Buying The Best

While growing up I was told two things by a wise man:

#1 - Always buy the best you can afford-you'll never be disappointed with quality.

#2 - When it comes to buying something important, always buy the best; only the rich and
fools can afford to keep replacing inferior goods.
 
I buy things that are high quality, and represent a good value. I don't mind paying a bit extra for something if the difference in quality is beneficial for my purposes.
 
Although I don't "buy the best" all the time, I look for quality and value. A Spyderco isn't a Sebenza, but the Spyderco is high quality.

I have a kind of funny story about "the best" retaining its value.

I was in a friend of mine's gunstore and he was showing a very expensive
($50,0000ish) shotgun to a guy from NJ. The guy's wife, dripping with jewels and not happy to be stuck in a gun store with all us hicks chided her husband saying "that's more that we paid for the Expedition" which was parked out front.

My friend said "Ma'am, how much will that vehicle be worth in 10 years? Nothing. If your husband takes good care of this shotgun he can come back here in 10 years and I guarantee I will give him at least $50,0000 for it"

I don't know if he ever did make that sale but it was a great line.
 
Yup... I'd have picked an M14 if I had the choice.
 
I agree with buying quality, I've heard the common expression about only crying once about a thousand times in the last 45 years, and it's very true.

Reputation does not imply quality, however. I've owned 2 brand new Benzes in the last 15 years, and they were both lousy, spending more time in the shop than out of it. Never again. My Hondas have a better ride as well. My Dad had a Rolex that needed work, and the factory sent it back to him and told him to buy a new one. So much for a warranty. Needless to say, I have a very low opinion of both companies.

I could go on and on, but do your homework, good quality is always worth it.
 
my main mottos on this are:

There Is Economy In Quality

and

Inexpensive =/= Cheap

i only buy quality gear and tools. it may not be the most expensive, it may not be "the very very very best", but i always buy good quality.

it's a lot cheaper in teh long run.
 
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.
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I'm surprised to see someone with such high standards carrying a .380. Regardless of how reliable of a firearm the Walther is, .380 has a poor record of reliably stopping two legged threats. I would expect someone who can't afford to be disappointed to carry something in somewhat of a more effective caliber.
 
I don't buy "the best", I even think there often isn't such as "the best". I buy what's good enough for me and fits my budget. High quality items don't necessarily need to be expensive, there are lots of high quality items that are really affordable.

The alox Victorinox Soldier for example is such an item. It's very affordable, but a high quality item that is serving me for years now. The 40 year old Seiko of my grandfather is another example. It's not the most expensive watch, but high quality and it still runs excellent. Just like my own Seiko diver watch.

I think it also depends on your lifestyle. Being grown up on a farm I learned to get a lot of use out of things. We didn't have the money to buy expensive stuff, so we bought items that we're good quality and fit our budget. At the farm I learned that there often isn't such as "the best". Get good quality items, learn to use them and use them well. Then they can serve you a very long time and won't dissappoint you.

It's also a matter of expectations. A Mora for example. Before getting one, you should do some research on what it can handle and what not. That makes expectations realistic and if you use it and not abuse it, then it will serve you a long time.
 
Harayasu said:
I don't buy "the best", I even think there often isn't such as "the best". I buy what's good enough for me and fits my budget. High quality items don't necessarily need to be expensive, there are lots of high quality items that are really affordable.

The alox Victorinox Soldier for example is such an item. It's very affordable, but a high quality item that is serving me for years now. The 40 year old Seiko of my grandfather is another example. It's not the most expensive watch, but high quality and it still runs excellent. Just like my own Seiko diver watch.

I think it also depends on your lifestyle. Being grown up on a farm I learned to get a lot of use out of things. We didn't have the money to buy expensive stuff, so we bought items that we're good quality and fit our budget. At the farm I learned that there often isn't such as "the best". Get good quality items, learn to use them and use them well. Then they can serve you a very long time and won't dissappoint you.

