On 26 Apr 2007 06:55:26 GMT Andrew Gabriel wrote :
What's actually happened, as with so many other appliances, is
that kettles have changed from being capital purchases into
consumables. Manufacturers have cleverly changed peoples'
expectations, and kettles, like light bulbs, are no longer
expected to last for years.

People's expectations have also changed because they (largely) are
money rich and time poor, so taking something to a shop to get it
fixed (if you could find such a shop these days) is a far less
attractive proposition than just buying a new one.

Back when I was a kid (c.1960) the corner shop sold mending kits for
kettles, two washers and a nut and bolt. It would be interesting to
know what a Russell Hobbs kettle cost then - a day's wages? - whilst
you can now buy a kettle for what you earn in an hour.

--
Tony Bryer SDA UK 'Software to build on' http://www.sda.co.uk