Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

What do wealthy people buy, that ordinary people know nothing about? (2015)

old.reddit.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

421–430 of 829 posts

Re: What do wealthy people buy, that ordinary people know nothing about? (2015)

#421

Post by viraptor »

mleonhard wrote: post #215
viraptor wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh no... Ok, Miele rant - I got a whole set in the new house. Their firmware SUCKS. Turning on the oven/dishwasher takes 5-10s. The dishwasher takes 3 power button presses with no feedback. The oven has no indication when it starts turning on and it's a touchpanel, so you stand there like an idiot deciding is the next press will work or be perfectly timed to turn it off again. Then once you start the drying after ste…

The microwave in my apartment also has bad firmware. It beeps four times when the timer runs down and it turns off. Unfortunately, the beeping continues unnecessarily after opening the door. I believe Frigidaire (the brand) contracted a manufacturer to build the model, but they have their own people install the official firmware. Then the manufacturer produces extras, installs their own firmware, and sells them, cutt…

I don't believe Miele would go for selling the rebranded production extras as their own. But that beeping-after-open is common in many models and super annoying.

Re: What do wealthy people buy, that ordinary people know nothing about? (2015)

#422

Post by shrx »

nickd2001 wrote: post #274
socalgal2 wrote: post #218

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Worst experience I've ever had was with a Miele dishwashing machine at an AirBnB in the Netherlands. I like my Miele vacuum cleaner though

What happened to that then? ;) We bought a Miele dishwasher to replace a Neff which broke down after 10 yrs (probably 16 yrs worth of "official" usage) due to a silly design fault that caused it to leak. Thought a fairly basic model Miele worth a shot, as because it a stupid built-in, there's extra costs getting it installed, so longer it lasts the better. So far, it seems to clean to fairly similar standard to the N…

What would make a microwave start to "leak" microwaves over time? Assuming the enclosure is still intact.

Re: What do wealthy people buy, that ordinary people know nothing about? (2015)

#423

Post by alexey-salmin »

JKCalhoun wrote: post #388
alexey-salmin wrote: post #176

The referenced reply is dull. It's very pretentious but just reiterates common knowledge, it doesn't convey any useful information. For example I wish someone told me about the existence of Miele kitchen equipment before I accidentally rented an apartment of a well-to-do woman. She renovated it for herself but then rented out when circumstances changed. Similarly it took me a long time to realize just how much better…

The referenced reply covers several tiers of wealth and, to be sure, can be simplified to: as you move up in wealth so to does your access to real estate, luxury and political power. But your comment on Meile, nice kitchen cabinets, sounds like you're looking only for what the next tier above you is enjoying. (And go Bosch for the dishwasher, BTW.)

> But your comment on Meile, nice kitchen cabinets, sounds like you're looking only for what the next tier above you is enjoying.

No, not really. These are examples of things I know from N+1 level. I'm curious to hear about N+2, N+3 and so on. Some of the points shared in this thread fit nicely, like "buying identical cars in locations you visit often". Or something like "don't by 488, find a used 458 instead -- it's more fun for lower price" would be appreciated.

The original post instead just rambles like this: "I know rich people, let me tell you how rich they are. You wouldn't believe it. Like, really really rich. Like they have their own island, you know".

I don't see how that's useful.

Re: What do wealthy people buy, that ordinary people know nothing about? (2015)

#424

Post by madaxe_again »

lm28469 wrote: post #376
rwmj wrote: post #352

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

> £100k/year Well first off £100 != $100 != €100 Sorry but you're completely delusional if you think literally "anyone on a programmer's salary" can make 1 million in 10 years. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, I'm not saying you didn't do it, I'm just saying it's not "accessible", nor the norm, nor representative of the vast majority of devs. https://www.levels.fyi/heatmap/europe/ The median software engineer salary…

8% is an awful return in today’s markets. 30% is eminently achievable with foresight and an appetite for risk. I started investing a decade ago with about £100k, as that was all I could afford to risk, and have a return of between 20% and 200% year to year. Shit, you’ll get 15-20% cash-on-cash just running an Airbnb, which is what provides our day-to-day living income.

Re: What do wealthy people buy, that ordinary people know nothing about? (2015)

#425

Post by gus_massa »

elzbardico wrote: post #359
safety1st wrote: post #248

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On a personal level I know several guys who are worth $10-30M, one who's worth probably $40M, and one who's worth around $700M, this is LNW. Not much in the Reddit reply checks out for me. It's true that the $700M guy socializes with "Senators/Congressmen/community leaders." He travels a lot, and comfortably, but has no ownership in a jet. He retired young-ish and no longer works so maybe that's why. He doesn't flash…

Please remember that this is from 10 years ago. For wealth comparison, you need to take into account the valuation of assets in this period. What the author says about 700M, is probably roughly equivalent to today's 5 billions.

