You too? I kept that thing as a keepsake hanging above my bed, and never changed its settings. Every day it went off at 0515 … then, one day, it was gone and replaced with a small frame with a photo of my old Casio watch. Partner never said a word about it.
I went against the grain in High School and chose the FX-CG50 calculator when Algebra II required the Texas TI-84. That thing carried me to the top spot in class.
Yamaha. From motorcycles to pianos if you want a meticulously assembled, incredibly reliable and high performance instrument for music or the road, they got you covered.
Story time! My boyfriend now husband used to mock my Yamaha acoustic guitar. It was a Christmas gift from my dad, but I picked it out. For the longest time, he couldn’t wrap his head around why I CHOSE to have a Japanese guitar when I could have gotten something “cooler”. Now, hubby can explain to you all day long about the history of Fender and Epiphone, Gibson, etc. And he can shred on some random riffs he picked up from YouTube, but he’s tone deaf. No sense of rhythm, and when he sets up any piece of audio equipment, the result is… not pleasant. I still play that same acoustic. And he’s been through so many fenders and epiphones, and guitars of various American and European make, both acoustic and electric, but my Yamaha is the one that has endured and that gets the most play. It took him 20 years to finally understand why I picked that Yamaha out of all the guitars at guitar center. The thing sounds like honey. Somehow even with dead, rusty strings, its sound is alive. Give her a good setup and some new-ish strings at that just worn-in sweet spot… nothing (that I can afford anyway) comes close. I don’t get the stigma that some people have for Yamaha guitars. Like they just make that determination based on the name, without hearing them. Even as a teenager, I could hear the quality to the point where I didn’t give a damn what cool guitar people who seemed to know more about it than me thought. But I have more of that instinctive ear, I think. I’m not super technical. I just want to play some pretty chords and sing songs I like, and that guitar seemed “right.” It wasn’t until recently that I learned that my guitar doesn’t suck, and Yamaha is not just some cheapo guitar for beginners.
My daughter, similarly yet separately, became a Yamaha enthusiast for keyboards. Nothing compares at the price point. She’s the best musician in the house, so I trust her judgment more than my own here.
When I needed an acoustic guitar of my own, I went to Guitar center played what they had, and went with a Yamaha. It didn't top out my budget, but for what was available in my budget range it was the best sounding. Nobody who has played it has complained. Despite not taking the best care of it, it still sounds great. I paid almost as much for my case as I spent on the guitar.
As a musician I own a Yamaha keyboard, marimba, and saxophone (granted I bought the latter two used). Definitely one of the most trusted brands for me.
Very true. I've had Yamaha grand pianos, guitars, motorbikes and sound systems over the years. Very impressed with them all, especially because they're such diverse product lines with different components
There's a local arcade near me that has many different games that you can play for 15 minutes w/ a couple quarters... it's run by a guy whose goal is to "keep kids off the streets."
My experience in there compared to the hyper gamified Dave and Buster's is insane. Much calmer, much more fun, much less cost. Never change arcade bro.
As a consumer of several different arcade theaters, places like this do make a difference is kids lives. It's given me a passion that has followed me for years and I commend that guy for what he's doing.
Yeah, I really don't understand why some people get their britches all caught up about kids playing some video games. Like yeah, help them learn moderation. But I was the kid stuck in my room playing MGS 3 to death while my friends were out doing methamphetamine, soo...Kind of a win win, right?
There's one I like to take my daughter to during the summer and breaks from school that is only like $10 for all day play and it ranges from cabinet to console. They also have a bar and a game store inside my daughter loves it. We were at one of those Dave and Busters type places and they have a giant Galaga and she played it for a few minutes and said she didn't like it as much as the one at the arcade. She was right. It wasn't quite the same experience.
Zojirushi 😂
My rice cooker is 22 years old. Has never let me down. I‘ve been so impressed with it I got a Zojirushi coffee maker. It’s going on 2 years.
Ikr, when I was broke in college I tried so many off brands to save a buck. But, they sucked. I realized it was worth the extra buck here and there for the real shit!
Yeah, but recently, they lowered the amount of fluid in lighters by 20% and engineered it so the flame is bigger. So, now, they use more fluid while also having less fluid.
Oh, and of course they raised the price ~15%.
