That was a question I had to answer. It was multiple-choice, and the other choices were out too. Obsolescence was the correct answer, but I didn't understand it. Well, not before the explanation below from earthenvessels.
Hmmm...interesting. That is not how I think of planned obsolescence. I tend to think of the auto industry. They build cars to last for about 6-9 years, not 16-20. That way your car wears out and you have to buy another. For me that is the canonical planned obsolescence.
It's like, for example, when Apple announced that they would be discontinuing the ipod mini. This had two effects on the product:
1) There was no longer any perpetual option to purchase. Prospective buyers only had a small window in which the ipod mini was still avaliable. This is pretty much a take it or leave it choice- forcing the hands of many who were undecided.
2) Imminent discontinuation gave it the status of a 'limited edition' product without such a tight limitation on numbers produced, unlike a limited run, which, to preserve exclusivity, is not large enough to generate significant profits.
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1) There was no longer any perpetual option to purchase. Prospective buyers only had a small window in which the ipod mini was still avaliable. This is pretty much a take it or leave it choice- forcing the hands of many who were undecided.
2) Imminent discontinuation gave it the status of a 'limited edition' product without such a tight limitation on numbers produced, unlike a limited run, which, to preserve exclusivity, is not large enough to generate significant profits.
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