Buying inferior products

[Brian Fein]

Update: I took Phishy's advice and called BB&B's customer service line and she said "we don't have a date for return deadline so as long as you have the original packaging, bring them to the store and we'll take care of it"

Of course, I saved the box they came in...   She said I don't even need a receipt but if I have it, it would be helpful so they can see what I paid for them.

I'm going to go over there tonight and see how it goes.  That's a company that stands behind their products (unlike crap-ass EASTON)

[run_to_win]

Has anyone bought a product based on brand name, word of mouth, reputation, etc, and found out that it sucks? 

A rant about overpriced crap that's "made in America" seems appropriate... 

[fyo]

What actually bothers me more than "accidentally" defective stuff is the over-designed, under-engineered crap that's sold these days based virtually solely on their aesthetics. I'm the "proud" owner of a brand-name (flat) toaster than doesn't get hot enough to toast a piece of white bread (let alone warm some pizza) even when set to "high" and max timer. It's also IMPOSSIBLE to take apart, except for removing the bottom crumb tray, but unfortunately they decided to make the sides inside the damn thing slope at a 30% angle and that part cannot be cleaned (and is very visible). OK, maybe hard to visualize, but annoying none-the-less.

I also have an insanely expensive top-brand, high-end design electric kettle that requires 10-15 minutes between each use (it'll simply switch off otherwise, presumably because the boiling-detection mechanism gets too hot and needs to cool down).

Add to that a hand mixer with a pathetically high center of mass (when standing) and a cord that will twist and almost invariably provide enough torque to cause the damned thing to fall over.

Oh, and then there's the fancy kitchen weight that uses piezoelectric elements, but will sometimes "jump" an ounce or so. Annoying enough by itself, but it also causes the auto-off to be effectively disabled (the timer is presumably reset every time the readout changes). This annoyance is further increased by the design of the on/off button, which is a little whimpy button requiring little or no force, so it's easy to accidentally turn in on when stowing it away in a cupboard.

All these products are brand-name, ranging from fairly expensive to insanely expensive... they all look great (well, to most people anyway). Too bad they all SUCK.

And, I'm sorry, but the reason is simple: Consumers suck. People buy the pretty stuff and don't give a crap about things actually working or being practical. Sad state of affairs, really.

[Brian Fein]

fyo - great rant.  See also: iPod, iPhone, etc.

Update: Packed up the knife set in its original box (even with all the little cardboard thingies over the blades) and brought it back to BB&B tonight.  They took it back, no questions asked, and exchanged it for another set (another brand) with 5 extra pieces I didn't have before!  The employee in the knife department even told me that if one blade in the set goes dull I can bring it back and get a new one.

So, in closing, Bed Bath and Beyond ROCKS!  Everyone should go there and buy stuff.

[bsfins]

Sorry for the bump here...
But I thought about this for a little while,after looking around my house I realized there is something....
Vacuum cleaners....I've bought my mom like 8 or 9 Vacuum cleaners in the past 10 years....I've bought myself maybe 2 in that same period of time....I think they are now made of cheap plastic,designed to last 2 years at most (Or a year of rough treatment by my Mom).

Each Time someone had recommended one to me,Oh we've had our...For 3 or 4 years,and never had a problem wit it.....I've bought a Eureka,Bissel,a Dirt Devil, Hoover,even a way over priced Oreck brands,and they all seem to last about a year...Plastic motor casings crack,the handles strip out,can't get the bags,the filters clog,can't find the right filter.....Some have worked better than others for a little longer,but always with some flaw.....

Slight Hijack here
I have to say off the top of my head,the only real name brands products that I've never really had any problems with,and I've always been pleased with have been Kenwood (I've used their car stereo head units,and speakers for years),Klipsch My computer speakers,speakers in my 71 GMC,and surround sound speakers of my home theater),and maybe even E machines.....

[Philly Fin Fan]

My wife bought a Dyson vacuum several years ago. I thought it was insane to spend $500 on a vacuum. Its the greatest vacuum ever.

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

Many of you know I am in an adult softball league.  I bought an EASTON bat for $160 and used it for like one season.  Now, the EASTON bat is falling apart and EASTON won't allow me to return it under warranty because I threw my receipt away.  If I kept every receipt for every item I bought, my home would be filled with random slips of paper.

Sorry to bring up and old post but I have not been on in quite some time and you know I am a huge Softball Whore. I own three Easton Bats and they have lasted me quite a while. I have one that is over 2 years old and has close to 2500 hits on it and it is still going strong. I had one minor issue with a new Easton bat that felt really inferior when I swung it and I sent it back and they replaced it with a brand new one that felt true to form. Which model bat Easton are you having problems with? I may be able to help as I have a few contacts and friends who are sponsored by Easton. Did you purchase this on a CC? This is another route you could take. Let me know and I will see if I can help.

[Brian Fein]

Yes, I bought it with a CC.  Its a Easton Stealth - not sure the model number.  Its red with a grey part in the middle.  Its a few years' old model, I got it on "discontinued" for $160 at Sports Authority.  It has developed a bad rattle in the center so I stopped using it for a while until recently, when I decided I'd try to do something about it.

