Vent - is everything poorly made?

[Anonymous]

Gymboree leggings. Used to last a few seasons. Now last only through a few wearings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the short answer to your question is yes, everything is poorly made these days. It is far more lucrative for companies to make an inexpensive product that has to be replaced every year or two rather than an expensive product that lasts 10 years. I've been shopping for a new countertop microwave oven and the reviews on every single one of them pretty much say it will last 1-3 years.

FWIW, I have found the non-stick T-FAL pans to last longer than most others I have purchased. I use my 9" pan several times each day. I hand wash after each use and it lasts for 3-4 years. I then replace it. Each pan with a glass lid costs about $30 on Amazon. I also have 6" and 12" T-Fal pans that are doing very well.

I got sick of buying a $50-60 microwave oven every few years. The last one literally had a meltdown. So I went to a restaurant supply store and got a small commercial microwave for $200. I love it and it's a tank. It has ONE dial and is easy to clean. Maybe look at those?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the short answer to your question is yes, everything is poorly made these days. It is far more lucrative for companies to make an inexpensive product that has to be replaced every year or two rather than an expensive product that lasts 10 years. I've been shopping for a new countertop microwave oven and the reviews on every single one of them pretty much say it will last 1-3 years.

FWIW, I have found the non-stick T-FAL pans to last longer than most others I have purchased. I use my 9" pan several times each day. I hand wash after each use and it lasts for 3-4 years. I then replace it. Each pan with a glass lid costs about $30 on Amazon. I also have 6" and 12" T-Fal pans that are doing very well.

We've had two of these at work for over two years now. Each probably gets used 20-30 times a day. They've been great.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lg-2-0-cu-ft-full-size-microwave-stainless-steel/1792151.p?skuId=1792151

[Anonymous]

OP here. Glad I'm not alone!!! Great suggestions by the PP's. Keep "em" coming!

[Anonymous]

Yes OP! I've really noticed this too - and lately with towels. This is crazy, but I have a set of towels from when I was in college in the 80s that I've used for lo these 30+ years, and they still look beautiful - rich color, NO fraying whatsoever, perfect edges. I have many, many towels that I've bought since that time, and some of them started falling apart within weeks! It's crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes OP! I've really noticed this too - and lately with towels. This is crazy, but I have a set of towels from when I was in college in the 80s that I've used for lo these 30+ years, and they still look beautiful - rich color, NO fraying whatsoever, perfect edges. I have many, many towels that I've bought since that time, and some of them started falling apart within weeks! It's crazy.

Walmart now carries a line of cotton towels grown and manufactured in the US.

They seem to be very nice quality, soft and full.

I bought some recently and am hoping they hold up better than cheap chinese crap.

[Anonymous]

The buzzword for what you're looking for is "buy it for life."

[Anonymous]

Oh, and this is why we only drive Hondas and Toyotas.

[Anonymous]

Women's clothes - talbots, boden, White House black market (on a piece by piece basis) ll bean.
Kids clothes - hanna Anderson, Carter's, shoes keens and The Rack brand at Nordstrom Rack
Shoes - ferragamo (I know crazy expensive, but I buy on sale at the outlet and only own 4 pair of work shoes), frye
Furniture - tough one because this is also piece by piece, but Ethan Allen is solid if you want new. We buy a lot of real wood pieces from craigslist and antique store
We don't have a lot of small appliances
Kitchen items - kitchen Aid, la cruset,
Cars we always buy as low frills as possible but with comfort so honda crv without the high tech stuff. It's all the electronic stuff that breaks cars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The buzzword for what you're looking for is "buy it for life."

This - high quality costs more, but I have brand new looking shoes and boots that are over a decade old. Same with my classic burberry trench.

[Anonymous]

PP who talked about the towels, you are SO right. I cant find any decent towels and it's aggravating to think about how much I spent on towels that were scratchy and ugly after a couple months.

[Anonymous]

OP again. Crappy towels, sheets, and socks really grind my gears too!

Thanks for mentioning LL Bean. Who knew they make work-ish pants (good enough for my bus caz office)! I'd always thought their stuff was less than stylish but hey, maybe at my age I am also less than stylish

Also, I absolutely LOVE Frye. Their stuff is amazing and sometimes on sale via amazon. But expensive.