High quality-high cost vs lower quality-lower cost

[djhep]

Good day all....
I've been using a reasonable mid price bike work stand for past 10 years or so, but unfortunately it was becoming a PIA to use due to worn clamps etc.

I bit the bullet a few days ago and bought myself a Park tool bike stand.
It's very stable in comparison to the old one, and everything about it just works that bit better.
Basically i can now tilt the bike over at any angle and it doesn't wobble.
Also the build quality is such that it should last me out....(hope that is a good few years yet)
This is one of those times that i can say it was definitely worth paying the extra for better quality.

From a cycling point of view, what item have you bought where you really thought that it was worth the extra cost over a cheaper version that you previously owned?

Have a great weekend .

 

[ColinJ]

£8 unbranded headset: did not fit properly, so was too loose and clunky unless overtightened, and then it would barely turn!

£16 Ritchey headset: does fit, can be adjusted properly, doesn't clunk in use, and turns smoothly!

 

[Drago]

Generally speaking (I've no experience of their work stand), Park tools ain't all that and are actually priced above their usefulness and quality.

I'm still using an Aldi stand, works as good today as the 7 or 8 years ago In bought it.

There also comes a point where tools and accessories are priced massively beyond the market norm for items of comparable 'quality' but people are happy to pay to the name because of the imagined Kudos they think it brings. Rapha and Chris King are two prime examples, Park to a lesser extent.

Colin has it about right. There is usually a fairly sensible middle ground where items fit and work nicely, but don't suffer the stupid price tag of a trendy name. Ritchey, Halfords Pro, Madison etc.

 

[Tin Pot]

Halfords Pro pedal spanner. ( I sleep with it sometimes)

 

[Racing roadkill]

Good day all....
I've been using a reasonable mid price bike work stand for past 10 years or so, but unfortunately it was becoming a PIA to use due to worn clamps etc.

I bit the bullet a few days ago and bought myself a Park tool bike stand.
It's very stable in comparison to the old one, and everything about it just works that bit better.
Basically i can now tilt the bike over at any angle and it doesn't wobble.
Also the build quality is such that it should last me out....(hope that is a good few years yet)
This is one of those times that i can say it was definitely worth paying the extra for better quality.

From a cycling point of view, what item have you bought where you really thought that it was worth the extra cost over a cheaper version that you previously owned?

Have a great weekend .

Nothing. If you know what to look for, you shouldn't have to spend more than you want to. There's a lot of bike related stuff out there which works every bit as well as a branded / labelled alternative, which costs much more. There are also a lot of manufacturers out there that will provide whatever the market wants, and will price accordingly. I use cycling as a means of transport primarily, ergo I don't need to spend loads more than I need to, and indeed the only real advantage of doing so, is having cock wombling rights at the water cooler. My bikes take a hammering over the year, I've found a lot of kit, that takes the hammering, without costing too much. Sure some of it hasn't got 'labels' on it, but it's technically every bit the measure of some similar kit, with names on, yet doesn't cost as much. Value for money is what drives me. If I did cycling as more of a sport, I might get into labels and bling and / or need the minuscule cost for gain. However, I don't, so I won't

 

[numbnuts]

My wife was cheap.....and no it didn't last

 

[TheDoctor]

The amount of use I've had from my Brompton makes it the best value of any bike I've ever bought.
Yes, it wasn't cheap, but buying it on C2W helped, and even after eight years use I could sell it at a handy profit.
Not that I ever would.

 

[derrick]

At the end of the day you get what you pay for.

 

[Dan B]

At the end of the day you get what you pay for.

Unless it's a hotel breakfast

 

[srw]

Cheap jokes are rarely funny.

Reading this post without the one it quotes makes it self-referential and a lot funnier.

 

[ColinJ]

At the end of the day you get what you pay for.

I paid £500 for a washing machine over 20 years ago, when that was worth a lot more than £500 is now. It developed a fault after a few months. Repaired under warranty. And again. And again. And again ... It went wrong again a couple of days after the warranty expired so I scrapped it.

I bought a washing machine for under £200 over 2 years ago. Not a single problem with it ...

So ... I don't agree that spending lots of cash is the way to guarantee quality!

 

[numbnuts]

Cheap jokes are rarely funny.

I wasn't laughing, I think I cried less as a baby then when I was married.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Good day all....
I've been using a reasonable mid price bike work stand for past 10 years or so, but unfortunately it was becoming a PIA to use due to worn clamps etc.

I bit the bullet a few days ago and bought myself a Park tool bike stand.
It's very stable in comparison to the old one, and everything about it just works that bit better.
Basically i can now tilt the bike over at any angle and it doesn't wobble.
Also the build quality is such that it should last me out....(hope that is a good few years yet)
This is one of those times that i can say it was definitely worth paying the extra for better quality.

From a cycling point of view, what item have you bought where you really thought that it was worth the extra cost over a cheaper version that you previously owned?

Have a great weekend .

A Park stand - PCS9.

 

[derrick]

I paid £500 for a washing machine over 20 years ago, when that was worth a lot more than £500 is now. It developed a fault after a few months. Repaired under warranty. And again. And again. And again ... It went wrong again a couple of days after the warranty expired so I scrapped it.

I bought a washing machine for under £200 over 2 years ago. Not a single problem with it ...

So ... I don't agree that spending lots of cash is the way to guarantee quality!

You will always get the odd Friday afternoon build.

 

[ColinJ]

You will always get the odd Friday afternoon build.

I reckon they didn't complete the build on the original Friday, so they finished it a week later!