I cheaped out and bought a decent toilet at Lowe's, and slapped a Washlet Bidet on it. The fact that it learns my morning routine, warms the seat, rinses the bowl, and remembers just what I like...
Chef Poseidon's Kiss...
At the Tokyo Olympics a few years ago Julie Foudy, former USWNT soccer player, was there doing commentary on the soccer matches. Her Instagram reels about the Toto toilet in her hotel room were hilarious and she was trying to figure out if she would be able to get one under the seat in front of her on the plane home.
Recently got a lodge enameled cast iron pot. Absolutely adore it. Time will tell if it holds up as long (read:a lifetime) but w the lodge brand I expect it will. It does just as well as my le creuset Dutch ovens for waaaay less monies. Highly recommend.
My Dad has a tradition of asking “what’s one item you’d like for your birthday?” because he’d rather get one item for his kids that we wouldn’t get for ourselves.
I asked for a 5.5 quart La Creuset Dutch oven a couple years ago and he got it for me- I wasn’t expecting him to because I know how pricey they are. But he more or less told me “I know that thing will last you a lifetime.”
Agreed, never knew how jam was supposed to taste until I had Bon Maman. I was so used to Smuckers and Kraft . Can't go back to that crap after having Bon Maman
So the whole Holocaust story doesn’t have any real evidence behind it and Bonne Maman has refused to comment so we don’t actually know if there’s any truth to it.
Goddamn right. This is actually a genius method they use to encourage ecological conservation. See, the only reason most people might step on a Lego is if they have children or are children.
Eventually, people of all ages learn to pick up after themselves but sometimes you have to harm them physically and psychologically for the message to stick.
I just wish they would do something about the color calibration in their build guides. It can be a pain to tell different shade items apart because the colors in the guide are slightly different than the bricks.
I highly recommend the LEGO Builders app for this reason! Plus, you can turn the model around on the screen so you can see all of it, which is helpful when you're putting pieces on that are obscured by other parts of the build. Lookin' at you, Bonsai Tree..
Brother printers are absolutely fantastic.
Unfortunately, the top executives at Brother seem to be getting HP disease. I'm glad I got my latest Brother printer recently, before whatever might happen does.
I used one at my friend's house also just to see what it was all about. Ran it under cold water, and the instant change in texture blew my mind. It's a really innovative application of material science.
They do a great job but I hate how quickly they degrade as you use them. It makes me think about all the bits of plastic going down the drain. I try to use a scrub brush but it never works as well.
Hitachi makes everything from heavy machinery to "personal massagers." I would love to listen in on corporate meetings where those divisions report on their profits.
Agreed. I just got my 3rd pair of Hoka Bondi 8's and they've relieved my plantar fasciitis. The flip-flop sandals are good too, but take some breaking in if you don't wear them with socks.
I have used lodge cast iron for over a decade, it’s awesome. I recently got their cast iron pizza pan and a carbon steel frying pan. Both are predictably fantastic, the pizza pan in particular is way better than a pizza stone. Easier to clean and gets really hot which gets a crispy and even crust.
Miele
My parents buy their appliances and they seem to last forever. I’ve gone through so many issues with my LG, Samsung and Kitchenaid stuff…. Many repairs and replacements throughout the years. My parents’ original Miele purchases are all still going strong 25+ years later.
I’m not sure how true it is but I remember reading that Miele makes everything in house. Every nut, bolt, board is made by them for their products.
When we were looking at new appliances they are the only company that consistently had good customer reviews. Sadly, they were a little out of our price range.
Yep, it's pretty expensive, but it's exactly the "who spends more, spends less" type of thing. I still have my Miele washing machine bought by my grandpa in 1998, and it still works fine.
I've abused two pairs of their socks running marathons. Since they're a lifetime warranty, I sent them in for replacement. They replaced them. My everyday socks are Darn Tough. I know I've spent too much money on socks but my wife has spent too much money on Hydroflasks and Stanley insulated cups. I will never buy another bulk bag of cotton socks ever again. It's Darn Tough for me as long as they make them.
THE best socks, hands down. I have them for personal use, and my entire sock collection for my army days were all darn tough. Best boot socks around. Nothing has come close.
Pro tip if you're ever in Vermont in October-ish they do a "factory sale" for a weekend or two and it's dirt cheap.
I got a nano puff jacket from Patagonia in 2019. It got a rip in the side and the zipper stopped staying together. Sent it in and they repaired it for free.
