Andrea is very fond of Right Fit jeans from Lane Bryant. She likes them so much that she wears them until they literally wear out,then goes and buys another pair. Only that’s a more expensive plan than it was a few years ago, because Andrea has noticed the quality of the pants that she buys deteriorating over time. She reached a breaking point recently when her jeans, too, reached a breaking point–wearing out this week after being purchased in July. $50 is a lot to pay for pants that only last two months. [More]
quality
AppleCare Is An Extended Warranty Worth Buying
By 8.11.09
I asked Apple this morning to replace my broken laptop now that they’ve reintroduced the anti-glare option on their 15″ MacBook Pros. Apple agreed, and soon a new laptop will leave China destined for my apartment. This isn’t the first laptop Apple sent me this month. It’s the second. Here’s why…
The "New" CircuitCity.com Ships Shoddily-Wrapped TV Mount Missing Half Its Parts
By 6.13.09
The new CircuitCity.com is already disappointing customers, this time by shipping a half-complete TV mount that looks like it was wrapped by an over-caffeinated octopus. Unsurprisingly, our anonymous tipster had to slog his way through two customer service departments before extracting a promise to ship out the missing parts. Why can’t CircuitCity.com just ship him a new mount? Apparently, they have to first botch the parts shipment. Our tipster decided this wasn’t worth his time, and instead ordered a second mount. Circuit City promises to refund his money once they receive back the defective mount…
Hey, First Generation iPod Nano Owners, Come And Get Your $25
By 1.24.09
Apple has agreed to pay $22.5 million to settle a class action suit brought by owners of the notoriously scratchy first-generation iPod Nanos. Under the agreement, owners of the scratch magnets will be entitled to either a $25 or $15 cash refund, depending on whether or not their Nano included a carrying case.
What Hell Must You Go Through To Return A Defective Running Shoe?
By 11.13.08
Neal Templin at the Wall Street Journal had a defective running shoe. Within 4 months of buying the shoes, an eyelet failed, so he took the defective shoes back to the store. This is where his tragic tale of rejection begins.
Why Do Americans Insist On Buying Cheap Crap Instead Of High Quality Merchandise?
By 8.1.08
Over at MSN Money there’s an interesting article about the tyranny of cheap crap that we, as a people, are accustomed to living under. Why do we buy a coat every year instead of one high quality coat that will last many years? Why do we buy crappy kitchen knives that go dull and become dangerous? Do we enjoy shopping so much that we’re content to keep rebuying the same stuff?
Take Your Brand And Shove It
By 12.20.07
Muji is a Japanese store that is, um, all the rage in NYC right now, apparently.
Hey, Why Aren't Your Toys Made In China?
By 9.18.07
The New York Times took a look at some European toy makers who decided to let the Chinese Poison Train pass them by. Why didn’t they outsource their manufacturing to China?
How Do You Know Which Movie Theaters Are Good, And Which Ones Are Bad?
By 8.6.07
We watched the “Simpsons” movie yesterday at the Regal multiplex at Union Square in New York City, and for the entire movie, the right third of the screen was out of focus. We never got up to complain to management for several reasons:
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we were being stupid and lazy
we were in the center of a full theater and didn’t want the hassle of climbing out and back in
we really thought someone else closer to the aisles would eventually do it
we thought maybe the lucky anonymous person with the QA remote (previously discussed here) would push the right button
Consumer Reports Tells You What To Waste Good Money On
By 12.13.06
Don’t know what the hell to get someone? Consumer Reports has a list of the “best buy” gifts of 2006. So, even Mom hates it, it sure as shit won’t break. She’ll have that thing for life. Thanks, Consumer Reports? —MEGHANN MARCO
HOWTO: Buy a Side of Beef
By 12.13.06
Get Rich Slowly has some instructions on how to buy a side of beef—which is a good way to support local ranchers, save money and get a superior quality product. Growing up, our parents always purchased meat this way. Often several couples or families will pool money to purchase a single animal. One of the advantages (aside from cost) is the time savings involved in never having to shop for beef. There’s always something in the fridge. From the post:
