Are digital features on products losing consumer appeal?

The other day my toaster oven died so i went out to look for a replacement. I was surprised at the selection. Three years ago when I bought the toaster oven I'm replacing, almost all the options were digital. I'm not a fan of digital components and sure enough the clock went out on that toaster oven in less than a month. Anyway, when I looked the choices for toaster ovens at the big box store, almost all of them were mechanical, i.e. knobs and no digital keypads or read-outs. Only a few digital models were available.

I experienced something similar in shopping for a washer and dryer. My 40-year-old washing machine needs replacing and I ordered a mechanical Speed Queen. It's been on back order for 3 months. I had a similar experience looking into a new dryer. Mostly I line dry but having a dryer is handy for threshing wheat or when we have weeks of rain or freezing weather. The mechanical models I looked at (no digital and no smart features) are all on back order.

I admit my observations are limited, but it seems that old-fashioned mechanical appliances are actually quite popular. I can't help but wonder if people aren't preferring these once again because of durability and longevity. I'm wondering if digital features are starting to lose popular appeal?

Leigh Tate wrote:The other day my toaster oven died so i went out to look for a replacement. I was surprised at the selection. Three years ago when I bought the toaster oven I'm replacing, almost all the options were digital. I'm not a fan of digital components and sure enough the clock went out on that toaster oven in less than a month. Anyway, when I looked the choices for toaster ovens at the big box store, almost all of them were mechanical, i.e. knobs and no digital keypads or read-outs. Only a few digital models were available.

I experienced something similar in shopping for a washer and dryer. My 40-year-old washing machine needs replacing and I ordered a mechanical Speed Queen. It's been on back order for 3 months. I had a similar experience looking into a new dryer. Mostly I line dry but having a dryer is handy for threshing wheat or when we have weeks of rain or freezing weather. The mechanical models I looked at (no digital and no smart features) are all on back order.

I admit my observations are limited, but it seems that old-fashioned mechanical appliances are actually quite popular. I can't help but wonder if people aren't preferring these once again because of durability and longevity. I'm wondering if digital features are starting to lose popular appeal?

I've noticed the same thing. Simple mechanical controls just seem easier to use and there's usually less that can go wrong over time. I don't mind a few extra features, but for everyday appliances I'd rather have something reliable that lasts for years than a lot of digital functions I rarely use.

The more bling it has, the less reliable it will be.

There is more to go wrong, and less that can be repaired.

Ain't that just lovely?

Many countries have a right to repair law. It's very expensive for companies to sell specific made electronic parts.  I can see less digital elements in gadgets as a future trend.  

At least, I hope so.

Hubby and I recently went through this process with one of our appliances. Definitely "buyer beware". One thing to "beware" of, is a dial that looks mechanical, but in fact, underneath is all electronic. Simple mechanical switches usually "click" between settings. If they don't click, chances are higher that it's an electronic switch that may be just as hard to get as something that's more obviously digital.

I'm with R Ransom - right to repair is the way to go. I haven't heard of any other approach to reverse the trends we're seeing. You can't choose 'mechanical' if there's no mechanical option being made.