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Why everything you buy is worse now [video]

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Re: Why everything you buy is worse now [video]

#41

Post by aspyct »

jaredezz wrote: post #25
st-keller wrote: post #3

Interesting - didn‘t notice that. I‘m only buying quality stuff and stick to it as long a possible. Most of my cloth are years old. I’m buying a new iPhone if the one i have doesn’t get any updates anymore, and furniture has to outlive me. I always thought this is reasonable and that everyone would do it that way: Always having high quality stuff, saving money instead of wasting it by continuously buying cheap things…

I tend to follow what I call the "toolbox rule," mostly because I've used it the most with tools. If I find I need something, I'll buy a cheap version of it, even if the cheap version is noticeably lower quality (which it almost always is). Then, if I use said cheap version enough that it either breaks or is no longer useful to me anymore, I'll buy a nicer one. It helps me justify the greater expense and demonstrates…

I think that's smart, on paper at least.

What so you do about the cheap tools that turn out so bad that they cause damage?

For example, you get a cheap screwdriver, it breaks while you use it, and you end up making a hole in the cabinet you were trying to fix.

While the general approach sounds sane, it seems to me there are a lot of cases where going for the cheap version could cost a lot in collateral damage.

Re: Why everything you buy is worse now [video]

#42

Post by Spivak »

thelastgallon wrote: post #27

Another reason why things are worse and they will keep getting worse. About a toaster company: "If you are passionate about toast, you will not work at a company that does not build toasters, that only does marketing. So my central thesis here is that if as an organization, you outsource too much with the idea that we will still retain the designers and our own power to innovate, it will not actually work. The smart…

And honestly this doesn't even have to be an allegory to something else, this is literally true about the toaster market right now. There are so few companies that actually design and manufacture toasters themselves.

I ended up buying vintage because it turns out technological advancement has been directed to finding and building an ever more minimal viable toaster to keep prices sorrrrta constant under inflation. So that 80's-90's toaster is delivering value right now.

Re: Why everything you buy is worse now [video]

#43

Post by mcbishop »

jaredezz wrote: post #25
st-keller wrote: post #3

Interesting - didn‘t notice that. I‘m only buying quality stuff and stick to it as long a possible. Most of my cloth are years old. I’m buying a new iPhone if the one i have doesn’t get any updates anymore, and furniture has to outlive me. I always thought this is reasonable and that everyone would do it that way: Always having high quality stuff, saving money instead of wasting it by continuously buying cheap things…

I tend to follow what I call the "toolbox rule," mostly because I've used it the most with tools. If I find I need something, I'll buy a cheap version of it, even if the cheap version is noticeably lower quality (which it almost always is). Then, if I use said cheap version enough that it either breaks or is no longer useful to me anymore, I'll buy a nicer one. It helps me justify the greater expense and demonstrates…

This really resonates. I've thrown away a lot of money, speculating on what future me will need.

Re: Why everything you buy is worse now [video]

#44

Post by mvdtnz »

aspyct wrote: post #41
jaredezz wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I tend to follow what I call the "toolbox rule," mostly because I've used it the most with tools. If I find I need something, I'll buy a cheap version of it, even if the cheap version is noticeably lower quality (which it almost always is). Then, if I use said cheap version enough that it either breaks or is no longer useful to me anymore, I'll buy a nicer one. It helps me justify the greater expense and demonstrates…

I think that's smart, on paper at least. What so you do about the cheap tools that turn out so bad that they cause damage? For example, you get a cheap screwdriver, it breaks while you use it, and you end up making a hole in the cabinet you were trying to fix. While the general approach sounds sane, it seems to me there are a lot of cases where going for the cheap version could cost a lot in collateral damage.

That's not a remotely reasonable example. Cheap screwdrivers will fail to engage properly, wearing out fasteners, and they will break when being used as a lever or punch. But even the cheapest 100% pure Chinesium screwdriver is not going to break in the course of assembling a cabinet.

