Simple Things Worth Paying Too Much For

[myrdale]

Do you purchase anything, that even though it doesn't look good on paper, you're still willing to pay more?

I eat a good many eggs. For quite while now I have been purchasing the fancy named brand eggs. They are from free range chickens who have a diet of whole grains. The plastic box has two tops which flip apart.

A couple of weeks ago, I decided rather than pay upwards of $3.00 for the fancy eggs I had been eatting I would purchase the store brand instead, priced at $1.99.

Even though I checked the eggs at the store, the next day when I went to boil some, I had two that were cracked in the carton. While boiling I had another one crack open and ooze its contents into my water. Not to mention, even though these were "jumbo" eggs they were nearly half the size of my fancy eggs.

This past week I went back with the named brand eggs. Just tonight while boiling, I dropped one in the pot and heard a crack. Of course I knew I would be fishing its remains. I stood there waiting to see the egg come apart. To my surprize the egg did not rupture. Even though the shell was severally cracked, the membrane within the egg did not rupture.

I am throughly convinced that as far as eggs go, the named brand has scrambled the competition!

[maat55]

Aren't eggs high in colesterol? Your going to have a heart attack at a young age, so live it up.

[Daylily]

Fox River Sox! Great socks! A bit pricey for socks but I feel good about them because they are actually made in my home state. It seems there are so few textile items still made in the US.

[myrdale]

Aren't eggs high in colesterol? Your going to have a heart attack at a young age, so live it up.

Their is alot of debate on that one Maat55. AskMen has an excellent write up on eggs and health at:

eggs - AskMen.com

As for Fox River Socks, they are pricey! But I have a horrible problem of wearing holes in my cheap Dickies brand work socks. I may order a couple of pair and see how well they hold up.

[Troyrb]

My parents and grandparents all grew up eating eggs every morning for breakfast. My grandparents all died of old age and my parents have no heart issues. I think the science is still out on whether they are good or bad for you but everything in moderation is always a good idea.

As for brand name eggs. I have had both and I couldn't see much difference. That said I'm sure eggs that are from hormone free chickens are always the best idea. I can't see why the eggs cracking would have much to do with the quality. I have had cheep eggs and brand name eggs both burst in boiling water. I think that has more to do with the water temp. when you first put them on to boil and how fast you boil them. If they are cracked in the carton then it is a bad handling or packaging issue, thats all.

[project15]

I think you just got a bad dozen of those cheaper eggs. We only buy the cheap eggs and have had no problems with them. Granted, we check the carton before we purchase them and are careful when we transport them home. Wouldn't those expensive ones be harder to crack into a pan if you claim that the membrane is so thick? I have a hard enough time with the cheap eggs getting the membrane to split open without having pieces of the shell fall into my pan.

Anyways. Gasoline first came to mind for me. I love driving my car and motorcycle and even if gas gets more expensive, it'll still be worth it to me to buy it.

[GREENBACK]

I am throughly convinced that as far as eggs go, the named brand has scrambled the competition!

I have always bought the store brand and checked them at the store. I have never had any issues whatsoever. It ain't like the name brands are using magic chickens. You're paying that extra dollar for their advertising. I would do a little more research here.

[disneysteve]

Do you purchase anything, that even though it doesn't look good on paper, you're still willing to pay more?

This topic has come up before. It is all about VALUE vs. PRICE. Just because something is cheap doesn't make it a good deal. In fact, it often just means the item is poorly made and won't hold up and the better deal is buying the more costly product that will last.

I've posted this before, but it fits here. When my wife and I got married, we got a cheap set of cookware. It lasted a few years and then we had to replace it with another cheap set. That wore out soon enough and ultimately, we put out the money for a top quality set of Calphalon stainless. We've had it for about 4 years now and it still looks brand new. It cooks better. It cleans up easier and it shows zero signs of wear. It will probably be the last set we ever buy. It was worth every penny we paid for it.

[Radiance]

Aren't eggs high in colesterol? Your going to have a heart attack at a young age, so live it up.

My midwife told me that eggs only raise colesterol in the presence of other saturated fats on the diet. If you have an overall healthy diet (no white flours, no refined sugars, no fried foods) then you can gorge on eggs any day and your colesterol will not be affected.

It is all a balance.

My personal theory is that whan the body is healthy it is able to elliminate any extra colesterol entering the body. When we abuse on saturated fats we tinker with the body's ability to elliminate any extras and any toxins, including excesive colesterol. But that is just my personal theory

[Caoineag]

Most of the items I buy end up being cheaper in the long run by paying a little more.

Olive oil and Balsamic Vinegar are probably my big pay too much for items. We make homemade artisan bread and dip it in olive oil and the balsamic vinegar and we definitely prefer certain flavors. We have tried the cheaper stuff but it just doesn't come even close. Now for cooking we use the cheaper stuff but for dipping we pay top dollar (though we try to buy them on sale).

[disneysteve]

We have tried the cheaper stuff but it just doesn't come even close.

That's because the US refuses to adopt the international grading standards used in the rest of the world. "Extra virgin" means pretty much nothing in this country. They also don't have to state country of origin on olive oil sold in the US.

[Caoineag]

That's because the US refuses to adopt the international grading standards used in the rest of the world. "Extra virgin" means pretty much nothing in this country. They also don't have to state country of origin on olive oil sold in the US.

Yeah I have noticed the lack of standard on the balsamic too. When you go looking for the acidity, some have such a low amount that its not even close and then there are others that aren't even labelled. For dipping, we actually have one preferred import brand because the quality is consistently good.

[disneysteve]

Not only that, but many olive oils sold in the US aren't even pure olive oil. Especially store brands are often blended with other cheaper oils.

The same is probably true of balsamic. There are a couple of high end Italian restaurants that we go to. The balsamic that they serve is thick and syrupy. The stuff most stores sell is like water. No wonder the cheap stuff is $10 for 16oz and the good stuff is $50 for 4oz. They just aren't the same product.

[feh]

I pay more for decent alcohol, instead of whatever is cheapest. Same for beer - I'll gladly pay $8 for a six pack of imported or micro brew, instead of $11 for a 12 pack of swill.

[GREENBACK]

The same is probably true of balsamic. There are a couple of high end Italian restaurants that we go to. The balsamic that they serve is thick and syrupy. The stuff most stores sell is like water. No wonder the cheap stuff is $10 for 16oz and the good stuff is $50 for 4oz. They just aren't the same product.

I definitely know what you mean here. I bought the Wal Mart brand of Balsamic(private selection) and it's pretty much just like a mild cider vinegar. It's cheap but you aren't really getting a bargain.