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I've seen this phenomenon on display in the fire service. Somehow the exact same axe you can buy for $20 at your local hardware store costs 5-6 times as much...
by JshWright 17y ago
I've seen this phenomenon on display in the fire service. Somehow the exact same axe you can buy for $20 at your local hardware store costs 5-6 times as much...
- TeHCrAzY 17y agoMy guess is that it comes down to certification. That axe sold to the fire dept probably comes with a "certified to x standard" guarantee, the one in the hardware store only comes with "it's an axe" guarantee.
- jrockway 17y agoYou are probably paying for the ability to sue the manufacturer when it fails and kills someone.
- patio11 17y agoNobody in local government has an incentive for keeping their costs down. On the contrary, budgets are a sign of your personal authority, and cutting budgets is a sign of neglecting your priorities. ("My opponent slashed the funds available to save your wives and children from grizzly demise in a fire by 84%!" "But it was the same axe!" "SLASHED THE FUNDING!")