[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Joan.of.the.Arch

Of course I'd rather pay bigger money for something of quality. But sometimes I cannot tell which item has quality until I put it to use. That is particularly so when I am buying an item for the first time....And where would I have gone to buy a quality sun tea jar? I have no idea.... Also, we know that price is not the guide on discerning quality.

You make a good point. Higher price doesn't guarantee quality, though I think there is definitely some correlation. I'd fully expect the dollar store item to be crap. I'd have somewhat higher expectations for the Wal-Mart item and much higher expectations for the Crate and Barrel item. Price is certainly a factor in quality.

I think the internet offers a wealth of information and reviews at a variety of sites. Before any significant purchase, I always do some online research. I did that a couple of years ago before we bought our ice cream maker. I read dozens of reviews and we've been very happy with the model we chose to buy. Had we just picked by looking at the different models in the store, the decision would have been different and uninformed.

And sometimes "quality" is a more personal decision. There are pricey kitchen items that I just don't care for. I don't like the way they feel in my hand and I prefer a version that I got considerably cheaper.

As for where to buy a good sun tea jar, if it was something I'd expect to use a fair amount, I'd check a good quality place like Crate and Barrel or Sur la Table or Kitchen Kapers. If it was something that would just get pulled out once or twice a year, I'd probably do something cheaper like Bed, Bath and Beyond or Target or Wal-Mart.