Submitted 19 hours ago by sturger@sh.itjust.works to [deleted]
The title is a bit of an exaggeration.
Why do corporations change shampoo and toothbrushes so often? I’ll go through 10 different shampoos and toothbrushes, then find ones I like. I’ll probably be able to purchase them again a few times before the ones I like are no longer available.
What are the forces driving manufacturer’s to change their basic wares so often? Besides Wall St. greed, that is?
For creating more bullshit.
These products are actually good, and cannot be improved anymore (or maybe only a tiny little bit).
But competition is tough, and so they feel the need for strong advertising.
Advertising departments cannot do anything but lie in such a situation: They create stories that tell of constant improvement. Revolutionary change even. Ongoing research. More blades on your razor every year, and always 10 times sharper than before. Your teeth 10 times better than last year, and therefore the toothpaste needs this new color.
Exxageration because when they promise so unbelievably much, then you are going to believe just a little of it - where the truth is: there is nothing.
You really nailed it, plus it constantly creates this cloud of confusion in the consumer’s mind.
I do a lot of electronic repair, and I see people make incredibly stupid decisions because they are convinced by one small detail that the manufacturer emphasizes, which has no actual bearing on quality!
For example, I do a lot of repair for different types of salons in my city. I might repair professional hair tools that don’t have available replacement parts, or I will fix professional nail UV lights. I fix vacuums for one-woman small cleaning companies, etc.
And I see very interesting things. Every one of the small businesses I serve, also has a small second-hand market that goes along with it. They are constantly buying and selling their used devices among one another.
I will see those markets completely collapse when a manufacturer that has made a device for 15 years suddenly adds the word “xtreme” to the product. Like magic, the used salon tool that was selling for $200, is now worth $50 at best because it’s not “xtreme”. Exact same device. They are professional workhorse tools that have not changed in 40 years.
Because a new product or new packaging sells better than the same old product in the same old packaging. The simplest answer is generally true, and when looking for an explanation for why a company does something it’s always safe to bet on ‘because money’.
Same reason software will make pointless UI changes. Keeping things fresh gives their users the “exciting” feeling of novelty without having to switch platforms.
I have about the same luck with shoes. Once I finally find the perfect fitting shoes and wear them out, I’m lucky if I can find the same shoes new even once again… ☹️
I’ve had 5 pairs of the same shoes over 5 years. Apparently nobody else likes them and the same store still had old stock years later discounted to €25 from €100. Cleared them out for the last 3 pairs they had which i now keep as backup.
buy 3 or 4 more pairs as soon as you realize the fit perfectly.
At today’s prices, I have to buy shoes by the toe. It takes 10 months just for the toes, and that’s not including the heels, soles, socks, and tariffs and shit…
I fully expected someone to chime in with some variant of “you should make your own shoes anyway, it’s trivial with a dead badger and a bottle cork and two pieces of string… kids these day don’t know anything no more!”.
The kids these days don’t even know the name or the village cobbler
This is exactly what I thought of first.
Project managers want new bullet points for their cv
I’ve always thought about behind a subscription service with an impossibly obfuscated cancellation process is a person who added “increased customer retention rate by 20%” to their cv.
There’s also product designers and marketing that need to continually come out with new things in order to keep their jobs
I can’t remember the last time I’ve bought a toothbrush. Every time I go to the dentist for a cleaning I’m given a toothbrush for free. I’ve since switched to electric, but still have a whole bunch of toothbrushes from dentists past. I’m slowly going through them using them when I travel.
You’re supposed to use a toothbrush for no longer than 3 months. So either you use them to long, or you go to the dentist a lot more often than I do.
He’s switched to electric so doesn’t use the manuals often.
Electric are worse. You should still replace the heads regularly, but now you’re dependent on the specific company continuing to support your toothbrush
The Oral B knockoffs can be had for about $1 each or less. They have models that use the same heads for almost 20 years.
Guhl doesn’t change its shampoos.
But toothbrushes? I’m guessing they’re just buying the cheapest ones they can find in China and stick their brand on them.
Thanks for the tip on Guhl.
I’m not familiar with Guhl. When I did a search, the first result was for Guhl Motors. My thought was, “Thank goodness my motor oil won’t change formula.” 😀
Trader Joe’s tooth brushes have been good and consistent for a decade at least now. They have a funky bend and it works great.
It’s really easy if you simply buy a ton of them all at once and just keep them in a cupboard or something.
Nice strategy, but I’m not going to buy 10 bottles of shampoo, not that I would have anywhere to store them if I did.
Might not work with electric because the batteries will degrade anyways
AA5B@lemmy.world 9 hours ago
This is way too true of way too many things.
How about sneakers? I need orthodontic sneakers so it’s not even a fashion thing. I finally found a pair that doesn’t make my feet hurt … you have a customer for life. Oops, those are no longer made
too many spoons disappeared, I want to buy more. Nope, that pattern was discontinued right after you bought the set.
Or even just packaging? I pve always bought this product and you have a customer op for life but I don’t see the product I npdont see it. There’s something of the same brand: Is it the same, or do I need to search for a new thing
JayleneSlide@lemmy.world 8 hours ago
How does your footwear straighten your teeth? :D
hexabs@lemmy.world 3 hours ago
Evidently OP has a foot in their mouth a lot.