Buying The Best

orork

orork

Joined
Sep 18, 2010
Messages
248
Am I alone here or are others so afflicted?

I detest being disappointed with an acquisition. So I research items to find those that people are most satisfied with.

For instance, I wear a Rolex, drive a Mercedes Benz and carry a CRK Large Sebenza 21 and on drives far from home carry a Walther PPK .380.

It's not that I'm rich by some scope of imagination, I just can't afford to be disappointed time and time again by purchases that don't live up to their description.

Anybody else?
 
It depends on the item....For a watch I wear a Rolex (which has only been serviced once in over 30 years). For vehicles I can't see spending a fortune on a depreciating asset (I drive a 2003 Chevy S10). For packs Kifaru, knives Busse.....depends. But I definitely will also do research and pay for quality whenever possible.
 
I tried that approach, only to be dissapointed by what my research told me was the "best". Now I believe that There are only personal bests, not universal.
 
I never shop for exotic or ultra-high end stuff, but I am a particular shopper and try to seek out products with good reputations and that are perhaps a bit different than what everyone else has.

For example, when convertible shopping instead of an overpriced show-off car or ultra-common Mustang, I bought a Honda S2000. Consistently one of the highest-rated cars in its class for quality, reasonably priced, and it's the only one around.

Another example, just bought a fishing rod and reel. Went with a Pflueger reel and a Bass Pro Shop rod. Cost a little more than an Abu Garcia setup from Wal Mart and, who am I kidding, it's not going to make a darn bit of difference when fishing. But I like having something that's a little different, just for the sake of being different.

With other things, I'm all about finding the most practical and useful products at the lower end of the shopping spectrum. There's no watch that keeps better time than my $30 Timex and no knife that cuts better than my $8 Opinel. :)
 
In my experience cheap gear is hardly a bargain, and I've always found that when I try to save money on a less expensive product I always end up buying something of quality to replace it anyway. I went through tons of multi tools at around $40 a piece, until I bought a LM Charge TTi and now I haven't even had the thought cross my mind to buy another multi tool. Same with knives, same with flashlights, same with everything else. Buy quality once, it will save you some cash.
 
I do my research to find the best fit for me, does not always mean its the absolute best out there.
 
ajpalda, please elaborate on some of those disappointments as I would not like to suffer them.

Bob W, good choice on the Honda.
 
I wear a G-shock mudman, drive a ford mondeo, and carry a HEST whenever I can
edit - (well, if I had enough money I would drive a Dodge Challenger :D)
 
Last edited:
orork said:
For instance, I wear a Rolex, drive a Mercedes Benz and carry a CRK Large Sebenza 21 and on drives far from home carry a Walther PPK .380.

It's not that I'm rich by some scope of imagination, I just can't afford to be disappointed time and time again by purchases that don't live up to their description.
Click to expand...

What purchases have you made that you were disappointed in if I may ask? Not everyone can afford the "universal best", also the definition varies from person to person. Many people do not relate high dollar with high quality. Some people though think that if they pay out the nose for something, that it will inherently be "better". I always look for stuff that gets good reviews, things that are tested high quality, and will meet my needs for said object.

Based on what you list as your personal carry items, it seems like you may indeed be someone that does feel that unless it is the highest possible price, it will not be worth the time and energy to own. In the current economic state, many people do not have the luxury of driving what you drive, telling time the way you do,or cutting "stuff" with the same implement you do. I do believe it is impoertant to not lose ones reference point as to what is the intended purpose of an object vs what perceived value is, i.e. will a Seiko tell time the same as a Rolex? Can you cut the same materials with a $8 Opinel that you can with a $400 CRK? The answer is, yes of course on both counts.

Most people attempt to find a good value to dollar ratio when they make purchases. They want to have something that is quality and will not annihilate their bank account or to show off and prove they can by flaunting their wealth. Some people think they are defined by material objects. "The things you own will end up owning you".
 
Something that's fascinating, the vehicle brands lowest rated for quality are often the vehicles most loved by their owners. Mercedes, BMW, Hummer... usually near the bottom in quality, but consistently top-ranked for owner satisfaction. Pride of ownership, features, comfort, performance, appearance, or whatever override the reliability factor. I felt the same way about my Lincoln. Choosing a car isn't a single-factor issue; it's a matter of overall product characteristics, some of which are illogical or even contrary to each other.

Take a generic sedan for example, Accord, Cobalt, Focus, whatever. It could be the longest-lasting highest-quality vehicle on the entire planet, but I still wouldn't drive one of the things.

-----------

FYI, for 2010 the specific model with the highest initial quality was the Cadillac DTS. The #1 brand for quality was Porsche (#2 was Lincoln. Mercedes is #9, much improved over past years). So in some cases you do get higher quality by paying more. In other cases, not so much: Land Rover is the lowest-ranked brand for quality.
 
Last edited:
i definitely feel the sentiment. buy the best you can afford and buy it ONCE when possible. this whole "disposable" society we've created in the US is rubbish.

that is not to say the most you can afford is the best you can afford... a common logic trap marketing firms have lured us into.
 