It's also a matter of expectations. A Mora for example. Before getting one, you should do some research on what it can handle and what not. That makes expectations realistic and if you use it and not abuse it, then it will serve you a long time.
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:thumbup:
 
rt014 said:
It depends on the item....For a watch I wear a Rolex (which has only been serviced once in over 30 years).
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you need to get that in for a lube job; i get mine done every 6-8 years...and i use a rolex and a couple timex ironman's...both have their place.
 
Worn a rolex for 2 years straight. It never comes off. Showers, swimming, screwing, grinding... Whatever, still keeps perfect time.
 
orork said:
If I were to buy a brand new car it wouldn't be the current MB E320 as it would be cost prohibitive, but I would consider a VW diesel or Nissan's new Leaf. I'm hoping I can keep the 97 going for quite some time to come as it has just passed 83,000 miles and hope to see 250,000. I only use Mobil 1 oil and BG products.With aid of the internet and google, research has become a breeze, especially the many forums on just about everything.
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Best is a rather subjective term and I believe if you are only hoping for your mercedes to reach 250,000 miles that should be evidence enough when compared to the 2001 chevy cavalier z24 I traded in two years ago. I traded that car in with 270,000 miles. Not one major mechanical repair needed just wear items like breaks and wheel bearings, and barely burned a drop of oil. That car will probably go down as the best car I ever own, 9 years and every mile was mine, zero problems. I may own more refined vehicles in the future but the way that car treated me is difficult to top. That being said I do believe in purchasing the most quality item you can within your budget but I always refrain from using the term best with anything factually based.
 
orork said:
Am I alone here or are others so afflicted?
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You are definitely not alone! I have a subscription to Consumer Reports for that very reason. Often times the CR (Consumer Reports) top choice is not the most expensive.
If an item I am shopping for is not listed in CR, I will definitely use price as a guide for purchasing (I buy the most expensive, or at least towards the most expensive).
 
There is a difference between quality and opulence; just because a watch is solid gold and has diamonds all around it does not mean that it is high quality. I find that high-quality products usually do have a higher -- though not necessarily the highest -- price in their product category. But, in the long run, they are more economical.

There is also what I, a new-product developer, call, "The Joy of Use." High-quality products tend to work better, give better results, cause less frustration; they are a joy to use.

I think that good-quality products are actually good for your health. You may not think, for example, that your choice of screw driver may influence your longevity. But if you buy that 99-cent special from the little cardboard display beside the cash register at the gas station and it breaks or strips the screw head or whatever and you end up frustrated and spend an hour getting one screw out and a simple home repair takes hours longer than it should have, and you're upset because this simple repair that the guy on the TV did in ten minutes is taking you hours and your wife is yelling at you because she needs to use that toilet you have in pieces and so you get four hours less sleep that night and your blood pressure goes way up, that's all bad for your health. But if you splurge $10 on a good-quality screw driver that quickly and easily removes even that sticky screw and you finish your repair quickly and easily -- just like the guy on the TV show -- and you -- and your wife who is impressed with your manly home repair skills -- are both delighted that the toilet is working fine again and so the two of you go out for dinner and a movie and then you get to bed on time and relaxed... well that's all good for your health and will actually contribute to your longevity.

Buy quality and you only cry once.
 
Gollnick said:
Buy quality and you only cry once.
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That's the bottom line Chuck. My grandpa taught me the same thing. OTOH, he balked at the price the DDR 4" Maxx I was carrying. Good thing I never told him about the Rolex.
 
Grouch said:
Do you buy your kids the best, too? Do you buy your 6 year old son a new Rolex?
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I don't have kids but I can sorta remember being one. Hell No! I wouldn't give myself a Rolex if I was under 25. Kids (under 12) can't respect jack shit... at least that is the case with the kids I see.
 
What watch should you give a child when he is old enough? A $2 made-in-china that will break quickly leading to frustration and disappointment (Children feel these emotions too) or a $20 Timex or Casio which will take the abuse and which will teach your child the value of good things?
 
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