ClovenDoug/PlannedObsolescenceAmazon

This dataset was constructed by filtering for keyword "obsolescence" from all amazon reviews from 2003-2023, using this dataset: McAuley-Lab/Amazon-Reviews-2023

Each json file contains the asin product identifier, review_text, and parent_asin, as well as my own foreign_key

There are around 12,000-19,000 reviews that contain personal anecdotes and complaints about planned obsolescence.

Here iare the first three examples:

{
    "unique_id": 1,
    "review_text": "Calling this \"Virtually indestructible\" should be a crime. I've had this model trimmer for about 2 years now.  At first, it was pretty good value for light trimming.  But the trimmer guard is a flimsy plastic piece that easily breaks and it's difficult to find a replacement trimmer guard (no results from the Remington website) for this model.  As well, the NiMH battery is pretty pathetic, not only short lasting when it is brand new and fully-charged, but NiMH battery tech has a terrible lifespan.  Why any manufacturer would use it in this day and age baffles me. Unless it was about planned obsolescence all along. Overall, this is an attractive product for light trimming and delivers somewhat, for awhile, until one of the cheap components fails and you have to buy another because the battery is not replaceable nor is the guard made to last.",
    "asin": "B07FKVTYJX",
    "parent_asin": "B07FKVTYJX"
},
{
    "unique_id": 2,
    "review_text": "Planned obsolescence built in I bought this in April, liked it a lot, used it almost daily and today, October, the little spring gave out. I don't consider 6 months a good longevity for something that costs this much, I expected a year or two of use, especially since it is French made and I thought that would be higher quality than Chinese.  Reading other reviews I guess I should have expected it. It is a lovely plastic tortoise shell look, and now I will go look for another that looks similar and hope for it being better made.",
    "asin": "B00KNKBGUU",
    "parent_asin": "B0B29HNY8F"
},
{
    "unique_id": 3,
    "review_text": "old reliable I've been using Norelco's for 51 years now.<br />  The current 6843XL is 12 years old.  I had three others before it.  Not too flashy but it gets the job done.  The NiCad batteries are beginning to lose some of their oomph.  Small wonder, I never replaced them.  I have never had to replace the shaving heads  on any of the four units.  Like that little pink bunny with the bass drum they just keep on running and running and running.<br />My beard is pretty light my hair still turns blonde each summer.  When Detroit made cars that rusted out in three years in order to keep unit sales up, it was called  \"planned obsolescence.\"<br />Apparently the Dutch never heard of it.  Although this unit was made in China, the three previous ones were all made in Holland.<br />Yes, when this one finally dies, I'll buy another Norelco.  Won't get the most expensive one either, just one that'll get 'er done.",
    "asin": "B00009RB0Z",
    "parent_asin": "B00009RB0Z"
},