Some people think that products should be made to last as long as possible, while others think making the products cheap is more important. Discuss both views and express your own opinion.

有些人认为，产品应该尽可能延长使用寿命，而另一些人认为使产品便宜更重要。讨论一下这两种观点，并表达你自己的看法。

When buying a product, we constantly weigh up price versus quality. While some feel that durability should be the main priority, others argue that affordability is more important. In this essay, I will examine both views and explain why I feel that companies and customers need to make responsible decisions.

Those who prioritise durability features argue that if commodities lasted longer, waste could be reduced. Indeed, it is obvious that as products have become almost disposable, the amount of landfill is growing. Most people, for instance, buy a new phone every two to three years regardless of need. This throw-away mentality drives more production which also contributes to environmental damage through raw material extraction, factory emissions, transportation and packaging. If we only bought one mobile phone per decade instead, we could dramatically reduce that impact.

For others, lower prices are more important than quality. Indeed, compared to fifty years ago, the range of commercially manufactured articles on the market is bigger and the prices are much more affordable. A normal cellular phone, for example, used to cost several thousand dollars, but now it is possible to buy one for a few hundred. Therefore means that more people have access to such items, which means greater equality and opportunity, particularly when it comes to commodities such as cars and electronics. Personally, I feel the best way forward is for both businesses and consumers to think carefully about their choices. For companies, consideration must be given to sustainable and ethical practices. Rather than producing a range of poorly made cheap clothing that will not last more than a season, it would be better to invest a little more in quality materials and workmanship. That said, it is then up to the consumer to reward those enterprises that step up. They too should seek out companies that demonstrate best practices rather than simply opt for the lowest price.

In conclusion, the battle between durability and affordability is always going to exist. In order to strike a balance that minimises environmental impact and allows the entire society access to products, corporations and individuals need to use their judgement.

在购买产品时，我们不断权衡价格和质量。虽然有些人认为耐用性应该是主要的优先事项，但其他人则认为负担能力更重要。在这篇文章中，我将研究这两种观点，并解释为什么我觉得公司和顾客需要做出负责任的决定。

那些优先考虑耐用性特征的人认为，如果商品的使用寿命更长，就可以减少浪费。的确，很明显，随着产品几乎变成一次性的，垃圾填埋场的数量也在增加。例如，大多数人每隔两到三年就会买一部新手机，而不管是否需要。这种扔掉的心态推动了更多的生产，这也通过原材料开采、工厂排放、运输和包装造成了环境破坏。如果我们每十年只买一部手机，我们就可以大大减少这种影响。

对其他人来说，低价比质量更重要。事实上，与五十年前相比，市场上的商业制造品范围更大了，价格也更实惠。例如，一个普通的手机，过去要花几千美元，但现在几百美元就可以买到。因此，这意味着更多的人有机会获得这些物品，这意味着更多的平等和机会，特别是在涉及汽车和电子产品等商品时。我个人认为，最好的办法是企业和消费者都仔细考虑他们的选择。对于公司来说，必须考虑到可持续和道德的做法。与其生产一系列做工粗糙的廉价服装，不能持续超过一个季度，不如在优质材料和工艺上多投资一点。话虽如此，但还是应该由消费者来奖励那些挺身而出的企业。他们也应该寻找那些表现出最佳做法的公司，而不是简单地选择最低的价格。

总之，耐用性和可负担性之间的斗争总是会存在的。为了取得平衡，最大限度地减少对环境的影响，并使整个社会能够获得产品，企业和个人需要使用他们的判断力。