In my early days here at BF, I read something posted by Mr. Gollnick that has stuck with me; "Buy quality and only cry once." I'm a firm believer in that philosophy, and I further it by not settling for something I know I'll be unhappy with. If I don't have the coin to buy what has my fancy, I'd prefer to wait. Otherwise, every time I look at whatever not-quite-right purchase I've made, I'll think "If you'd just waited a little longer, you could have had the right one."

On certain other things, good enough is good enough.
 
How do you define best? My Timex Triathalon keeps better time than my friend's $6,000 rolex. His will last forever and be handed down to his son and I have to get a new watch every few years, but my watch cost $25.
 
Shann said:
My Timex Triathalon keeps better time than my friend's $6,000 rolex. His will last forever and be handed down to his son and I have to get a new watch every few years, but my watch cost $25.
Click to expand...

There's no reason why, if treated equally, your Triathalon can't last just as long as a Rolex. :thumbup:
And you can buy a whole crate of Timex watches for the price of a single Rolex repair or cleaning. ;)
 
orork said:
ajpalda, please elaborate on some of those disappointments as I would not like to suffer them.

Bob W, good choice on the Honda.
Click to expand...

To use your own example: the Sebenza. I purchased a small custom graphic sebbie here on the forum exchange, and was convinced that once I got it in my hand that I would need no other knife - that it would be perfect due to all the hype about it.

Once I got it in hand, I was indeed impressed with the quality - but it didn't nearly blow me away in-hand as much as it had through other peoples eyes and posts. I have only carried it twice in the 2+ years that I have had it. In the end it was just a knife - just as much a knife as any of the others I have. The Sebenza was not the best personal knife for me, and I never should have let other peoples posts convince me that it was the best knife period.

Now I try to discover items that cater to my own taste instead of letting other people tell me what the best anything should be. So, to be frank, your list of "best" items doesn't particularly impress me - they are what you think are the best, but I have my own list, and someone else has theirs. Its all perspective.
 
My sainted father used to say, "The joy of low price is quickly forgotten amidst the disappointment of low quality."

Another friend of mine says, "Buy quality and you'll only cry once."

About Twenty-five years ago, I bought myself a vacuum cleaner, a Sanitaire; it was not cheap. A few weeks ago, the zipper on the bag broke. What a silly thing. Reluctantly, I took it to a local shop expecting to be laughed at with such an old thing. The technician said, "They still make that exact model. We can have that part in in a few days and fix it up for you."

When I picked it up, I asked the guy what he thought of such an old machine. He said, "It's the last vacuum you'll ever own." In that case, it will be the only vacuum cleaner I will ever own. Buy quality and you only cry once... literally.

And that vacuum cleaner is actually money in the bank for me. I've noticed in the stores that you can buy a vacuum cleaner for about $100 and such a piece of plastic will last you for a few years and they something will break on it and you'll throw it away and get a new one. So, every few years I save $100 because of something like $300 I spent 25 years ago. That means that I've already saved $400 and, apparently, I can expect to keep doing that every three years or so for the rest of my life. It's a small thing, a vacuum cleaner, but it's just one example of how quality can pay off.

I've always maintained that I would rather have a few quality things than a lot of junky things. Now, as I look around myself, I find myself in possession of a lot of quality things. Some of them, that vacuum for example, are old but still look and work just fine. Because I don't have to replace junky things all the time, I can afford to buy additional quality things.

Quality products look good, feel good, WORK WELL, can be repaired when necessary, and LAST A LONG TIME (maybe even a lifetime).




Oh, and I wear a Zenith watch, drive a Mercedes automobile, carry a custom-made knife, and prefer H&K firearms.
 
Bob W said:
There's no reason why, if treated equally, your Triathalon can't last just as long as a Rolex. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Not true. The Timex has nylon gears and a plated brass case. In a few years at most the gears will wear out and the plating will wear through. It's not designed to be repaired.

The Rolex has a solid stainless (or gold) case and sapphire bearings that can last generations -- and they're replaceable.

Of course you can keep replacing Timexes for the lifespan of a Rolex at much less expense, but you can't keep one Timex running for long.
 
I buy things based on simple no BS hard working item that will do its job well and wont break. for example

knives- Chris Reeve and Randall Made (I don't buy fancy Randall's)

Watch-St. Moritz Aquamatic= No Batteries strong watch

Vehicle- 1970 M35a2c...why pay for fuel? and wife drives a K5 blazer with 12 inches of lift and lockers and l82 engine.

Chainsaw-Stihl 088

everything is simple easy to fix no problems.
 
The best doesn't have to be the most expensive. My younger brother wears my sainted father's Seiko watch. I remember when my mother bought that for dad for his birthday one year. It was expensive. I recall it being something like $300!, back in about 1977 maybe. That was a lot of money for my family at the time, but not in the league of a Rolex. But that watch is getting on 40 years old now and it still works and looks fine. It was not cheap, but it was not the most expensive either.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top