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Have you ever looked at a new purchase and realized it’s gone down in quality? I have, and it’s not a good realization.
Last week I put two pairs of jeans side to side. They were the same brand and style, and yet the new pair had so many defects. After two uses, the color faded fast.
I used a Vox article for inspiration to find items that are lower in quality. I also looked into my own life and noticed that the items were of poor quality.
Here are 12 things I’ve noticed that are seriously going downhill in quality. See if you feel the same. What else have you purchased lately whose quality isn’t what it used to be?
1. Clothing
Clothing is not the same anymore. I’ve noticed this, especially with T-shirts and dresses. While they are more expensive than a few years ago, the quality has only lowered. The fabric is thin, cheap, and tears easily.
This is likely the result of the rise of fast fashion. Companies make more money on sales and save by cutting corners.
2. Restaurants
Restaurants are changing fast. So many restaurants have gone downhill in quality. The food doesn’t taste the same, and some places are even doing away with serving positions.
For instance, in some Steak ‘n Shakes, waiters no longer serve customers. Instead, everything is digital. You’re left ordering from a touch-screen kiosk and waiting for your name or number.
3. Fast Food
Who hasn’t noticed by now that fast food prices have gone up while the quality of the food and packaging has gone down? It’s so easy to tell. I love eating at Wendy’s, but they’ve tasted so different.
Even as inflation goes down, prices seem to keep going up. I miss seeing $1 value menus as fast food places.
4. Printed Books
Printed books are also much lower in quality. This is something self-published writers are noticing from printing companies like Amazon. Either the covers are printed at an angle, or the pages are in another order.
I’ve ordered books on Amazon from indie writers only to receive one with scuff marks or a misprint.
5. Customer Service
Customer service is also going downhill. There are a lot of reasons for this. The workers themselves don’t necessarily cause it. Since the pandemic, restaurants and retail stores have struggled to hire and keep employees.
Employees are leaving for better pay and respect. According to Indeed, employees also leave their jobs for better managers. Working alongside bad managers is draining.
6. Furniture
I try not to buy furniture made after the 1990s. New furniture doesn’t last as long! Disappointingly, a five-year-old couch I bought in 2018 for $500 broke.
Since my partner and I loved the couch so much, we ordered the same one from the same buyer. When it got to our home, the quality was awful. It wasn’t comfortable, and the material felt thin and light. Lo and behold, a month later, the back of the couch snapped.
7. Search Engines
It’s really frustrating when you search for a specific question on a search engine only to be met with low-quality websites and answers. I’ve noticed, as have many others, the drop in the quality of search engines.
I’ve noticed this with the AI feature. The answers aren’t always accurate or in-depth enough. A study even discovered that Google search results were filled with spam and low-quality websites.
8. Cars
Cars are also not made the same anymore. I’m terrified of buying a new car. Instead, I prefer sticking to my 2014 model until it completely breaks down.
This isn’t just anecdotal, although I know family members who left the dealership with a new car only to return a month later for engine problems. Studies have shown that new cars experience more problems than older cars in the first three and four to 36 months.
9. Houses/Apartments
Developers are building houses and luxury apartments too fast and cheaply. The walls are thin, and the places are filled with problems on day one.
One of my friends moved into a new luxury apartment about a year ago. She can hear her neighbors above, below, and even beside her. She’s also had to replace her AC twice!
10. Campers and RVs
I’ve been looking for an RV or camper for about a year. While researching the topic, I’ve noticed that newer RVs are built cheaply, run into problems all the time, and are costly.
It’s hard to find statistics on materials or the quality of RVs, but the truth is in the stories. Search for new RV problems on YouTube and you’ll see thousands of videos saying the same thing – to stay away.
11. Fruits
The quality of fruits is also going down. My theory is that grocery stores and produce shops are carrying out-of-season items that don’t taste as good.
Grocery stores are also trying to save as much money as possible. To do this, they display low-quality or ‘bad’ fruit. Because of soil depletion, produce also has fewer nutrients than in previous years.
12. Toys
Last but not least are kid’s toys. I didn’t notice this one until a few months back when I was playing with Barbies with my niece. I grew up with the same dolls, but when looking closer, I noticed how different each doll was.
Quickly, I looked for a Barbie doll someone gave me in 2002. The material was stronger, and the details and color were more vibrant.
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