Rant

The first time I heard about planned obsolescence was in grade nine. The idea that things are manufactured with a specific life span so people would need to continue buying new things irks me. Since August 2000, we have bought 5 kettles. The most recent being today, making the average life span of a kettle 22.75 months, or under 2 years.
OK, we are heavy kettle users. Admittedly we make an average of 3-4 pots of tea a day. Making 2128 boils per kettle. But Studyboy and I have a habit of forgetting to use the first kettle of water and we have to re-boil it probably half the time, so add another 50% to that to make it 3192 times before the average kettle gives up the ghost.
Plus, if you read the directions, they always suggest boiling it twice before using to clean out any manufacturing debris, thereby cheating you out of two perfectly good boils.
It is not the element that goes. It is not the cord. It is not the on/off button or any of the moving parts on the cover. In all the kettles that have crapped out in the past 7 years, it has been the plastic bottom that eventually starts to melt and then bubble where the heat of the element weakens it over time. But get this, no matter what the brand or the style, or the price, all kettles have an exterior plastic bottom. (or at least all the ones at Cambodian Tire) Co-incidence? I think not.
But I got my small revenge. When you register the product for the 12 month (aka the 11 months too short) warrantee, they ask you to fill out a voluntary survey so they can 'know their customers better'. I always fill it out. Today, I am a 65+ single woman, who is retired, makes over $500,000 a year. I own a cat and my main hobbies are skiing and investing money. Take that Black and Decker!