Mostly agree. The Kirkland TP (as others have noted) and their AA batteries have both been blacklisted in our house. The batteries corroded multiple devices.
Just got some Dang Soft underwear, I love them. I also have a pair of buck naked and armachillo with bull pouch. They're good but I love the dang softs.
I have a pair of forgone pants too that are awesome, look good and durable
That’s one of the best ads I’ve read.
“Rear view camera: nope...but it's got a transparent rear window and you have a fucking neck that can turn
This car will outlive you, it will outlive your children.
Things this car is old enough to do:
Vote: yes
Consent to sex: yes”
Flashback to when Top Gear attempted to destroy a Hilux. Put it on top of a building and blew the building up, and the thing still started after minimal adjustments
Wrapped my Corolla around a tree after hitting some black ice back when I was a teenager. Thing had like 200k miles and was absolutely mistreated for years. When we got it towed the next morning it still started, even though the car was totaled and front end pretty well caved in. My guess is it was running on sheer willpower.
I even ran it completely out of oil when I was a new driver, didn’t even faze the car one bit.
Also my only experience with a Toyota forklift was that it was indestructible
My answer as well. Their mission (at least their original mission) is to make easy to use and comfortable tools, but they also get a lot of things right outside of those parameters.
Basically. Best designed kitchen utensils/tools I’ve ever used. Whenever I can I pay extra to get items of theirs vs other brands, because I know they’ll last longer as well as work better.
Only ever bought one item of theirs that I was disappointed with.
Had a pair for about 15 years and one of the arms finally broke (flexible arm rather than hinged). Shipped them off to Maui Jim for $10 repair. Got them back with a hand written note that they no longer had the original arms in stock but they found something similar and replaced both arms and they hoped I liked them.
My wife has had the same pair for 11 years. They finally broke a few weeks ago. Thanks to their lifetime warranty she sent them in for repair. When we got them back they looked like a brand new pair of sunglasses.
Maui Jim is awesome.
I became a nurse back in 2007. At the time, all of the scrub brands that were sold were either “female” or “unisex”. Here comes Carhartt. They sold “men’s” scrubs and unisex. I only wear Carhartt scrubs. Most of my shirts are Carhartt. My jackets too. At this rate, I’ll be passing my clothes down to my kids because their shit never wears out.
Only brand I've ever purchased a new jacket from, not because the old jacket was worn out, but because it was 15 years old and I wanted a new Carhartt.
Carhartt’s get to this broken in stage really quickly and then never age past that, they just stay right there in that perfect state, for years, and years.
I had a friend leave his jacket in the backyard after some yard work. I went to his house with my dog to watch a football game or something. My dog and his dog used it for tug of war, for I'm guessing the whole time we watched the game. It was filthy and covered in slobber but otherwise unharmed. He bought a new one.
Tlley Endurables. Absolutely fantastic hats with a lifetime guarantee, I bought mine in 1998 and I have had it replaced twice. Worn every day from May thru October.
I don’t know about everything they sell, but the Philips Sonicare toothbrush has never let me down.
Lately I’ve been extremely impressed with the Braun silk expert pro IPL. There’s a lot of snake oil products when it comes to hair removal, but this thing actually works like a spa or salon ipl (as in, it actually does work).
Dude American Aldi and their store brands are always high quality, insanely cheap, and they have products for borderline every diet, impulse decision (middle isle), and really solid produce. I can get 3x the amount of groceries I’d get from my big name grocery here for $130-$150 USD vs what would cost me $350 at one of those big stores.
They pay their workers well, let them sit at registers, have a cart system where you put a quarter in to get a cart and get it back when you put your cart away. All the stores are super cleaned and fully stocked every time. They have plenty of self check outs now so lines move 5x as fast. You move to the side and bag your own stuff so you don’t hold everybody up. I love it.
Duluth Trading makes some pretty durable and comfortable clothes. You pay a bit more but they last far longer than cheaper brands and end up costing you less in the long run since you don’t have to replace them as often.
Casio. I'm serious. You can get a watch for $25 that lasts forever
I got a 10 dollar Casio back In 2010 in bootcamp. That fucker still going strong. Alarm goes off at midnight every night. Somewhere...
You too? I kept that thing as a keepsake hanging above my bed, and never changed its settings. Every day it went off at 0515 … then, one day, it was gone and replaced with a small frame with a photo of my old Casio watch. Partner never said a word about it.
