Insisting On Quality
I am not sure about other people, but I definitely choose quality over quantity. I have made the experience, that spending more money on qualitative and high-end products pays out on the long run; cheaper items might look like a bargain, but in the end they will also need replacement a lot sooner.
I believe quality is an important part of life, it enriches life, and it can financially be even more rewarding on the long term. Still, the main question I have to ask myself is the following:
How will I benefit from the high quality of this item, compared to a similar low quality item?
Each product group is different. High quality clothing, for example, usually looks a lot better than low quality clothing, and does not wear out that soon. On the long run, more expensive high quality clothing can be financially more beneficial. The same applies to furniture, where qualitative furniture is often produced by durable and long-lasting materials. Or take an automobile, where a high quality car would probably result in less repairs and trouble.
Food is also an important factor to consider. Personally, I love to eat, and I think that certain products should have a specific quality to them; I feel that it enriches life.
When comparing the quality and pricing of similar items, there is an additional point I generally consider:
In which extent is the price of the item being driven up by the brand name, and not its qualitaty feature?
Especially with high-end products, the price tends to be driven up by the brand name. Admitted, often the quality of such products is also fantastic, but often it is not. It is difficult to determine the real quality of such high-end products. Therefore, I have made it to a habit to never buy a high-quality item without consultation of the sales person. I realize, that sales people want to sell, but by asking a bit more about the product’s details, I can quickly find out how much the sales person is willing to consult, and how his knowledge base is. If I would be buying a suit, for example, I might ask more detailed questions about the fabric, where it has been produced, etc. If I don’t like the answers the sales person is giving me, I might just as well move on to the next shop.
