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Black Belt Shopper
How to Shop for Good Quality at the Best Price by Larry Wiener
I was standing
in the vacuum cleaner repair store and I decided that it made more sense to
replace rather than repair my ten-year-old vacuum cleaner.
The repairman recommended a
durable, though somewhat expensive replacement without a lot of bells and
whistles. I could get a decent
quality upright for less money, but it wouldn’t last as long.
What to do—go with the more expensive quality unit or try to save some
money? More...
Then I looked outside at my car and the decision was a no-brainer. Outside I saw a 12 1/2 year old no-frills top quality car with some 120,000 miles on it that still has plenty of life in it. When I bought that car I could have bought a lesser quality car for several thousand dollars less, but it probably would not last as long. I came to the conclusion that for most items that are used a lot, quality counts. Here’s what I’ve learned. For an item that I’m going to use every day, buying quality is far less expensive than buying lesser quality items that wear out. My last refrigerator lasted 17 years. Additionally, a quality item is so much more enjoyable to use. I remember seeing a phrase that went something like, "The sting of low quality far outlasts the thrill of getting a good price." I’ve also learned that buying the more "plain Jane" model of the quality item is more cost effective because those extra features I don’t need add complexity which means more repairs and a shorter life for the item. My refrigerator does not have an ice maker because I don’t use enough ice to make it worthwhile. So how do you find a quality item that is a good value? Here are some steps: Look at Ratings Product ratings are available both online and in print. Right now, for example, I am looking for a convection toaster oven. Is the more expensive brand really worth it? Will it last longer and will I enjoy it more? After looking at public reviews in epinions and Amazon, I found that the higher priced models really do produce better food. Because this is an item I would use frequently and for many different types of food, the higher quality item is worth it. If, on the other hand, I only used the toaster oven occasionally, a decently rated less expensive item might do. Consumer Reports also rates different brands according to frequency of repair. Know the Features that You Value I don’t value an icemaker in a refrigerator because I don’t have a large family and don’t entertain frequently. If I had children, I might think differently. I do value a food processor that lets me add specialty disks because I enjoy cooking different types of dishes. Knowing the features that you value will help you select among the different models available. That knowledge also will help you be able to approach a salesperson and get good recommendations from him or her. Consider Independent
Retailers It’s often easy to go to a big box retailer anytime we need an appliance or other fairly large item. These retailers are everywhere. I have had some really good experiences with independent specialty retailers. I bought that vacuum cleaner from a local shop that had been in business for 30 years. The owner was knowledgeable and gave me good guidance. I bought my car stereo from a shop that had much more variety than a big box store, gave me good guidance, and charged less for installation than the big box store and did it more promptly. Sometimes big box stores offer better prices, but not always. Often the independents will have much more selection and more knowledgeable salespeople. Consider Buying Used
Items In a prior column, I suggested that gently used items can be a real bargain on larger items. Buying a used car and driving it as long as it is efficient will save you 40% a year over buying a new car and also keeping it as long as it is efficient. Used furniture is readily available. In so many areas good quality used is better than poor quality new if you are on a budget. Wait for a Sale If you are buying from a mall-anchoring type of department store, you ordinarily don’t have to wait very long for sales on small appliances, clothing, tools, and lots of other items. It makes sense to buy good quality items, both financially and in terms of product satisfaction. Using Black Belt Shopping techniques will help you get those items at a good price. For more information on Black Belt Shopping, check out my ebook, The Black Belt Shopper’s Guide, available here at BetterBudgeting.com. * * * Copyright © 2008 by Larry Wiener, author of The Black Belt Shopper's Guide. All rights reserved. Want more money-saving tips? Get a FREE Subscription to our monthly newsletter!
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