Ask:
My dh collects books. It drives me crazy when he buys the trade paper back and then later upgrades to the hard cover. Why didn't he just buy the hard cover in the first place?
But then I just did the same thing today. Not to long ago I bought a pair of cheap running shoes. My feet ache when I walk and the blisters have never stopped. So today I went out and got a real pair, fitting properly from a running store. Why did I waste the money buying the cheap pair when I ended up getting the more expensive pair?
I've also upgraded a few strollers over the the years and now I have a wagon - with seat belts! But again, I wasted so much getting the cheaper items first.
Now I'm trying to get quality to begin with to avoid the extra costs of upgrading.
Anyone else suffer from upgrading and wishing you'd got the quality item from the start?
Answer:
I agree. I do this a lot myself. I will buy the less expensive version when I know the higher price item will really do a better job and then I end up having to replace the cheap one anyway. Its frustrating and a waste of money. We just bought a new bed Sunday. Part of me considered buying a less expensive one but then I finally realized I need to just put out the money to get what we need. I'm so glad I did.
Answer:
I go back and forth on this and I think a lot depends on the price point of the item plus my experience with it.
If the item is relatively cheap ($100 or less) and replaced or used frequently, I'm much more likely to get the cheaper version. I hate buying an expensive version when I know I'm going to be buying it again in a little while anyway. A lot of clothing falls in this category.
If the item is relatively cheap and will be used very infrequently or I don't know yet how much I'll use it, I tend to buy the cheaper version. I hate the idea of spending money on the expensive version of something I'm not sure I'll really be using. The strollers would be in this category. Most of my time is spent in the car, how much do I really need a stroller? Until you start actually using a stroller it is hard to imagine all the times they get used.
If the item is relatively expensive and will be used infrequently or I don't know yet how much I'll use it, I tend to buy the cheaper version. I have to try something out first and get familiar with it before I know what features I want to pay extra to get. A digital camera falls into this category. When we bought our first digital camera I didn't even know enough about them to ask the right questions. Once I had a chance to play with one, I figured out what I really wanted in a camera - or if I really wanted one at all.
If the item is relatively expensive and I know I will be using it, I tend to upgrade and spend MORE. We just bought a garage door and that falls into this category. My garage door faces the street and is a big part of how my house looks. I don't want to 'cheap out' on a replacement garage door. If I'm already going to spend almost $1000 on a major replacement on my house, I want to get exactly what I want and I want it to look good. Once I'm spending $1000 a few more dollars aren't going to make that much of a difference.
Answer:
We have learned the hard way--used to replace things ALL THE TIME. Now we go for the more expensive and only buy it once. It just makes more sense to us.
Answer:
I always splurge on shoes and work clothes and items we will use for a while but don't buy often at all - furniture, electronics. But everyday items I try to get the off brand stuff.
What I really hate - and this is something completely - is that my dog likes to chew the toes off my expesive heels. They are the pointy kind and are really comfortable - something I have a hard time finding. I have been through 3 pairs so far, and haven't ended up with a pair yet - he likes those right shoes!