Join Early Retirement Today
Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-04-2013, 11:11 AM   #201
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Mr._Graybeard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,962
Quote:
Originally Posted by kumquat View Post
I'm a great fan of "Brand Name" jeans, even if I have to pay a bit more. Mine are always Kirkland.
I recently discovered Duluth Trading Co. jeans. Carhartts and Lees (@ $20-$25) always wear out for me after a couple years -- the knees usually split or the fabric starts to disintegrate. Duluth "Ballroom" jeans (they have a little extra space built into the crotch) use denim that's obviously heavier than the name-brands mentioned. Wear points like pockets and cuffs are lined with canvas.

I've had these jeans for about a year and they show no signs of wear. They're about $50 a pair, but worth it to me if they last. So far, so good.
Mr._Graybeard is offline  
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 12-04-2013, 11:20 AM   #202
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
MRG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 11,078
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr._Graybeard View Post

I recently discovered Duluth Trading Co. jeans. Carhartts and Lees (@ $20-$25) always wear out for me after a couple years -- the knees usually split or the fabric starts to disintegrate. Duluth "Ballroom" jeans (they have a little extra space built into the crotch) use denim that's obviously heavier than the name-brands mentioned. Wear points like pockets and cuffs are lined with canvas.

I've had these jeans for about a year and they show no signs of wear. They're about $50 a pair, but worth it to me if they last. So far, so good.
Had some for 3 years, they do not change. Check out their 'no plumber crack t - shirts'. Best you'll ever find, 3" longer cut makes everyone happy.

MRG
MRG is offline  
Old 12-04-2013, 01:26 PM   #203
Administrator
MichaelB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 40,583
Quote:
Originally Posted by travelover View Post
I think that it is all factored into the price. I tend to buy things at Costco / LL Bean and (formerly) REI because I knew that it was no risk. So, over the years they have made a lot more off me than they would have otherwise. Multiply that by the customer base and employee "shrinkage" is probably a much bigger loss than customer returns.
+1

Sounds pretty rational to me.
MichaelB is online now  
Old 12-04-2013, 01:46 PM   #204
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
pb4uski's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sarasota, FL & Vermont
Posts: 36,263
Quote:
Originally Posted by travelover View Post
I think that it is all factored into the price. I tend to buy things at Costco / LL Bean and (formerly) REI because I knew that it was no risk. So, over the years they have made a lot more off me than they would have otherwise. Multiply that by the customer base and employee "shrinkage" is probably a much bigger loss than customer returns.
If its factored into the price then that pisses me off even more. I don't mind sharing the cost of legitimate replacements (I have had a number of those myself on LL Bean products) but I don't care to subsidize the bozos who abuse the generous return policy as a result of normal wear and tear.
__________________
If something cannot endure laughter.... it cannot endure.
Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.
Slow and steady wins the race.

Retired Jan 2012 at age 56
pb4uski is offline  
Old 12-04-2013, 01:48 PM   #205
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
ziggy29's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: North Oregon Coast
Posts: 16,483
Quote:
Originally Posted by pb4uski View Post
If its factored into the price then that pisses me off even more. I don't mind sharing the cost of legitimate replacements (I have had a number of those myself on LL Bean products) but I don't care to subsidize the bozos who abuse the generous return policy as a result of normal wear and tear.
Maybe -- but at the same time, I think part of the point is that a generous return policy may encourage more sales, and they may make more in extra profit because of extra sales than they lose because of abuse of the return policy.
__________________
"Hey, for every ten dollars, that's another hour that I have to be in the work place. That's an hour of my life. And my life is a very finite thing. I have only 'x' number of hours left before I'm dead. So how do I want to use these hours of my life? Do I want to use them just spending it on more crap and more stuff, or do I want to start getting a handle on it and using my life more intelligently?" -- Joe Dominguez (1938 - 1997)
ziggy29 is offline  
Old 12-04-2013, 01:49 PM   #206
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,401
Quote:
Originally Posted by pb4uski View Post
If its factored into the price then that pisses me off even more. I don't mind sharing the cost of legitimate replacements (I have had a number of those myself on LL Bean products) but I don't care to subsidize the bozos who abuse the generous return policy as a result of normal wear and tear.
Unfortunately all businesses have to budget for "wastage" such as theft, bad debts and gratuitous litigation. Unless they are the Mafia….
Meadbh is offline  
Old 12-04-2013, 02:15 PM   #207
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
pb4uski's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sarasota, FL & Vermont
Posts: 36,263
Quote:
Originally Posted by ziggy29 View Post
Maybe -- but at the same time, I think part of the point is that a generous return policy may encourage more sales, and they may make more in extra profit because of extra sales than they lose because of abuse of the return policy.
I can see what you say but if the incremental profits on higher volume covers the cost of a generous return policy then there would be no need to "factor it into the price" as was previously suggested.
__________________
If something cannot endure laughter.... it cannot endure.
Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.
Slow and steady wins the race.

