sometimes the retailer doesn't know there's a new part number. A lot of times we'd order a number and it'd show up as a different number and we had to figure it out. Confusing. And there were also occasions where we'd order a part, which would be the newest revision, and it'd show up a prior revision for whatever reasoning. Everyone does it, Polaris, Deere, Ford, Kubota, etc.
yeah it could be said that planned obsolescence is a part. The honest truth to this is that manufacturers are only required to support a product for 5 years. Once past 5 years, it's up to them to do what they want. A lot of times in that 5 year period, the original product is long since been discontinued, so their team scrutinizes how many of a certain part they sell. IF the sales numbers for a particular part are very low, they can (and obviously do) discontinue it, and once stock is depleted it is then deemed NLA. The plan usually isn't to obsolete the part and deal with those consequences; rather to free up space for newer parts that are selling. I went to the KC warehouse for Kubota. The place is gigantic. I want to say it's a total of 2 million square feet. That's 45 ACRES of warehouse space. That's how much space it takes to support products. Can you imagine the amounts of money that is spent just on the land and buildings? Not to mention the numbers of parts stored inside on racks. Throwaway economy there is truth to that. However, with the competition among brands the machinery has to be updated or changed every few years in order to compete. That brings us back to the previous point. How long do we (consumers) think manufacturers should support a product? 20 years? 50? Indefinitely?
