Buy Once, Cry Once

[buckeye4rnr]

Who subscribes to this notion and do you consider it applicable on items when top of the line costs as much as 3 or more bottom of the line products? (no examples just a hypothetical)

If you do the buy once, cry once thing how careful are you about maintaining the more expensive product to ensure you get your money out of it?

[mutt]

Depends on the item and how long and how hard I figure I'll use it. Some categories where I always buy the top of the line: Optics and power tools. As for careful maintenance, I generally buy top of the line so I don't have to be so careful about such things.

[StagLefty]

I've bought a few items below top of the line after researching the items. Examples-Primary Arms optics and Ryobi cordless tools. For my use they have both been more than adequate YMMV

[soldier-of-the-apocalypse]

Um yes its completely true. I just seen where someone said on the buy american thread "poor people cant afford to buy cheap goods"

[Byte Stryke]

I also look at impact of loss/theft

I would LOVE to have a $5K 1911

but I would rather have 2 $1500 1911s with $500 of work in them

Granted, if I were a rich man, I would have 2 $5K 1911s :)

[funkymonkey1111]

Who subscribes to this notion and do you consider it applicable on items when top of the line costs as much as 3 or more bottom of the line products? (no examples just a hypothetical)

If you do the buy once, cry once thing how careful are you about maintaining the more expensive product to ensure you get your money out of it?

i do for many things, but i think it's situational. is a $250,000 Bentley any safer to in a crash than a $25,000 Subaru? Not likely, and in fact, the opposite may be true. Is a $300 montblanc going to serve you better than a $1.50 rollerball?

I think you need to make an internal calculation of the value to you of an item, what it's used for, and the length of time you'll keep it. it seems that often in a particular product line the product just below the top-end ends up being the best for price v. value v. performance.

[ben4372]

Sometimes I'd like to buy a quality product and none exist. At least not locally. Businesses think everyone only shops by price. Many only sell the cheapest and maybe the next step up, But the bigger stores don't want to tie up shelf space with premium items. To echo mutt above. I'm hard on shit, I need to buy tough stuff.

[soldier-of-the-apocalypse]

I also look at impact of loss/theft

I would LOVE to have a $5K 1911

but I would rather have 2 $1500 1911s with $500 of work in them

Granted, if I were a rich man, I would have 2 $5K 1911s :)



there does become a point where you just cant justify the extra cost I dont think a $5000 1911 works any better then a $2500 1911 or a $800 glock but obviously a $150 hi point wont compare. But Ive always said its nice to have nice things

[Dave_L]

Some things I don't mind spending a few extra bucks for:

1. Furniture
2. Tools
3. Competent service

[Sawin]

I have grown in to a "middle of the road" kind of buyer. When i was in college and shortly after graduating, I used to buy cheap quality items based more on appearance and function, than quality. (ie. see my thread for the nc star scope for sale ;) $75 ) Using this example for illustrative purposes: the cheap price but functional 4x illuminated reticle w/ hash marks, worked perfectly for me at the time, but I know it wouldn't likely stand up to abuse over the long term. I've since moved on to a much better quality, Burris AR-332, which is not as pricey/hardcore as a trijicon or aimpoint, but it's leaps and bounds better than my previous optic, meets my needs and wants, without breaking the bank.

I'm the same way about cars, electronics, etc too. I buy above average, but not top of the line...

[Teufelhund]

I've heard good arguments for both. I have a tendency to research down to the ground anything I buy, and never buy anything on impulse. As a result, I typically buy the top-shelf gear even if I have to save an extra month to get it; often you do get what you pay for. Reliability, usability, and overall quality are seldom cheap. If you're going to trust your life to it, you may not want the best bargain.

My brother takes the opposite approach. He buys cheap gear more often than not. It may not be the highest quality, or it may break sooner than my gear, but he has twice the number of guns and gear that I have. He points out he can buy 5 Barska red dots for the price of one Aimpoint. If they work, who cares if one breaks? He's got 4 more to replace it.

[buckeye4rnr]

I'll pay more for good service and friendly companies, I try to buy better food ingredients, and I pay a lot for my gym membership but that should come back to me when I'm old and hopefully not in a wheelchair.

Some of my friends give me a lot of shit about it but when it comes to gear for outdoor activities, I'll happily pay more for better stuff. I have a closet full of Arc'teryx jackets(3) but the damn things are real nice, fit real well, and are nearly indestructible(catch: I buy them all on sale). My buddies that cheap out on jackets and pants are always replacing them or wanting something else and are never comfortable yet I'm the idiot for spending less than half of what they do over the long run.

