When did we start settling for "just o.k." or "good enough" or "less than stellar quality" or living in a disposable world become acceptable?

My husband and I were talking about this yesterday in regards to our now third Hamilton Beach coffee maker that has "bit the dust" in the last year and a half. Seriously, how often should one have to buy a coffee pot? Except for the glass pot itself, the rest of it is plastic, so I suppose we can send it to recycling?

Rather than buy yet another new coffee maker, I brought out my grandmother's 1950(ish) stove top stainless steel, perculator coffee pot and we made coffee the "old-fashioned" way. I tell you, it was the best cup of hot coffee I've tasted in a long time.

It used to be that manufacturers made a quality product that lasted a lifetime. My grandmother had the same Fridgedaire for at least 35 years. Today? I've already replaced the motor once on my less than year old Whirlpool dishwasher along with the agitator on my less than 10 year old washing machine.

It's a matter of economics in this country. Rather than build a product that lasts, American manufacturers build products so that you have to buy them again and again. We've done this with our auto industry, too. It's a rare occasion that you hear of a BMW or Toyota recall, yet GM and Chrysler recalls are not unusual.

Is it any wonder that people who want quality are willing to pay up for it with products from Braun or elsewhere.

As a small business owner, you know that your customers depend on your to give them only the best.. the best service, the best quality for the best price. Give them anything less, and they'll go elsewhere.