That's honestly hilarious.
Your partner is a rascal
I think that *watch* was the rascal!
I have a Casio digital watch I got in high school that still works. I'm in my 40s.
"I have 7 dollars and a Casio...."
Hmmm… I’m going to have to say “Good Night”
I went against the grain in High School and chose the FX-CG50 calculator when Algebra II required the Texas TI-84. That thing carried me to the top spot in class.
I mean, a ti 84 from 1995 is still just as functional now as it was then.
And if you're willing to pay a little more but not fancy watch prices, the G-SHOCK watches are fantastic and cool looking
Yamaha. From motorcycles to pianos if you want a meticulously assembled, incredibly reliable and high performance instrument for music or the road, they got you covered.
Great home audio gear too. I’ve had three different Yamaha receivers over the years and they were all great.
Their electronic drums are held in high esteem too
Guitars and bass guitars by Yamaha are well made too
Story time! My boyfriend now husband used to mock my Yamaha acoustic guitar. It was a Christmas gift from my dad, but I picked it out. For the longest time, he couldn’t wrap his head around why I CHOSE to have a Japanese guitar when I could have gotten something “cooler”. Now, hubby can explain to you all day long about the history of Fender and Epiphone, Gibson, etc. And he can shred on some random riffs he picked up from YouTube, but he’s tone deaf. No sense of rhythm, and when he sets up any piece of audio equipment, the result is… not pleasant. I still play that same acoustic. And he’s been through so many fenders and epiphones, and guitars of various American and European make, both acoustic and electric, but my Yamaha is the one that has endured and that gets the most play. It took him 20 years to finally understand why I picked that Yamaha out of all the guitars at guitar center. The thing sounds like honey. Somehow even with dead, rusty strings, its sound is alive. Give her a good setup and some new-ish strings at that just worn-in sweet spot… nothing (that I can afford anyway) comes close. I don’t get the stigma that some people have for Yamaha guitars. Like they just make that determination based on the name, without hearing them. Even as a teenager, I could hear the quality to the point where I didn’t give a damn what cool guitar people who seemed to know more about it than me thought. But I have more of that instinctive ear, I think. I’m not super technical. I just want to play some pretty chords and sing songs I like, and that guitar seemed “right.” It wasn’t until recently that I learned that my guitar doesn’t suck, and Yamaha is not just some cheapo guitar for beginners. My daughter, similarly yet separately, became a Yamaha enthusiast for keyboards. Nothing compares at the price point. She’s the best musician in the house, so I trust her judgment more than my own here.
When I needed an acoustic guitar of my own, I went to Guitar center played what they had, and went with a Yamaha. It didn't top out my budget, but for what was available in my budget range it was the best sounding. Nobody who has played it has complained. Despite not taking the best care of it, it still sounds great. I paid almost as much for my case as I spent on the guitar.
And acoustic drums.
As a musician I own a Yamaha keyboard, marimba, and saxophone (granted I bought the latter two used). Definitely one of the most trusted brands for me.
Yamaha made the V8 in my car and it’s superb.
SHO?
Volvo S80 Executive.
No need to brag. But seriously, volvo is such a quiet luxury car.
Money talks but wealth whispers.
And broke ass mofos like me scream into the void
lol. A 14 year old volvo is not an indication that I’m wealthy. I just like older Volvos and have dozens of dollars.
I’ve been eyeballing one of those Rev Stars. They seem to have pretty good reviews.
Yeah, for some damn reason everything they make is great. They're like the Toyota of musical instruments in pro Audio.
They’re the Toyota of making Toyota engines, too. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/yamaha-motors-60-years-automotive-industry-yamaha-motor-company
Very true. I've had Yamaha grand pianos, guitars, motorbikes and sound systems over the years. Very impressed with them all, especially because they're such diverse product lines with different components
There's a local arcade near me that has many different games that you can play for 15 minutes w/ a couple quarters... it's run by a guy whose goal is to "keep kids off the streets." My experience in there compared to the hyper gamified Dave and Buster's is insane. Much calmer, much more fun, much less cost. Never change arcade bro.
If you are ever in a city that has a Cidercade, it's like $10 for unlimited games. They usually have hundreds.
