for years, because shitty as it is, it does what it is meant to. The only time it gets binned is when they replace it with a keep-it-for-life, quality purchase. Likewise for garden equipment. There's a lot of crap out there, and for most people, it suits their needs. They aren't professional gardeners, they only need these tools a few times a year.
I have a shitty toolkit. I'm not a carpenter, I'm not a mechanic, and it's all I need.