19/07/2024

19 Products That Will Disappear Because Millennials Refuse to Buy Them

For many millennials, many old-school items just don’t make the cut anymore, and they refuse to buy them. It’s pretty wild to see just how different their choice of things to buy is from what was popular back in the day. Here are 18 things that’ll soon be extinct simply because millennials don’t want them anymore.

Stick Shifts

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Gone are the days when learning to use a stick shift was a rite of passage. Nowadays, most millennials would rather use an automatic car because no clutch pedals mean no problems. They’d rather use cars that don’t require as much effort, meaning that the old stick shift will soon be a thing of the past.

Bar Soap

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Many millennials are ditching bar soap for more modern options like body washes and liquid soaps. Lots of them are pretty grossed by the idea of a bar soap sitting around, collecting who knows what, even though they’re not necessarily less hygienic. Plus, liquid soaps are just way easier to use.

Canned Tuna

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You won’t find canned tuna on many younger people’s shopping lists. It’s no secret that they’re big on sustainability, and many of them aren’t too happy with how some tuna is fished, so they’re skipping on it. They’re far more likely to go for fresher and more ethically sourced seafood if they eat it at all.

Checks

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Who writes checks anymore? Certainly not the younger generation, as most of them don’t even know how to do so. They’d much rather do things digitally because it’s faster and much more secure. You also don’t have to worry about looking for a pen, which is another reason why checkbooks are getting much less love from millennials nowadays.

Desktop Computers

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Technology needs to be fast and portable for many millennials, so desktop computers just don’t fit the bill anymore. They’d rather use laptops or tablets because they can easily go from cafes to coworking spaces. After all, having the flexibility to work and connect on the move is far more appealing than being stuck in one place.

Diet Soda

Millennials care a lot about their health and know that anything labeled “diet” is just packed with artificial sweeteners. They’d rather have more natural drinks like smoothies or infused waters, which they believe are far better for you. But the less said about the taste of these drinks, the better.

Doorbells

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It sounds bizarre, but doorbells are coming out for millennials because they’d rather communicate through phones and apps. To them, ringing a bell seems a bit old-fashioned, and the only one they’ll buy is a Ring Doorbell. It’s also much quicker to send a message than to wait for someone to answer the door.

Incandescent Light Bulbs

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In the spirit of saving the planet, many millennials are swapping incandescent bulbs for energy-efficient LEDs. This way, they can reduce their energy use, which is good for both the planet and their wallets. Millennials take these things quite seriously, so making the switch is a no-brainer for them.

Marmalade

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Unlike many previous generations, millennials don’t usually buy marmalade because they’d rather have more exotic spreads. Almond butter and avocado spreads are just way more exciting than marmalade. This generation craves variety, and they’re happy to explore new tastes that push the boundaries of breakfast.

Disposable Razors

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Throwaway razors are a big no-no for millennials, mostly because they’re not good for the environment. Instead, they’d rather buy razors with replaceable blades or even electric models, which reduce waste and still give them a good shave. Research shows this generation values sustainability quite a bit, so this isn’t a surprise.

China Dishes

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Formal dining sets are collecting dust as millennials prefer simpler and more casual tableware. They believe this fancy china is too delicate and impractical to use daily. They’d rather use dishes that can go from the microwave to the table without too much fuss; china dishes just can’t do that.

Lottery Tickets

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Many millennials understand the mathematical probability behind winning a lottery ticket, so they don’t bother buying one. To them, budgeting apps are more likely to help their finances than a random ticket. They’re not wrong because the chances of winning the lottery are practically non-existent.

DVD and Blu-Ray Players

Many millennials would rather stream their movies or shows than watch a DVD or Blu-ray. You can watch anything, anytime, right from your phone or tablet, so why bother buying a DVD or Blu-ray player? Physical discs seem like such a hassle when you can do it all with just a tap or click.

Alarm Clocks

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Millennials use their smartphones for everything, including waking up, which means the classic alarm clock is on its way out. There’s no point in having a separate device when your phone has a perfectly good alarm that comes with customizable sounds and different ways to wake up. It’s a great way to minimize the amount of tech cluttering their nightstands.

Address Books

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Most people born before 2010 will remember flipping through address books to find someone’s contact details, but millennials would rather forget it all. They keep their contacts organized on their phones or online accounts. To them, a physical address book just doesn’t make sense because you can get all that information digitally and always have it backed up.

Physical Maps and Road Atlases

You can forget all about unfolding a giant map in the car because millennials use GPS to figure out which way to go. Those smartphone map apps give them real-time updates and traffic reports with a tap of the screen. For many of them, a paper map feels ancient and more hassle than it’s worth.

Encyclopedias

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You can get information from a quick Google search rather than looking through huge volumes of encyclopedias if you ever need information. Of course, encyclopedias still exist, but they’re all digital instead. You might find a physical one in a millennial’s room, but they’re more likely to be decorative pieces than anything.

CD Players

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There’s something so nostalgic about a CD player, but they’re starting to disappear quickly, even in cars, and it’s all thanks to millennials. With streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify, they’ve got access to millions of songs without ever needing to swap out the disc. Everything’s in the cloud and at their fingertips.