All this talk about China lately has gotten me thinking. Somewhere along the way, we have become a society of quantity with no regards to quality. We would rather get lots of items cheap and know we have to replace them in a few months/years...sometimes even weeks or days! We want MORE! MORE! MORE!, and we want it NOW! NOW! NOW!

There used to be an expectation that consumer goods would last a good, long, while. They would be a good investment. Sure, you would probably pay a little more, but would save money in the long run by having a good product that could be used for years. People had to save for items they wanted, and wanted to get the best possible quality for their money...they actually had to wait for gratification...GASP! Imagine that...waiting to buy something you want! It boggles the mind.

What happened to us? When did we just start replacing things instead of repairing? Why do we throw perfectly good things away...just to replace them with newer items that work just the same...and sometimes worse than the original?

I, for one, am trying to make a conscious effort to be more quality oriented and to buy once...instead of once a year/month/whatever.

Every spring I have to buy a new nozzle for the hose. Instead of just laying out the $20 for the brass one that will last until the end of time, I spend $5-$7 a season and replace it with the cheap plastic. I am ashamed of myself for getting sucked into the "cheap is better" mindset. I am not doing it anymore.

Anyone else feel the same way?

Ita

Weird...it posted my ITA (which I typed in all caps) as first capital letter and then the "t" and "a" in lower case...but the ITA in this sentence posted as all caps. Weird!

I am trying to take the same approach. It can be more money up front, but you save in the long run. It's why I've switched to low energy light bulbs and why I went on and bought my almost 2 yo a really nice bed that she will still have when she leaves home (I actually found it at a going out of business sale for $285 :happy dance: ) It's also why I have a Coach bag in a classic style (you can't kill them and the company will refurbish for next to nothing) and why I have All Clad pans (they are 10 years old and I will be able to pass them down one day!) I am looking for living room furniture but I am not going to just settle for cheap (though good quality on sale is preferable!) I will bide my time till I find it. I am tired of being a contributor to our disposable society. I want quality that will last so I'm not replacing stuff in 5 or 10 years because it was junk. Spoodler, I'm with ya, sister!

__________________
~*JAMI*~ GO RED SOX! WORLD CHAMPIONS!

I believe in quality. But I can do it without spending too much, thats what sales and thrift is all about. I only buy quality clothes, but I buy them used. IT might take weeks before I find even one item but atleast its an item I will have for a long time.

I balance between the two. Some things I don't spend much money on because (1) they are trendy and I will want to declutter them next year or (2) technology is advancing and I won't be able to maintain it for the long term. For instance, imagine my surprise when I was told my high-end, high-dollar laptop that was less than 2 years old wasn't worth repairing because better laptops are available on the 'cheap' end of the price range - sigh.

However, there are items I won't 'cheap out' on: most of our furnishings, appliances, repairs, etc. I pay more for some basic clothing items, especially shoes and coats, while still trying to get the best price I can. For instance, I bought my coats at Burlington Outlet and my good support, leather shoes at Sierra Trading Company. These are things I'll have for years.

__________________
"Poor people work for their money. Rich people make their money work for them."

I think I am a combo consumer as well. I definitely do not mind spending money for quality items but I pick and choose what it is I spend my money on.
I also am a lot more frugal now so I am better able to afford better quality items.
However, if it's something I will not use much, or has little importance in my life (which begs the question, why would I be buying it in the first place) I will spend less money and sacrifice quality in most cases.

__________________
Children Learn What They Live, And Live What They Learn.
What have you taught your child today?
When life throws you a curve ball...it's up to you how you catch it!

My husband and I lived in South Africa for almost a decade. The Afrikaaners (whites of Dutch descent) have an expression in Afrikaans, 'N goedkoop koop is 'n deur koop. It literally means in English, "A cheap buy is an expensive buy." In other words, if you buy cheap stuff, don't be surprised if you spend more in the long run by having to replace it. On some things you just have to spend the money. However, there are many things in which quality doesn't matter.

I agree with you 100%

This is one of dh's big issues too. Now with almost everything we buy, we try and get it the best quality we can. It means we buy a lot less but what we have will last.

A few examples.
1) We ate on a craft table for ages while we saved up for a solid wood table we designed and had built out of solid maple so that we can serve our grandkids at that table and leave it in our will to one of the kids. (The shocking thing to us is it was only $500 more than the other nice looking tables that were made out of particle board and would have been lucky to last 5 years.)

2) We have been married for 11 years and we are still sleeping on a hand-me-down futon with no side tables. (We keep the lamps and books on the floor beside the bed.) We only do this because we've been saving and looking for years for a proper solid wood bed so we'll have it for the rest of our lives.

3) Dh and I have very few items of clothing but what we do have lasts. I am still wearing the same raincoat I bought 12 years ago but I bought a nice gortex one then so hopefully it will last another 12+ years. I tend to buy Landsend or MEC (a Canadian company) because they create classics, make quality items, and stand by their products. But I have a very simple wardrobe and only buy something when I wear out what I have.

(This is my last post for a week ... We're packed and ready to go camping for the week. See you all next week.)

__________________

Just a couple of years ago my inlaws had to replace their washer/dryer. They got it when they got married about 35 years ago and it may have been a handmedown at the time.

Things back then were meant to last a lifetime - now because consumers want cheap - the manufacturers make things cheaper you just have to replace them 4 times as often.

sorry, not trying to hijack the thread but I compalined about this b4 also. Mine was in the title box.

I am also a combo buyer. My dh is an engineer and I can tell u from his end they definately think people will want to buy new in a few years. SInce dh is an enigneer he can spot cheap parts in a flash. You'd be amazed at some of the so called quality that we don't buy.
allgirls

__________________
allgirls, mom to 3 girls

It's Girl Scout Cookie Time