We used to repair things not so long ago. That was back when manufacturers made a profit by offering well made items that people could reliably use for a long period of time. If worn or broken they could be revived for continued use.
Now money is made by by offering shoddy items that are not durable, and must be replaced often. In many cases the items are purposefully designed to fail early in their life.
The main attraction is that they are inexpensive. But only initially.
If you have to repeatedly replace shoddy products, it ends up costing everyone a lot more.
Any time something I own breaks, I repair it if I can. If I can't, I learn how.
So many of the things I own show evidence of past repairs. They all have a wabi-sabi imperfection that makes them unique, and I like that, scars and all.
To throw out and replace items would be to condone the blatant waste for profit model that is sullying the planet with great heaps of crappy, broken junk. Every repair I make is a victory for frugality and economy.
In a short period of time, repair shops have largely disappeared from the community commercial landscape. Perhaps they will return as we work at the retrieval of good ideas that got tossed while under the influence of consumerism.
My prediction is that repair shops will be making a comeback, and I will welcome, and support, them.
In the meantime, in a boost to fans of frugality everywhere, there is a wealth of how-to-repair-things information online.
One example you might want to check out is iFixit, where one can get information on fixing a wide variety of items. They think it is time for a Consumer's Bill Of Rights that allows the right to repair.
Happy repairs.
WE HAVE THE RIGHT
- to open everything we own
- to modify and repair our things
- to unlock and jailbreak the software in our electronics
WE MUST HAVE ACCESS
- to repair information
- to products that can be repaired
- to reasonably-priced, independent repair shops
Thank you for the reminder! I don’t have to know how to repair things myself, I can support my local businesses (or ask for help at my local Repair Café, everywhere around here)
ReplyDeleteOh, this is so my husband & I. As I am typing this, he is fixing a floor mop that I've had for about 7 years. This is the second time he has repaired it.
ReplyDeleteI resew ripped gym bags, buttons that came off, seams that have torn, & hems that are falling down.
My husband recently glued & colored with a sharpie his second hand motocross boots.
We have re glued shoe/sneaker/bedroom slipper soles.
Yes, we are great repairers. Great post, Gregg
Linda
Youtube is full of repair videos too, it's how we've learned to do many things like fix the vacuum cleaner and repair a door frame. My town still has a shoe repair shop and it does a brisk business. Fully support your list of rights. - Mary
ReplyDeleteI love You Tube for repair videos and have repaired loads of things. My laptop is running ever slower but I flatly refuse to replace it. I can live with a slow laptop as it does everything I need it to do.. Currently glueing the teapot lid for the third time.. Why would I replace the teapot when a bit of glue will repair it fine. We can live with a cracked teapot lid.
ReplyDeleteKnown to my children as Méla McGyver.
ReplyDeleteSister, what a compliment! That's funny. You might enjoy our most recent post.
Delete- Gregg MacGyver