Price vs. Value

I saw that, too. I think it might have been in Ohio.

No idea what happens state to state, but there are also allegations that they actually make it a point to teach employees about how to get various welfare benefits.

I wish I could say I never shop Wal-Mart...but there have been a few purchases there. But Wal-Mart is, in general, the last place I shop. In other words, I go there for stuff I can't find elsewhere easily. Like when I wanted to try a Mexican laundry detergent. (Oh, what a thrilling life I lead!) But my total purchases one week at Fred Meyer (Kroger owned, one stop shopping including full grocery store, and which is unionized in Washington) is far greater than I have spent at Wal-Mart the last several years combined.

The Wal-Mart product that really got me: fair trade certified coffee. It's nice, but it would be so much nicer if they'd also consider "fair trade" for their employees in the US.

But...being fair, Wal-Mart isn't the only place that has "Low wages. Always."

 

You know, this is a great thread! My husband an I have talked about this topic at length recently, mostly about pots and pans since my sister is wanting to get some for when she moves out of our dad's house. Anyway, my husband came up with a pretty solid idea: If you're looking for something, always get the middle of the road item as far as price, like if there's a $5 pan, a $40 pan, and a $100 pan, go with the $40 one. The $10 is just cheap right off the bat, and the $100 one is likely priced so just because of the brand. Another thing I find that helps is reading the reviews for products online. That's what stopped me from buying Orgreenic pans for my husband for Christmas.

 

I have tools my grandfather used, yeah they're worn in parts, but still functional! There is simply no substitute for having the right tool.

Ultimately the most important quality "tool" is your own mindset, your own attitude regarding what is acceptable and what is not.

 

I know, right? I hate the idea of paying for a name, especially as an artist. When it comes to buying paintings, you're mostly paying for the artist's popularity, not necessarily for the quality of the work or the social impact.

As for other goods, I just want to buy what's going to work and last me a while. I don't want to buy something just because "that's a good brand" or whatever.

 

This can be an issue. Although sometimes there can be an expensive brand that can actually be worth the money.

With pans as an example, there is Le Creuset (French enameled iron brand) as an example. Expensive--but a lot of people swear by Le Creuset. I have heard more than one story about a person who bought one Le Creuset pot, and that pot pretty much becomes the only pot they use. One person even didn't bother putting it in a cabinet after washing because it would almost certainly be used for the next meal so it might as well just sit out where it's handy.

Indeed, there is a part of me that thinks I wouldn't mind going down that road: one really good pot to cook in day to day, and a bunch of OK pots to handle occasional tasks like making lots of stock or cooking pasta. The only problem is My Inner Sloth likes the idea of lots of pots so that I can just wash everything in a dishwasher. But handwashing might be OK if the Le Creuset pot was pretty enough, I guess.

Of course, Le Creuset's price may be partly name...but other brands of similar quality aren't much cheaper. Unless of course you go to Chinese enameled iron, but at least some of that has had huge durability problems. I've heard stories of people having a Chinese pot blow bits of enamel the first time it is used.

---------- Post added 20th Nov 2013 at 10:14 AM ----------

While I think buying quality is a Good Idea, there is a possibility of going too far. Aiming too high.

When I was young, I had too much of tendency of Aiming High--Too High. Looking back, my first computer was probably more computer than I really needed. My first good audio system was probably overkill, too, and I'd probably have been able to acquire it a lot sooner had I been a little more...modestly minded. Then, again, that system wasn't the most expensive one that dealer could put together...

 

You have to understand price doesn't dictate quality.

There are equal products with grave price differences, because people like you respond to branding positively. I on the other hand hate name brands, and don't necessarily trust them more. I know they cut corners whenever to increase profits, and that you as a single consumer do not matter as much.

The only thing I can think of is, I haven't found a Coke drink that I like more than Coca-cola.

But everything else you can buy a cheap version and get the same.

