I feel like my dad gets a new coffeemaker every 2-3 years, usually as a gift, because he asked for one. They don't completely die out on him, but performance degrades significantly (whatever that means) and he's just not happy with it. And I've used them and generally contend that they suck.
I feel there are three price points before the prices start to get silly: ~$20, $40 and $60. There's nary any difference in features between the $20 and $40 models, but the $40 model does appear sturdier with a sleeker, stainless steel facade. They do the same things; the appearance is perhaps all for show? The $60 model has a bunch of features that seem silly, especially if you just want a basic cup of morning joe. So what happens: the frugal person buys the $20 model, the smart buy.
But I think they've gone wrong as I purchased the $40 model 15 years and just now replaced it and, frankly, while it was starting to breakdown, it still worked better than the crap ass $20 models my dad goes through every 3 years.
While the $60 I've saved over the past 15 years isn't a big deal, it makes me sad to think of all those poor coffee makers in the trash.