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Originally Posted by rulerboyz
We're really in the minority because most people wouldn't think twice about throwing that Boombox into the trash. I think that for quite a few, all electronics are pretty much in the same class, be they toaster ovens or audio equipment. The common perception is that it is all disposbale, and that it loses it's value even before it breaks down. Throwing it out shouldn't cause too much cognitive dissonance so long as the initial purchase investment wasn't too high, or far enough in the past that the owner doesn't care anymore. For what they are, many of these boomboxes sound pretty darn good as portable tuners. Take it to the beach and enjoy it.  |
Now I think I can see a good reason why my Pana boombox wound up where it did (in the trash). The unit was made perhaps 10 to 12 years ago, before MP3s and portable CD players were popular. The person who owned this before I got it probably got a new CD player or an iPod, put the Panasonic away in a closet, and forgot about it, which would explain the leaking batteries. Perhaps he or she was cleaning house, found the old outdated Pana boombox, decided it wasn't worth anything any longer, so--out it went. Their loss was my gain, however, as this boombox sounds great through its own speakers; in fact, I'd say it sounds better than a GE-branded unit I bought new 10+ years ago. The tape deck in the Pana unit sounds every bit as good as the tuner. As far as I'm concerned, this system is a keeper.
You are absolutely correct as to the disposable nature of today's appliances and electronics. Witness the number of black-plastic cabineted TVs being put out on curbs all the time these days, and the riveted construction of most modern small home appliances. These things are not meant to be serviced after the warranty expires; in most cases the repair costs will equal or exceed the price of a brand new unit. Many factory repair centers don't bother repairing returned gear any longer; they just exchange the defective unit for a new one, send the new one to the customer, and repair or recycle the returns afterward, reselling the units later on.