Modern inventions are great and all, but there are admittedly some things that were just better and more durable back in the day. Recently, redditor u/Flaky_Show6239 asked the r/AskReddit community to share the “they don’t make them like they used to” items we’ve grown so used to. Here’s what they had to say.
1.
Search Engines:
While early search engines like HotBot, Lycos, and Webcrawler were wonky and unreliable, Google revolutionized the game. The peak of search engine reliability was likely in the mid-2010s, but it’s been declining ever since. Now, searches often omit keywords, provide irrelevant AI-generated answers, and pull up unrelated content like Pinterest images and PDFs.2.
Printers:
The sturdy, gray brick printers of 20 years ago connected via parallel ports and were reliable workhorses. Anything made in the last 15 years is seen as cheap and disposable.3.
Jeans:
Denim is thinner and wears out faster in the thighs, yet prices have nearly doubled for some designers. Many Redditors lament the loss of jeans that used to last for years, now struggling to get even a year of wear out of a new pair.4.
Strawberries:
Domesticated for size, modern strawberries are less sweet than their predecessors. The nostalgic taste of bright red, intensely sweet strawberries is a thing of the past.5.
Furniture:
Older furniture, often handed down through generations, is built with solid wood and designed to last. Modern furniture is perceived as flimsy and disposable, built for quick turnover rather than longevity.6.
Pyrex:
The old Pyrex was made of borosilicate glass, highly heat-resistant and perfect for kitchen use. Modern Pyrex is made of tempered soda lime glass, which is stronger against drops but can shatter unexpectedly under heat stress, unlike its predecessor.7.
Oreos:
The Double Stuf Oreo is now the same thickness as the original from 20 years ago, while the regular Oreo has a mere thin smear of filling. This is a classic example of shrinkflation, where the product size decreases while the price stays the same.8.
Tomatoes:
The nostalgic taste of sweet, flavorful tomatoes from the 1970s is a distant memory. Modern tomatoes are often described as hard and flavorless, a far cry from the juicy, satisfying fruit of the past.9.
Fast Food:
Fast food used to be delicious, offering good portions at a reasonable price. Now, the portions are smaller, the prices are higher, and the taste is often described as greasy and subpar, with long wait times a common complaint.10.
Staplers:
The solid metal staplers of the past are replaced by cheap plastic versions that break easily. Many Redditors have resorted to buying vintage staplers for their reliability and durability.11.
Washing Machines:
Washing machines are now considered disposable, with a lifespan of less than five years being common.12.
Kids’ Toys:
Toys from the past, often passed down through generations, are built to last. Modern toys, however, are often made with cheaper materials and break easily.13.
Plastic Disposable Utensils:
Plastic utensils are often flimsy and break easily, especially when used with hot food. The knives are often ineffective for cutting meat, and the forks are prone to breaking, with the potential for pieces to be swallowed.14.
Houses:
Homes built for flipping or quick sale often cut corners in design and construction, leading to a perceived decline in quality and durability. Older homes, built to last, are often seen as superior to modern builds.15.
TV Seasons:
Television shows used to have 20-24 episode seasons, providing ample content for binging. Now, shorter seasons of 6-10 episodes are common, often released infrequently, leaving viewers wanting more and leading to cancellations before shows can fully develop.16.
Fridges:
Old fridges are known for their reliability and longevity, with some lasting for decades. Modern fridges, however, are prone to breaking down within a few months of purchase.17.
Hand Tools:
Older hand tools, made with high-quality steel, are known for their durability and ability to last for generations. Modern tools, often made with cheaper materials, are perceived as flimsy and less reliable.18.
Underwear:
Underwear is now thinner and less durable, with many items falling apart within months of purchase. This is attributed to the use of lower-quality materials and faster production cycles.19.
Subscription-Based Products:
Many products that were once available for outright purchase are now offered as subscription services, requiring ongoing payments. This shift raises concerns about affordability and the loss of ownership.20.
Mattresses:
Older mattresses were double-sided and could be flipped and turned for years of use. Modern mattresses are often single-sided and have a shorter lifespan, requiring more frequent replacements.21.
Shoes:
Affordable shoes are often made with plastic and have a short lifespan, often lasting only a year or less. This is seen as a tactic to encourage frequent replacement and contribute to the growing landfill problem.22.
Microwaves:
Older microwaves were known for their longevity and reliability. Modern microwaves, however, are often prone to breaking down within a short period of time, with missing features and lower quality construction.23.
Cotton T-shirts:
Cotton t-shirts used to be durable and long-lasting. Modern t-shirts are often made with lower-quality cotton or blended with polyester, leading to a decline in quality and lifespan. The prevalence of polyester also contributes to microplastic pollution.What do you believe has lowered in quality over the years? Let us know in the comments.
