Anyone seen this? I am thinking of going and seeing it if it is still showing at the indie theater down the street, or waiting for the DVD. What are your thoughts?

 

Review: 'Cheap' says recent discount craze is no bargain

By Seth Brown, USA Today, August 9, 2009

 

America was not always obsessed with low prices, writes Atlantic Monthly correspondent Ellen Ruppel Shell, but over the past century our thirst for bargains has transformed the world's economy — and not necessarily for the better.

 

Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture explores the effects of our focus on low price. The idea sprang from a trip to a shoe store. After being shown a pricey pair of Italian leather boots, Shell opted for Chinese imports at one-fourth the price. The boots, not surprisingly uncomfortable, were soon thrown in the closet "where they landed in a heap of other unwearable 'good deals'... a bargain hunter's pile of shame."

Quality...quality...quality.

 

Thats why I dont shop at the H&M's, Zara's, Top Shop's you see sprouting up, promising designer looks at discount pricing.

 

I call that crap "disposable clothing".  Clothing good for a few wears then you it's off to the garbage.

Quality...quality...quality.

 

Thats why I dont shop at the H&M's, Zara's, Top Shop's you see sprouting up, promising designer looks at discount pricing.

 

I call that crap "disposable clothing". Clothing good for a few wears then you it's off to the garbage.

 

I look at it in a different way as well.....  I used to jump at J Crew's final sale merchandise, and then like those cheap shoes mentioned above, I never ended up wearing half of it more than a few times cause I had bought it because it was cheap.  Well, I've sworn off final sales now (unless there is something that I had been contemplating buying anyway at full price), and I'm much happier with my wardrobe, even if it was initially more expensive.

Quality...quality...quality.

 

Thats why I dont shop at the H&M's, Zara's, Top Shop's you see sprouting up, promising designer looks at discount pricing.

 

I call that crap "disposable clothing".  Clothing good for a few wears then you it's off to the garbage.

 

I look at it in a different way as well.....  I used to jump at J Crew's final sale merchandise, and then like those cheap shoes mentioned above, I never ended up wearing half of it more than a few times cause I had bought it because it was cheap.  Well, I've sworn off final sales now (unless there is something that I had been contemplating buying anyway at full price), and I'm much happier with my wardrobe, even if it was initially more expensive.

 

I bet your wardrobe last more seasons and you can marry it with other separates as well.

 

If you are going to shop at one of those stores, make sure to purchase an item that can be worn in more than one way (business & casual) and can be multi-seasonal.

Quality...quality...quality.

 

Thats why I dont shop at the H&M's, Zara's, Top Shop's you see sprouting up, promising designer looks at discount pricing.

 

I call that crap "disposable clothing". Clothing good for a few wears then you it's off to the garbage.

 

I look at it in a different way as well..... I used to jump at J Crew's final sale merchandise, and then like those cheap shoes mentioned above, I never ended up wearing half of it more than a few times cause I had bought it because it was cheap. Well, I've sworn off final sales now (unless there is something that I had been contemplating buying anyway at full price), and I'm much happier with my wardrobe, even if it was initially more expensive.

 

I bet your wardrobe last more seasons and you can marry it with other separates as well.

 

If you are going to shop at one of those stores, make sure to purchase an item that can be worn in more than one way (business & casual) and can be multi-seasonal.

 

Always :).  I'm a budget-conscious graduate student, remember?  Someday I'll be able to afford all the clothes I want!

 

I do have to say, though, Ikea is great for dorms and stuff when you have to move a lot.  If you're shit's gonna take a beating, it's probably best to not be heirloom furniture.  That stuff has its place, but that place is not in my "adult" house!

Quality...quality...quality.

 

Thats why I dont shop at the H&M's, Zara's, Top Shop's you see sprouting up, promising designer looks at discount pricing.

 

I call that crap "disposable clothing".  Clothing good for a few wears then you it's off to the garbage.

 

I look at it in a different way as well.....  I used to jump at J Crew's final sale merchandise, and then like those cheap shoes mentioned above, I never ended up wearing half of it more than a few times cause I had bought it because it was cheap.  Well, I've sworn off final sales now (unless there is something that I had been contemplating buying anyway at full price), and I'm much happier with my wardrobe, even if it was initially more expensive.

 

I bet your wardrobe last more seasons and you can marry it with other separates as well.

 

If you are going to shop at one of those stores, make sure to purchase an item that can be worn in more than one way (business & casual) and can be multi-seasonal.

 

Always :) .  I'm a budget-conscious graduate student, remember?  Someday I'll be able to afford all the clothes I want!