[Dryfli]

Some one s long time ago said " I can't afford to buy cheap stuff", meaning buy quality. It doesn't have to be expensive but buying something that will last, and paying more for it is less expensive then buying junk 2 or 3 times.

[brutal]

Buy once, cry once. You took the words otta my mouth.


Whenever possible, I buy the best I can reasonably afford, even if that means saving up. At times, I will pay the interest to put it on something besides the Amex if I think the opportunity will fade, but pay off that charge as quickly as possible with baloon payments.

[islandermyk]

I apply this to my purchase on glass, stocks, and certain firearms and accessories... What ever I get I make sure that the market for the item won't lose any value. Damn, I should'a kept all my AR's [facepalm]

you'll only cry once... just once.... [Coffee]

[DavieD55]

Never buy tools from Walmart unless you are only going to use them once.

[Rucker61]

It depends. If it’s an item that I can’t fully realize the increased quality, then I’ll buy the best for the price. I’ll never practice enough or have enough talent to justify a Olson acoustic, so I play Seagull and Epiphone. However, my hunting gear is Sitka and Kenetrek, since I can tell the difference between these and the less expensive gear.

[silentshooter]

I do both, I have a many items that are top tier. Not just for reliability but because of function or features. I have also purchased cheap items with the notion of them being limited or throw away items. Perfect example is my parents company. For the guys we used to buy Dewalt and Milwaukee Grinders and Sawzalls. Issue was the guys treated them like crap and would break them often. So for the workers I just bought harbor freight versions that were under $20 verse $200-300 of the high end. So when the guys break them we have plenty of spares and just throw the broken ones out. Now I always had the high end and never had issues so for me the extra money was worth it for a tool that was reliable and worked great, but for the guys that would just toss them around it was a waste.

I am wearing a $9k Breitling watch at the moment and other than the fact that its COSC certified it tells the time just like a $90 watch. Granted a cheap automatic or chronograph probably is not as accurate or reliable but can you say paying 100 times that is worth that? I would say no but it looks great, if I take care of it the value does not go down much (I have gotten such great deals on Limited watches before that even after having them for 6-9 months was able to flip them for a profit or no loss).

Now not everything expensive holds its value or is more reliable than a cheaper item. Plenty of things you are just paying for the name and nothing more. If something is rather expensive you need to ask yourself if the price is worth its value and if you plan to offload it what kind of loss would you take.

Another thing about expensive items is that related expenses are normally also more expensive. Buy a 911 and the aftermarket is much more expensive than say for a mustang. Buy a high end watch and replacement straps/bracelets are also more expensive, same thing goes for servicing more expensive items you normally pay a premium.

[MarkCO]

Tools, guns, wives and speakers (there are some slight difference between items 3 and 4) are all in the get the very best (for you) category. Other things are more negotiable.

[Sawin]

Never buy tools from Walmart (or Harbor Freight) unless you are only going to use them once.

FIFY :)

[SAnd]

I do it on a case by case basis. Sometimes I go quality but on others cheap. I'm more interested in functionality that looks. I can't see spending lots of money on something that will last a infinite number of uses if I am only going to use it a few times in my life time. If I will be using it ten times a day for a lifetime I will spend the big bucks to get quality but if I only anticipate using it a dozen times total I am less inclined to spend much on it. I rarely sell anything so I pay no attention to resale value.

I spent $150 for my last pair of work shoes that lasted 5 years. For goofing around home in the I spend $2 or $3 for a pair of flip flops two or three times a summer.

Some tools are beaters, some are quality. I go by what I intend on doing with them. I have cheap screwdrivers that are combination pry bar, scraper, chisel, and occasionally screwdriver. I have quality screwdrivers for stubborn screws and where not messing up the screw is important.

So in the end I can say I buy once, pay once. It's just that 'once' may only need a low or medium quality to fulfill the 'buy once' criteria.

One other point. High price doesn't always equal quality and inexpensive doesn't always mean junk.

[Inconel710]

I'm also in the "it depends" category. I buy the best I can, when I need to get it. I would love to be able to afford top end camping gear, but rather than put off camping for half the year while I save up, I bought military surplus for cold weather camping. It may weigh twice as much as the top end stuff, but it works and it keeps me warm. I'll upgrade to higher quality gear as sales and funds allow.

