Yes, you might get credit from a local shop if they’d known you or your family, but people generally lived within their means. Layaway was also a thing. I just don’t recall if we ever used that with appliances.
Layaway was used for appliances in the 80’s, but it was very rare in the 90’s as credit was widely available by then. That is when stuff started going down in quality.
We also aren’t paying the same prices. The fridge from the 60s in your grandmas basement? She probably had a 10 year payment plan for it.
No, loans and credit were not common back then. You saved for them.
Yes, you might get credit from a local shop if they’d known you or your family, but people generally lived within their means. Layaway was also a thing. I just don’t recall if we ever used that with appliances.
Layaway was used for appliances in the 80’s, but it was very rare in the 90’s as credit was widely available by then. That is when stuff started going down in quality.