사업자의 소비자 기만행위에 대한 소비자 보호 방안 - 계획적 진부화를 중심으로 -

Planned obsolescence is the practice of limiting the life of a product; subsequently manipulating customers buying behaviour, to benefit the manufacturers. Planned Obsolescence is not familiar to most of us because we don't usually hear or use the term in general. However, it has been much experienced in our everyday life. The strategy of the planned obsolescence already had had became a part of our life styles. From TV commercial advertisement, customers are often offered to compare from such old-fashioned products to sensational new products. This comparison strategy between old and new products in a corporation becomes an example of the concept of the planned obsolescence by making current product obsolescent and lead customers to choose their advertising new product in indirect force. In other words, the planned obsolescence can be the core strategy that a corporation is to be able to customers' the alternative demands on purpose. To customers, on the contrary, it is inevitable for them to spend extra expenses when the old product is discontinued even it is still useful for them. The main consumer concerns and problematic strategies associated with the issue are: design features that do not allow repair, upgradability or interoperability with other devices; the unavailability of spare parts and high repair costs; and marketing strategies pushing consumers to buy new, fashionable products and replace existing ones very quickly. Various ways to curb the practice of planned obsolescence have been proposed, not least a shift towards a culture that values product durability and sustainability.