 

I do have to say, though, Ikea is great for dorms and stuff when you have to move a lot.  If you're sh!t's gonna take a beating, it's probably best to not be heirloom furniture.  That stuff has its place, but that place is not in my "adult" house!

 

Our little girl has grown up.  I'm all verklempted.

 

Honey you can afford all those things now.  Two words  "trophy" "wife"!  :wink2:

Quality...quality...quality.

 

Thats why I dont shop at the H&M's, Zara's, Top Shop's you see sprouting up, promising designer looks at discount pricing.

 

I call that crap "disposable clothing". Clothing good for a few wears then you it's off to the garbage.

 

I look at it in a different way as well..... I used to jump at J Crew's final sale merchandise, and then like those cheap shoes mentioned above, I never ended up wearing half of it more than a few times cause I had bought it because it was cheap. Well, I've sworn off final sales now (unless there is something that I had been contemplating buying anyway at full price), and I'm much happier with my wardrobe, even if it was initially more expensive.

 

I bet your wardrobe last more seasons and you can marry it with other separates as well.

 

If you are going to shop at one of those stores, make sure to purchase an item that can be worn in more than one way (business & casual) and can be multi-seasonal.

 

Always :) . I'm a budget-conscious graduate student, remember? Someday I'll be able to afford all the clothes I want!

 

I do have to say, though, Ikea is great for dorms and stuff when you have to move a lot. If you're sh!t's gonna take a beating, it's probably best to not be heirloom furniture. That stuff has its place, but that place is not in my "adult" house!

 

Our little girl has grown up. I'm all verklempted.

 

Honey you can afford all those things now. Two words "trophy" "wife"! :wink2:

 

Hahaha.  Gotta get me some wife bling.  There's no cutting cost corners allowed there!  I'll never understand the whole giant CZ solitaire thing.  That jewelry is supposed to be a symbol of an important time in you're life.  Nothing says I love you like a giant fake diamond! 

Quality...quality...quality.

 

Thats why I dont shop at the H&M's, Zara's, Top Shop's you see sprouting up, promising designer looks at discount pricing.

 

I call that crap "disposable clothing".  Clothing good for a few wears then you it's off to the garbage.

 

I look at it in a different way as well.....  I used to jump at J Crew's final sale merchandise, and then like those cheap shoes mentioned above, I never ended up wearing half of it more than a few times cause I had bought it because it was cheap.  Well, I've sworn off final sales now (unless there is something that I had been contemplating buying anyway at full price), and I'm much happier with my wardrobe, even if it was initially more expensive.

 

I bet your wardrobe last more seasons and you can marry it with other separates as well.

 

If you are going to shop at one of those stores, make sure to purchase an item that can be worn in more than one way (business & casual) and can be multi-seasonal.

 

Always :) .  I'm a budget-conscious graduate student, remember?  Someday I'll be able to afford all the clothes I want!

 

I do have to say, though, Ikea is great for dorms and stuff when you have to move a lot.  If you're sh!t's gonna take a beating, it's probably best to not be heirloom furniture.  That stuff has its place, but that place is not in my "adult" house!

 

Our little girl has grown up.  I'm all verklempted.

 

Honey you can afford all those things now.  Two words  "trophy" "wife"!  :wink2:

 

Hahaha.  Gotta get me some wife bling.  There's no cutting cost corners allowed there!  I'll never understand the whole giant CZ solitaire thing.  That jewelry is supposed to be a symbol of an important time in you're life.  Nothing says I love you like a giant fake diamond! 

 

That my girl!  LOL  Show me your materialistic and obsessive side!  HA!!  Let her out!  You know you want to.  Come to the dark side! 

 

It's strange you said that, about a month ago, this woman asked me where I got my diamond earrings.  I rarely wear earrings as I'm too lazy to put them in, rather, take them out or I'll lose them.  I told her they were a gift from my aunt.  I purposely didn't say where they were from since as I figured she would believe me anyway.  She then says, "Oh OK, I'm looking for something like that for my son and those are nice and look real.  If I didn't know any better I would think they were real diamonds."

 

I just looked at her and rolled my eyes.

Sometimes "discount" can also equal "quality." We got our baby furniture, including the crib, at Ikea.  It was one of the very highest rated for safety and with no recalls, unlike most of the other manufacturers you'd see at places like BRU and Target, where people generally register.  We were able to buy 4 pieces of furniture for him there for the price of one crib at BRU.  I see cribs from places like BRU recalled in almost every issue of Parents and on my CPSC recalls emails.

