Better value for money than you thought ?

[Racing roadkill]

The less said about 'Ray Bans' the better, from my perspective. I spent loads on a nice pair of Aviators a couple of years ago. I also bought an identical looking pair of aviators from a stall in Camden. Guess which pair continually chucked their temples, and didn't last particularly well. It wasn't the knock offs from Camden.

 

[Milkfloat]

On a cycling note - my Gabba Jersey, I winced at the initial price but it is so superior to the other similar versions I tried that I would replace it immediately if I killed it. I would also say the same about my iPad.

 

[swee'pea99]

Fairy liquid. Accept no substitutes.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Miele vacuum cleaner .

We call ours the cockroach. It simply will not die, no matter what. Looks like carp, but hey, it's a vacuum, so isn't on show!

 

[Profpointy]

Festool power tools. Ridiculous money, especially for a gentleman amateur like myself, but once you buy the first one it's very hard to settle for Bosch Blue afterwards even at half the price. And Bosch Blue itself is pro grade.

Hilleberg tent. Again buttock clenching price and I only bought mine after two years of dithering. Now got two in different sizes.

Leitz binoculars (or zeiss for that matter) - a lot of money but the Krauts are still bloody good at optics. My full size leitz bins were off fleabay so merely very expensive rather than bonkers expensive. Still suberb though.

Crockett and Jones shoes. Ok they're not quite twice as good as top end Loakes but they are very nice. Most of mine have been 2nds so not quite as ruinous, but still not cheap.

By was of contrast my (excellent) car was £2.5k 7 years ago, so I'm all for good value, but am prepared, and by good fortune, able to pay for nice stuff where I feel it's justified

 

[Ian H]

A
*Coughs*

A BMW.

[anecdata alert] A BMW, admittedly only a 3 series, is the only new car I have owned that broke down (the old 5 was fine to 130k miles).

 

[Jody]

Proper Ray Bans.

Quality sunglasses are always a good purchase. You only get one pair of eyes

 

[Hill Wimp]

We call ours the cockroach. It simply will not die, no matter what. Looks like carp, but hey, it's a vacuum, so isn't on show!

I just wanted one that worked well and lasted the distance.

My Miele cat and dog vacuum is superb.

 

[ColinJ]

Miele vacuum cleaner and AEG washing machine.

I spent years relying on cheap machines that I ended up replacing rather regularly.

Wish I had spent out the money on these years ago. I would not have wasted so much money.

I spent over £500 on a washing machine in 1990 (when £500 was worth a lot more than it is today) and it broke 3 or 4 times during the warranty period. It failed again a couple of days after the end of the warranty so I scrapped it.

My current washing machine cost £200 and has been problem-free so far (2 years of use).

 

[Hill Wimp]

I spent over £500 on a washing machine in 1990 (when £500 was worth a lot more than it is today) and it broke 3 or 4 times during the warranty period. It failed again a couple of days after the end of the warranty so I scrapped it.

My current washing machine cost £200 and has been problem-free so far (2 years of use).

I have gone through 2 washing machines in 3 years. Both the cheap ones were in their warranty period and both died. AO gave me full a refund+ due to the amount of hassle I got with them so I put it towards my AEG. Couldn't be happier.

 

[Drago]

Walkers ready salted crisps. The price goes up and up, but the taste and freshness continue to be worth every penny.

 

[further]

Le Creuset pans,had ours for 40 years still going strong

 

[Dave 123]

Castelli- I was dismissive until all my dhb bibs started to become see through. I bought some Castelli bibs in the Wiggle sale and they are much better quality.
I will always buy them in a sale though!

 

[swee'pea99]

Le Creuset pans,had ours for 40 years still going strong

Check this:

I used a Le Creuset casserole dish I’d been given for Christmas for the first time, and when I washed it found a lot of odd black marks under the glaze.

Although it was secondhand – it had been purchased in a charity shop – Le Creuset sent me a freepost address label to send it back.

Its response was that the dish was old (pre-1978) and not covered by its lifetime guarantee policy, but that because of the exceptional condition and weirdness of the marks it would send me a new one.

I received that just a couple of days later. How about that?

KK, by email

 

[MichaelW2]

I used to flog binoculars to birdwatchers, mariners and peeping toms so I got to test and compare various brands. The Leica ones were totally outstanding and well worth the exhorbitant price.

My GF is slowly trying to upgrade my wardrobe from Go Outdoors to something with more cache. I do like the Paul Smith bicycle print shirt she bought me.