Looking after your things.

[Shannow]

People all around me are always buying new stuff to replace those things that have become too battered to continue to use...bathrooms, kitchens etc.

I turned up at the rifle range this morning, and the first comment that I recieved after unpacking my .22 was "got a new rifle mate ?"

It was the Krico that Mum and Dad gave me for my 15th birthday (groan 23 years ago).

What's the problem with people looking after their gear ?

 

[MarkC]

Laziness, and the thought that everything is disposable and replaceable. In a way, that's right, it's just "stuff" after all. But that's not where they're coming from, they just want to buy newer, better, bigger...
My Gibson acoustic guitar is 12 years old now and it's a better one than you'll find for twice what I paid for it, but I have friends who've been through 2 or 3 since I got it.

 

[AcuraTech]

People are generally lazy and dont bother to take care of things properly. We live in an increasingly disposable culture where people just use things up and then get a new one. I think the idea of taking care of things properly is becoming somewhat of a bygone mentality.

Use it up, throw it away, and buy another. Or just buy one that is newer, bigger, and better even though the old worked just fine. This mentality is becoming rampant as people spend more than they can afford by means of credit cards, etc. It is so easy nowadays to just charge it or get another credit card that people put little thought to the fact that they are purchasing beyond their means. They continue to waste and spend instead of maintain and save.

Is it any surprise that recently the U.S. savings rate has gone negative? We live in a debtor nation and the piper will have to be paid eventually.

(Steps off of soapbox)

 

[Vilan]

Just a few days ago at work, my boss brought in a box from shipping.

"What's this?" I ask.

"New stands for the computer monitors!"

"We already have stands for the monitors."

"Yeah, but these ones are new!"

 

[mechtech]

Chicagoland used to have 10,000 shoe repair shops.
There are only a handful, now.

 

[Al]

quote:

---

Originally posted by AcuraTech:
Is it any surprise that recently the U.S. savings rate has gone negative? We live in a debtor nation and the piper will have to be paid eventually.

---

Quoted for Truth

 

[sprintman]

U.S worlds largest debtor nation. Who will ever pay the bill?

 

[brianl703]

Don't worry. They can just print more money.

 

[Quattro Pete]

quote:

---

Originally posted by sprintman:
U.S worlds largest debtor nation. Who will ever pay the bill?

---

When you're the biggest kid on the block, everyone is afraid to ask for their money back. I'm just wondering how long it'll last...

 

[Pablo]

Back to the original topic.....

Sometimes TIME and replacement COST must be factored in. I totally agree with you guys on taking care of high quality stuff. But I say you can't apply buff it until it glows, super lube and store in a sealed, padded vault logic to everything you buy/own. I dunno, young kids bikes come to mind as an example. When my kids needed a bike very 2 years MAX because they simply out grew the bike, should I treat that the same as my Classic Winchester?

Buffing the everyday SS eating utensils daily? Changing my oil every 2500 miles? Kids fishing reels - should I treat those the same as my Newells and top of the line Shimanos? Service the kids reels so they work properly, that's it.

My Honda polymer deck mower. I bought it so I don't have to clean it EVERY time I mow.

There is a proper balance, but yes most folks take the lazy road with no calculations at all.

 

[Kestas]

I too watch my friends delight in their new purchases, going into all the detail of how great their new new purchases are and all the features they come with. Sometimes I think they spent the money simply so they can be in the spotlight for a while.

I still ride the bike I bought in '78 - though relubed many times - and I still ski with the skis I bought in '79. I don't ski much, and I get a kick when some kid notices my skis are older than he is.

All my furniture is antique and refinished. How many of us can say they can sell their furniture for more than they paid for it?

I still watch the TV and VCR I bought in '88. As long as something still works, I'll use it until it is used up, then look for something that has a low repair record (i.e., high quality) per Consumer Reports.

This practise has allowed me to comfortably save money for my dream home.

