Thursday 11 August 2022

Inbuilt obsolescence.

 

I've had to throw away two outdoor Teak garden folding chairs this year; and mend a third.

The two were beyond repair, and the third only required a couple of new pieces. Another poolside lounger had the leg extension bit fall to bits after someone sat on it, but it has remained usable without the broken bit.

I don't really remember how long we've had them all, but it must be quite a while; over ten years at least. I suppose they've done quite well, and we should expect them to start decaying. It's just that they're all decaying at once. No doubt a classic case of in-built obsolescence.

Now they shall all have to be replaced. Looking on Amazon.fr, I'm amazed to see how expensive outdoor chairs are these days. Even boring little plastic chairs cost a fortune.

I've found a set of 6 (very similar teak chairs to the ones we had) on Amazon. I think I'll go for them. If they last as long as the previous lot, they should see me out. 

21 comments:

  1. You made me laugh Cro. My husband's favourite saying these days seems to "that should see me out"

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  2. This spring we purchased a outside table and chairs second hand, hubby sanded them down ans stained them, very cost effective and being used they don't look out of place.

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    1. Back in the UK such things are possible, but not here. Finding good second-hand furniture for inside or out, is almost impossible.

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  3. I think I bought ours from Casa

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    1. Amazon will have to do. I haven't seen any in the local stores.

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  4. My inlaws gave us their folding outdoor chairs after having used them for more than 20 years because they were too heavy for them. This was about 30 years ago, The chairs are painted white, so needed a bit of touching up during the years, but nothing more. Now I feel they are becoming a bit heavy, too.
    Hilde in Germany

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    1. The fact that they are very heavy probably means that they are very good quality. They should last for ever!!!

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  5. I try Anywhere But Amazon and try even harder to use the local shops.

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    1. We're miles from a big town/city, so Amazon is quite useful on occasions. Back in the UK it's a very different matter.

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  6. Good luck with your new chairs! "Some things last forever and some are only with us for a little while" - Mother Teresa.

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    1. "A thing of beauty is a joy for two weeks"- Cro Magnon.

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  7. It often happens that lots of things go at once ! I think you have done well with your garden furniture ..... they have done you proud but, the time has come to get some new ones !!! XXXX

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    1. Like lightbulbs; they always seem to blow at the same time.

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  8. Ah, we have the same chairs! The wood is good, but the metal bits need some attention...and the table needs a bolt.
    They are off soon to a new home. With an expanding Vege garden there is no room!

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    1. Like you, I'd rather have some vegs than the dodgy chairs.

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  9. My relationship with garden chairs is such that I love relaxing in them but I can't under any circumstances get out of them.

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    Replies
    1. This is why I have swapped baths for showers!

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  10. New ones might last better with a twice yearly application of teak oil to help preserve the wood. The chair above looks fixable. Some strong wood glue then a couple of braces bolted on for support. Cheaper than a new one and probably good for another ten years, with regular applications of furniture oil.

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  11. I have some outdoor chairs, the woven plastic ones that look like cane and they've lasted particularly well for 10+ years at the seaside.

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