 

But in terms of shoes, I am learning that at least for my now old, wider feet, I have to pay more and buy fewer, there's no point to having a bunch of cheap shoes that I never wear.

Sometimes "discount" can also equal "quality." We got our baby furniture, including the crib, at Ikea.  It was one of the very highest rated for safety and with no recalls, unlike most of the other manufacturers you'd see at places like BRU and Target, where people generally register.  We were able to buy 4 pieces of furniture for him there for the price of one crib at BRU.  I see cribs from places like BRU recalled in almost every issue of Parents and on my CPSC recalls emails.

 

But in terms of shoes, I am learning that at least for my now old, wider feet, I have to pay more and buy fewer, there's no point to having a bunch of cheap shoes that I never wear.

RNR, you're correct.  I didn't mean to say that all "discount" or "budget" stores sold merchandise that was of lesser quality.

 

As I've said before, "it's not where you shop, but what you buy."

Sometimes "discount" can also equal "quality." We got our baby furniture, including the crib, at Ikea. It was one of the very highest rated for safety and with no recalls, unlike most of the other manufacturers you'd see at places like BRU and Target, where people generally register. We were able to buy 4 pieces of furniture for him there for the price of one crib at BRU. I see cribs from places like BRU recalled in almost every issue of Parents and on my CPSC recalls emails.

 

But in terms of shoes, I am learning that at least for my now old, wider feet, I have to pay more and buy fewer, there's no point to having a bunch of cheap shoes that I never wear.

 

Plus baby furniture isn't something that's going to get more than a couple years' use (multiplied by however many little RNR's there are).  I look at baby furniture similar to the way I look at dorm furniture.

there's a similar article out about why "cheap" food is really not cheap.

 

www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1917458,00.html

there's a similar article out about why "cheap" food is really not cheap.

 

www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1917458,00.html

 

Ugh.  Articles like that make me not want to eat.  Sometimes I try not to think of where my food has come from, especially when it comes to chinese take-out, lol.

The bargain hunting nature of Americans has led to some really interesting economics.  But really, all that's happened is that everything is designed with efficiency in mind rather than aesthetic or functionality.  It doesn't matter what the product looks like or woks like, so long as it can be made and distributed efficiently.  People, of course, always have the choice of ignoring the products that follow these lines, and many do. 

 

Some economists and politicians have argued that discount goods benefit America's poor. Shell disagrees. Prices on necessities are rarely lowered much, she says. Second, low prices at stores such as Walmart depend on paying low wages to workers, who in turn can't afford to shop anywhere else. "The poor benefit the discounting industry far more than the discounting industry benefits the poor," she writes.

 

This part is brought up a lot by the Walmart haters.  Without Walmart, do we really think a lot of those people would have jobs elsewhere?  Probably not.  The world in which they would all be craftsman and build our furniture and make our clothes like their grandparents did is a fantasy world at best.  The reason? The population is too high for the economics of 100 years ago to work today.

Sometimes "discount" can also equal "quality." We got our baby furniture, including the crib, at Ikea.  It was one of the very highest rated for safety and with no recalls, unlike most of the other manufacturers you'd see at places like BRU and Target, where people generally register.  We were able to buy 4 pieces of furniture for him there for the price of one crib at BRU.  I see cribs from places like BRU recalled in almost every issue of Parents and on my CPSC recalls emails.

 

But in terms of shoes, I am learning that at least for my now old, wider feet, I have to pay more and buy fewer, there's no point to having a bunch of cheap shoes that I never wear.

 

Plus baby furniture isn't something that's going to get more than a couple years' use (multiplied by however many little RNR's there are).  I look at baby furniture similar to the way I look at dorm furniture.

 

Me too.  I got the kids baby furntire out the garbage and refinished it.  That was my best work.

there's a similar article out about why "cheap" food is really not cheap.

 

www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1917458,00.html

 

Ugh. Articles like that make me not want to eat. Sometimes I try not to think of where my food has come from, especially when it comes to chinese take-out, lol.

 

That, to me, is like people who refuse to balance their check books or look at their financial picture overall because they're scared to.  You can't fix it if you can't face it.  JMO.  It's not that hard to make different food choices and still eat the things you love without buying factory-farmed meat or paying $40 for a chicken at Whole Paycheck.

there's a similar article out about why "cheap" food is really not cheap.

 

www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1917458,00.html

 

Ugh. Articles like that make me not want to eat. Sometimes I try not to think of where my food has come from, especially when it comes to chinese take-out, lol.

