Sears is a great example. I gave up on craftsman tools years ago, because so
many of the broke. Yes they replaced the broken tools, sometimes willingly,
sometimes grudgingly, but that did not help me at 11:30 at midnight when I was
trying to get a car running. I think the classic example are the cheesy socket
sets you can buy at many department and automotive stores, cheap, poorly made
with a 'lifetime' warranty. A lifetime warranty is not going to help me when a
tripod, ballhead, or camera goes south 35 miles into the back country.
Lifetime
warranties do not mean a product is better, lack of one does not mean it is
worse. They may allow the consumer some recourse if a product does not
hold up,
but not always. Mark said it best, large companies often offer lifetime
warranties because they can afford to. I would add to that, not necessarily
because they make a product, though some do.
Jim Couch
Actually, your example is more of a good example than mine. I first bought
Sears tools in the early 70's. It's all I could afford, and besides, I
didn't know much about mechanics back then, didn't know the difference
between their lines of tools and Snap-ons. I found out the easy way--a
mechanic friend explained it to me and I took his advice, ditched my
Craftsman tools and bought into the good stuff. Besides the consideration
of failure rates, Snap-ons function better the begin with. These tools are
a pleasure to use, a pleasure to hold in your hands, kind of like our OM's.
Of course, even a Snap-on wrench can break, or a socket gear give way,
whatever. It happens. Afterall, it isn't a guarantee from God but the
company. The thing is, Snap-on doesn't make that guarantee solely as an
"advertising ploy" but because the company has confidence in its product
line--as do many professional mechanics around the country. Does the
guarantee actually go to serve as good advertising? What do you suppose?
But word of mouth is even more important to serious people, and Snap-on has
earned a reputation for reliability over the years that can't be beat. One
hand washes the other and like that.
The point should be simple to understand: buy wisely, if you should get
burnt make a note, spread the good word when you can.
Tris
< This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
< For questions, mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >
< Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >
|