I need ideas for reusing....

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

You know, I once bought a sun tea jar at my grocery store and it leaked at the spigot from day one. For some reason it did not occur to me to return it, though that store is accommodating about returns. I imagine I threw it away or recycled it if I was able to remove the plastic spigot.

In my case, I imagine it was a case of "look alike products," as cschin4 says. I know exactly what she is talking about. It looks like a sun tea jar, but it really isn't because it won't hold tea! It looks like an eraser but it really isn't because it won't erase. It looks like a sandal, but it really isn't because the strap over the foot comes unglued in the first week of wearing it. It looks like a pony-tail holder, but it really isn't because it has no elastic memory. It looks like an oven thermometer, but it really isn't, because it registers 50 degrees lower than the one that has been reliable for you.....

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.

[creditcardfree]

The sun tea jar is from Walmart, so quality may have been an issue. The glass seems thick enough.

The purchase was so spontaneous. I was excited that it was glass, since hot liquids and plastic are getting bad reviews lately. The glass ones do not stain like the plastic ones either.

It will be going back. I just need to dig through receipts to find the right one. If I remember right, it was only $5. Also, I need to decide whether to exchange or return.

[simpleyme]

last summer i bought 2 water guns from the dollars store, my son filled them with water and they leaked out every seam and they did not squirt at all

definitely a look alike item it looked like a water gun, had a tag declaring it a water gun but was not a water gun at all

I returned them for store credit next time I went

[disneysteve]

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.

[simpleyme]

I sometimes fill out surveys and they will ask "at what price would you question the quality of this product" I find that interesting as if they make a item too cheap people will perceive it as shoddy so they mark it up.

also a recent survey about toothpaste asked if I used "Premium toothpaste" then defined it as toothpaste that cost over 6 dollars a tube,I thought that was interesting as it was such a meaningless description not the way I would judge a product to be premium

[disneysteve]

I sometimes fill out surveys and they will ask "at what price would you question the quality of this product" I find that interesting as if they make a item too cheap people will perceive it as shoddy so they mark it up.

also a recent survey about toothpaste asked if I used "Premium toothpaste" then defined it as toothpaste that cost over 6 dollars a tube,I thought that was interesting as it was such a meaningless description not the way I would judge a product to be premium

My mother had been buying her Colgate toothpaste at the dollar store. She figured it was the same stuff they sold at Wal-Mart for 3 times more. Then there was a big recall because the stuff the dollar stores were selling turned out to be counterfeit and potentially dangerous.

As with all things, if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.

I think price perception is very true. That is part of the problem I sometimes have trying to explain generic medication to patients. Some people think it must not work as well since it is so much cheaper. How can the brand name be $100 and the generic be $4 if they are the same thing?

Of course, that can work the other way, too. I recently learned that the brokerage we have an account with charges a minimum of $70 for a stock trade, and it can be as much as $200. Of course, they are doing the exact same thing that online brokers do for under $10. So why would anyone use the high-priced broker?

[creditcardfree]

Walmart refunded my money for the sun tea jar. I pointed out the crack. No other questions asked. I will now be looking for another one of better quality.

Steve, when you are explaining the generic vs brand on prescriptions explain the cost of advertising, original research and development that the original developer had to incur to get the drug to market in the first place? I'd take a generic any day of the week to avoid paying the higher cost, but I completely understand the costs involved in the original drug costs.

[disneysteve]

Good for you for getting your money back.

And yes, I do explain all that stuff to patients. I also have a printed handout explaining generics that I give people who question the issue. Some people just can't be convinced though. They are positive that the generics are cheap because they are inferior in some way.

[antiver]

Crush it and put the crushed glass into another jar. Then put in either LED's and have a really cool lamp, or perhaps a candle (although that could get messy).

[creditcardfree]

Crush it and put the crushed glass into another jar. Then put in either LED's and have a really cool lamp, or perhaps a candle (although that could get messy).

Interesting idea. Although I would worry about getting cut or hurt in the process. Thanks for contributing.