Comments on: What is Quality? — Let’s Blog Off

By: Raun Lauterbach

Raun Lauterbach — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:36:00 +0000

Hidden costs, in some cases, are the biggest costs. The fact is that both the $1 shampoo and $8 shampoo pay for jobs in this country. Until a couple of years ago, both my wife and I worked jobs with “unlivable wages.” We made it work. We did it without debt and without fretting too much. It forced us to decide what was important to us. Do I want to go back to that? Absolutely not, but it was a valuable learning experience.

I also hold hand-made wood products close to my heart. I’m fascinated by the craftsmanship and joinery techniques. (The New Yankee Workshop is one of my all-time favorite TV shows) I built a pantry cabinet and some wall cabinets for my kitchen and 2 built in bookcases for my living room. I am proud of the work, but I probably would have bought stock cabinets had they been available for my needs.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I appreciate it!

By: Raun Lauterbach

Raun Lauterbach — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:25:00 +0000

Thanks for your thoughts, Scott. I wrestled with whether “value” made more sense than “quality” but I decided quality was the appropriate term for this reason: Value is a relationship between cost and benefit. Quality, while taking benefits into account, is really an opinion about the choice made was the best choice. I’m having a terrible time explaining my thoughts on this. Thanks for bearing with me.

“They don’t build ’em like they used to” is a pretty common saying. I’m sure it’s generally true, but they also don’t need to build ’em like they used to as long as we’re so quick to replace things. I guess that leads to a whole other social commentary. I’ll leave that for someone else. Thanks again, Scott.

By: under cover waitress

under cover waitress — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:32:00 +0000

Nice post, and very thought-provoking. For the most part, I agree. I differ when we look at the “hidden costs.” For example, the $1 shampoo and the $8 shampoo both get your hair clean, but does the extra $7 pay for jobs in the states? And does the $1 shampoo move jobs overseas and still pay unlivable wages to the overseas workers who make the shampoo? Complex topic!

On a side note, home-made wood products, such as cabinets, are extremely valuable to me.

By: Scott Sliver

Scott Sliver — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:28:00 +0000

I’m with you… “Quality” can be a moving target, but if it works, I like it, I enjoy it, it made me smile, that’s what I’m paying for. I’ve had great $10 meals, and not-so-great $20 meals. Maybe “value” is a better target than quality?

Great post!

By: Raun Lauterbach

Raun Lauterbach — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:21:00 +0000

I knew I’d ruffle a feather or two knowing the “contracting” nature of the Let’s Blog Off group. I appreciate your comments, Joe. I agree that quality makes a difference. I just question how we define quality.

I don’t think there’s much argument if I say that granite counter tops are better than laminate counter tops. Granite counter tops are also significantly more expensive than laminate. If I’m expecting my kitchen to last 20 years before being remodeled/replaced/updated, and both will last at least 20 years, which is higher quality? I say that in that time period, they are exactly the same, which makes the laminate a better value (not taking into account matters of opinion, like personal preference, emotional ties, etc., which do have value but are hard to quantify.)

I built a couple of the cabinets in my kitchen. I built them out of better materials than the rest of my cabinets, but I can’t honestly say they are higher quality than the others.

That said, I’d rather pay a few bucks more for a good meal of smaller portions than go to an all-you-can-eat buffet of mediocre offerings. In both cases I end up full, but the experiences don’t compare.

Complex topic, I guess. Thanks again for offering up your view!

By: Raun Lauterbach

Raun Lauterbach — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:09:00 +0000

That’s happened to me more than once. That’s why I do plenty of my own testing before I recommend anything. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, by there’s almost always a caveat to my recommendations.

By: Joe Freenor

Joe Freenor — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:05:00 +0000

OK, I’ll be odd man out. I disagree with a lot of what you
said in this. I do think quality makes a difference and that those who shop
only for price end up with a lot of schlock in heir homes. IKEA cabinetry is
not the same as the cabinetry I make, not even close. Some people may be just
fine with installing IDEA in their kitchen and touching that sort of “quality”
every day of their lives, but I tend to look for the best I can afford. We are
in kitchens and bathrooms every day of our lives. Why not make them the best
rooms in the house?

By: Btewes

Btewes — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:14:00 +0000

Interesting subject. And you are so correct when you say it is truly in the ey of the beholder. What one person perceives as being high quality may fall far short of another’s idea. I’m sure everyone has had at least one experience where they recommended something to someone, only to learn that their recommendation didn’t meet or live up to the expectations.