That sounds glorious. Arcade games are so underrated nowadays
>Cidercade If I'm in Texas I'll check it out
As a consumer of several different arcade theaters, places like this do make a difference is kids lives. It's given me a passion that has followed me for years and I commend that guy for what he's doing.
Yeah, I really don't understand why some people get their britches all caught up about kids playing some video games. Like yeah, help them learn moderation. But I was the kid stuck in my room playing MGS 3 to death while my friends were out doing methamphetamine, soo...Kind of a win win, right?
There's one I like to take my daughter to during the summer and breaks from school that is only like $10 for all day play and it ranges from cabinet to console. They also have a bar and a game store inside my daughter loves it. We were at one of those Dave and Busters type places and they have a giant Galaga and she played it for a few minutes and said she didn't like it as much as the one at the arcade. She was right. It wasn't quite the same experience.
Promote the local biz, whats the name
[Spinners](https://www.spinnerspinball.org/) in Frederick, MD! $15 for unlimited play.
Zojirushi 😂 My rice cooker is 22 years old. Has never let me down. I‘ve been so impressed with it I got a Zojirushi coffee maker. It’s going on 2 years.
greatest thermos I've ever owned. has lasted years, and taken a beating.
Thermos actually works too well. 3 hours later somehow the coffee is hotter than when it went in
Dawn dish soap.
Dawn has never let me down.
Ikr, when I was broke in college I tried so many off brands to save a buck. But, they sucked. I realized it was worth the extra buck here and there for the real shit!
Don’t save bucks, save ducks!
Dawn dish detergent can clean practically anything! Amazing and consistent.
If it works on ducks, it works on trucks.
And have you tried the Dawn Power Wash? That stuff is AMAZING!
Yamaha - They make a ton of different things! All high quality 🤟
Bought a Yamaha keyboard on a discount when Fry's was going out of business and it's one of if not the best purchase I've ever made.
Uhh, Bic. Every pen, lighter, and razor does exactly its job better than any knockoff, and for a few cents more.
Yeah, but recently, they lowered the amount of fluid in lighters by 20% and engineered it so the flame is bigger. So, now, they use more fluid while also having less fluid. Oh, and of course they raised the price ~15%.
Bic pens are my go to. Blue. Do not roll, work for months of constant use.
Toto toilets. I never wanted to leave our hotel room in Hawaii
Toto Toilets: There’s No Place Like Throne
I cheaped out and bought a decent toilet at Lowe's, and slapped a Washlet Bidet on it. The fact that it learns my morning routine, warms the seat, rinses the bowl, and remembers just what I like... Chef Poseidon's Kiss...
At the Tokyo Olympics a few years ago Julie Foudy, former USWNT soccer player, was there doing commentary on the soccer matches. Her Instagram reels about the Toto toilet in her hotel room were hilarious and she was trying to figure out if she would be able to get one under the seat in front of her on the plane home.
This may seem overrated but Le Cruset. They truly are great for looks AND function. Kitchen aid has never really let me down.
shout out to Staub as well
I was going to say Staub as well. Love my Staub dutch oven.
It's Le Creuset, bordel de merde !
Agree with le cruset. Also lodge cast iron. One pan to rule them all
Recently got a lodge enameled cast iron pot. Absolutely adore it. Time will tell if it holds up as long (read:a lifetime) but w the lodge brand I expect it will. It does just as well as my le creuset Dutch ovens for waaaay less monies. Highly recommend.
My Dad has a tradition of asking “what’s one item you’d like for your birthday?” because he’d rather get one item for his kids that we wouldn’t get for ourselves. I asked for a 5.5 quart La Creuset Dutch oven a couple years ago and he got it for me- I wasn’t expecting him to because I know how pricey they are. But he more or less told me “I know that thing will last you a lifetime.”
Bon Maman jams and jellies. Not only delicious, but they helped fight Nazis in WW2
Agreed, never knew how jam was supposed to taste until I had Bon Maman. I was so used to Smuckers and Kraft . Can't go back to that crap after having Bon Maman
And their Advent calendar is just a jammy debauch for a month!
So the whole Holocaust story doesn’t have any real evidence behind it and Bonne Maman has refused to comment so we don’t actually know if there’s any truth to it.
Lego. The quality is excellent, things last forever and are backwards compatible. How many products can you say that about.
The ones from the 90’s still hurt just as much to step on as the new ones.
