OT Are you name brand?

[MickZagger]

Would you rather buy something cheap that lasts a little while or buy something expensive that lasts a good amount of time?

 

[Phatguysrule]

Would you rather buy something cheap that lasts a little while or buy something expensive that lasts a good amount of time?

Name brand if it's actually good.

Often times the cheap one is just as good as the name brand.

 

[MickZagger]

Name brand if it's actually good.

Often times the cheap one is just as good as the name brand.

The wife bought a pressure washer that is a Westinghouse. Which I thought was a toaster brand. I wanted a Ryobi. For the name brand. The one she got does have really good reviews.

 

[crandc]

Depends on what it is. I tend to smash things so buy cheap dishes and wine glasses. But if I need major appliance want good one. My cookware is expensive high quality and will last a lifetime.

 

[Phatguysrule]

The wife bought a pressure washer that is a Westinghouse. Which I thought was a toaster brand. I wanted a Ryobi. For the name brand. The one she got does have really good reviews.

Pressure washers are probably mostly all made in the same Chinese factory, regardless of brand. Just a guess.

As long as it's got good reviews you're probably fine.

 

[MickZagger]

Depends on what it is. I tend to smash things so buy cheap dishes and wine glasses. But if I need major appliance want good one. My cookware is expensive high quality and will last a lifetime.

High quality name brand pots and pans is a must.

 

[crandc]

High quality name brand pots and pans is a must.

All Clad
I have a small Revere Ware copper bottom saucepan. My mother gave it to me when I went to college in pre microwave days as it is right size for single serving of rice, oatmeal, soup, etc. It was one of her wedding presents. She got married in 1950. I still use that pot.

Also get best quality kitchen knives.

Aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen get generic. They are exactly the same as name brands. Same with white vinegar I use for a lot of cleaning. Unfortunately all generic brands of bleach have perfume added so buy Clorox.

Don't often do nails but standard nail polish remover is acetone with fragrance added. I got acetone at hardware store.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Depends what it is. Most my tools are Ryobi. But I know lots of people that think Ryobi sucks. Brands only mean something to whoever and their experiences. My pressure washer is a brand called Sunjoe. It works fine.

Westinghouse, I've had great success with. I've had like three of their tvs. I buy Hisense tvs too. They have all been great.

 

[Phatguysrule]

Depends what it is. Most my tools are Ryobi. But I know lots of people that think Ryobi sucks. Brands only mean something to whoever and their experiences. My pressure washer is a brand called Sunjoe. It works fine.

Westinghouse, I've had great success with. I've had like three of their tvs. I buy Hisense tvs too. They have all been great.

I've been super impressed with Hisense TVs. I love that they run Google TV

 

[crandc]

Most of my electronics are brand x.

When buying sneakers tend to look at brands that have fit. Funny, New Balance and Fila work for me but never found Adidas or Nike that fit.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

I've been super impressed with Hisense TVs. I love that they run Google TV

I seek out roku tvs. Just like their interface.

 

[MickZagger]

I seek out roku tvs. Just like their interface.

90 inch Samsung. I don’t have experience with anything other than Samsung on TV’s

 

[julius]

We are Devo!

 

[Phatguysrule]

I seek out roku tvs. Just like their interface.

So many app options with Google TV. All cable channels for $15 per month. Stream anything for like $6 per month. All in. Maybe a few extra annual fees depending on your preference of application, but not much.

You could get it all for free with a bit of work, but $21 per month is well worth it.

I hear you though. Roku has a great interface.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

Im not a name brand guy for the most part. Im a good review guy.
I do like LG products though.
Yard tools i do tend to stick with my rigid only because the batteries and handles are mostly interchangeable to any tool. Chain saw, tiller, weed eater, edger, etc. all the same for the switch ability i can have.

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

Mostly brand names (after usually doing pretty extensive research on the internet). I used to buy the cheap shit, but in general, you get what you pay for. My dad was very tight with his money, but when he bought something it was always top of the line or close to it. His go to justification was that spending a little more was "cheap insurance". My shop tools are pretty much an amalgam of what I could afford at the time I need that particular tool. I don't do a lot of handyman type of stuff, so Ryobi has been a good brand for the price.

And I too bought that Westinghouse pressure washer (great reviews) two weeks ago and it is a terrific little machine for the price. The biggest selling point over the other thousands to choose from was that it has (big) wheels and is a stable platform that can be pulled around while you work without tipping over........

 

[andalusian]

Name brand is not as important as quality. The title is about a brand, the OP question is about quality... Not the same thing.

Someone once told me something that stuck with me - "only rich people can afford cheap things".

If it is something that is important that you expect to use a lot, spend the extra money for buying the better quality product, it is usually a better financial decision.

 

[Hoopguru]

Depends, most mechanical things I go brand because of service & parts availability. A lot of the cheap shit, are throw aways. Brand names usually address the good, better, best with different models at different price points.
A few years ago we replaced a refrigerator that was on sale and probably targeting the better segment and it turn out to be a piece of crap. Found a higher end Kitchen Aid one that been outstanding. It probably cost us 20% more but the quality and performance is great.

