Buying quality the first time

[Questor]

One lesson I've learned with all products is to identify what the quality items are and then buy one of those. I see too many people flustered and continually trying to upgrade stuff that is inferior to the quality products. In the end they spend years and many more dollars dealing with the inferior product.

A great example is with over/under shotguns. A good one costs a certain amount of money. There are many less expensive options available, but none are as satisfactory as to good quality models.

[Old Syko]

It ain't just guns but everything we use on a regular basis.  I used to buy cheap sunglasses and go through 4 or 5 pair a year.  I now wear Oakley only and have had only 2 sets of frames in the last 12 or so years.  I would still have the first set had they not saved my eyesight and possibly my life when a piece of steel slapped into them from under a mower deck. 

When I built my house 9 years ago I put in cheap toilets.   Replaced them a while back with quality and now know I would have saved enough in repairs and water usage to cover the price of good ones to start with.

The only thing to remember is more expensive doesn't always reflect more quality.   Quality must be judged on it's own.

[Questor]

I agree. I phrase it as "there's always somebody who will be glad to charge you more for something".

[SHOOTALL]

Old Syko,
 with regard to water closets , today most are better than 9 years ago . Thank the Govt. as they mandated how much water could be used and forced an industry to change over night . The engineering is starting to catch up now . And no where is the price vs. value more abused than in the plumbing industry .

[GH1]

I'm a big fan of making my purchases based on application.  I believe it's foolish to buy something that's built to last a lifetime if I'm only going to use it once or twice.
GH1

[Questor]

Absolutely! I could not agree more.

[Old Syko]

Old Syko,
 with regard to water closets , today most are better than 9 years ago . Thank the Govt. as they mandated how much water could be used and forced an industry to change over night . The engineering is starting to catch up now . And no where is the price vs. value more abused than in the plumbing industry .

When hell freezes!    I live out in the country.   I can just as easily step out back like I did for years when I was a kid.   And still do when it's easier.

[slim rem 7]

yep its quality for tools to be used regularly..in my buisiness it was stihl saws ,or mabe huquuevarna..
 the best during that time.. theres a pro line of most motorised tools etc.. also a homeowners line.. for most occasional users the home owners will last fine..to make a living with it go pro line..at least thats the way it was..
 with guns im not sure.. i bought the cheap savage at walmart an it turned out to be more accurate by a good bit than i was..still a browning is just a browning..fine equipment as far as what ive seen.. slim

[williamlayton]

I want things that work.
I most often will by the better line of power tools than a lesser line,
I have some that have had--according to homeowner use--more than the average. Skill saws, drills, grinders, routers and such.
Things that just work everytime you pick them up.
Blessings

[teamnelson]

Good thing to teach the next generation ... saving up to buy the better quality one is better than buying the cheaper one now. Probably wind up with fewer things, but they'll last a lot longer, and you'll be happier. I have prefered trading and yard sales for just that reason - I've found better quality used stuff for cheaper prices than brand new lesser quality stuff. That's the good stuff. 

[mirage1988]

"Quality is remembered long after price is forgotten." My favorite saying-it applies to tools, guns and trucks. Used to apply to construction too, before the immigrant invasion.

[gypsyman]

I see it in the firearm industry. Guys will spend $5-$10 on a cleaning kit, it'll break, they buy another. After about the 3rd or 4th one, they have more money wrapped up then if they would have just spent the $25-$35 for a good one piece rod. Need I say anything about reloading equipment. gypsyman

[Questor]

Gypsyman:

Don't get me started on reloading equipment.

[slim rem 7]

william ..wonder how come you can always say what i mean..better than i can..
 i want it to work ,when i need it.. a quality, possibly more expensive tool usually gets taken care of better also..the cheaper the tool is made ,the more after use maintenance it normally needs..
 but the reverse is usually true,as to maintenance it gets..one thing i learned about motors etc..if a home owner were to buy a cheaper riding mower one with bushings ,not bearings etc..he just needs to grease more often.. as to the briggs motors of my day..if the home owner kept the oil clean ,air clean an fuel clean.. theres no reason the motor shouldn t last until the gaskets rot out..im talking about just mowing one yrd every week or two..
ive got an old automatic transmission murray that works fine today..i kept it as back up to my heavy duty ztr by xmark[sold when i retired.]..i ve forgotton the year i bought it ,but murray has been out of buisiness a long time...treat cheaper [not chineese now]tool like you paid high money forem an they may surprise you..jmo slim