It is extremely idiotic to dish out cash because you recognize a brand. That is companies using human instincts against you. You get over-exposed to something, and that becomes something you can trust. We are always wary of different things, and companies know this, which iss why they try so hard to establish recognizable brands.

But this doesn't mean quality, it just means you have been tricked into trusting them.

American cars are a great example, many of them are more expensive than cheaper Japanese vehicles, but are 10x crappier.

We have been over-exposed to these brands, and ads, that we learn to trust it without giving others a chance.

I would rather pay $12,000 of a Hyundai than $25,000 for a piece of shit Ford or Chevy.

I drive a Chrysler and would never buy from the company again, even though I love Jeep's and Dodge vehicle. They're poop now just complete poop, minus the Wrangler.

I buy Adidas shoes because they are way cheaper than others, especially skate shoes, where I live, yet they last way longer. Any U.S brand of shoes falls a part in a couple months, but I have $30 Adidas Campus' from 5 years ago still. All my $60 plus shoes are at the dump.

I can eat at a Franchise restaurant and get a decent meal that tastes good because of too much salt and sugar, or spend half that at an independent restaurant and get food that is 10X better, and much larger portions.

So I really don't get your statement I have found almost the complete opposite.

 

I love value.:love: But at the moment price (cheap) is a survival tool.

So, price for now unfortunately. :/

 

The whole purpose of brands is to short-circuit thinking. It's hard to think and it takes time to inform yourself of the quality of things. Cars are a case in point: (this is NOT and endorsement by the way) Ford cars have vastly improved in quality over their cars of a few years ago, remember they were the only car company that survived the Great Recession. They had a long history of crappiness, but now they're only guilty by association.

Toyota, on the other hand, have abandoned to some extent the famous "Toyota Production System" and, from what I've read, the quality has suffered.

My main point is this: we need to steer away from automatic thinking and start informing ourselves about what is really happening out there. It is just as automatic to think that all American cars are crap and all Japanese cars are top notch (I have a Nissan Versa whose clutch gave up the ghost at 57,500 km (about 36,000 miles) to prove that crappiness is apparently one of the features they don't tell you about).

 

If I can afford it, and TRULY afford it? I go for the stuff I know has better quality, regardless of the price.

Otherwise, I've been taught value>price. Both from parents and from learning on my own. Waffles? I get the Dominick's brand. I actually like them a bit better than Eggo. All my dairy products go to the one for the best value. When I'm looking online, I look at at least 2 manufacturer sites as well as Ebay (Almost got a DBZ Dragon Box for 5 bucks. That's like getting a car for the price of a Nintendo DS). My card is pretty much cleared, so now I'm saving up the latter half of my Subway sandwich for tomorrow.

I stay away from Guitar Center, Newegg (because Microcenter has cheaper prices AND it's physically close to me), Jewel if I can help it, and Wal-mart, if I can help it. Target's better, anyway. Gotta love the smell of popcorn as you enter a Target

... yeah.

 

Generally, I try to find the middle ground between price and value. There are some things I won't budge on, though (for example, no generic cola, only Coke), and I usually try to stay away from lower-end items when it comes to things like technology.

 

I come from a low-income family. I buy store-brand everything and 99% of my clothing comes from thrift stores.
I save a lot of money that way, so I'm a bit less frugal with electronics that I really want.

 

Even cheap junk is expensive where I live. I usually just buy the good stuff.

 

I have to mention that value is in the eye of the beholder...Thus it is difficult to determine what is "cheap".

That aside, I'm a crazy shopper and I usually compare all prices ranges of the same product before making a purchase.

 

If it means sacrificing comfort, security, or enjoyment, I'll probably pony up a few dollars, if the product is worth the price, since these are what I value most.

There are grey areas, sure, like if I'm on a budget, or if I'm flat broke, obviously, but if it's a first or one time thing, I can settle for less.

 

Sage advice. Reviews can be very helpful. Might start following that middle road approach myself, but there are just some things I will not compromise on. Food, for example.