Tools are another area where I've got a mix of quality. I've got Klein screwdrivers and electrician's tools that are over 20 years old and going strong. However, I just bought a $20 cordless drill from HF to replace another no-name cordless drill whose charger died earlier this month. BTW - that no name cordless drill ran for 10 years of once or twice a month use around my house. Will my new drill last that long? I doubt it, but I think it'll last until next Black Friday when I can buy Porter Cable or DeWalt on sale.

[mcantar18c]

It depends.
Computers... I spent somewhere around $1300 on a MacBook in 2007. I'm typing this on it right now, it still works about as well as it did the day I got it, and the only issues I've ever had with it were my fault and Apple still repaired them for free. My mom spent $500 or 600 on a PC around the same time I got my MacBook, and over the years she's spent probably $800-1k on it between taking it in to the computer repair place, anti-virus software, replacing this or that on it. She still uses it, but it takes the computer almost 10 minutes just to fire up her internet browser.
Power tools... a $18 Harbor Freight angle grinder lasts me about 6 months if I'm gentle with it, and I don't feel bad when I'm not. I had a Dewalt, it cost 5 times as much and lasted about 9 months.

If I want it to last, I buy quality. If I want it to be expendable, I buy the cheapest shit out there.

[spyder]

You ever owned a high end sports car? Just buy a C5 and upgrade the damn thing.

[Great-Kazoo]

You get what you pay for. If you know the $5.00 tool is going to work for the 2-3x you will ever use it in your life time, go for it. If it's a go to item used on a daily basis why skimp?

There's a saying that goes like this.
Know what the cheapest thing on a BMW is?

The owner!.

[jerrymrc]

You get what you pay for. If you know the $5.00 tool is going to work for the 2-3x you will ever use it in your life time, go for it. If it's a go to item used on a daily basis why skimp?

There's a saying that goes like this.
Know what the cheapest thing on a BMW is?

The owner!.

I will agree. and some things turn out to be good. I have a set of crows feet from HF I bought 10 years ago. They are ugly but work and turned out to be very strong. Same with the set of chisels and the pickle fork.

I like my craftsman hand tools but most were bought 20-40+ years ago. At work we just bought all new Snap-on and many of the items in the set are junk. [fail]

[Great-Kazoo]

I will agree. and some things turn out to be good. I have a set of crows feet from HF I bought 10 years ago. They are ugly but work and turned out to be very strong. Same with the set of chisels and the pickle fork.

I like my craftsman hand tools but most were bought 20-40+ years ago. At work we just bought all new Snap-on and many of the items in the set are junk. [fail]

I have Williams, proto, S-K and one or 2 other small east coast tool mfg's hand tools, averaging an easy 50+ years old. Still going strong, I'm sure of the age as i scored them back in 72 from one of my co-workers at Sunoco. 110 oct. Leaded gas, Ah the good ol daZe

If i use it minimally HF will do. Why pay snap-op prices for a digital mic when the HF ones are 1/4 the price and both mfg in CHINA?

[jhirsh5280]

I often times get asked by friends or relatives to offer advice on buying a new computer. There are always two options, cheap and expensive and most of the time they are trying to get me to say buy the cheap but I always tell them to "buy as much as you can afford". That theory in my mind doesn't just apply to computers but to everything. First and foremost do your research, don't just settle for amazon.com reviews or consumer report reviews. Source multiple sites, online, offline, real world people and find out what they use or like and why. Making an informed choice might cost you more for a product but that product will more than likely be worth every penny of your investment.

[BPTactical]

Buy the best you can afford, that way you are never disappointed or second guess yourself.
But that doesn't mean you need to spend the most.

[Dalendenver]

When I worked as a Master Automotive Technician I bought Snapon and Matco tools. Now I usually buy from Harbor Freight, same warranty and I have yet to break one of their tools.

[sniper7]

Just depends on what it is and what kind of warranty they have.

[Aloha_Shooter]

I've never been sorry about buying quality but high price doesn't always mean quality nor vice-versa. I tend to think it's better to lay out a little more to buy something that will keep me happier longer than to skimp and have to replace more often. That goes for computers, cars, camping equipment, etc.

[Timothy]

one in the hand = two in the barrel= three in the bush =shocker

[wctriumph]

The bitterness of low quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is gone.

[mtik00]

I generally buy above average. I usually can't justify the (sometimes exponential) increased cost for top of the line goods.