3 ms·

Seems like a smart move by a govt agency — if you have a product that works well for you, and it's being discontinued, get some of your own inventory. I do it

by toss1 3y ago

Seems like a smart move by a govt agency — if you have a product that works well for you, and it's being discontinued, get some of your own inventory. I do it all the time with running shoes — if I find a pair that fit & work well, get some spares! Minimize the costs and overhead of switching(finding new product, getting it to work, etc.) Obviously, you'll eventually have to switch, but cutting the switches in half helps.

pushfoo 3y ago
> I do it all the time with running shoes — if I find a pair that fit & work well, get some spares! How do you deal with more technical products? Geopolitical tensions have me worried about the supply of certain HID products and their parts.
bitwize 3y ago
Steve Jobs basically bought enough of that Japanese designer's black turtlenecks back in the 80s to last the rest of his life.
bombcar 3y ago
It’s called a “risk buy” and is relatively common - Schultz of Peanuts fame filled a room with his favorite pencil when it went out of manufacture.
iAMkenough 3y ago
I appreciate that this interpretation is juxtaposed next to another interpretation calling it a stupid move because unused cars disintegrate and depreciate in value quickly. I’ve always heard a car immediately drops in value after it’s driven off the dealer’s lot, and then loses 15% in value each year after. I’m guessing they lost more than they would have if they didn’t stockpile and instead switched to a newer vehicle with lower fuel and maintenance costs.
- cafard 3y ago
  Doesn't that assume that you will sell or trade in that vehicle after some years? If you drive it until you can't maintain it, the 15% seems less relevant.
- toss1 3y ago
  So what? The average depreciation you mention is real, but it also assumes average use. These are sitting ready, and presumably / should be being maintained (e.g., periodically started, driven, fluids & battery checked, tires rotated or lifted to not flat-spot). And the intended use here is for their own driving. They really DGAF about resale value as cop cars are typically maintained in-house and driven until they are no longer useful for the PD, then sold for really cheap (two friends each bought one for ~$1500, and they still got a few years of use). So that typical depreciation you cite doesn't matter, and they save the entire pile of cost of switching over to new vehicles for at least one extra generation. As long as they store them in a place and way that keeps them ready and prevents rot, it's a good plan.

by toss1 3y ago

pushfoo 3y ago

> I do it all the time with running shoes — if I find a pair that fit & work well, get some spares! How do you deal with more technical products? Geopolitical tensions have me worried about the supply of certain HID products and their parts.

bitwize 3y ago

Steve Jobs basically bought enough of that Japanese designer's black turtlenecks back in the 80s to last the rest of his life.

bombcar 3y ago

It’s called a “risk buy” and is relatively common - Schultz of Peanuts fame filled a room with his favorite pencil when it went out of manufacture.

iAMkenough 3y ago

I appreciate that this interpretation is juxtaposed next to another interpretation calling it a stupid move because unused cars disintegrate and depreciate in value quickly. I’ve always heard a car immediately drops in value after it’s driven off the dealer’s lot, and then loses 15% in value each year after. I’m guessing they lost more than they would have if they didn’t stockpile and instead switched to a newer vehicle with lower fuel and maintenance costs.

cafard 3y ago
Doesn't that assume that you will sell or trade in that vehicle after some years? If you drive it until you can't maintain it, the 15% seems less relevant.
toss1 3y ago
So what? The average depreciation you mention is real, but it also assumes average use. These are sitting ready, and presumably / should be being maintained (e.g., periodically started, driven, fluids & battery checked, tires rotated or lifted to not flat-spot). And the intended use here is for their own driving. They really DGAF about resale value as cop cars are typically maintained in-house and driven until they are no longer useful for the PD, then sold for really cheap (two friends each bought one for ~$1500, and they still got a few years of use). So that typical depreciation you cite doesn't matter, and they save the entire pile of cost of switching over to new vehicles for at least one extra generation. As long as they store them in a place and way that keeps them ready and prevents rot, it's a good plan.