 

That, to me, is like people who refuse to balance their check books or look at their financial picture overall because they're scared to. You can't fix it if you can't face it. JMO. It's not that hard to make different food choices and still eat the things you love without buying factory-farmed meat or paying $40 for a chicken at Whole Paycheck.

 

Yeah, I mean, I try to get the Nature's Basket meat and what not at Giant Eagle.....  But it's mostly eating out that gets me.  I like a lot of variety in my food, so I can't keep going to the same organic restaurants over and over again....  Ideally I'd love to cook every night, but sometimes the energy just isn't there.  There's a lot readily available in stores nowadays, but the restaurant change is still up-and-coming.

there's a similar article out about why "cheap" food is really not cheap.

 

www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1917458,00.html

 

Ugh.  Articles like that make me not want to eat.  Sometimes I try not to think of where my food has come from, especially when it comes to chinese take-out, lol.

 

That, to me, is like people who refuse to balance their check books or look at their financial picture overall because they're scared to.  You can't fix it if you can't face it.  JMO.  It's not that hard to make different food choices and still eat the things you love without buying factory-farmed meat or paying $40 for a chicken at Whole Paycheck.

 

Yeah, I mean, I try to get the Nature's Basket meat and what not at Giant Eagle.....  But it's mostly eating out that gets me.  I like a lot of variety in my food, so I can't keep going to the same organic restaurants over and over again....  Ideally I'd love to cook every night, but sometimes the energy just isn't there.  There's a lot readily available in stores nowadays, but the restaurant change is still up-and-coming.

 

Sweetie, two additional words to go to with the two I taught you earlier.  "domestic" & "staff".  ;)    Ladies, these tips are free.  LOL  Make a man pay to keep you happy.

I agree, though it's getting better, a lot of the more "sustainable/local" restaurants here can be very expensive. We already limit going out to eat as much as possible so we can be a little more selective when we do go. That doesn't mean I'm above getting some takeout from the Macaroni Grill occasionally, but it's rarer and rarer.  I find that most of the time, the $ we spend going out just isn't worth it as the food isn't that good - my recent meal at L'Albatross a big exception.

 

You'd get much better deals on meat, meat which has traveled much shorter distances from farm to table, by getting it at the west side market instead of giant eagle.  I can tell you where the farm is where my pork is raised, where my thanksgiving turkey comes from, etc.

there's a similar article out about why "cheap" food is really not cheap.

 

www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1917458,00.html

 

Ugh. Articles like that make me not want to eat. Sometimes I try not to think of where my food has come from, especially when it comes to chinese take-out, lol.

 

That, to me, is like people who refuse to balance their check books or look at their financial picture overall because they're scared to. You can't fix it if you can't face it. JMO. It's not that hard to make different food choices and still eat the things you love without buying factory-farmed meat or paying $40 for a chicken at Whole Paycheck.

 

Yeah, I mean, I try to get the Nature's Basket meat and what not at Giant Eagle..... But it's mostly eating out that gets me. I like a lot of variety in my food, so I can't keep going to the same organic restaurants over and over again.... Ideally I'd love to cook every night, but sometimes the energy just isn't there. There's a lot readily available in stores nowadays, but the restaurant change is still up-and-coming.

 

Sweetie, two additional words to go to with the two I taught you earlier. "domestic" & "staff". ;) Ladies, these tips are free. LOL   Make a man pay to keep you happy.

 

Hahaha, perhaps when those pesky student loan payments are finished, and I have a real paycheck myself.

 

And, I'll be the first to admit I drop the ball when it comes to going to the WS Market.  Saturdays are my only day to sleep in, and laziness usually takes over.

 

With regards to restaurants, though, I applaud chipotle on what they're doing with their ingredients while still maintaining fast food prices.

I agree, though it's getting better, a lot of the more "sustainable/local" restaurants here can be very expensive. We already limit going out to eat as much as possible so we can be a little more selective when we do go. That doesn't mean I'm above getting some takeout from the Macaroni Grill occasionally, but it's rarer and rarer.  I find that most of the time, the $ we spend going out just isn't worth it as the food isn't that good - my recent meal at L'Albatross a big exception.

 

You'd get much better deals on meat, meat which has traveled much shorter distances from farm to table, by getting it at the west side market instead of giant eagle.  I can tell you where the farm is where my pork is raised, where my thanksgiving turkey comes from, etc.

 

I think that is nice and responsible, but makes me feel uncomfortable.  Like I have a personal bond with my meat. 

Even though I understand what the author's trying to say, I still can't bring myself to agree with her, or at least not across the board.