 

[9296D21B14]

MarkC. My Gibson J-100 Extra acoustic with the sunburst finish has a very nice tone according to several professional musicians who have played it. Much better intstrument than the player who owns it. I consider it an heirloom. No longer in production, I believe. Got it on a whim over fifteen years ago when the Dobro I had ordered came in with a nasty gash on the neck. Smart move. Same with the Flatiron mandolin made when the Montana shop was in high gear. Rings like a bell. Older is better? Not always. But often enough to agree with the heart of this thread.

 

[Bret Chase]

I've never had a new gun.. My 20ga single is a brazillian made piece bought at auction 20 ys ago, My No4 MkI Enfield was made in '49, my Ruger 10/22 was bought for me at the same auction as the shotgun, it's stock is beat up and the barrel is about shot out (I've run about 100,000 rounds through it). my newest gun is a Colt 1991A1 compact that I've has for 9years. someday when I'm feeling rich I'm going to buy a SigSauer in either 10MM or 45ACP. I do look after my firearms quite well, but I agree with Pablo, my oldest's first 2 wheeler (she's 4) is going to be a $30 wal-mart special.. I'll save the Schwinns and Cannondale's until she's much older.

 

[pastmaster]

Shannow Mate,

I still have my father's rifles and shotgun, I've kept because they were given to me by him. Bought and sold several others, though. I keep everything until it's use is finished. I buy quality, then you buy it only once.

Didn't OZ, ban firearms? Or only in NSW?

I remember seeing them confiscated and destroyed. You need special permits for sporting-hunting?

 

[MarkC]

quote:

---

Originally posted by 9296D21B14:
MarkC. My Gibson J-100 Extra acoustic with the sunburst finish has a very nice tone according to several professional musicians who have played it. Much better intstrument than the player who owns it. I consider it an heirloom. No longer in production, I believe. Got it on a whim over fifteen years ago when the Dobro I had ordered came in with a nasty gash on the neck. Smart move. Same with the Flatiron mandolin made when the Montana shop was in high gear. Rings like a bell. Older is better? Not always. But often enough to agree with the heart of this thread.

---

Sweet

Mine's a 1994 Gospel reissue. I was playing a Martin D-28 and thinking about it, then I heard this sound from across the music store. It was the owner, playing this Gibson, and it sounded so good, I forgot the Martin and bought it for less than half the price. It sounds better each day, unlike its owner. The best thing is it sound like it does, not like something trying to sound liek a Martin or anything else. The lower mids are great.
Your J-100...better hang on to it for dear life.
Good stuff coming from Bozeman.

 

[Shannow]

pastmaster,
after Port Arthur, the Oz Govt went stupidly tough on firearms.

All semi-auto long arms were banned, as were pump shotguns. Huge buyback, where if you traded an SLR L1A1, you got $2500 (it was illegal to own them anyway), while trading in a Krico .22LR got you $120.

Compulsory registration, the privilage of being on the National Criminal Database, and having the cop pulling you over told "caution...may be armed".

It's had an interesting effect.

Before the bans, I was happy putting 50 rounds a year through my .22 shooting rabbits with my father and brother.

I was forced to join a club to continue doing so, and found that I enjoyed it.

My .22 useage increased to 3000 rounds per year, I bought a bolt .223 for longer range comeptitions, a .44Mag lever action for other activities, and my partner joined and got a rifle herself. (Been Captain, Vice Captain, Treasurer, Scorer and Secretary at various stages).

There are 40 other members who started competition shooting for exactly the same reasons (we've gone from15 members to 55 in 5 years)

 

[Shannow]

Pablo,
you've got a point with regard to things that kids grow out of etc.

My original intent was quality, expensive items, that if you take care of, will last for a long time.

(Another thought. My brother's company made a point of buying their tradespeople Bosch drills etc. They got stolen from the workplace regularly. They tried on one site only ever issuing "GMC" brand equipment, which runs at $30 versus $200. Tools now wear out)