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Buy Quality
By Daphne | October 1, 2007
Buy quality when you can. That seems like a no-brainer. Really, who wants to buy a sub quality product when you can get a quality one? It gets hairier when you need to make the choice between two items. When price is a factor would you like a pair of shoes for $25 or a pair for $75? The price does not necessarily indicate that you are getting a better product. The price is higher. The $25 pair could be a $100 pair from last season or an unpopular size or color.
Life example… I like purses and bags. There is a certain company that is rather popular that has drastically reduced its quality moving from an all leather product to one with its logo all over it. The prices off the purses and bags skyrocketed. Another company has bags that will fall apart after about a year and only has free repair for a year. That’s not quality.
My expectations of a $5 cloth bag are not the same as a $300 leather bag. Each serves a purpose and neither is to make me go into debt. Too many women will spend a lot on accessories and they can’t afford them or think that a higher price means better quality.
I have a bag that I use often and it is not a designer bag but it is sturdy and costs less and has a lifetime warranty. My expectations are based on the manufacturer’s purpose and product line. Most of the items are geared toward outdoorsmen but some of the more stylish items are still very high quality and sturdy. I will carry a purse and throw everything in it. I have had a purse from this outfitter for 3 years and it still looks great. That’s a sign of quality to me, because I have used other higher priced bags and they didn’t last as long or look as nice.
How does this relate to being frugal? You can be stylish and frugal. Just because you are frugal doesn’t mean that you are cheap. Making a purchase and then having to replace the item within a year or after a warranty period has expired is not making a good use of money. Buying one quality item instead of 2 or more substandard items makes great sense.
If you are searching for a cell phone or digital camera price is not always the best indicator. If you are a first adopter of some technology you may pay more because the item is new. Look at all of the people who bought an iPhone during the first week.
Don’t buy the top of the line if you can’t afford it but don’t get the bottom of the barrel either. Find something you can grow with. Personally, I don’t like to upgrade every year so I like to buy an item that will still work in 2 years. That means shopping around, getting reviews from other people and testing the product myself when I can.
Quality and price are not equal even when it comes to shopping for food. Not long ago sugar was sold in 5 pound bags, not four. Ice cream came in half gallon containers, not 1.75 gallon containers. To me the reduction of the size with the price remaining steady signals a reduction in quality. You get less for the same amount (or more).
No matter what you buy, paying for quality saves you money in the long run. If you buy an item that you believe is better than other items because of the brand, hype or price make sure that you are satisfied. If not, find something else.
Topics: October 2007 |