Nah, inflation in USA is not so high. [Hi from Argentina!] From this site https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/2015?amount=70000... it look like 700M in 2015 is almost 1B now.

Re: What do wealthy people buy, that ordinary people know nothing about? (2015)

#426

Post by Loic »

em500 wrote: post #288
alexey-salmin wrote: post #176

The referenced reply is dull. It's very pretentious but just reiterates common knowledge, it doesn't convey any useful information. For example I wish someone told me about the existence of Miele kitchen equipment before I accidentally rented an apartment of a well-to-do woman. She renovated it for herself but then rented out when circumstances changed. Similarly it took me a long time to realize just how much better…

> For example I wish someone told me about the existence of Miele kitchen equipment before I accidentally rented an apartment of a well-to-do woman. Don't believe the hype. I got an apartment full with Miele kitchen equipment (from the previous owner, but less than 10 years old). They're nothing special, and I got a lot more random errors on the oven ("please contact service", tried that once, they were as clueless a…

We are all Miele at home and for the next renewal, I will go to Bosch/Siemens. Too many small failures here and there (less than 8 year old). I was sincerely surprised because 20 years ago, Miele was the gold standard (at least in Germany). So, I agree with you.

Re: What do wealthy people buy, that ordinary people know nothing about? (2015)

#427

Post by WinstonSmith84 »

Aeolun wrote: post #393
alexey-salmin wrote: post #176

The referenced reply is dull. It's very pretentious but just reiterates common knowledge, it doesn't convey any useful information. For example I wish someone told me about the existence of Miele kitchen equipment before I accidentally rented an apartment of a well-to-do woman. She renovated it for herself but then rented out when circumstances changed. Similarly it took me a long time to realize just how much better…

Heated toilet seats with bidet. You will never want to go back.

move to a warm country and that problem is solved.

Re: What do wealthy people buy, that ordinary people know nothing about? (2015)

#429

Post by bluGill »

Cthulhu_ wrote: post #320
oezi wrote: post #282

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Price is 3-4 times higher but it lasts 5-10 times longer The problem is that if an Ikea furniture lasts 15 years then that's enough. People no longer need 50-100 years furniture, because nobody wants to inherit old stuff anymore. Life's circumstances change faster and buying quality often isn't worth it. Maybe a Miele dishwasher last twice as long at double the price. But it will become old after 10 years even so.

> People no longer need 50-100 years furniture, because nobody wants to inherit old stuff anymore. I'm going to challenge this assertion: did anyone, ever? Looking around in my parents' house (retirement age), there's no furniture from their parents (post-WW2). I don't remember whether my grandparents had any furniture of their parents in use either. I do recall going to the charity shops and finding older wooden fur…

My grandpa had in his attic letters from his great grandpa (great great?? not sure how many generations)'s brother back in Germany, written around 1860. The letters were in the old script not used anymore, and language (Not German, but I'm not sure what it was). Grandpa got them translated and then following the addresses discovered some [great...] granddaughter was living in the house so he sent he a copy of the letters. She then found some cabinet described in the letter and was able to find it in the barn. Until she got the letter that cabinet was meaningless to her, but now that she knows the history it is an important part of her house.

This somehow a point in your question, but I leave it to others to figure out what.

Grandpa donated the letters to the local historical society so they are accessible, though I'm not sure how.

Re: What do wealthy people buy, that ordinary people know nothing about? (2015)

#430

Post by bluGill »

JKCalhoun wrote: post #390
Cthulhu_ wrote: post #320

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> People no longer need 50-100 years furniture, because nobody wants to inherit old stuff anymore. I'm going to challenge this assertion: did anyone, ever? Looking around in my parents' house (retirement age), there's no furniture from their parents (post-WW2). I don't remember whether my grandparents had any furniture of their parents in use either. I do recall going to the charity shops and finding older wooden fur…

Beds, tables, chairs. Only "style" has changed.

More than style. Humans are generally taller than in the past (a good diet will do that) and thus old furniture won't fit the modern body.

A modern mattress won't fit on the old fame and will be more comfortable. If you replace the stuffing of the old mattress maybe it will be as good.

Post reply on HN