4 ms·
> When the buy-it-for-life premium is nontrivial, I try to first buy something basic and use it until it falls apart, simply to confirm that this is something I
by ethbro 7y ago
> When the buy-it-for-life premium is nontrivial, I try to first buy something basic and use it until it falls apart, simply to confirm that this is something I will use
Believe it was popularized by Adam Savage, re: tool purchases.
Essentially, current price segmentation means the optimal approach is buying cheapest (e.g. Harbor Freight), seeing how much you actually use it, then if you use it (or use it hard enough it breaks) buy something premium for your second purchase.
You'll save enough on all the things you don't really use to more than make up for replacement costs.
- rkangel 7y agoIt's not just whether you use it, it's also what features you value. I gave this advice to some friends taking up skiing - it turned out the most valuable feature of a skiing jacket for me was a large number of pockets (so I didn't have to take a bag). I would never have known that if I hadn't first had a cheap jacket for a couple of seasons.
- blaser-waffle 7y agoSeconded. If you're a pro or plan on using a tool a lot it makes great sense, but if you're just getting your feet wet or a dilettante then go with something cheaper until you KNOW you need something more. Source: my collection of high end crap I never use.
- Steltek 7y agoExcept tools may not themselves break but cheap tools can break other things. Cheap wrenches will strip hex bolts on bikes, for instance. Buy Wera hex-plus at a premium but do the job right right.
- ethbro 7y agoThis feels like a relatively rare scenario masquerading as a common occurrence, which is part of the point. Of people with wrenches, how many use them on engines or high-end bicycles? And so it's relatively easy for tool companies to convince people "You know what? You may only have thought about working on an engine a few times, and have no idea where the valve cover is, but by god you're a mechanic. Not like those weekend warrior types. You deserve the good stuff. A full set of Snap-On!"