 

The discount craze is basically at its most harmful when one thinks of buying things that could last a very long time: furniture, jewelry, etc. (to say nothing of a house or car).  However, that still leaves a tremendous amount of categories of goods for which discount shopping makes perfect sense.  In addition, as someone already mentioned, sometimes it simply doesn't even make lifestyle sense, let alone economic sense, to be plunking down $8000 at Arhaus or Crate & Barrel or whatever now for furniture.  I've got a medium-high income and my living room furniture is still mostly Craigslist fare or giveaways from people who didn't want to take things with them when they moved.  When I have a more permanent abode, I'll think about getting more permanent furniture.

 

Also, I don't know where Shell is looking to see that prices on necessities aren't frequently discounted at discount stores.  I can tell you that buying rolls of paper towels, toothpaste, razors, etc. at Wal-Mart has been substantially cheaper than buying them at a smaller, more local, less logistically advanced operation.

 

Finally, with respect to her point about the focus switching from the item to the deal: I think the focus was always on the deal.  The costs and benefits of different kinds of deals just changed.  The concept of focusing on getting the most bang for your buck--which is all that focusing on the deal rather than the object itself means, in practice--has been with us since the inception of barter.  In fact, despite lamenting this allegedly pernicious focus on the "deal," the whole rest of her argument is basically an attempt to convince the reader that the "deal" isn't as good as it might appear at first glance.  She'd probably be more convincing if she dropped this fiction that focusing on good deals instead of good products (even at outrageous prices) is bad and instead just admitted that her real point is that certain transactions may not get as much bang for the buck just because they involve fewer bucks.

I agree, though it's getting better, a lot of the more "sustainable/local" restaurants here can be very expensive. We already limit going out to eat as much as possible so we can be a little more selective when we do go. That doesn't mean I'm above getting some takeout from the Macaroni Grill occasionally, but it's rarer and rarer. I find that most of the time, the $ we spend going out just isn't worth it as the food isn't that good - my recent meal at L'Albatross a big exception.

 

You'd get much better deals on meat, meat which has traveled much shorter distances from farm to table, by getting it at the west side market instead of giant eagle. I can tell you where the farm is where my pork is raised, where my thanksgiving turkey comes from, etc.

 

I think that is nice and responsible, but makes me feel uncomfortable. Like I have a personal bond with my meat.

 

I think what it makes you feel is RESPONSIBLE, and that makes you uncomfortable.  And you ARE responsible.  I just think you should own up and take responsibility for making the choice to eat what you eat, and I personally am thankful to the farmers who raised the animal and to the butcher who prepared it so that I could take it home and cook it, since we don't live in a society where it would be feasible for most of us to do this ourselves like people used to when there were more farmers, or at least when the majority of people had small family farms with a chicken or two and some vegetables.  I think you should choose food responsibly and own up to the choice you make in eating it.  But that's just me, I know everyone isn't like that.  Buying a package of boneless, skinless chicken breasts is about as far away from actually having to acknowledge that you are eating an animal that someone raised and which gave it's life so you could be nourished, and I just don't like living with my head in the sand.  About anything.

Sometimes "discount" can also equal "quality." We got our baby furniture, including the crib, at Ikea. It was one of the very highest rated for safety and with no recalls, unlike most of the other manufacturers you'd see at places like BRU and Target, where people generally register. We were able to buy 4 pieces of furniture for him there for the price of one crib at BRU. I see cribs from places like BRU recalled in almost every issue of Parents and on my CPSC recalls emails.

 

But in terms of shoes, I am learning that at least for my now old, wider feet, I have to pay more and buy fewer, there's no point to having a bunch of cheap shoes that I never wear.

 

Plus baby furniture isn't something that's going to get more than a couple years' use (multiplied by however many little RNR's there are). I look at baby furniture similar to the way I look at dorm furniture.

 

Our crib and car seat (the pumpkin seat) is going on 6 years at constant use being that we've a new baby every two years.  The crib is from IKEA.  I must say, alot of baby furniture is very sturdy from IKEA.  The only problems with it our the bite marks from the kids (no lead paint). 

 

Also, tools bought from harbor Freight in Parma Heights have lasted me about 5 years.  I bought a sawsall there in 2002 for $19.99, and I am still using it quite regulary.

