> Julia Altshuler writes:
>
>Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
>
>> Much is junk, but a few good brands still exist. The consumer is as much
>of
>> a problem as the manufacturers. We like to buy cheap stuff and don't
>> investigate quality. You can buy a toaster as cheap as $7.50 in K Mart.
>How
>> long does it take you to earn $7.50? How long did it take you to earn
>> enough to buy that reliable toasted 30 years ago? Two weeks ago I paid $40
>
>> for a toaster. Won't really know how good it is for a few years.
>>
>> Where I work, we use plain old household irons (must be Teflon coated) to
>> seal some polyethylene. There is not industrial product made that works as
>
>> well. When we started using them about 12 years ago, I paid $20 or so.
>> Thursday I paid $9.97 at Wal Mart for the Black & Decker and it works just
>> as well as when they cost $20. . FWIW, they are on 24 hours a day and
>> never burn out. They eventually get dropped and break.
>
>
>But how does one go about investigating quality? It seems like a
>manufacturer puts effort into making a good product for a couple of
>years, gets the word out that this particular model and make is built to
>last, then rests on its laurels so to speak and can clean up by making
>an inferior cheap product and selling it at double the price. My
>experience has been like Anne's old items bought at garage sales last
>forever. New ones, no matter what I pay, break after a year and can't
>be repaired.

No one repairs a $10 toaster... do you repair light bulbs? duh

There are still plenty of very well made products... shop for quality of
Customer Service... who cares if a product malfunctions, not if customer
service makes it right no questions asked, even if the customer obviously
abused it... ie. no matter what tool I need I always first check for
availability from Sears, any "Craftsman" product fails, for any reason
whatsoever, return it for a new one, no questions, no hassle. I can't begin to
relate how many "Craftsman" products I abused/misused... brought em back to any
Sears for a brand new one... just last week I mowed over a "Craftsman" all
rubber garden hose, a 100' length, nicked a big slice out of it... the sales
clerk took it back and gave me a brand new one. Doesn't matter if it's a $10
shovel handle busted or a $500 drill press motor burned out, If it says
"Craftsman" Sears makes it right... and when their warranty says "Lifetime"
they mean LIFETIME. My tool wears out 10 years from now I know I can have it
replaced, free... so gals, whenever you meet a guy first thing check his tool
for the "Craftsman" label... and all yoose gals need to give yer guys a
"Craftsman" tool box.


---= BOYCOTT FRANCE (belgium) GERMANY--SPAIN =---
---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
*********
"Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."
Sheldon
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