Retired Jan 2012 at age 56
pb4uski is offline  
Old 12-04-2013, 03:52 PM   #208
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
travelover's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,328
Quote:
Originally Posted by pb4uski View Post
I can see what you say but if the incremental profits on higher volume covers the cost of a generous return policy then there would be no need to "factor it into the price" as was previously suggested.
What I should have said rather than "factored into the price" is factored into the business model - as has been suggested, more sales mean more profits to cover the few that abuse the generous return policy. As I said, I go to Costco first, largely because they will take back anything that doesn't satisfy. I rarely return anything.
travelover is offline  
Old 12-04-2013, 05:13 PM   #209
Moderator Emeritus
Bestwifeever's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 17,773
Quote:
Originally Posted by travelover View Post
I think that it is all factored into the price. I tend to buy things at Costco / LL Bean and (formerly) REI because I knew that it was no risk. So, over the years they have made a lot more off me than they would have otherwise. Multiply that by the customer base and employee "shrinkage" is probably a much bigger loss than customer returns.
Absolutely. LL Bean for example uses its legendary return policy as a smart marketing tool and publicizes some of the returns on its website: https://www.llbean.com/customerServi...guaranteelayer

Most people are just not going to return things like the three year old pair of fuchsia bedroom slippers that have been worn everyday and are starting to fall apart but it's nice to know I could. They were not the cheapest slippers I could have bought elsewhere, so likely the cost of a potential return is built into the pricing.
__________________
“Would you like an adventure now, or would you like to have your tea first?” J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
Bestwifeever is offline  
Old 01-06-2014, 11:56 AM   #210
Full time employment: Posting here.
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 689
A lot of what others said but one I don't think I've seen: high-end custom-made chair mat. After years of going through crappy $40 ones from Staples every year, I plunked down around $300 for a super thick one that was custom shaped for my office setup. It is so thick it has to have beveled edges or you can't roll a chair up on it. There's no cracking, warping, discoloration or indentations after 4 years of daily use.
someguy is offline  
Old 03-03-2014, 09:45 AM   #211
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,240
Duluth Trading Co. clothing.

Buckle-less belt
Longtail T Waffle Thermal Crew with pocket
spncity is offline  
Old 03-03-2014, 11:05 AM   #212
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 307
Quote:
Originally Posted by clifp View Post
Tesla automobiles
Kirkland toilet paper..
Not two products you normally see in the same post
Depends on how fast you drive.
__________________
Retired Jan 2014 at 48.
gozer is offline  
Old 03-04-2014, 02:05 PM   #213
Full time employment: Posting here.
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 782
Benjamin Moore Exterior house paint is the best I have ever used.

Specifically MoorGlo Soft Gloss 100% acrylic house paint. This stuff costs more than most other brand names but you get what you pay for. The last time I had the house painted was 9 years ago this coming summer. The painter quoted a price that included the paint of my choice. When I told him I liked the Benjamin Moore brand he back peddled and said there would be an upcharge for it. I paided the extra to get the good stuff and I am glad I did. I don't think I will need to paint this year either.
__________________
***********
My motto is.... "a dollar saved is better than a dollar earned. I don't pay tax on the dollar I saved."
Tom52 is offline  
Old 03-04-2014, 02:18 PM   #214
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
travelover's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,328
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom52 View Post
......... you get what you pay for.......
My life experience says this is only sometimes true. Some stuff is overpriced crap, some stuff is a great value. But then, I guess that is what this whole thread is about.
travelover is offline  
Old 03-04-2014, 03:40 PM   #215
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
clifp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,733
Schwab Banking services. The brokerage is pretty great also, but I think the banking is best in class.
Everything is free and super convenient
clifp is offline  
Old 03-04-2014, 04:25 PM   #216
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 214
Last year I bought a Miele vacuum. It was expensive and worth every penny. It works great because we have a combination of hardwoods/rugs and there's a toggle switch on the handle that I hit when I need to go from one surface to another. I can't believe how nice it is. My floors have never been cleaner. It's super easy to use and sucks up dirt better than anything I've ever used before (and we had a nice Panasonic before).
hausfrau is offline  
Old 03-04-2014, 04:34 PM   #217
Recycles dryer sheets
Jager's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 103
Leica cameras.

Anschutz and Larue Tactical rifles.

Dan Wesson pistols.

BMW and Harley Davidson motorcycles.
__________________
Jeff
Jager is offline  
Old 03-28-2014, 02:20 PM   #218
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 5,176
Wild salmon patties by Trident

I saw this at Costco, and I looked up the ratings and couldn't believe how much people like them, so I bought them, and WOW. I LOVED THEM!!

Costco - Trident SeafoodsŪ Wild Alaskan Salmon Burgers customer reviews - product reviews - read top consumer ratings

Best salmon burgers I've eaten by a HUGE margin. And the price at Costo on this is unbeatable.
tmm99 is offline  
Old 03-28-2014, 03:25 PM   #219
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 289
Duncan YoYo's.

"The best Jerry, the best"
__________________
"The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable"
- J.K. Galbraith
FireBug is offline  
Old 03-28-2014, 03:27 PM   #220
Moderator
Walt34's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Eastern WV Panhandle
Posts: 25,299
Quote:
Originally Posted by FireBug View Post
Duncan YoYo's.

"The best Jerry, the best"
I still have one, purchased ~1964.
__________________
When I was a kid I wanted to be older. This is not what I expected.
Walt34 is offline  
Closed Thread


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:09 AM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.