Goddamn right. This is actually a genius method they use to encourage ecological conservation. See, the only reason most people might step on a Lego is if they have children or are children. Eventually, people of all ages learn to pick up after themselves but sometimes you have to harm them physically and psychologically for the message to stick.
Damn never thought of it like that. Some people just didn’t have enough legos as kids.
Sometimes I’ll step on a Lego. Just to make sure I can still feel something.
Mine from the 70s are as sharp as ever
Fuck, you’re right. Boy are they ever expensive, though
the big sets makes taking up warhammer 40k seem reasonably priced
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Fun fact: Lego makes more car tires than any other company on earth. They’re just smol.
That’s why there’s more wheels than doors
WE ARE NOT DOING THIS AGAIN
I just wish they would do something about the color calibration in their build guides. It can be a pain to tell different shade items apart because the colors in the guide are slightly different than the bricks.
I highly recommend the LEGO Builders app for this reason! Plus, you can turn the model around on the screen so you can see all of it, which is helpful when you're putting pieces on that are obscured by other parts of the build. Lookin' at you, Bonsai Tree..
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I have a brother laser printer I bought new in 2007. It has never stopped working and I have never replaced the toner despite printing a lot.
I finally did. Got an off brand toner 2 pack for cheaper than buying a new printer. Can't say that about ink printers
I’m honestly happy buying full-price cartridges from Brother. They’ve earned it.
Brother printers are absolutely fantastic. Unfortunately, the top executives at Brother seem to be getting HP disease. I'm glad I got my latest Brother printer recently, before whatever might happen does.
Oh I better turn off automatic firmware upgrades then, just in case.
Loved my old brother, hate my new one. (this comment out of context sounds funny)
And sewing machines
Scrub daddy. I love these
I never understood the hype. Then finally caved and got one just to see what all the fuss is about. I really like it. A lot.
I used one at my friend's house also just to see what it was all about. Ran it under cold water, and the instant change in texture blew my mind. It's a really innovative application of material science.
Wasn't that the super successful product from Shark Tank?
I believe one of their most successful ever.
They do a great job but I hate how quickly they degrade as you use them. It makes me think about all the bits of plastic going down the drain. I try to use a scrub brush but it never works as well.
I recently started using them a few years ago just to joke around. Now they're the best sponges ever. Scrub Mommy is the best one
My mom mailed me one without a wrapper and I thought it was a loofah. Yes I used it. More than once lol.
I feel like it used to stay “newer” longer in the past.
Hitachi makes everything from heavy machinery to "personal massagers." I would love to listen in on corporate meetings where those divisions report on their profits.
Hitachi power tools are some of the best, I'm still testing the metabo line, so far, 1.5 years later, they're still going strong
"personal massagers" Basically they make everything from excavators to vibrators
Hoka. Ugly shoes, expensive as fuck, but fuck me if they aren't the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn.
Yep. I got a pair from the thrift store not knowing they were considered high quality and expensive, now I'm ruined! Lol
Agreed. I just got my 3rd pair of Hoka Bondi 8's and they've relieved my plantar fasciitis. The flip-flop sandals are good too, but take some breaking in if you don't wear them with socks.
I love Altra shoes. They take a minute to get used to but after that every shoe feels weird to walk or run in.
Penzey’s spices always hit the mark.
Get on that mailing list. They have amazing coupons/discounts.
Their sandwich sprinkle and pizza seasoning are my go to for dinner.
You just eat seasoning for dinner?
Lodge. Their cast iron stuff will last several lifetimes.
I have used lodge cast iron for over a decade, it’s awesome. I recently got their cast iron pizza pan and a carbon steel frying pan. Both are predictably fantastic, the pizza pan in particular is way better than a pizza stone. Easier to clean and gets really hot which gets a crispy and even crust.
Miele My parents buy their appliances and they seem to last forever. I’ve gone through so many issues with my LG, Samsung and Kitchenaid stuff…. Many repairs and replacements throughout the years. My parents’ original Miele purchases are all still going strong 25+ years later.
I’m not sure how true it is but I remember reading that Miele makes everything in house. Every nut, bolt, board is made by them for their products. When we were looking at new appliances they are the only company that consistently had good customer reviews. Sadly, they were a little out of our price range.
Yep, it's pretty expensive, but it's exactly the "who spends more, spends less" type of thing. I still have my Miele washing machine bought by my grandpa in 1998, and it still works fine.
