Is it me (us or us)?

[JohnW2]

I wonder if some disability support group goes round fitting them.

There are many things like that out there, along with countless other 'disability aids'. Occupational Therapists are recommending and/or 'supplying' them all the time, although I don't know whether they 'fit them' themselves.

However, I'm not so sure of the countless people (like me!) who are merely 'old and creaky' would be too impressed with being described as 'disabled'

 

[mattylad]

IT costs less to mold a plug with straight sides on it than it does one with wings to grip on.
Less plastic is used and it's easier to extract from the mold - less cleaning off etc.

So it's all about ££££

 

[ebee]

Back in "My Day" many people knew how to fit a plug (not all were good at it though, ranging from not so good to downright bad) but it was a "common thing" to do. We were also taught at shool (with helped those not sure sure haow to do it/to do it properly) so it as ingrained into society.
Today it comes with a plug on it and not many know how to fit their own properly.
"Mr Bean" glances at the end of a plugtop nd at the end of the flex sheath, pushes flex into plug, twists it a bit, then plugs in the appliance ................... Hey Presto.......... and the TV now works. LOL. Priceless

 

[JohnW2]

IT costs less to mold a plug with straight sides on it than it does one with wings to grip on. .... Less plastic is used and it's easier to extract from the mold - less cleaning off etc. ... So it's all about ££££

Qualitatively, that makes at least some sense (although I don't think that 'wings' would necessarily require any more plastic).

However, I would have thought that the actual manufacturing cost of (mass-production of) such mouldings would represent such a tiny proportion of the retail cost of the whole product that considerations such as you mention would make very little difference to anything?

 

[JohnD]

The retail price might be calculated as manufacturing cost plus 1,000%, or some such formula.

 

[JohnW2]

The retail price might be calculated as manufacturing cost plus 1,000%, or some such formula.

It might, but I still wouldn't have thought that considerations such as mattylad mentioned would make much difference.

 

[ebee]

I suspect it might be one of those cases where aesthetics wins over practicality (unfortunately, in this case), a big mistake?

 

[JohnW2]

I suspect it might be one of those cases where aesthetics wins over practicality (unfortunately, in this case), a big mistake?

Quite so. As I wrote early on ....

Good question - but I'm not a person who could answer it! .... Purely speculating, it would not surprise me if someone decided that the new-fangled ones 'look better/neater'!