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Originally Posted by tgavin71
Without going into brand names how do you decide the quality of an item. With clothing and linens. Is it the stitching, the material.
WHat about furniture. Etc etc etc.
How about electronics?
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For clothes I look at the material (I prefer non made made material-cotton, etc.) I am not savvy enough to really look at stiching, etc. There are some brands I have had a good experience with-clothes loooking great after years.
Buying used clothes can really help here, believe it or not. If it's been throuh a few washings and the seams are still tight and the fabric looks good and it hasn't pilled, etc., it's a good sign to me that the quality is decent or better. Poor quality clothes don't make it to used racks looking good, even if they look fine on new racks.
Sheets, I go with cotton and a high thread count, at least 300. They seem to last a very long time.
Electronics/computer related I do an internet search and ask tech savvy friends. I just bought muy Guy a cheaper mp3 player that had very high ratings, so it was good value, and as Steve mentioned, I looked at features more than brand or price before I narrowd down. I knew what I needed as far as features and what would be nice, and it helped my search.
Furniture: I prefer older vintage furniture. I buy one piece every two or three years, and expect to have these a long time. If I am looking at garage sales, etc., I go for all wood and avoid press board, etc. I would get some IKEA if it was close to me.
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Originally Posted by tgavin71
I'd like to start buying more quality items to replace the make do stuff that I have been slowing getting rid of.
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I totally understand. That's what I have been doing with furniture for years. I will get by meeting my basic needs until "the" item comes along. I have bookcases I have used for 20 years (bought as a teenager, all unfinished pine). I have a nice armoire and vanity that are vintage-old wood just looks so warm, very different to me from new furniture, even very nice new fuirniture, I can't explain it. I won't buy anything new or pricey I don't like. We used a funky kitchen table with a tabelcoth for years until I got a beautiful hadn me down oak round table.
What has worked for me here is just being patient, and taking one step at a time. I recently, well two yeard ago, started buying some nicer shoes that cost more. I may buy one pair a year. I don't worry about repalcing all my cheap stuff at once.
And, to be sure, there are some items I don't mind being cheap at all. My goal isn't to replace all cheap items, just replace items I don't like as much or that aren't sturdy/beautiful etc.