> The main problem is people simply don't want old stuff, whether it
> works or not isn't relevant
> 
> "Why are you throwing that out, it still works."
> "Because it's old and I wanted a new one!"

Tony, agree with all your other points re repairs. Around here you
don't see the old-style electrical shops, like you used to, for small
appliance repairs. And they'd sell electrical items too. I think it's
simply uneconomic for a sole trader to specialise (or generalise ?)
like that now. All the ones I can think of near here are primarily
computer shops who do repairs as well. Still just as seedy and untidy
as the old places mind you ;-)

As for throwouts, it's a buyer's market for second-hand. Looking
around a couple of weeks ago for a cheapie back-up PC. Spoiled
absolutely rotten for choice. It's no wonder that they get tossed or
given away considering the average weekly wage. I paid basically
peanuts for a better PC than I needed

What I find with a lot of people is that they don't really make their
PC work, or do anything useful apart from surfing or playing games
or videos. I have basic PCs that will do all that, and they certainly
aren't expensive or new. I suspect PCs are still a mystery to most
people and they have no idea how they do what they do and how
to get the best from them. So when something new comes along that
they think their old one can't do, out it goes

IMO it's always been about gadgets and entertainment

I have a neighbour who very much looked down his nose at me and
gave me his VCR and a box of tapes because they'd got used to
watching their projector TV (which BTW I thought was just horrible).
The $500 bulb blew two months ago and so they've been watching a
14" portable. TS. TS indeed
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