The Easton Customer Service never returned my email.  Great "service"...

BTW - welcome back - was wondering where you disappeared to...

[MaineDolFan]

My wife bought a Dyson vacuum several years ago. I thought it was insane to spend $500 on a vacuum. Its the greatest vacuum ever.

QFT.

Our Dyson could vaccum up our cat and keep on going.  Don't ask me how I know this.

[MaineDolFan]

Brian - Stealth ran you, what?  Almost 4 bills, yes?

I am playing in two leagues this year.  A co-ed softball league and a men's baseball league.  Only allowed to rock wood in the baseball league, THANK GOD.

I'm swinging a Nike Aero Fuse this year in the softball.  It was actually a little cheaper than the Stealth. 

I have to tell you guys something, I forgot my Nike one night and realized I only had my wood with me for a softball game.  So I said 'screw it' and tried it.  I play with a Marucci in my baseball league and love it.

//end hi jack//

[Brian Fein]

I did some digging - the Stealth is an old model, I bought it in 2006.  Its an SC888.  It cost me $160.  Not the MOST you could spend on a bat, but the most I'D EVER spend on a bat.  I don't think we're even allowed to use wood in our league - not ASA approved!

I guess I'm in the market for a new bat.  I like the new Demarini Steel series (White Steel, Black Steel) but I don't know how they hit.  I don't really know what is a good bat to get but I won't buy another Easton bat.  A guy on the team we played against last night had a different (newer) Easton bat than mine that had the same terrible rattle in it.  What junk!

[MaineDolFan]

If you picked up a Stealth for under $200 it should have been a good deal.  Go to a sporting good place and swing a Nike around, you might like it.

Our softball is a city league, I think you could probably pick up your kid and use them as a bat in a pinch.

[MaineDolFan]

Bri - also take a look at a Demarini Juggernaut.  I know some of them are not ASA approved but they have a whole line that are.

[Brian Fein]

Bri - also take a look at a Demarini Juggernaut.  I know some of them are not ASA approved but they have a whole line that are.

There was one guy that had a Juggernaut in the game last night and I liked it.  I didn't get to swing it but it seemed decent.

I play catcher for my softball team, so I always end up picking up the other team's bats after they run off...

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

Yes, I bought it with a CC.  Its a Easton Stealth - not sure the model number.  Its red with a grey part in the middle.  Its a few years' old model, I got it on "discontinued" for $160 at Sports Authority.  It has developed a bad rattle in the center so I stopped using it for a while until recently, when I decided I'd try to do something about it.

The Easton Customer Service never returned my email.  Great "service"...

BTW - welcome back - was wondering where you disappeared to...

Thanks...life has just been really busy and I have not had a lot of time to be on the computer much.

I looked into your bat and I have never heard of it but you said it was an older model so that does not surprise me. You should be able to send a copy of your cc statement in that says when you bought it with the bat and that should suffice. We have done this before. If they no longer have that bat available they will send you the next model available which will probably be an upgrade.

I did some digging - the Stealth is an old model, I bought it in 2006.  Its an SC888.  It cost me $160.  Not the MOST you could spend on a bat, but the most I'D EVER spend on a bat.  I don't think we're even allowed to use wood in our league - not ASA approved!

I guess I'm in the market for a new bat.  I like the new Demarini Steel series (White Steel, Black Steel) but I don't know how they hit.  I don't really know what is a good bat to get but I won't buy another Easton bat.  A guy on the team we played against last night had a different (newer) Easton bat than mine that had the same terrible rattle in it.  What junk!

Now if your in the market for a new bat and you want something solid and you do not want to spend a lot of money the White Steel is a solid bat. I bought one for MS. AZ for and I have swung it quite a few times and it is solid. I hate the Juggernaut and I have yet to find a Nike bat that last long or has any decent pop to it. We are also required to use ASA standard bats from league play but in tournaments we can use anything we want with the exception of the Ultra II which is banned from all leagues no matter what. For an ASA bat that is solid I am swinging a Combat Anti Virus.



I have hit some absolute bombs (340+) with this bat. It will cost you upwards of $350.00 but you can not go wrong with this piece. They also have two options with this bat in "balanced" and "end loaded". Mine is the end loaded version and it was hot out of the wrapper no break in required.

You hate Easton so I will not offer you any of the Easton options I am swinging.

Worth makes a great Mutant bat in both ASA and NSA standards so be carefull in what you buy if you go this route.



This bat is solid I bought it on line through Ebay so I paid about $175 for it I am not sure what it retails for.

If you ever get the chance to play in a league that lets you use any bat you want you can not go wrong with the Freak Plus


or my personal favorite bat of all time the Demarini Juice


I have hit balls 360+ with this bat and it is a cut above anything I have ever swung that is stock I paid 160 for this bat new. Like I said I can only use it in the tournaments and batting practice. If you ever get to swing one though you will love it.

When you narrow down what kind of bat you are looking to buy let me know.