離開
進入《中英對照讀新聞》Why washing machines are no longer built to last 為什麼洗衣機不再製造得耐用
◎管淑平
Remember that old washing machine you bought back in the 1980s? The one that seemed to go on for ever?
還記得1980年代你買回家的老洗衣機嗎？似乎永遠不會壞的那台？
And then there was the one you bought only a couple of years back, which seemed to give up the ghost more quickly than an ultra-fast spin cycle.
然後是你幾年前才買的那台，壞掉的速度似乎比一次超快速脫水行程還快的那台。
They don’t build them like they used to. Even the industry admits that the lifespan of white goods has fallen. But then so too have prices.
製造商不把洗衣機做得像以前那樣耐用。就連這個產業的業者都承認，家電用品的壽命已經縮短。不過，這些產品的售價也降低了。
So how long should a fridge or a freezer last, and is it worth spending a bit more on a better model?
那麼電冰箱或冷藏庫的壽命應該多長，值得多花一點錢買好一點的嗎？
Our relentless demand for cheap household appliances is taking its toll on the durability of the products we buy.
我們對於便宜家電用品的無止境需求，在我們購買這類產品的耐用度上付出代價。
On its website, the Whitegoods Trade Association （WTA） openly acknowledges that the average lifespan has dropped in relation to prices.
「白色商品貿易協會（WTA）」在其網站上公開承認，產品平均壽命已隨著價格下降。
Take the example of a washing machine. Its life expectancy has dropped by a full three years over the last decade or so, meaning many will conk out pretty quickly.
以洗衣機為例。過去約10年來，洗衣機的壽命縮短整整3年，也就是說許多這類產品很快就會壞掉。
"Over 40% cost under £300. Obviously these cheaper products do not have the same build quality, performance or longevity and therefore the average lifespan has dropped from over 10 years to under seven years," the website confesses.
「逾40%價格不到300英鎊。很明顯地，這些更便宜的產品不再有相同的製造品質、性能或壽命，因此它們的平均壽命從超過10年縮短為7年以下，」該網站坦承。
新聞辭典
give up the ghost：動詞片語，（人）死亡、（機器）壞掉無法修復，放棄（努力做某事）。例句：That old television finally gave up the ghost.（那台老電視機終於壞了。）
take its/a toll on something/someone：動詞片語，造成負面影響、後果或損失，付出代價。例句：Pollution and global warming are taking a toll on our economic growth.（污染與全球暖化使我國的經濟成長付出代價。）
conk out：動詞片語，（汽車、機器）突然故障、失靈；（因太累）很快睡著且睡得很熟。例句：The wash machine has conked out and needs repair.（這台洗衣機壞了，需要修理。）
