craftsmen/artisans vs Cheap goods

[Dall_Piobaire]

You see this kind of thing everywhere, in everything. People have come to want, and expect, the quickie fix, the immediate satisfaction of the thing. Kilts, kilts have always been expensive, always. All good highland wear has always been expensive. But, there was more likely than not a time when it was well "made" as opposed to mass manufactured. People owned one suit, because a tailored suit was expensive. Come mass manufacturing, the suits were cheap but shoody, you just bought another when the previous one turned to rags. This suited the manufacturer just fine, he made more money. His deal became making money, not making a quality product!

I remember remarking how typical it was that so many of the old, well built homes survived major hurricanes with only broken windows; while the newly "manufactured" homes, the better this, better that, were flattened to the ground.

It really should come down to being that you get what you pay for, but you can't even rely on that any more.

I will always support the craftspeople first if I possibly can. FOr a crafter/artisan, in my opinion, it is a love of what they do that comes first. Pride in their work. Oft times they put their name on their work, as they should. It's an expression of who they are and what matters to them. As what they do is a labor of love, and pride, I should be willing to sacrifice and save to acquire it. If it is worth having it is worth working for

[Chas]

We always used to say: "You buy cheap - you buy twice."

Regards

Chas

[macwilkin]

We always used to say: "You buy cheap - you buy twice."

Regards

Chas

In a similar vein:

I do not prize the word "cheap." It is not a badge of honor. It is a symbol of despair. Cheap prices make for cheap goods; cheap goods make for cheap men; and cheap men make for a cheap country.

-- President William McKinley

[BobsYourUncle]

In a similar vein:

I do not prize the word "cheap." It is not a badge of honor. It is a symbol of despair. Cheap prices make for cheap goods; cheap goods make for cheap men; and cheap men make for a cheap country.

-- President William McKinley

One of my favorite quotes. I, for one, believe that appreciation for good quality is not dead, and is alive and well. There will always be a majority who cannot afford the luxury of quality, hand made products, or simply do not value them. There will be others, yet, who value quality in some things and not in others. And, of course, there will always be merchants happy to provide cheap, low quality goods to those who have no choice, or whose priorities lie elsewhere...IMHO...Regards...