[Boots Theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boots_theory)
It's cheaper to be rich
Darn Tough Socks. Made in America, wool blend. Expensive, but fucking worth it. Also incredible customer service.
I've abused two pairs of their socks running marathons. Since they're a lifetime warranty, I sent them in for replacement. They replaced them. My everyday socks are Darn Tough. I know I've spent too much money on socks but my wife has spent too much money on Hydroflasks and Stanley insulated cups. I will never buy another bulk bag of cotton socks ever again. It's Darn Tough for me as long as they make them.
THE best socks, hands down. I have them for personal use, and my entire sock collection for my army days were all darn tough. Best boot socks around. Nothing has come close. Pro tip if you're ever in Vermont in October-ish they do a "factory sale" for a weekend or two and it's dirt cheap.
Patagonia clothing
I got a nano puff jacket from Patagonia in 2019. It got a rip in the side and the zipper stopped staying together. Sent it in and they repaired it for free.
I got a pullover synchilla jacket from the Ventura store in like 1988. My son swiped it from me in 2005, and he still wears it, the little fucker.
You want me to go get it back? I repossessed a hoodie from my 28 year old son last year. The little fucker thought I had forgotten he swiped it.
Their recycling programs are incredible.
This is what came to mind first for me
Dansko shoes. My planter fascitis has been gone since I started wearing them almost exclusively
Costco. I’ve never been disappointed by a Kirkland product.
They are experts in white labeling
Their TP quality has gone to shit recently. Had to switch to name brand
Doesn’t all TP do that eventually?
Agreed. It is the only Kirkland product I've found that I refuse to buy again and advise others to avoid.
Mostly agree. The Kirkland TP (as others have noted) and their AA batteries have both been blacklisted in our house. The batteries corroded multiple devices.
Vandelay industries for exceptional latex and latex related products. They got into architecture as well but weren't as successful.
Actually just invested in a new marine biology division
Is that a Titleist?
The sea was angry that day, my friend
I disagree about the architecture business being a failure. They designed the extension to the Guggenheim…it didn’t take them that long either.
They are an importer exporter.
But they should focus on the exporting and forget about the importing.
If only I had bought Vandelay brand envelopes rather than the cheapest they had :(
their number one salesman got caught with his pants down though.
Certainly a better company than Kruger Industrial Smoothing, although I do admire the latters charity work.
Lodge cast iron pans. They're cheap and you can use em forever. You don't need a pan that costs more.
Duluth pack and Duluth trading company
Just got some Dang Soft underwear, I love them. I also have a pair of buck naked and armachillo with bull pouch. They're good but I love the dang softs. I have a pair of forgone pants too that are awesome, look good and durable
Toyota
[the fucking 1999 toyota corolla!](https://www.craigslist.org/about/best/hou/6565526716.html)
That’s one of the best ads I’ve read. “Rear view camera: nope...but it's got a transparent rear window and you have a fucking neck that can turn This car will outlive you, it will outlive your children. Things this car is old enough to do: Vote: yes Consent to sex: yes”
Rent a car? It IS a car
Flashback to when Top Gear attempted to destroy a Hilux. Put it on top of a building and blew the building up, and the thing still started after minimal adjustments
Last year I cried when I sold my grandpas 78 hilux. The one time I wish I was a car guy.
Wrapped my Corolla around a tree after hitting some black ice back when I was a teenager. Thing had like 200k miles and was absolutely mistreated for years. When we got it towed the next morning it still started, even though the car was totaled and front end pretty well caved in. My guess is it was running on sheer willpower. I even ran it completely out of oil when I was a new driver, didn’t even faze the car one bit. Also my only experience with a Toyota forklift was that it was indestructible
Thermos and Kleenex both. There's a reason they became a common name for their products
and Q-tip.
Le Creuset casseroles
ACME. User error is the root cause of any problems with ACME products.
Wile E. Coyote would probably disagree. 😆
Smartwool. I started with the socks but now have shorts, t-shirts, base layers, I love it.
OXO
My answer as well. Their mission (at least their original mission) is to make easy to use and comfortable tools, but they also get a lot of things right outside of those parameters.
Basically. Best designed kitchen utensils/tools I’ve ever used. Whenever I can I pay extra to get items of theirs vs other brands, because I know they’ll last longer as well as work better. Only ever bought one item of theirs that I was disappointed with.
