The annual cycle of buying cheap
Discussion
It’s that time of year where I see the same people buying the same cheap crap, neglecting it then repeating
Some examples of this
Garden furniture - buy the cheapest crap possible from asda, don’t assemble it properly, leave in the weather out of shelter then be baffled why it looks awful the following year
Solar lights - make sure you buy them from Poundland, asda etc so you guarantee good quality, mount them at stupid angles (because last years unsuitable holder must be re reused) to ensure water gets in, when you observe and issue, ignore it
Expandable hose - had one each year for the last 5 or 6 years, make sure you buy a cheaper one each year as last years was crap, so might as well buy even cheaper this year
Cheap flower pots - buy the flimsy ones that don’t survive a full season, when you move them the following year they snap and disintegrate
Decking - lay that directly on the grass only supported by a few bricks, don’t treat it either. Make sure it’s so slippery you have to walk on the grass when it’s wet, also buy the cheap stuff in weird sizes from b and m so you can’t repair it the following year or use furniture on it as it crumbles. Bonus points for using nails that rust rather than stainless screws, so repair is not easy
General plastic crap - the more the merrier
BBQ - don’t close the lid / put it away / drill small holes to let rain out, this insures it fills with rain
When you have finished with the above, make sure you pile it all in the garden so it remains wet and unsightly for another 5 or 6 years
Am I doing this right?
Some examples of this
Garden furniture - buy the cheapest crap possible from asda, don’t assemble it properly, leave in the weather out of shelter then be baffled why it looks awful the following year
Solar lights - make sure you buy them from Poundland, asda etc so you guarantee good quality, mount them at stupid angles (because last years unsuitable holder must be re reused) to ensure water gets in, when you observe and issue, ignore it
Expandable hose - had one each year for the last 5 or 6 years, make sure you buy a cheaper one each year as last years was crap, so might as well buy even cheaper this year
Cheap flower pots - buy the flimsy ones that don’t survive a full season, when you move them the following year they snap and disintegrate
Decking - lay that directly on the grass only supported by a few bricks, don’t treat it either. Make sure it’s so slippery you have to walk on the grass when it’s wet, also buy the cheap stuff in weird sizes from b and m so you can’t repair it the following year or use furniture on it as it crumbles. Bonus points for using nails that rust rather than stainless screws, so repair is not easy
General plastic crap - the more the merrier
BBQ - don’t close the lid / put it away / drill small holes to let rain out, this insures it fills with rain
When you have finished with the above, make sure you pile it all in the garden so it remains wet and unsightly for another 5 or 6 years
Am I doing this right?
t though, people can't seem to resist!
You see it all over social media "can anyone recommend the cheapest..." not the best plumber / builder / tool / furniture etc etc tells you what the average mindset is. Never mind we're using up the planet like we've got another one to jump to once we've finished f*cking this one up!!!
My other pet hate is seeing people buy something that’s not fit for purpose because it’s cheaper
Need a 25 meter hose, that’s right buy the 20 meter one because it’s a lot cheaper than the 50 or 30
The hose never gets used because it’s too short, or the paddling pool has to be put in a daft place to take advantage of the hose
Buying whatever cheap power tool is cheapest for immediate job, ending up with 6 different brand, with six different batteries and 6 chargers
Need a 25 meter hose, that’s right buy the 20 meter one because it’s a lot cheaper than the 50 or 30
The hose never gets used because it’s too short, or the paddling pool has to be put in a daft place to take advantage of the hose
Buying whatever cheap power tool is cheapest for immediate job, ending up with 6 different brand, with six different batteries and 6 chargers
Edited by Spare tyre on Tuesday 22 April 12:11
As a counter argument, years ago I bought a beautiful teak table and chair set from the local expensive garden centre. At the time it was the most expensive piece of furniture I had ever bought.
I bought an expensive cover for it, which was a pain in the arse as it would collect water so I had to keep lifting it up to drain the water. Also despite how well I secured it, it would often get moved in the wind so I would have to traipse outside in the cold and wet to replace it.
A year later it had discoloured so I spent hours and hours cleaning it and using teak oil to protect it. The cover was a pain so I ended up not using it, I also couldn't face spending hours and hours treating it again so I didn't bother.
A few years later it had started to rot, a couple of years later the whole lot was at the tip.
Personally I would rather buy a cheap aluminium and plastic set that I don't have to worry about, won't rot and I can chuck away when it looks tatty and buy another one.
I bought an expensive cover for it, which was a pain in the arse as it would collect water so I had to keep lifting it up to drain the water. Also despite how well I secured it, it would often get moved in the wind so I would have to traipse outside in the cold and wet to replace it.