 

I think what it makes you feel is RESPONSIBLE, and that makes you uncomfortable.  And you ARE responsible.  I just think you should own up and take responsibility for making the choice to eat what you eat, and I personally am thankful to the farmers who raised the animal and to the butcher who prepared it so that I could take it home and cook it, since we don't live in a society where it would be feasible for most of us to do this ourselves like people used to when there were more farmers, or at least when the majority of people had small family farms with a chicken or two and some vegetables.  I think you should choose food responsibly and own up to the choice you make in eating it.  But that's just me, I know everyone isn't like that.  Buying a package of boneless, skinless chicken breasts is about as far away from actually having to acknowledge that you are eating an animal that someone raised and which gave it's life so you could be nourished, and I just don't like living with my head in the sand.  About anything.

 

I want to support local farms and markets, I just dont need to know which. I know that sound dumb-as-hell, as the farmer my product/produce was raised/grown may not be up to snuff.

 

Its psychological. When I was a kid, we took a trip to my uncles place in Panama.  There is a farm there.  We helped feed the animals and do all the stuff you do out in the country. Milk a cow, feed the chickens, pick eggs.  You know stuff city kids don't do.  We played with the pigs and named one (IIRC) Gabriel or Gabby or something that starts with a G.  My uncle slaughtered a pig we had played with and named.  It didn't register with us kids that "Gabriel" was on the spit until after we ate him.

If it's enough to you to know they're local, that makes sense to me. You're not shopping completely oblivious of where the food came from and have some connection to where it was raised and processed.  That's not "head in the sand."

Sometimes "discount" can also equal "quality." We got our baby furniture, including the crib, at Ikea.  It was one of the very highest rated for safety and with no recalls, unlike most of the other manufacturers you'd see at places like BRU and Target, where people generally register.  We were able to buy 4 pieces of furniture for him there for the price of one crib at BRU.  I see cribs from places like BRU recalled in almost every issue of Parents and on my CPSC recalls emails.

 

But in terms of shoes, I am learning that at least for my now old, wider feet, I have to pay more and buy fewer, there's no point to having a bunch of cheap shoes that I never wear.

 

Plus baby furniture isn't something that's going to get more than a couple years' use (multiplied by however many little RNR's there are).  I look at baby furniture similar to the way I look at dorm furniture.

 

Our crib and car seat (the pumpkin seat) is going on 6 years at constant use being that we've a new baby every two years.  The crib is from IKEA.  I must say, alot of baby furniture is very sturdy from IKEA.  The only problems with it our the bite marks from the kids (no lead paint). 

 

Feed the members of the tribe man, or do I need to call the county?  ;)

Quality...quality...quality.

 

Thats why I dont shop at the H&M's, Zara's, Top Shop's you see sprouting up, promising designer looks at discount pricing.

 

I call that crap "disposable clothing".  Clothing good for a few wears then you it's off to the garbage.

I understand the difference between what they sell at the above stores and the stores on say...Madison Avenue. It's great if you can afford to pay top dollar, but how can a shirt--any shirt--unless it's made with gold thread and platinum buttons (can you imagine??)--be worth $600?!?! It's just not possible. Please explain.

I will second (or third) that the baby furniture from Ikea is sturdy and a good deal. Part of the sturdyness is that they don't try and cram all of the features into a crib that the other manufactures do. More moving parts equals more problems.

 

Our house is a mish mash. Spent the money on good couches that will hold up to three boys and two large dogs, lots of antique or hand me downs. Ikea bedroom furniture in our room that hasn't held up too well, probably because it was moved 4 times. I have been happy with the World Market assemble it your self furniture, it genuinely seems to be sturdy if put together correctly, our kitchen table is from there. I have a 100 year old dining room table that I need to get out of storage at my wife's grandmothers.

 

 

Quality...quality...quality.

 

Thats why I dont shop at the H&M's, Zara's, Top Shop's you see sprouting up, promising designer looks at discount pricing.

 

I call that crap "disposable clothing".  Clothing good for a few wears then you it's off to the garbage.

I understand the difference between what they sell at the above stores and the stores on say...Madison Avenue. It's great if you can afford to pay top dollar, but how can a shirt--any shirt--unless it's made with gold thread and platinum buttons (can you imagine??)--be worth $600?!?! It's just not possible. Please explain.

 

Yeah.  The most I've paid for a shirt is $50, and I look damn good in it  :mrgreen:.  Ironically, it was on Madison Ave.

Quality...quality...quality.

 

Thats why I dont shop at the H&M's, Zara's, Top Shop's you see sprouting up, promising designer looks at discount pricing.

 

I call that crap "disposable clothing".  Clothing good for a few wears then you it's off to the garbage.

I understand the difference between what they sell at the above stores and the stores on say...Madison Avenue. It's great if you can afford to pay top dollar, but how can a shirt--any shirt--unless it's made with gold thread and platinum buttons (can you imagine??)--be worth $600?!?! It's just not possible. Please explain.

