The term “planned obsolescence” might not come up in everyday conversation, but most of us know the frustration it describes. It’s the moment when your washing machine breaks just after the warranty expires, or when your phone slows to a crawl after a software update, nudging you toward buying the newest model. It’s the uneasy feeling that manufacturers design things not to last, but to be replaced.
This phenomenon has become so widespread that it’s almost expected—anyone of a certain age has likely complained that “they just don’t make things like they used to.” But at Austin Air, we believe there’s a better way. Instead of planned obsolescence, our philosophy is planned permanence: building air purifiers to last for decades, not years.
Our customers often tell us they’ve been running the same purifier for 20, 25, or even 30 years, with nothing more than a filter change every five years. That’s no accident. It’s the result of intentional choices we’ve made since day one, and part of our promise to continue delivering a product that will stand the test of time.
Before we explain how Austin Air is different, let’s take a look at how we got here—and how planned obsolescence became the standard practice across so many industries.
A Brief History of Planned Obsolescence
The origins of planned obsolescence are often traced to Alfred P. Sloan, Jr., of General Motors in the 1920s. Although it was a concept used by (of all things) the bicycle industry, Sloan ratcheted it up much further with automobiles.1
By 1924, the American car market had become saturated—most people who wanted a car already owned one. Cars lasted for years, and consumers had little incentive to replace them until they broke down. Sloan’s solution was to introduce new models each year, often with only cosmetic changes, to create the perception of novelty and encourage repeat purchases. He called it “dynamic obsolescence.”
By the 1930s, the concept had even been championed by some economists as a way to revive the struggling U.S. economy during the Great Depression. Economist Bernard London, who coined the term planned obsolescence, proposed a system in which every manufactured product would have a legally assigned “lease of life.” After that lifespan expired, the product would be declared obsolete and replaced, ensuring constant demand and steady employment in factories.2
Although London’s idea was never put into practice, the spirit of planned obsolescence took hold in many industries. Over time, it shifted from an economic recovery strategy to what many experts and customers now see as an anti-customer business model.
Today, planned obsolescence is everywhere. It shows up in fragile appliances, software that stops updating, and fashion trends that push last year’s styles into the donation bin.
How Planned Obsolescence Shows Up Today
Planned obsolescence takes many forms. Some are subtle, while others feel blatant. Here are four common tactics—along with how Austin Air’s approach is completely different.
1. Contrived Durability
Contrived durability is when a product is built with components that wear out quickly, often by design. A refrigerator compressor that fails after seven years–when it is out of warranty. A toaster that can’t handle more than a few years of use. A vacuum cleaner motor that burns out with little warning.
These products might look fine on the outside, but their weak components are designed for a limited lifespan. For consumers, it means a cycle of constant replacement.
Austin Air’s Difference: Resilience
At Austin Air, we design our machines to last. Our purifiers are built with steel housing and a powder-coated finish—not fragile plastic shells. The motor is engineered for long-term performance (we recommend running them 24/7/365), and our design has only gotten stronger over the decades. Customers often share stories of running the same machine since the 1990s, simply swapping out the filter every five years.
Our five-year mechanical warranty and pro-rated filter guarantee reflect our confidence in durability. For us, longevity isn’t an afterthought—it’s the foundation of our design.
2. Programmed Obsolescence
Programmed obsolescence happens when a product is deliberately disabled or made incompatible after a certain point. A famous example is printers with “smart chips” that prevent cartridges from being refilled, even if they still contain ink. In one 2021 case, a class action lawsuit was filed against a major printer manufacturer after its all-in-one printers disabled the scanning function whenever the ink ran out—even though ink wasn’t required for scanning!
Another form of programmed obsolescence is software. Think of the times your perfectly good phone or computer slowed down or lost access to new apps because the operating system was no longer supported.
Austin Air’s Difference: Stability
We’ve intentionally avoided features that could become obsolete. Austin Air purifiers don’t rely on software, apps, or Bluetooth connections that could stop working in a few years. If a component ever does need replacing—whether it’s a switch, a wheel, or even the outer shell—we can provide it.
Our design has remained consistent since 1990, which means every Austin Air purifier is built to last and supported for decades.
3. Prevention of Repairs
Another common tactic is making repair impossible—or so costly it’s not worth it. Some manufacturers glue parts together, use proprietary screws, or keep replacement parts out of circulation. When the repair bill approaches the price of a new product, most people just throw the old one away.
Austin Air’s Difference: Repairability
Every component of an Austin Air purifier can be replaced. That means your machine isn’t disposable. In fact, you could replace each part over time, essentially building an entirely new unit—much like the thought experiment known as the Ship of Theseus. Or, ineloquently, a “Franken-unit”. (This isn’t quite “practical” but it’s possible.)
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when demand for Standard units was through the roof, we were forced to pause production of our Junior units, but we continued to make Junior filters so existing customers could keep their machines running. Supporting long-term ownership is part of our DNA.
4. Perceived Obsolescence
Perceived obsolescence is when products are redesigned for style rather than function. Think of smartphones released in new colors, or fashion cycles that declare last year’s perfectly good clothes “out of style.” The product still works—but it looks “old,” and that alone drives replacement.
Austin Air’s Difference: Timeless Design
Austin Air purifiers aren’t designed to follow trends. Our units are made of powder-coated steel with a clean, classic look that fits in any space, from classrooms to living rooms. They’re not flashy, but they’ll never look dated.
Planned Permanence: A Smarter, More Sustainable Choice
Austin Air’s philosophy of planned permanence is about more than durability. It’s about responsibility—to our customers, to our environment, and to the future.
By building products that last, we help reduce waste and conserve resources. Instead of replacing a machine every few years, customers keep their purifiers in service for decades, with only a filter change every five years. This approach supports the principles of a circular economy, where products stay in use as long as possible rather than ending up in landfills.
It’s also about peace of mind. When you invest in an Austin Air purifier, you’re not just buying a machine—you’re buying decades of clean air, backed by a company that’s been here for more than 30 years and plans to be here for decades more.
Built for Decades, Not for Disposal
Planned obsolescence may have shaped much of modern consumer culture, but it doesn’t have to define your choices. At Austin Air, we’ve always believed in the opposite: planned permanence.
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We will never redesign products for the sake of change.
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We will never disable machines when parts wear out.
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We will always make repairs easy.
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And we only build products that will last.
Instead, we design purifiers that work for decades, support easy maintenance, and look timeless in any setting.
When you choose Austin Air, you’re choosing permanence in a world that too often plans for failure.
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: We are not asserting that other air purifier manufacturers employ these tactics. Instead, we are proud to point out the ways in which Austin Air is different (and let’s be honest–better) than the appliance manufacturers that do employ these tactics (whatever they may make).
REFERENCES
1 Babaian, Sharon (1998). The Most Benevolent Machine: A Historical Assessment of Cycles in Canada. Ottawa: National Museum of Science and Technology. p. 97. ISBN 978-0-660-91670-5.
2 Ending the Depression Through Planned Obsolescence. (1932). Bernard London. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/London_%281932%29_Ending_the_depression_through_planned_obsolescence.pdf.
