What you consider *superior* products

[audreyh1]

I notice the interior finish is no longer as slick as glass as it is on my parent's cast iron pots. They don't machine polish them like they used to. There is a big difference in the non-stick characteristics due to this. Makes the vintage cast iron more valuable.

 

[zinger1457]

Just ordered/received a new 'Amish built' bedroom set and was extremely impressed by the craftsmanship and overall quality of the product. I am a hobbyist woodworker and have an appreciation for quality woodworking and this far exceeds anything I have seen in showroom stores when factoring in both quality and cost. The bedroom set I ordered was solid cherry wood and the finish was excellent. Takes ~8-10 weeks to get the order built and they used their own delivery truck for shipping, everything blanket wrapped. Not a single scratch or defect that I could find and I spent a lot of time going over every inch of each piece when it was delivered.

 

[Dreamer]

Zinger-Would you mind providing a link to where you ordered your Amish built bedroom set or the company name. My DH has been wanting a new bedroom set and I have been stalling. We have only had 1 new bedroom set and we have been married for 44 years. Thanks.

 

[Moemg]

I'm sure these CR-V complaints are legitimate, but they bear no relation to my reality.

I've had three CR-Vs in a row: 2003, 2008, and 2013. I put about 125,000 miles on one in five years, then get another.

Total repair cost beyond routine maintenance (oil changes, etc.) has been ZERO.

Have I just been exceptionally lucky?

Yes , Some people have great luck with the CRV. I am not one of them besides the air conditioning problems my paint has peeled in large spots .I like the car but I will be trading it in .I am afraid to see what will happen next .

 

[ERD50]

Do not buy the CRV . They have air conditioning problems at low mileage .My next car I will return to Toyota .

I wouldn't generalize like that. My last three cars have all been CR-Vs and the performance of the a/c and all other systems has been flawless.

There are numerous complaints online and my Crv air went at 36,000 miles .You got lucky .

"Numerous complaints" doesn't mean anything - that is not "data". Honda has sold "numerous" CRVs.

Is there any actual data that indicates certain year CRVs have AC problems significantly above average? This is the first I've heard of it.

And even if it was a documented problem, does it affect current selling models? Often, manufacturers over-compensate to fight bad PR. A Honda CRV might be your best bet for reliable A/C in that case.

-ERD50

 

[Chuckanut]

All of you Costco wine aficionados might enjoy this blog:

CostcoWineBlog.com - Finding Costco's best wines - CostcoWineBlog.com

One other thing. Yes, Costco has good wine at good prices, but another 'superior' product I have found is the wine club at my local wine store. For $30 a month I get two bottles of red wine, most are ones I would probably never discover on my own. They are almost always very good, sometimes in unusual ways, like a bottle of red from Germany that was thoroughly enjoyable but like not other red I have ever tasted. .

And, I am supporting a local business, owned by a fellow who is well thought of in the community and a former neighbor of mine. On football game days they do a pot-luck type of viewing party, that is more like a family friendly English pub than a bar. Overall, it is a 'superior' place.

 

[zinger1457]

Zinger-Would you mind providing a link to where you ordered your Amish built bedroom set or the company name.

I ordered through realamish.com, the product line I ordered from was 'Boulder Creek'. I was a little hesitant about ordering online, site unseen, but had a friend who made a similar purchase and liked what he received. My understanding is that the amish woodworkers only do the building and depend on companies like realamish.com to do the marketing and selling. Realamish represents several amish manufacturers. Highly recommend that you order wood and stain samples before placing an order, the online stain samples can look a lot different than the real thing. They do charge $50 for the samples but reimburse the cost when placing the order.

 

[zinger1457]

Is there any actual data that indicates certain year CRVs have AC problems significantly above average? This is the first I've heard of it.

Same here, had my last CRV for 10 years with zero problems, never heard of anyone mentioning this as an issue.

 

[braumeister]

In fairness, I think we all tend to generalize a bit from bad experiences.

"After this, I will never buy another _______."

But it's not reasonable to advise others not to buy something without offering hard data. Describe your experience, but realize it's just an anecdote.

 

[MikeTN]

I am very pleased with my Microsun lamp. I have the "Library of Congress" floor lamp next to my favorite chair and I find that it provides better light for reading than anything I had previously experienced. Not harsh, but bright like lots of natural light. Not cheap, but I read a lot in retirement and my eyes have more difficulty with low-light conditions than ever before. https://microsunlamps.com

 

[braumeister]

I am very pleased with my Microsun lamp.

+1
We have five of them (three inherited). Bought the first one nearly 20 years ago. I especially like that they produce such bright light at low wattage.

 

[Chuckanut]

I am very pleased with my Microsun lamp. I have the "Library of Congress" floor lamp next to my favorite chair and I find that it provides better light for reading than anything I had previously experienced. Not harsh, but bright like lots of natural light. Not cheap, but I read a lot in retirement and my eyes have more difficulty with low-light conditions than ever before. https://microsunlamps.com

How expensive are the bulbs and how long do they last?

I notice that the lamps are very expensive, but often it is the consumables that are even more expensive.

 

[braumeister]

I don't know what others experience, but of the five lamps we own, the oldest is 19 years old and most recent one about seven years.

