Planned obsolescence is not a good thing for consumers. It strikes me as something only villainous companies would do. And MEC has just sauntered into that category. I no longer believe their greenwashing.
Let me explain.
When I was in L.A. several months ago, I brought my two pairs of sunglasses with me. As these things are wont to happen, I lost one pair down there. So, in my household I only had one pair of sunglasses that now needed to do double duty between driving and running.
When I went to Florida a few weeks ago, I brought that one pair along. Due to me using my backpack as a pillow (word of advice, backpacks aren’t very good pillows) one of the lenses popped out and was lost. I scoured my backpack for it, but it was gone. Probably in an airplane or in the Toronto airport. In either case, lost forever. I was completely without eye protection.
Florida is very sunny. I think they may even advertise themselves as that. So, after a few attempts, I decided that sunglasses were a necessity and so I purchased a cheap pair from the hotel gift shop. With these, I was able to survive the Sunshine State.
When I got back home, I decided to try and get new lenses for my previous sunglasses. The only reason a lens was lost was because it was interchangeable. If they had been more solidly built, I would have been fine. Still, the lenses should be fairly cheap.
But planned obsolescence can be covered by discontinuing a model and no longer supporting the parts for it. I see no reason they needed to do this. The technology of frames has not significantly changed, and even if they had, interchangeable parts have not. So to spite them, I purchased two more pairs of sunglasses. (Yes, I realize that doesn’t make sense, but I’m bitter.) I know I’m going to lose a pair eventually, and I want a good backup.
Half a week later, while turning my backpack upside down, the missing lens showed up.
From zero to four sunglasses in a week.