Part 7/10:
An anecdote regarding a personal experience with an appliance reflects the reality of planned obsolescence. The narrator's eight-year-old washing machine, which should have been a reasonable lifespan, failed and the only option presented was purchasing a new machine. The paradox remained that it cost less to buy a new appliance than to replace a key component of the old one. This tactic highlights how manufacturers intentionally design products to be less durable or repairable to stimulate repeat purchases.