Who came up with the idea of planned obsolescence?

Alfred P. Sloan
So Alfred P. Sloan, the CEO of General Motors, and his colleagues came up with a radical new idea that would change not only the auto industry, but the entire economy: planned obsolescence.

What was Alfred Sloan’s notion of planned obsolescence?

According to Sloan, planned obsolescence basically meant building design and technology changes into a car to make last year’s model seem somewhat out of date–but not so out of date the used-car market would suffer. The fashion industry does this every year with such things as hemlines.

Is planned obsolescence illegal?

American Laws There are not currently national laws that prohibit planned obsolesce in the United States. However, the Consumer Product Safety Commission does have the power to issue durability standards if it chooses to exercise it. It has done so in the past, such as in 2012 when cribs caused two infant deaths.

When did built in obsolescence start?

Although the term “planned obsolescence” didn’t enter common usage until the 1950s, the strategy had by then permeated consumerist societies. In various forms, from subtle to unsubtle, planned obsolescence still very much exists nowadays.

Is planned obsolescence legal in India?

In India, the concept of planned obsolescence is valid and lawful as per the provisions of Copyright Act of 1957. However, remedy could be sought under the Section 10 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 which defines “defects” or “shortcomings” in a product.

Why did GM overtake Ford?

In summary, General Motors overtook Ford during the 1920s and 1930s not because its production and inventory systems were superior to those at Ford–Ford’s systems were at least as good–but because its products were better than Ford’s.

What did Alfred Sloan invent?

In 1924, Sloan came up with an idea – create five separate brands and five price ranges for five different types of consumers. Out of this idea came five of the car makes that we know today. You started with Chevrolet, branded and priced for the first-time car buyer. From there, you could upgrade to a Pontiac.

Can you sue for planned obsolescence?

No, you cannot directly sue a company for planned obsolescence since there is no law against it.

Why is planned obsolescence used?

What Is Planned Obsolescence? Planned obsolescence describes a strategy of deliberately ensuring that the current version of a given product will become out of date or useless within a known time period. This proactive move guarantees that consumers will seek replacements in the future, thus bolstering demand.

Why does planned obsolescence?

Planned obsolescence describes the practice of designing products to break quickly or become obsolete in the short to mid-term. The general idea behind this is to encourage sales of new products and upgrades, a practice that has been banned in some countries.

Does Apple planned obsolescence?

So if something goes wrong with the device, you become limited in terms of fixing it. This “Vintage” period lasts for two years, after which Apple declares it “Obsolete.” And then once it shifts into obsolescence, Apple truly cuts the handset off.

What is the history of planned obsolescence?

The history of planned obsolescence dates back to the 1920s, when General Motors president Alfred P. Sloan devised a strategy to compete with the rival auto giant, Ford.

What are some good books on planned obsolescence?

Oulu University of Applied Sciences. Bernard London (1932). Ending the Depression Through Planned Obsolescence (PDF) (Essay). New York. Neil Maycroft (2009). Consumption, planned obsolescence and waste (PDF) (Internal Report). University of Lincoln. Viviane Monteiro (2018).

Why did General Motors plan to observe obsolescence?

General Motors president Alfred P. Sloan wanted those who already owned a GM car to exchange it for the latest model. Source: Wikimedia The history of planned obsolescence dates back to the 1920s, when General Motors president Alfred P. Sloan devised a strategy to compete with the rival auto giant, Ford.

Is planned obsolescence an anti customer practice?

While often considered planned obsolescence, it is often argued as its own field of anti-customer practices. A possible method of limiting a product’s durability is to use inferior materials in critical areas, or suboptimal component layouts which cause excessive wear.