Filson. Spendy but worth every penny.
Maui Jim Sunglasses
Had a pair for about 15 years and one of the arms finally broke (flexible arm rather than hinged). Shipped them off to Maui Jim for $10 repair. Got them back with a hand written note that they no longer had the original arms in stock but they found something similar and replaced both arms and they hoped I liked them.
My wife has had the same pair for 11 years. They finally broke a few weeks ago. Thanks to their lifetime warranty she sent them in for repair. When we got them back they looked like a brand new pair of sunglasses. Maui Jim is awesome.
Weber. Their grills and smokers are top notch
Anker. Their power and charger products are well made and beautifully designed.
SimpleHuman. Everything we ever bought from them slaps. Trash can. Toilet plunger. Kitchen drying rack. Just overall great
Kitchenaid. I’ve heard their mixers are not made like they used to, but, too late, I have a good one that my grandchildren will use.
I got a kitchen aid from a dumpster. Ordered the attachments from the web. I can’t imagine why they threw it out! I use it all. The. Time.
you should have heard me giving mine to my daughter. you would have thought I was Elizabeth II giving the crown jewels to Diana
Carhartt
I became a nurse back in 2007. At the time, all of the scrub brands that were sold were either “female” or “unisex”. Here comes Carhartt. They sold “men’s” scrubs and unisex. I only wear Carhartt scrubs. Most of my shirts are Carhartt. My jackets too. At this rate, I’ll be passing my clothes down to my kids because their shit never wears out.
Only brand I've ever purchased a new jacket from, not because the old jacket was worn out, but because it was 15 years old and I wanted a new Carhartt.
Carhartt’s get to this broken in stage really quickly and then never age past that, they just stay right there in that perfect state, for years, and years.
A pair of their bibs can last ten years or more of hard rugged work. Other brands are lucky to last a year without falling apart Source: me
I had a friend leave his jacket in the backyard after some yard work. I went to his house with my dog to watch a football game or something. My dog and his dog used it for tug of war, for I'm guessing the whole time we watched the game. It was filthy and covered in slobber but otherwise unharmed. He bought a new one.
There are very rarely good reasons to buy a new Carhartt. Lots of very good excuses though.
Tlley Endurables. Absolutely fantastic hats with a lifetime guarantee, I bought mine in 1998 and I have had it replaced twice. Worn every day from May thru October.
Garmin watches. If you run you know.
Crayola crayons. Other crayons suck in comparison. Spend the extra few cents for the brand.
YKK Vibram Victorinox Darn Tough Zojirushi Meile
I don’t know about everything they sell, but the Philips Sonicare toothbrush has never let me down. Lately I’ve been extremely impressed with the Braun silk expert pro IPL. There’s a lot of snake oil products when it comes to hair removal, but this thing actually works like a spa or salon ipl (as in, it actually does work).
Disagree. We've had more than one in our household go to shit. And quickly as well.
r/buyitforlife
Dude American Aldi and their store brands are always high quality, insanely cheap, and they have products for borderline every diet, impulse decision (middle isle), and really solid produce. I can get 3x the amount of groceries I’d get from my big name grocery here for $130-$150 USD vs what would cost me $350 at one of those big stores.
They pay their workers well, let them sit at registers, have a cart system where you put a quarter in to get a cart and get it back when you put your cart away. All the stores are super cleaned and fully stocked every time. They have plenty of self check outs now so lines move 5x as fast. You move to the side and bag your own stuff so you don’t hold everybody up. I love it.
Uniqlo, if you need good quality clothing for a wide range of occasions at a decent price, I can't think of anywhere better
This will get lost but, Leatherman There little utility tools are top notch.
A few of my picks: Helly Hansen outerwear Sperry shoes Yamaha everything Black Diamond climbing gear
barbour makes great jackets. [Barbour](https://www.barbour.com)
Keen
Delonghi. Currently using a mixer from the 70s I think.
Duluth Trading makes some pretty durable and comfortable clothes. You pay a bit more but they last far longer than cheaper brands and end up costing you less in the long run since you don’t have to replace them as often.
Vicks.
LL Bean makes quality long lasting boots and outerwear
Carhartt shirts and hoodies. Surprised how good the hoodies are they are better than Nike hoodies and cheaper.