Buying for the Long Haul

[imoldernu]

My contribution to this thread from my own experience: if you buy a trap snake (for clearing toilet clogs) get one where the spring-like part that goes down the drain is nice and thick--approaching half an inch or maybe more. I got a little skinny one maybe 5/16 or 3/8" diameter and after a few years, the spring kinked and the snake was no longer usable. I don't have a long plumber's snake for clearing obstructions further down the drain, but I would imagine "thicker is better" would be good advice for those as well.

Oh yeah!... I forgot... a MUST.
@ $100/visit from the plumber, that $24.95 for a top of the line snake looks awfully good when the grandkids flush a dishcloth town the toilet.
The thicker 50 ft. snake is best, especially for those homes with "iffy" drains.

 

[jimnjana]

I don't know whether any small kitchen appliances are manufactured to last any more. .

Most are not. Our VITAMIX is built to last. Our kitchen aide stand mixer is as well. Every other small appliance in our kitchen is something we bought at a yard sale. When they die, we find a replacement or in the case of coffee makers we keep a spare in the garage.

 

[audreyh1]

My general rule is the more often you use an item, be it a pot, a hammer, a TV, a deck, whatever, the greater the emphasis you should put on quality. Yes, it will cost more than the cheap alternative, but if selected wisely quality will pay for itself in enjoyment and/or durability.

Yep, definitely. We spend money on good quality items that we will use frequently for years and that we can expect to last for decades. And beyond that, we don't buy much stuff! It's a real pleasure cooking when you are using good quality utensils. I know when I go to my Dad's house and cook there it's so frustrating using crappy knives and pots and stovetop. It's such a relief to get back to my kitchen.

We're sticklers for good quality groceries too. It's expensive, but it's a priority and budgeted for. Well, Costco helps (keep the cost down), and even Amazon for some items.

 

[audreyh1]

I have some revere ware that is 37 years old and I still use it daily. Also, that can opener looks very familiar. I am looking for a recommendation for an easy-to-use, manual corkscrew. The one I have was very cheap and it doesn't work well.

Those double-hinged waiter's corkscrews work very well. I've used many but always go back to it. Nice and small too. Pulltap's Double-Hinged Waiter's Corkscrew, $7?

 

[FIYes]

AudreyH ...thanks for the recommendation. My dollar tree corkscrew has chewed up the cork onlast two bottles of wine that I have opened

 

[HFWR]

One thing I've found, as an amateur woodworker, is that sometimes the cheapy tools are okay, but only if they'll get light use. While installing radiating barrier in my attic, I overshot the duty cycle of my el-cheapo B&D staple gun, and the coil/solenoid got hot enough to melt the plastic it was mounted on, just enough so that it "jiggled" around within the housing, and therefore could not apply maximum force to drive the staple.

I have bought and used some Harbor Freight stuff, and it's adequate for occasional use, but accounting for duty cycle, and for precision needed, sometimes it's better to spend more. I certainly wouldn't buy HF or consumer-grade tools if I was a contractor...

I have an iron skillet and griddle I bought at WM that I'll probably hand down to my heir, but I also bought a brand-spanking new 12" Lodge skillet off the clearance rack at Cost-Plus for $19.95. Made in America, and also likely to outlast me, and maybe my son.

Bought a mid-priced SS cookwear set from WM, which worked reasonably well when I had an electric range, but it doesn't work as well on the gas range, so will likely replace at some point. Have another PTFE-coated set I bought at Target years ago that is much better at heat transfer, but I really don't like using Teflon.

Don't spend that much on clothing, and use Kohl's 15-20% coupons, which I seemingly get once every week or two, for that. As long as I don't "outgrow" my pants, I keep jeans and jean/cargo shorts for years...

I've been buying more "American-made" stuff, which does usually cost more, but I figure it's an investment in keeping a neighbor employed rather than depending on the dole... Any extra cost works itself out, since I'm not your "average" consumer. There are companies that make jeans in the USA, and the aforementioned Lodge cookware is made here as well.

I once bought a Proctor-Silex drip coffee maker for $8, and used it for maybe ten years before it bought the farm. Doubt Proctor-Silex is anything but another name for "cheap Chinese crap" these days, but around my house the coffee maker gets a workout!

 

[samclem]

For those who prefer to buy American and who live in the Midwest, keep an eye open for the frequent "Made in America" sales at Menards home improvement stores. The inserts are in the Sunday paper or can be found online, seems like they do it a few times per year. There are still a wide variety of products made here, and many compete well on price and quality with foreign products. FWIW, I find the selection and prices at Menards to be better than HD or Lowes, and their lumber is better.

 

[HFWR]

For those who prefer to buy American and who live in the Midwest, keep an eye open for the frequent "Made in America" sales at Menards home improvement stores. The inserts are in the Sunday paper or can be found online, seems like they do it a few times per year. There are still a wide variety of products made here, and many compete well on price and quality with foreign products. FWIW, I find the selection and prices at Menards to be better than HD or Lowes, and their lumber is better.

That wouldn't be difficult; unfortunately, the nearest Menard's is in Wichita, KS...

 

[kumquat]

Why buy 'things' that may last 50 years unless you know how long the owner will last?

 

[Nords]

Why buy 'things' that may last 50 years unless you know how long the owner will last?

Oh, that's an easy answer: to burden your adult children with them!

 

[Lazarus]

When you get old enough, buying green bananas may be a long shot.

 

[Midpack]

I have always been a proponent of buying quality and keeping things until they are completely used up.

Me too. I am interested in the best value over the life of the item, something reliable of used often, not always the cheapest. And I would add try to avoid buying anything we don't absolutely need (can I make do with something else, or borrow/barter for use of what I need) and try to buy items that serve more than one purpose (ie, no one needs a bagel slicer, flour sifter when a strainer works great, toaster when a toaster oven is more versatile, etc.)