[harpseal]

Personally, I would rather pay a bit more for some things---if they actually worked and had a longer lifespan. I regularly buy things now and think of them as, pretty much, disposable. Irons, vacuums, blowdryers, phones, etc.

Other than the Zippo lighter finding things that actually work and have a long lifespan is not an easy task. I agree that it is sometimes a better buy to pay a little more for higher quality and maintainability but it does not seem to be supported by the market in many items.

[riri]

It is the mind set. Most Americans would rather buy the $15 and buy a new one every year or two. Which might ok if the $15 iron ever actually worked ok. But some of us would buy the $75.00 iron and be happy doing so if 1. it lasted a while and 2. It actually got hot and worked decently.

As I said I lived in Europe and the midset is very different. They don't even understand why we buy inferior products that barely get the job done.

In Germany,a completely unionized country and labor friendly (to put it mildly), I managed to get an iron that actually got hot ($45USD) a Bosch washer that actually got my clothes clean, front loading ($250) and the most incredible vacuum (Seimens $150 USD) that actually lasted, was metal and could pick up a golf ball from a foot away.

So, if completely unionized to death Germany can bring a German-made product to the table for a reasonable price why can't American corps do the same?

[ninenot]

How long does the CD player in your computer last?

Sure, it's cheap at $35.00, compared to the CD player in your living room. But you have to replace it every year.

China trash.