 

It makes you invincible?

 

Seriously though I basically consider the cost of a custom tailored shirt to be the limit. Whatever that may cost in your city. After that you are paying for hype.

 

The population is too high for the economics of 100 years ago to work today.

 

I completely disagree.  Why would it have worked for nearly 100 million (around 1910), but can't work for 300 million?  There would be 3 times as many potential craftsmen, etc.  The reason it doesn't work has nothing to do with the population, but the fact that we have figured out how to lower prices with economies of scale, and most people deem the loss of customer service and (often times) quality to be worth that lower price (boo).

Quality...quality...quality.

 

Thats why I dont shop at the H&M's, Zara's, Top Shop's you see sprouting up, promising designer looks at discount pricing.

 

I call that crap "disposable clothing".  Clothing good for a few wears then you it's off to the garbage.

I understand the difference between what they sell at the above stores and the stores on say...Madison Avenue. It's great if you can afford to pay top dollar, but how can a shirt--any shirt--unless it's made with gold thread and platinum buttons (can you imagine??)--be worth $600?!?! It's just not possible. Please explain.

 

Easy. (Gather close kids.)  It's the label that cost the additional $500. 

 

The label is the most expense and most important part of any garment.  ;)

Quality...quality...quality.

 

Thats why I dont shop at the H&M's, Zara's, Top Shop's you see sprouting up, promising designer looks at discount pricing.

 

I call that crap "disposable clothing".  Clothing good for a few wears then you it's off to the garbage.

I understand the difference between what they sell at the above stores and the stores on say...Madison Avenue. It's great if you can afford to pay top dollar, but how can a shirt--any shirt--unless it's made with gold thread and platinum buttons (can you imagine??)--be worth $600?!?! It's just not possible. Please explain.

 

Easy. (Gather close kids.)  It's the label that cost the additional $500. 

 

The label is the most expense and most important part of any garment.  ;)

so surely there must be a maker who can make the same ($600) shirt without the label and charge a normal price; but since H&M, etc. doesn't provide the same quality, where do you go? And athough I doubt you shop at Century 21, their price tags always show the (alleged) original, outlandish price which is then heavily discounted. I always wonder how honest they are about those...

The label is the most expense and most important part of any garment.  ;)

so surely there must be a maker who can make the same ($600) shirt without the label and charge a normal price; but since H&M, etc. doesn't provide the same quality, where do you go? And athough I doubt you shop at Century 21, their price tags always show the (alleged) original, outlandish price which is then heavily discounted. I always wonder how honest they are about those...

 

Well I'm a label Queen. I've been a shopalholic label Queen since I was 13!  You know where I shop!  ;)

 

Dahling....how wrong you are.  Just this past weekend, I pulled out my passport and went to the C21 in Brooklyn.  Let me tell you, those people have no idea what good bargains and labels are right in their backyard.  I also, shop at TJSaxx in Cleveland, the TJMaxx in NYC are garbage - avoid them!  I've purchased Valentino, Gucci, Armani and Hugo Boss suits at ValueCity.

 

I dont got to C21 on weekends, because of all the tourist and B&T people that go there.  The weekday morning around 7 AM is the best time to go.

 

Again, it's not were you shop but what you buy.

The label is the most expense and most important part of any garment.  ;)

ROFLMAO!  Well some the kids don't know that.

I recently went to TJ Maxx for the first time in years, to return some things we got for the baby that we did not need, and was shocked at the clothing. almost everything is super casual and almost no "brand" names I recognized other than in jeans. Does nobody work in an office anymore? You used to be able to go there and buy discounted suits and stuff for work, they had NO suits at all, limited dresses, and everything else was casual.  Plus it just looked dirty and dumpy in there.  WTF.

I recently went to TJ Maxx for the first time in years, to return some things we got for the baby that we did not need, and was shocked at the clothing. almost everything is super casual and almost no "brand" names I recognized other than in jeans. Does nobody work in an office anymore? You used to be able to go there and buy discounted suits and stuff for work, they had NO suits at all, limited dresses, and everything else was casual.  Plus it just looked dirty and dumpy in there.  WTF.

 

Which TJMAXX???

For a long time, Sears was the dominant retailer in America and in the late 80s/early 90s they were overtaken by Walmart. Compare the quality of Sears house brands even today with that Walmart's brands. Mass-market clothing seems to be made ever cheaper and much with entirely too much spandex so on clothes Sears and Walmart have basically sold the basics, but Kenmore and Craftsman are still highly ranked in their areas.

