Luxury items
Francis Porretto posts about luxury items.
Me, I don’t consider shoes a luxury item. Of course, (some of you have noticed this) I am not a girl.
Luxury, in my mind,is having something that is better than you need, just because you want it.
I have a 1998 Ford Explorer. It suits my needs almost perfectly. Not a luxury item.
I have a Coach wallet. It has outlasted every other wallet I have ever owned, and other than damage from a car seat spring, is still in remarkable condition after many years.
I wear a Swiss Army Chronograph. I think in order to stop this bastard you’d have to shoot it, it’s incredibly reliable and durable. It wasn’t expensive by fine watch standards (I think it retails for under $500) but it’s the only watch I’ve ever had that will put up with the abuse I give it. I would LIKE an Omega Seamaster Chrono, but it’s not worth the thosands of dollars price difference.
I have a Snap On brake service tool. No other I’ve ever used is as good. Most of the rest of my tools are Craftsman, because the difference in quality does not reflect the difference in cost between Snap On and Craftsman. I use a Wadsworth Tool screwdriver set, more expensive than a Snap On set, because none are as useful or versatile.
it isn’t a luxury to own expensive things if they are of practical use. it’s ridiculous to buy on brand alone just because it’s a prestigious name.
10 comments Og | Uncategorized
Og,
I’m there with you 200% on this one. I have a set of hand-forged kitchen knives made in Germany. They were bloody expensive. HOWEVER, no other knives I’ve ever owned cut as well, stayed as sharp, etc. My grand-kids could be passing these knives to their grand-kids. They were worth every penny.
I use the Coach wallet simply because it was a gift from many years back, and it ain’t broke. But I’d never spend that kind of dough on a wallet for myself. A few years back, my shiny new Swiss Army watch crapped out on me three times in under a year. Just got a hold of a bad one I suppose. I personally threw that POS in the trash and now the wrist drives an inexspensive, but extremely durable Timex.
Yeah, I’m a cheap bastard.
I spend a lot of money on shoes. My current pair cost about $150 from Cabela’s. But, I have now had them for over 2 years, and they are still in relatively good shape. a coupe of spots on the sole are getting worn, but not to the “needs replaced worn” yet. And I wear these shoes every day to construction sites, in the shop, working on vehicles, hunting.
When I buy tools, if it is something I know I will use a lot, I go for the more expensive and higher quality. But, the tools either earn or save me more than the difference in their cost. Therefore-not luxury items.
I had to re-read your comments a couple of times to make sure I understood, but I agree 100%. Many people confuse “luxury” with “quality” although in my experience “luxury” items tend to be of higher quality simply due to the expectations of the buyer. There are some notable exceptions, of course — I’m sure you can think of a few examples given your mechanical background.
If I spend $100 on a set of Snap-On screwdrivers, and they last me the rest of my natural life, I’m not buying luxury, I’m buying quality. Especially true if the alternative is to spend $25 every two years for cheap imported knockoffs from Harbor Freight.
If I spend $4000 on the latest Snap-On scanner that I use once a year, when my $125 laptop scanner package will suit my needs, that’s a luxury (or a waste of money, depending on your viewpoint).
Ham, eloquently put.
Problem is, if I spend $100 on a set of Snap-On screwdrivers, it’s almost certain that in about a week, someone will decide he needs them more than do I. SO they disapear.
I 2nd the comment on Snap On tools getting eat by the chickens, I lost two $60 ratchet screwdrivers to theft while working in plants. Never lost(stolen) any tool in a regular office, I guess in the average office nobody cares about any tool but the guys in plants covet them enough to let the devil talk them into stealing them. Never lost a cheap tool to the chickens though.
I agree on the Swiss Army chronograph. I wear a Calvary Model, and other than having to replace the band several times, And the battery once in 5 years no problems.
You will always go wrong paying for luxury; you will never go wrong paying for quality.
Of course, they often go hand in hand.
I’ve had a lot of inexpensive items cost me more money that if I bought the costly, good one in the first place.
To me, luxury is paying the top price to be the first on the block with a gizmo that’ll be obsolete in a year. Quality is buying one that’ll outlast three cheaper versions.