Everyday items we’ve relied on for years are starting to disappear from stores. Rising costs, new technology, and changing habits are pushing them out. Here are ten products that may not be around much longer.
Paper Checks
Fewer people are writing checks for bills or shopping. Digital payments, apps like Venmo, and automatic transfers make checks unnecessary. Banks discourage check use, and many businesses no longer accept them. According to the Atlanta Fed, paper check payments fell from about 6 percent of consumer transactions in 2015 to just 2.5 percent in 2024.
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Landline Phones
Landlines used to be in every home, but they’re now close to extinction. Most people rely solely on cell phones, and providers are phasing out traditional phone services. Younger generations see no reason to pay for a second line. It’s only a matter of time before landlines disappear entirely.
DVDs and Blu-rays
Streaming services have nearly erased the need for physical discs. DVD players are rare in new electronics, and stores carry fewer movies in disc format. Collectors may still want them, but the mainstream market is moving on. As more studios go digital-only, discs will fade even faster.
Single-Use Cameras
Disposable cameras once made vacations and events fun, but smartphones have taken their place. Digital photos are instant, editable, and sharable without waiting for prints. While a niche market remains for nostalgia, production is slowing every year. They’re becoming harder to find outside specialty shops.
Fax Machines
Faxing is fading as email and secure digital sharing dominate workplaces. Businesses that once relied on fax are switching to cloud-based systems. Some industries still cling to them, but even healthcare and law offices are shifting to digital. What was once office-essential is now nearly obsolete.
Incandescent Light Bulbs
Energy-efficient options are now the standard. LED and CFL bulbs last longer, cost less over time, and meet new energy regulations. The U.S. has already restricted the sale of most incandescents. The familiar warm glow of old bulbs is quickly becoming a thing of the past.
Physical Alarm Clocks
Smartphones have replaced the old bedside clock. With built-in alarms, timers, and sleep apps, few people buy stand-alone alarm clocks anymore. Retailers are cutting back on stocking them as demand keeps shrinking. What was once a morning staple is now collecting dust in clearance aisles.
Newspapers
Print newspapers are fading fast as more readers move online. Advertising dollars follow the audience, leaving many papers with shrinking revenue. A Pew Research Center fact sheet shows that in 2024 only 26% of U.S. adults say they often or sometimes get news in print — the lowest figure on record.
Plastic Straws
Environmental concerns are pushing plastic straws out of restaurants and stores. Reusable and paper alternatives are taking their place. Many cities have banned them altogether, and major chains no longer hand them out automatically. Plastic straws are quickly becoming a relic of the past.
Pay Phones
Once found on every corner, pay phones are almost entirely gone. Cell phone adoption wiped out the need for them, and companies removed most booths years ago. A few still exist in airports or rural areas, but they’re disappearing fast. For most people, they’re now just a memory.
The List Keeps Growing
Technology and changing habits are accelerating the rate at which items disappear. From paper checks to plastic straws, the everyday products we take for granted are being replaced by faster, cheaper, or greener alternatives. By 2025, it is clear that what’s “everyday” today may be gone tomorrow.
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The article 10 Popular Items That Are Becoming Hard to Find first appeared on Cents + Purpose.