Which term refers to deliberately designing products to fail in order to shorten the time between purchases?

Which term refers to deliberately designing products to fail in order to shorten the time between purchases?

• A. Planned Obsolescence
• B. Repair
• C. Reuse
• D. Reduce

Answer: (A)

Planned obsolescence is the deliberate design of products to fail or become outdated after a shorter period, so people replace them sooner. This can involve using cheaper materials or components that wear out quickly, making repairs difficult or parts hard to obtain, or creating compatibility with newer models that discourage continued use of the old one. The goal is to keep sales steady by shortening the product’s usable life. This is different from repair (which aims to restore function and extend life), reuse (using items again rather than discarding them), and reduce (cutting waste or resource use).

Planned obsolescence is the deliberate design of products to fail or become outdated after a shorter period, so people replace them sooner. This can involve using cheaper materials or components that wear out quickly, making repairs difficult or parts hard to obtain, or creating compatibility with newer models that discourage continued use of the old one. The goal is to keep sales steady by shortening the product’s usable life. This is different from repair (which aims to restore function and extend life), reuse (using items again rather than discarding them), and reduce (cutting waste or resource use).