I still have my GE hand mixer that I took from my mother when I moved into my own apartment in the early 70’s, works perfectly fine. The box is pretty shredded up but my daughter’s always loved the illustrations on the box. My American Food Processor that I bought in 1973 (was a popular brand that was lower cost than Cuisanart) works fine too. I still use lots of the recipes in the little spiral bound book that came along with it that is stamped $5.00 from Abraham & Straus ( a former well known NY department store that bit the dust a long time ago). Sadly my electric toothbrush just stopped working the other day without any warning so I will have to replace that. My Kitchenaid dishwasher that I bought in 1986 when major renovation was done on my house still works perfectly fine.
I second the cast iron recommendation. I’m still using my Grandfather’s skillet. It must be 100 years old!
It is hard to say anything about a current model of thingamajig, because only time will tell if they live up to the expectations.
Kitchen: I am very impressed with Scanpans. I think it was @Bromfield2 who mentioned them here - that’s how I learned about the non-stick that can take serious abuse.
I have a LeCreuset dutch oven that I got as a wedding gift 35 years ago! It’s still in great shape.
I think anyone who says they have an “old” whatever is not answering the question. Things back then were made to last. I have a hand mixer that is 30 yrs old, washing machine and dryer that are over 20 yrs. old. And somethings I wish would wear out!! But some of these same products would not last as long now.
But I think the op wants to know product brands that you can but now that will last. Of course that is impossible to answer because we will not really know until the future.
Perhaps s/he might be asking if more expensive products last longer or are actually “worth” it.
I still have my mom’s and my Le Creuset pans and pots. I mailed my mom’s large pan back to them, and they sent a new one. Only cost was shipping.
I still have my original revere and fiber ware sets, bought in 1976, first apartment.
Three times now I have bought Hudson sheets at Bloomies (on sale), but still over $200. My son has always liked soft fabrics, yet he doesn’t know names or prices. Since he liked his so much, I finally bought myself a set. I wash them and return them to bed.
@morrismm I guess there is a little of a catch in my question. I think its perfectly fine for someone to say, though, that they have a product that’s old and has lasted a long time as long as there is no contraindicating info that the product is crap now or has a short useful life, which I’m sure someone could chime in with if they had a different experience more recently. Sometimes I do think more expensive stuff (furniture for example) can be better made or longer lasting but not all the time. Lodge Cast Iron, for example, is pretty dang inexpensive. Value can also be had with products that are backed by good customer service and strong warranty/replacement policies.
Someone mentioned newer cars lasting much longer than they did a few decades ago. I’ve got 230k+ on one of ours and its still solid (knock wood) but my husband is also religious about maintaining it.
Funny that some things like cars are lasting longer and household appliances seem to be going in the other direction.
Not everything in new cars is build better. Powertrains - yes. Plastic bumpers that crumple when a neighbors’ dog pees on it and cost $1500 to replace - lol, no. Cheap fabric seats… no. Leather is the only way to go pretty much nowadays. It helps that I live in a state without extreme temperatures.
Henkels knives and Cuisinart pots/pans. Been using the same ones for over 20 years. One of my Henkels knives is hitting 30 years (since my grad school days).
The vintage 30’s era camelback sofas we bought at auction. We got them reupholstered and they look great and are timelessly hip.
We still have the KitchenAid mixer from our wedding 30 years ago. Still going strong. It’s frequently used (not by me, haha).
Really Pizzagirl ? My husband wouldn’t have a clue what to do with my Kitchenaid
Yes, the painted bumper covers show cosmetic dings more easily than plain black plastic covers, and it costs more to fix those cosmetic dings when painting is needed. But the really good (at bumping) bumpers on cars sold in the US were on cars sold from 1974 to 1982, during the 5mph bumper requirement.
Regarding cloth seats, the cloth seems to be far more durable recently than it was a few decades ago.
My Le Sport Sac large Travel Tote is at about 12 years old and has been tossed, crushed, stacked, and basically abused on dozens of trips and truthfully looks brand new! Plus, the pattern is stylish and fun. Love it.
I keep wanting to buy another but I don’t really need 2 and this one just won’t show any signs of wear and tear. 
Columbia parka. My 15-year old parka has no tears or rips. Solid construction, kept its shape despite the usual abuse and essentially looks new.
As for planned obsolescence, look no farther than Hewlett Packard inkjet printers. I have had three and each stopped functioning after about two years. No more. My last buy was an Epson.
blackeyedsusan, so funny that you have the same wallet! My newer handbag seems to be headed for a similar long life.
I hate to rain on the KA stand mixer parade, but I had to replace mine after 10 years of infrequent use.
My Meile vacuum cleaner is 15 years old, frequently used, and still in great condition.
Lje62- my husband makes brownies (for himself - he has one every night with ice cream) at least once a week, if not more. We call them Daddybrownies because when the kids were little he would make them with them as helpers. I might touch the KitchenAid once a year. He does the cooking for the most part.
My kids LLBean backpacks lasted forever! I assume the same is true now.
Good one! My kid’s LLBean backpack is still going strong too. And my LLBean duck shoes which are about 30 years old.
@Pizzagirl wrote
You hit the jackpot, girl! Mine doesn’t bake.
Anything LLBean…I have duck shoes ( got them before they became a hot fashion item for college kids again ) They are great for taking the dogs out when the ground is damp and muddy.
Lucky you Pizzagirl ! My husband only grills , but that is okay with me