Total number of bulb replacements: four.

 

[Sunset]

In fairness, I think we all tend to generalize a bit from bad experiences.

"After this, I will never buy another _______."

But it's not reasonable to advise others not to buy something without offering hard data. Describe your experience, but realize it's just an anecdote.

I guess that goes the other way as well, which is why I never suggest folks marry as perhaps I got the only good one in the lot

 

[kimcdougc]

My dyson vacuum cleaner. I have had it 10 years and it is still going strong. I have a dog that sheds a lot. Never fails me.

 

[W2R]

I am very pleased with my Microsun lamp. I have the "Library of Congress" floor lamp next to my favorite chair and I find that it provides better light for reading than anything I had previously experienced. Not harsh, but bright like lots of natural light. Not cheap, but I read a lot in retirement and my eyes have more difficulty with low-light conditions than ever before. https://microsunlamps.com

This looks and sounds like a wonderful lamp! I love this thread.

 

[tmm99]

I bought Gotham Titamium non-stick frying pans on sale at a local store a few months ago for $25CAD for a two pan set, and I am quite surprised and pleased with them. I have bought so called non stick pans over the years (I tried cast iron pans, but I am a little OCD and have a tendency to strip the greasy coating which necessitates re-seasoning the pans way too often...), and they usually gradually lose the non stick qualities over the course of several months for some reason, but not so with these pans. They are still working the same way they did the first day I used them.


http://https://www.amazon.com/Gotham-Steel-Non-Stick-Titanium-Frying/dp/B018WHD2SO

I only raise the temp to less than half way up on the stove dial (The low temp cooking seems to be the key for longevity and successful frying on these pans). It can fry eggs with or without oil (although the egg white without oil (if you are cooking sunny side up and alike) will get a bit tough where it touches the surface of the pan) The eggs with or without oil just slide off the pan like you see on their commercials. Not only eggs, but anything that tends to stick on regular pans just slides off. Even oil you put in the pan do not seem to penetrate the pan.

Anyway, these pans look thin and cheap (so they are very light, which may be a plus for some people.). I use All-Clad stainless steel tri-ply for everything else, but for eggs and sticky materials that I cannot manage with my All-Clad, these Gotham pans have been just great.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

I bought a "prosumer" grade espresso machine last year with part of my bonus check. Every day I smile when I look at that beautiful, 54-pound, chrome-plated machine. I can easily make a cappuccino, latte, or simply a shot of espresso that rivals anything I get at the local specialty espresso bar (Charbucks is too easy to rival). I expect it to last indefinitely, and it's engineered to be user-serviceable with parts available online.

While I wouldn't spend that much cash on something like this post-FIRE (I think), I never regretted spending the dough when it was a windfall. Definitely a splurge.

 

[RobbieB]

I adore my Jura ENA Micro 1 superautomatic. It will be a year next month in operation at 3 to 6 cups a day every day. Still makes coffee so good your toes will curl.

When it dies I'll toss it inna trash and buy another one.

 

[pjigar]

I bought a "prosumer" grade espresso machine last year with part of my bonus check. Every day I smile when I look at that beautiful, 54-pound, chrome-plated machine. I can easily make a cappuccino, latte, or simply a shot of espresso that rivals anything I get at the local specialty espresso bar (Charbucks is too easy to rival). I expect it to last indefinitely, and it's engineered to be user-serviceable with parts available online.

While I wouldn't spend that much cash on something like this post-FIRE (I think), I never regretted spending the dough when it was a windfall. Definitely a splurge.

What is the model name or number?

 

[Chuckanut]

Galaxy Boy, care to share the make and model?

I purchased a Jura F9? About seven years ago and it puts the capsule machines to shame, imho. Expensive yes, but the real cost is in the consumables and that is much less than those capsules.

 

[RobbieB]

I agree. I am past breakeven on a Keurig and those "pods" and I get good fresh city roast whole bean Columbian Supremo off the internet.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

It's an Expobar Office Lever. I'm almost afraid to admit it since it gives away just how much I paid. That retailer always has sales and coupon codes so it wasn't near list price actually.

But I love that thing.

Having a great local artisan coffee roaster helps a lot, too.

 

[W2R]

How do you guys drink all that expresso and then sleep that night? You must not be in your 60's yet.

All I can get away with is a mug or two of regular coffee before noon and then no more caffeine all day, if I want to sleep soundly all night. It's the pits; when I was young and could sleep more easily, I couldn't afford expresso. Now that I can, I can't drink the stuff.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

How do you guys drink all that expresso and then sleep that night? You must not be in your 60's yet.

All I can get away with is a mug or two of regular coffee before noon and then no more caffeine all day, if I want to sleep soundly all night. It's the pits; when I was young and could sleep more easily, I couldn't afford expresso. Now that I can, I can't drink the stuff.

I'm with you. Coffee also kicks in my acid reflux, big time.

I've gone to tea, and have become fond of a particular variety -- Chinese pu'erh. It has a rich body -- almost coffeelike -- compared to other teas. I buy it from Chinese vendors on eBay; a compressed cake of 357 grams costs $10 to $20, although particularly desirable varieties can fetch much more.