 

[Hoopguru]

Not everyone can afford to drive a Mercedes. There are more customers in the good, better segment than high end.
Thats why you now see some of the high end brands offering step down products targeting the middle. Sort of like politics should...lol

 

[THE HCP]

Would you rather buy something cheap that lasts a little while or buy something expensive that lasts a good amount of time?

I’d rather buy name brand for the higher quality and longevity. Anything name brand we buy lasts forever.

 

[crandc]

Why it's expensive to be poor. Poorest people buy cheapest and often it's crap that breaks down.

Can't afford Mercedes but my Corolla could last rest of my life.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

When I was a kid, back when Sears was a good place to shop, my parents would save the Sears catalog for 1 year. When they needed something big, like a TV, washer, vacuum, etc. they would look up the previous year's Sears Best and buy that in the current year. Sure, there was a newer Sears best, but the previous year's Sears best was still damn good and now it was considerably cheaper.

I've used that same trick for many purchases as an adult and the internet makes it really easy. Need a new TV, computer monitor, router, printer, etc, google the 2024 best lists of those items. You'll get a great item for a much better price because now there are newer models that are considered best.

 

[THE HCP]

When I was a kid, back when Sears was a good place to shop, my parents would save the Sears catalog for 1 year. When they needed something big, like a TV, washer, vacuum, etc. they would look up the previous year's Sears Best and buy that in the current year. Sure, there was a newer Sears best, but the previous year's Sears best was still damn good and now it was considerably cheaper.

I've used that same trick for many purchases as an adult and the internet makes it really easy. Need a new TV, computer monitor, router, printer, etc, google the 2024 best lists of those items. You'll get a great item for a much better price because now there are newer models that are considered best.

I always buy the last years model when it comes to electronics or appliances. That’s the way to go. I also do open box from Best Buy whenever I can. Have had nothing but good luck with that.

 

[andalusian]

Why it's expensive to be poor. Poorest people buy cheapest and often it's crap that breaks down.

Can't afford Mercedes but my Corolla could last rest of my life.

I would argue that quality wise, Toyota is a better quality brand in the last 25 years than Mercedes.

Brand often implies luxury or status, or in the case of cars often cutting edge tech and features.

It is easy to judge the long term quality of cars by the 2nd hand market. You will find out that often the cost of a 15 years old Toyota is the same or higher that a Mercedes of the same vintage in the same size class... That should tell you something. (*)

Btw, I am not saying there is no justification to purchase a brand like a Mercedes for the features and or the driving experience, but quality wise, it's hard to argue against Toyota.

Personally, if you want a bit more luxury and features, I find Lexus (a Toyota brand) the right kind of compromise. Excellent build quality (much better than the Germans) and what I give away in features / driving experience / "status" are not important for the role these cars fill in my life.

We own a 2006 GX470 with tons of miles, other than some highschool parking prangs (was kids hs car), and whatever it got from our trips to the desert (it's our over landing car), still as tight as a drum and not expensive to maintain.


This weekend we drove to Big Bear Lake, did a 20 miles offroad trip on roads that were finally opened after the winter, a bit of snow, a lot of mud, a lot of dirt, some water crossings, some rocky terrain - and that old girl just keep on chugging - and is super comfortable on the 4 hours trip home on the highway in 100+ deg weather...

(*) Just for fun, I googled cars for sale near me, for a Lexus like ours vs. a Mercedes of the same vintage with about the same amount of miles.

Here is a Mercedes GLE450 from 2007 with 76K miles - https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/listi...z0IUhYnopA_45RKFwFYmcQxeBsDLyEaAml4EALw_wcB#/

Asking price - $9950, this car sold for $55K new in 2007

Here is a Lexus GX470 from 2006 with 83K miles: https://www.autolist.com/listings/J...FqZSX-gKDarSq-zfu9Y35PKWVqX7rrX0aAgwhEALw_wcB

asking price - $24990, original MSRP in 2006 - $47K

The market clearly recognizes that the Lexus (Toyota) is a much better product, quality wise, than the Mercedes.

 

[Shaboid]

When I was a kid, back when Sears was a good place to shop, my parents would save the Sears catalog for 1 year. When they needed something big, like a TV, washer, vacuum, etc. they would look up the previous year's Sears Best and buy that in the current year. Sure, there was a newer Sears best, but the previous year's Sears best was still damn good and now it was considerably cheaper.

I've used that same trick for many purchases as an adult and the internet makes it really easy. Need a new TV, computer monitor, router, printer, etc, google the 2024 best lists of those items. You'll get a great item for a much better price because now there are newer models that are considered best.

I have done this with golf clubs for years. I just recently got a Cobra driver that was highly recommended in 2023 for a fraction of what the newest top rated driver would cost.

 

[SheedSoNasty]

I’m not a big consumer. That being said, I tend to buy things that I envision lasting for a long time. Depends on what it is, like others have said. I’d rather get something I really like that will last than something that will break easily.

 

[barfo]

Pirates prefer to plunder pricey and permanent goods, but the one exception is women. Cheap and disposable is the only variety that is compatible with the lifestyle.

barfo