Oops. I skipped a month for my Dumb Consumer Item post. That is definitely not because of a lack of dumb products to choose from, but that I was busy with other posts and the month just slipped by.
So, February first seemed like a good place to get back into it.
This month I highlight electric toothbrush heads.
Don't get me wrong, we have an electric toothbrush, and have owned one since I started brushing Linda's teeth when she became unable to do it for herself about 10 years ago.
The electric toothbrush makes the process easier, and more effective than using a manual version. I also use it myself.
The dumb thing is the cost of replacement heads, which I noticed again today while doing some online grocery shopping.
Replacement heads for our model are now $43.00 dollars for three heads, making them $14.33 each. This is when an ordinary toothbrush is around a dollar-ish (or free with a visit to the dentist).
It is hard not to feel like we are being extorted. How much can it cost to make these small pieces of plastic?
I don't think the electric toothbrush is a dumb invention. It is a important piece of equipment that I use to care for Linda. However, there must be a better way.
I have been thinking that I could somehow use the free toothbrushes that I have been collecting from the dentist, and come up with some sort of hack to make them work for the electric unit to save a ton of money.
With a bit of research I can see that I am not the only one to feel extorted, nor am I the only one motivated to do something about it.
I will definitely be trying a DIY fix for this dumb situation, like swapping the brush head from an ordinary toothbrush on to the head of the electric brush.
It seems like electric toothbrush replacement heads are the new razor blade replacements, or computer printer ink jet cartridges. You know, outrageously expensive consumer items that are grossly more expensive than they need to be.
But that is consumerism in the 2000s. More and more we are getting hosed on just about everything.
Outrageous prices are being charged for all things, including the things we need to survive, like food, shelter, and energy.
We are approaching peak dumb.
The good thing is that it is always possible to live even more simply. If I can't DIY the etoothbrush, ordinary brushes will just have to do.
All I know is that I don't want to support the gouging with my dollars. It makes more cents to do it myself, if possible.
If not, I can always opt out.
I use this same brand and it has been very good in keeping teeth and gums clean and healthy, but even more than the price I dislike the fact that I have no way to recycle the used heads.
ReplyDeleteYes - it must be because they contain both plastic and metal that would be hard to separate.
Delete- Gregg
I buy knock-offs through (bows head in shame) Amazon for about $20.00 for a dozen but I totally agree with the issue of not being able to recycle them. My actual good ole Sonic toothbrush is almost twenty years old now, and the recharging cycle is starting to get shorter, so except for this one thing - especially for someone whose teeth were compromised by childhood malnutrition - overall it hasn't been a bad deal. At one point I did try the compostable toothbrushes but the bristles kept either just falling out or embedding themselves either in my gums or between my teeth while I was brushing. Alas plastics have become ubiquitous in this world - the aforementioned so-called eco/earth friendly compostable toothbrushes came in a plastic blisterpack.
ReplyDeleteImagine a world without plastic. Life would be drastically different as we have grown dependent on the many things plastic makes possible. You are doing well with your Sonic. Our first eBrush lasted about 10 years then the pin the brush head attaches to fell out and would no longer stay in place. Still consider it to be a pretty good deal. But those brush heads have me scratching my head. Will take a look at the ones you are using. Thanks for the tip.
Delete- Gregg
This is the link for the toothbrush heads I buy for my Sonic - https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07R1X7YHT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Delete