It's a Throw-Away World

We live in a disposable, use-it-wear-it-out-throw-it-away society.

Things are not made to last. They're made to function for a short time, then break down, forcing one either to repair it or purchase a new one. And the costs of repairing are nearly as great as the cost of buying new.

For example, how many shoe-repair shops does one see doing a thriving business today? The cobbler who resoles or half soles shoes or replaces heels today is almost as rare as the buggy makers. Rather than replace shoe soles or heels when they wear out or apply heel taps (as I did when I was in college and doing miles of walking to and from classes), people simply buy a new pair of cheap, imported-from-China shoes.

The same is true whenever a major appliance goes out. The repairman's service call fee alone amounts to just about what our parents once paid for a brand new appliance. Then you have the added expense of parts--if the appliance can even be repaired. And many of those parts are made of cheap plastic, destined to break or wear out in a short time.

Several years ago, the plastic piece that we pushed to dispense water from our refrigerator broke. I went to our favorite appliance parts store thinking that I could replace the part myself more cheaply. After all, it was only a little piece of plastic smaller than the palm of my hand. I left the store with the part but $75 poorer. Alas, that store has since gone out of business. People are finding it's more convenient and often cheaper in the long run just to buy a new, warranty-covered refrigerator or whatever appliance with which they're having trouble.

Recently, our washing machine suddenly went on the blink. A small plastic piece was worn out. To replace it would cost an arm and a leg. Even then, who knows how long it would be before some other part would break? After all, the machine was well past its expected expiration date. We had to buy a new washer.

But I can't complain too much. After all, we bought most of our appliances new when we bought the house, and we've now lived here more than 20 years. All of those appliances have now outlived their expected life spans.

Most appliances, it seems, are built to last only about 8-10 years, 12 if one is a really good one. The first to go out for us was the HVAC system. Servicemen had been telling us for several years that it was on its last legs and I'd better start thinking about a new system. Eight to ten years was the most we could expect from ours. It lasted 12.

Then it seemed as though every appliance in the house wanted to follow the example of the HVAC system. In rapid, regular succession, the dishwasher, the dryer, the microwave, and the toaster oven bit the dust. All of them had exceeded their life's expectancy. The microwave we had bought in Tennessee more than 20 years ago before our move here. The most recent appliance funeral was for the washing machine. The salesman warned us that the new one we bought might last only 8-10 years, so we should hang onto his business card.

What will be next? The refrigerator? The stove? After all, they both are more than 20 years old, well beyond their prime, having been purchased when we bought the house.

All things considered, however, I guess we have a lot to be thankful for and shouldn't complain. Our appliances have given us more faithful service than we or the experts ever thought possible. God has met every need, even in good, long-lived appliances.

I just pray that my family won't decide to throw ME out when I approach my own life expectancy!