The expensive consequences of complex systems

[darlox]

There was a time when you could go to Store X, and buy Widget Y. All of the parts for Widget Y were produced by company X, assembled by company X, and supported by company X. When a problem occurred with Widget Y, you called Company X. End of story

Comments

[bunny42]

Driving my sixth Toyota, I am very sorry to hear this little tale. I hope it doesn't portend a general trend by Toyota to become as arrogant and careless as Detroit did, thereby ruining their sterling reputation as a car company that "gets it." If they, too, are getting too big for their collective britches, then indeed, shame on them. I was under the impression that the Japanese had a better work ethic than that. Next thing you know, they'll be unionized. Sheesh. There goes the neighborhood.

Re: Kind of off-topic

[bunny42]

Um, no, actually, I was referring to the city. All of it. Just yesterday my SO showed me pictures of the wasteland that is now Detroit, compared to how it looked in 1999. I remarked that the unions had destroyed Detroit, and it turned out that the writer of the article agreed with me.

I guess you'd hear about Redmond, or Silicon Valley, maybe? I'm trying to think of other industries to which this might apply. Nashville, perhaps?

[sweetypotatoe]

Odd that they changed tire sizes on the HiHy's-- ours are the more standard P225/70R16. The original ones lasted 45k-50k miles.