[jaredezz]

I tend to follow what I call the "toolbox rule," mostly because I've used it the most with tools. If I find I need something, I'll buy a cheap version of it, even if the cheap version is noticeably lower quality (which it almost always is). Then, if I use said cheap version enough that it either breaks or is no longer useful to me anymore, I'll buy a nicer one. It helps me justify the greater expense and demonstrates the need for it.

I've done this with umbrellas, camelbaks, tents, ski equipment, but mostly, as stated before, tools.

[RoyalHenOil]

For me, this only makes sense for some products. I will do it with reasonably inexpensive, short-lived products where I'm not sure how much use or wear they will get (e.g., drill bits).

But I will do my research and get the better product (which is not necessarily the more expensive product) in these cases:

- I already know that I will use it a lot and wear it out if it is not good. (An example of a tool that falls into this category, for me, would be a drill or a garden hose.)

- The poor quality variant won't (or won't just) wear out, but it will give me worse results and is barely fit for purpose. (An example would be a mitre saw or a sewing machine, where cheaper ones are inaccurate/finicky and ruin projects.)

[rcarr]

The counter approach to this is buying the branded version, and then if you're not using it as often as you thought you would, to sell it. It depends on a lot of factors such as age, condition, the product type etc but you can often sell branded products for 2/3 of what you paid for them on eBay, whereas unbranded or cheap products are very difficult to resell.

[hellisothers]

This is my approach and I generally enjoy nice products until I don’t: buy secondhand on eBay/CraigsList and sell it when/if I don’t need it anymore. The only problem is I notice I don’t feel a sense of “ownership” for most items I buy, it’s not really mine I’m just renting it until I sell it. I think this is largely fine, there are some items I intend to own forever (some film cameras and pens, couple tools) but I wonder if I’m using some of these products differently because I’d this mentality.

[aspyct]

I think that's smart, on paper at least.

What so you do about the cheap tools that turn out so bad that they cause damage?

For example, you get a cheap screwdriver, it breaks while you use it, and you end up making a hole in the cabinet you were trying to fix.

While the general approach sounds sane, it seems to me there are a lot of cases where going for the cheap version could cost a lot in collateral damage.

[mvdtnz]

That's not a remotely reasonable example. Cheap screwdrivers will fail to engage properly, wearing out fasteners, and they will break when being used as a lever or punch. But even the cheapest 100% pure Chinesium screwdriver is not going to break in the course of assembling a cabinet.

[countWSS]

> pure Chinesium screwdriver is not going to break in the course of assembling a cabinet.

Oh, how naive you can be? https://old.reddit.com/r/Chinesium/

[aspyct]

Yes, that was just an example to illustrate the "what if your cheap X causes collateral damage", which is a real thing.

Imagine you get a cheap drone for videography. It fails mid flight, falls and kills someone.

Bad tools can have consequences. What does parent commenter do about this?

[trilbyglens]

I think if your tools are causing an inferior outcome, you are likely already working at a higher level of craft expectation and wouldn't be buying cheap tools in the first place. If your tools are for a basic handyman toolbox you're likely to never need very high quality and expensive tools are a straight up waste of money.

[fsagx]

This was my standard mode for years until I had children. I remember a time I stood in the tool aisle at the hardware store considering the cheap tool and the nicer, name-brand tool, and went with what seemed to be the higher quality item because it may last to be passed down. I have many "vintage" tools in my tool boxes from my father and father-in-law that seem to be indestructible.

[mcbishop]

This really resonates. I've thrown away a lot of money, speculating on what future me will need.