Re: Why everything you buy is worse now [video]

#45

Post by mvdtnz »

otikik wrote: post #7
st-keller wrote: post #3

Interesting - didn‘t notice that. I‘m only buying quality stuff and stick to it as long a possible. Most of my cloth are years old. I’m buying a new iPhone if the one i have doesn’t get any updates anymore, and furniture has to outlive me. I always thought this is reasonable and that everyone would do it that way: Always having high quality stuff, saving money instead of wasting it by continuously buying cheap things…

No, you are doing the rich man thing; the rich man can afford to buy a $20 pair of boots which lasts 5 years. The poor man can only afford the low-quality $6 pair which lasts a year.

Do you expect people who have the means to flagellate themselves with cheap stuff to satisfy you? Or simply waste money buying the best of everything first time?

Re: Why everything you buy is worse now [video]

#46

Post by aspyct »

mvdtnz wrote: post #44
aspyct wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think that's smart, on paper at least. What so you do about the cheap tools that turn out so bad that they cause damage? For example, you get a cheap screwdriver, it breaks while you use it, and you end up making a hole in the cabinet you were trying to fix. While the general approach sounds sane, it seems to me there are a lot of cases where going for the cheap version could cost a lot in collateral damage.

That's not a remotely reasonable example. Cheap screwdrivers will fail to engage properly, wearing out fasteners, and they will break when being used as a lever or punch. But even the cheapest 100% pure Chinesium screwdriver is not going to break in the course of assembling a cabinet.

Yes, that was just an example to illustrate the "what if your cheap X causes collateral damage", which is a real thing.

Imagine you get a cheap drone for videography. It fails mid flight, falls and kills someone.

Bad tools can have consequences. What does parent commenter do about this?

Re: Why everything you buy is worse now [video]

#47

Post by searealist »

CobaltFire wrote: post #40
searealist wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What were the $100 boots? Do you wear your current boots an equal amount?

Bates and Belleville, and at least as much. I understand your point, but realize some of us really do live in these boots and have found some that make a huge difference. The only (and big) negative for the Red Wings was the break in process. It was protracted and brutal. Once broken in they've been wonderful though. Also, I'm giving the boots too much credit. Just looked them up and the Bellevilles I wore (800 ST) j…

Google search for that brand reveals:

> Our boot regulations and contracts severely limit our options to only a few very expensive-and often ineffective-models.

So these are just overpriced boots. My main point is that OP is pushing a narrative about how rich people somehow save money with their expensive purchases, which is complete nonsense. They buy luxury products which are more expensive in the long run.

Re: Why everything you buy is worse now [video]

#48

Post by trilbyglens »

aspyct wrote: post #46
mvdtnz wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's not a remotely reasonable example. Cheap screwdrivers will fail to engage properly, wearing out fasteners, and they will break when being used as a lever or punch. But even the cheapest 100% pure Chinesium screwdriver is not going to break in the course of assembling a cabinet.

Yes, that was just an example to illustrate the "what if your cheap X causes collateral damage", which is a real thing. Imagine you get a cheap drone for videography. It fails mid flight, falls and kills someone. Bad tools can have consequences. What does parent commenter do about this?

I think if your tools are causing an inferior outcome, you are likely already working at a higher level of craft expectation and wouldn't be buying cheap tools in the first place. If your tools are for a basic handyman toolbox you're likely to never need very high quality and expensive tools are a straight up waste of money.

Re: Why everything you buy is worse now [video]

#50

Post by countWSS »

mvdtnz wrote: post #44
aspyct wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think that's smart, on paper at least. What so you do about the cheap tools that turn out so bad that they cause damage? For example, you get a cheap screwdriver, it breaks while you use it, and you end up making a hole in the cabinet you were trying to fix. While the general approach sounds sane, it seems to me there are a lot of cases where going for the cheap version could cost a lot in collateral damage.

That's not a remotely reasonable example. Cheap screwdrivers will fail to engage properly, wearing out fasteners, and they will break when being used as a lever or punch. But even the cheapest 100% pure Chinesium screwdriver is not going to break in the course of assembling a cabinet.

> pure Chinesium screwdriver is not going to break in the course of assembling a cabinet.

Oh, how naive you can be? https://old.reddit.com/r/Chinesium/

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