>Planned obsolescence is indeed a thing. > >I don't drink coffee but paid around $150 for one of those K-cup coffee makers for my brother just a few years ago.

This coffeemaker isn't a k-cup, so the $150 isn't comparable there.

Here's a drip coffeemaker that's about $150 that should last decades.

>Several months ago, the topic came up, and I asked how his coffee maker was doing, and he said that he is now on his now on his 3rd one, and that they simply stop heating coffee after a couple of years use.

Again, not quite comparable.

Also I said you have to buy a quality maker. There is also overpriced junk out there. Spending more on something doesn't necessarily mean you will always get the best thing, but spending less will always mean you aren't getting quality.

>The same is true for cell phones, televisions, and just about everything we purchase these days.

Consumers don't want durable versions of these. The models that are built to last 5-10 years aren't even in the top 10 selling phones. I doubt they are even in the top 50.

>They are all built in a manner that their parts break down under normal use.

They are built to be cheap. That involves cutting costs. Cutting costs necessarily means quality and durability suffer.

It is impossible to drastically reduce costs and end up with the same durability.