A few examples where more… is more

If you’ve read through everything we post here, you’ll have noticed a trend - we don’t believe in mass produced, lowest cost. In a nut shell, we have always felt that this mentality, both from the POV of consumers and that of manufactures, is ultimately destructive and only paves the way for lesser quality and design input. The rag trade is a fine example of this and there’s a good reason you only paid $20 for that T-shirt.

So when we, as consumers, discover something that adds and reinforces our belief, then we have to share it with you.

Example 1: Herman Miller Aeron chairs. We spend too much time on our collective arses, so doing so in a good chair is a prioirty. Around 8 years ago we bought our first Areon for a sum of cash that seemed way too much for a chair. It was bought though knowing it was as good as they told us, as friends and co-workers had been sitting on them before us. Come time to add another, 8 years on, and the opportunity popped up to ask about a small repair to the original. Nothing major, some of the foam had just broken down and needed replacing. While perfectly happy to pay for the service, imagine how impressed we were to find out there is a 12 year warranty on the chair and they took it away and fully repaired it all for free.

Contrast this to a family member who took the cheaper option when adding furniture to their office and decided to go with seemingly ‘good value’ furniture from a company that brought it in from Asia on order. In the same period of time, most of the chairs are shot and in need of replacing as you can bet your bottom dollar that there is no extended warranty.

Example 2: Oakley Juliet sunglasses. The insane amount of money paid for these full metal framed glasses at the time does seem insane still. When compared to the prices these days for Oakley’s plastic designs it does not seem that bad, but still….

So after almost 9 years of good wear, they have become a little saggy in the joints where the rubber has worn out. The question was asked to Oakley what can be done, and for $55 they’ll take the Juliets back and fully refurb the joints, with new rubber and rivets. That in itself is worth the initial outlay as they’ll be good for another 8 after the service. I bet they won’t do the same for plastic frames, that would probably be broken in anyway after 8 years.

Example 3: G-Star jeans: Pay the steep price for a set of G-Star Raw jeans and be happy in the knowledge that they have a full 6 month warranty on workmanship and materials. Not bad for a bit of clothing that gets worn into the ground in its first six months of life. If after six months they are still going, chances are they’ll keep on going strong.

So sure, one can disclaim all sorts of things here, but in all three cases the initial cash one spent is well worth it as the life of the product is extended by not only the quality and design but by great support service you would, and do, not get with ‘cheap’. There’s always a trade off but great support service can only exist if there is the money there to make it happen in the first place. That’s why a higher upfront cost can pay itself off long term, as what you buy lasts longer, and lasting longer means lower replacement cycles and reduces waste and resources.

Think about that.