planned obsolescence

noun

1. a method of stimulating consumer demand by designing products that wear out or become outmoded after limited use.

noun

1. the policy of deliberately limiting the life of a product in order to encourage the purchaser to replace itAlso called: built-in obsolescence

Incorporating into a product features that will almost certainly go out of favor in a short time, thereby inducing the consumer to purchase a new model of the product. Placing sweeping tail fins on an automobile was an example of planned obsolescence.