Are Companies Influencing our Kids to Ask for More?

Sherri - posted on 07/31/2012

When we get such items Lois we ALWAYS buy the warranty for such things happening. Kids can be super careful and not abuse it but something can always happen or they can accidentally drop it or what not.

This has turned out to be a life saver for us. So my oldest got an IPod for Christmas and my middle son got a lap top we got the warranties that were for 2 yrs on them. Thank heavens as my 15yr old dropped his IPod and shattered the front screen I simply send it back and they either repair it or send a brand new one. We also did the same when he got a Nook a yr ago last Christmas and for some reason half of the front screen went black. We sent it back they repaired it and sent it back to us at no charge.

So I highly recommend spending the extra money for the additional warranties.

Lois - posted on 07/30/2012

Hi Sherri,

I appreciate your reply. Your home sounds similiar to ours concerning purchases=)
I wonder, how would you feel..if you don't mind me asking...if your child saved up for and purchased an electronic item that they used in a fair manner...not abusively...that broke within a year?

Like some kind of MP3 player or a computer that some say are designed to be obsolete in about 3 years...

What do you tell the child?

I am facing this situation...I have a daughter who loves music, she gets a music player...I won't say which brand, but it started shorting at first, then it freezes, and other malfunctions...within a year. I have seen this happen....meanwhile we are still using the radio / cassette player my father purchased many years ago...with no worries.

I feel sorry for my daughter. I assume we will need to get a warrenty next time?

Lois - posted on 07/30/2012

Hi Kristin,
I'm with you. We try to encourage our kids to earn and buy their own electronic "toys" if they want them. Unless they want it as their Christmas or Birthday item...if it falls within our pre-set spending budget for those days.

I would imagine when you get your kids bikes and such they are happy with whatever you choose?

I am not sure if the producers make bikes as sturdy as they used to.I think what those videos are getting at is the fact that companies make things of less quality on purpose, so the items break faster than they used to. But, unlike electronics...it seems easier to fix a bike. That is not uncommon. We have a few broken bikes here, waiting for repair=)

Lois - posted on 07/30/2012

Tanya & Shawnn,
I really appreciate your input!
I think its good that your kids know that "NO" may be coming=)
I raise my kids like that too...

I think the one point that makes me sad is that they build the products now to not last. That is the key.

They design things so you cannot readily change the battery. They don't expect you to so it is not a feature that is offered. There is no access to that.So if the battery or some other component goes you have to toss the whole thing...even if it cost you $150 to purchase it and its a year later.

Or they design cell phones to break more readily.

It is inheriently built in the product designs that the components of the items we buy for our kids...the items do not last as long as they could. On purpose...

Im not sure if you saw the LightBulb video I mentioned in the blog post....but it was funny. It mentioned that manufacturers originally designed light bulbs for example, to last 2,500 hours....but then got the producers met and "decided" that light bulbs should last for a shorter time. So they reengineered them to last only 1,000 hours. So we can buy them more often. So standard light bulbs last that long now only 1,000 hrs unless you pay a premium.

The intentional effort on producers to shorten the life span of the items we buy our kids is what disturbs me. In addition to coming out with the "latest and greatest " 15minutes after I purchase this years model=)

Sherri - posted on 07/30/2012

Nope my kids don't receive anything but two times a year for their birthday from their guests from us their parties are their gift and for Christmas where they are allowed to ask for their top 3 items that is it.

They can only get something else during the year if they have saved Christmas money, gift certs or birthday money or gift certs as I don't give allowances either.

Kristin - posted on 07/30/2012

Yes companies influece us all to buy new things and they alwasy have. My kids dont ask for the newest greates thing they get what they get or they have to buy it themselves. My 16 yr old buys most of his electronic himself and he is quite happy with what he has and my 6 yr old appreciates what he has to and if he wants something new he has to work for it and earn it. I dont believe in buying my kids all the newest and latest as I could really care less, and so could my kids. My 6 yr old is happiest with his bike and the park or swimming. I guess i am old fashioned but I dont believe im handing my kids everything they ask for they get told no and I also teach them that they need to appreciate and respect the thinfs they do have,. I also believe that the great big world outside in way more important than electronics and sitting in a house all day long, I taught my kids to be actyive and to use their imaginations, sad that more parents dont do this.

Shawnn - posted on 07/30/2012

Companies have always marketed to kids, dear. You are just now noticing, because of your own children. and, no it doesn't bug me, because my kids don't pay attention anyway.

The secret is to NOT give in to the kids always wanting more.

Although, not all kids do. Those who have had parents that are raising them to appreciate what they get, etc, do not ask for the "newest, biggest, best" of anything, or realize that if they want that, they are responsible for purchasing it.

but, those who have had parents who've been on the same "bigger, better" bandwagon, will always want more, and always want the latest greatest whatever, because that's how they've been raised.

Tanya - posted on 07/29/2012

My kids may ask for stuff but they know they are not guaranteed to get what they ask for sometimes. It doesn't bother me at all what these companies put out...If a parent can't afford it or would rather their child not have it ...JUST SAY NO!