I recently went to TJ Maxx for the first time in years, to return some things we got for the baby that we did not need, and was shocked at the clothing. almost everything is super casual and almost no "brand" names I recognized other than in jeans. Does nobody work in an office anymore? You used to be able to go there and buy discounted suits and stuff for work, they had NO suits at all, limited dresses, and everything else was casual. Plus it just looked dirty and dumpy in there. WTF.

 

Which TJMAXX???

 

Strongsville. It's seriously a DUMP.

Honestly, sears garments were just as cheap as walmart, what got people in the stores is and was their appliances and auto shops.

I never remember being impressed by Sears clothing either, unless you count Toughskins(?) jeans when I was four that had reinforced knees....

 

I can't speak for their tools but I know the Kenmore appliances are mostly made by other manufactures now.

 

However my retired neighbors next door still have a 30+ year old 40-in wide Kenmore range with duel ovens and a built in griddle that is still going strong and puts most ranges today to shame.

I recently went to TJ Maxx for the first time in years, to return some things we got for the baby that we did not need, and was shocked at the clothing. almost everything is super casual and almost no "brand" names I recognized other than in jeans. Does nobody work in an office anymore? You used to be able to go there and buy discounted suits and stuff for work, they had NO suits at all, limited dresses, and everything else was casual.  Plus it just looked dirty and dumpy in there.  WTF.

 

Which TJMAXX???

 

Strongsville. It's seriously a DUMP.

 

The NO store is better.  Or try the Parma store.  The Broadview store isn't that bad, unless the traffic on 77 is bad.

I never remember being impressed by Sears clothing either, unless you count Toughskins(?) jeans when I was four that had reinforced knees....

 

I can't speak for their tools but I know the Kenmore appliances are mostly made by other manufactures now.

 

However my retired neighbors next door still have a 30+ year old 40-in wide Kenmore range with duel ovens and a built in griddle that is still going strong and puts most ranges today to shame.

 

Back in the day their major partnership was with GE.  There is huge difference between today's Kenmore and yesteryears.  Now the Kenmore brand is fueled by the "professional" grade appliances.  They are very very nice.

I recently went to TJ Maxx for the first time in years, to return some things we got for the baby that we did not need, and was shocked at the clothing. almost everything is super casual and almost no "brand" names I recognized other than in jeans. Does nobody work in an office anymore? You used to be able to go there and buy discounted suits and stuff for work, they had NO suits at all, limited dresses, and everything else was casual. Plus it just looked dirty and dumpy in there. WTF.

 

Which TJMAXX???

 

Strongsville. It's seriously a DUMP.

 

The NO store is better. Or try the Parma store. The Broadview store isn't that bad, unless the traffic on 77 is bad.

 

I went to the NO store once I had a gift card for the returns because I couldn't find anything to buy in the Strongsville store. It was not much better in NO.  It was cleaner, but the selection of clothing was equally awful.

I recently went to TJ Maxx for the first time in years, to return some things we got for the baby that we did not need, and was shocked at the clothing. almost everything is super casual and almost no "brand" names I recognized other than in jeans. Does nobody work in an office anymore? You used to be able to go there and buy discounted suits and stuff for work, they had NO suits at all, limited dresses, and everything else was casual.  Plus it just looked dirty and dumpy in there.  WTF.

 

Which TJMAXX???

 

Strongsville. It's seriously a DUMP.

 

The NO store is better.  Or try the Parma store.  The Broadview store isn't that bad, unless the traffic on 77 is bad.

 

I went to the NO store once I had a gift card for the returns because I couldn't find anything to buy in the Strongsville store. It was not much better in NO.  It was cleaner, but the selection of clothing was equally awful.

 

I've always had good luck there.  The Mentor, woodmere and biddulph stores are the best. 

I buy Woolrich and Eddie Bauer clothing.  I wash them in a front-loading automatic washer following the manufacturer's instructions and they last a long, long time.  Patagonia is rugged too, but I don't like their styling as much.  LL Bean sells good products, too.

the Woodmere store is great, if you get there when the goods are delivered. 15 minutes later it's like a hurricane blew through. Bunch of bargain hunting yenta's rolling around the floor fighting over a handbag.

 

 

the Woodmere store is great, if you get there when the goods are delivered. 15 minutes later it's like a hurricane blew through. Bunch of bargain hunting yenta's rolling around the floor fighting over a handbag.

 

 

 

100% accurate.  Its not only the yenta's the catholic's are there as well.