A year later it had discoloured so I spent hours and hours cleaning it and using teak oil to protect it. The cover was a pain so I ended up not using it, I also couldn't face spending hours and hours treating it again so I didn't bother.
A few years later it had started to rot, a couple of years later the whole lot was at the tip.
Personally I would rather buy a cheap aluminium and plastic set that I don't have to worry about, won't rot and I can chuck away when it looks tatty and buy another one.
There's going to plenty of all that tat flooding UK at knock-down prices very soon. The mountains of tat previously heading to Walmart and Target in USA will have to be unloaded somewhere and UK will be too scared to say no. Same as all the Chinese cars flooding in.
Sod the green policies, it's cheap. Just like Amazon delivering everything in a separate, outer cardboard box several decades after supermarkets were compelled to abandon "outers" and have everything reusable.
Sod the green policies, it's cheap. Just like Amazon delivering everything in a separate, outer cardboard box several decades after supermarkets were compelled to abandon "outers" and have everything reusable.
With mortgage rates spiking (relatively) on already high property values relative to incomes, and prices rapidly increasing across the board from energy to goods to services- while most wages aren't increasing to match- it's no wonder people buy cheap.
Bit weird to complain about people cutting corners when they probably have to.
Bit weird to complain about people cutting corners when they probably have to.
Gastons_Revenge said:
With mortgage rates spiking (relatively) on already high property values relative to incomes, and prices rapidly increasing across the board from energy to goods to services- while most wages aren't increasing to match- it's no wonder people buy cheap.
Bit weird to complain about people cutting corners when they probably have to.
AgreedBit weird to complain about people cutting corners when they probably have to.
Gastons_Revenge said:
With mortgage rates spiking (relatively) on already high property values relative to incomes, and prices rapidly increasing across the board from energy to goods to services- while most wages aren't increasing to match- it's no wonder people buy cheap.
Bit weird to complain about people cutting corners when they probably have to.
I think my point was it’s the same pattern each year, don’t learn from neglecting stuff / preparing or protecting itBit weird to complain about people cutting corners when they probably have to.
After 20 years there’s masses of the same crap in landfill and they still have nothing to show for it
I think I got out of the wrong side of the bed this long weekend
Here is one I have noticed amongst customers.
Buy cheap Chinese integrated LED lights, from TEMU etc.
Fill your house with 20 of them, taking the time to install them all and then watch them start flashing within a few weeks.
Then...start looking for a just as cheap replacement with a different brand name (which are actually just the same units) and start swapping them over once they fail, only to fail again.
This is an endless cycle for some people.
The solution is to spend twice the money on something from Enlite/Robus/Collingwood etc in case you are wondering.
Buy cheap Chinese integrated LED lights, from TEMU etc.
Fill your house with 20 of them, taking the time to install them all and then watch them start flashing within a few weeks.
Then...start looking for a just as cheap replacement with a different brand name (which are actually just the same units) and start swapping them over once they fail, only to fail again.
This is an endless cycle for some people.
The solution is to spend twice the money on something from Enlite/Robus/Collingwood etc in case you are wondering.
This is my mum all over, has enough money to buy decent stuff but is stuck in some strange mindset of cheaper is better, buys outdoor furniture from Aldi or
Somewhere and is shocked when it rots by the next year
A few years back and she bought a really nice all wooden teak set, went all out on it, but never bothered to oil it, sometimes I think because the oil was £40. Lo and behold it’s rotten and in the tip.
Then she raises an eyebrow when I buy a patio set for £800 which 5 years later is still like brand new and super comfortable.
People do it with everything. Cheaper cheaper cheaper, it’s why Aldi is so popular, first thing people cut is their food budget when it’s the thing that makes the most difference
There’s a viral trend currently of “Dubai chocolate” a proper bar is about £8-10 but all the discount shops are bringing out their own ones, and people seem to be shocked that a £2 bar from Lidl is crap. Hmm I wonder why!
Somewhere and is shocked when it rots by the next year
A few years back and she bought a really nice all wooden teak set, went all out on it, but never bothered to oil it, sometimes I think because the oil was £40. Lo and behold it’s rotten and in the tip.
Then she raises an eyebrow when I buy a patio set for £800 which 5 years later is still like brand new and super comfortable.
People do it with everything. Cheaper cheaper cheaper, it’s why Aldi is so popular, first thing people cut is their food budget when it’s the thing that makes the most difference
There’s a viral trend currently of “Dubai chocolate” a proper bar is about £8-10 but all the discount shops are bringing out their own ones, and people seem to be shocked that a £2 bar from Lidl is crap. Hmm I wonder why!
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