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Retserrof

One of the Regulars
Messages
159
Personally, I don't understand what's fun about discussing high pricetag items just for the sake of it.

I used to work as a sales associate in a high end fashion store. On Sundays we always had a lot of window shoppers, usually people from outside of town who wanted to see what's going on at 'the expensive shopping street'. They came into the store not because they were interested in the items but because they wanted to see the high price tags and comment on how ridiculous our prices were.

I never understood this phenomenon. Why spend your precious time looking at things you can't afford or have no intention of buying? I can think of better ways to spend my spare time.
Can't comment on your scenario from your time in a fashion store, but I think you're a little too quick to disregard the thread discussion. I specifically wrote in the first post "insight into the knowledge and justified experiences of our members" because I thought it would be both fun (engaging, interesting) and helpful to have a thoughtful discussion where we could share our ideas with others. This is also why I had replied to a few responses with follow up questions for further justification and also mentioned that overpriced and/or overrated items do not actually need to be "expensive".

I hope you understand I'm not trying to start an argument, I genuinely think you're a member who might actually have some valuable, engaging thoughts and personal experiences on what outerwear you find overrated etc.
 
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MrProper

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,140
Location
Europe
also mentioned that overpriced and/or overrated items do not actually need to be "expensive".
Okay, even something cheap can be overpriced. But if I want something and I can afford it, then I buy it. If I feel that it's not worth the price, then there's a good chance that it's not worth it to me at half the price either. Because the item doesn't change. It doesn't gain value just because it suddenly costs less. It's not that I would turn down a bargain, but a discounted item is only really good if I would also buy it at full price. In that sense, there's no such thing as overpriced.
Of course, I have often bought things and kept them because I got a discount. But often I wasn't happy with them anyway. It's different with things I would pay full price for.

And yes, I've often been unhappy even though I paid full price. lol
 

Jon Crow

One Too Many
Messages
1,349
Location
Alcalá De Henares Madrid
Okay, even something cheap can be overpriced. But if I want something and I can afford it, then I buy it. If I feel that it's not worth the price, then there's a good chance that it's not worth it to me at half the price either. Because the item doesn't change. It doesn't gain value just because it suddenly costs less. It's not that I would turn down a bargain, but a discounted item is only really good if I would also buy it at full price. In that sense, there's no such thing as overpriced.
Of course, I have often bought things and kept them because I got a discount. But often I wasn't happy with them anyway. It's different with things I would pay full price for.

And yes, I've often been unhappy even though I paid full price. lol
Amen to that I subscribe to that feeling
 

Pandemic

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,356
Location
Witless Protection
We live in capitalist societies where we are encouraged to find happiness in consumption, constantly told that the more we spend the happier we will be. It feels good to give yourself that reality check, to see that the ridiculously expensive things you can’t afford really aren’t that special or worth the sacrifices it would take to acquire.

That Vanson’s intrinsic value really is objectively higher than the high street fashion jacket. And that makes us feel good, knowing we are just a little smarter than the system wants us to be :)
 

jchance

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,204
Location
LA
There are two different ways to look at things that people tend to conflate: (1) pricing (“cheap” vs “overpriced”) and (2) value received or perceived. I see some people discussing the former, whereas the latter is what actually matters. Being “frugal,” for example, means not wasteful and maximizing the value received while minimizing the payment for it. In contrast, being “cheap” means buying the lowest price possible, regardless of value. Being cheap tends to become more expensive in the long run. When people say “overpriced”, what they really mean is that alternative options exist that would provide you essentially the same value at a cheaper price point.

I was looking at the following pants made from upcycled vintage Army surplus tents. Cool concept, nice fabric but its price tag is insane ($629). Maybe I’m just frugal, regardless of how much money I make or have, I wouldn’t ever buy that. I’d rather make my own.


IMG_4721.jpeg


I found a different one on Etsy, still $495. I’d still pass.

 

olivia11

New in Town
Messages
21
We live in capitalist societies where we are encouraged to find happiness in consumption, constantly told that the more we spend the happier we will be. It feels good to give yourself that reality check, to see that the ridiculously expensive things you can’t afford really aren’t that special or worth the sacrifices it would take to acquire.

That Vanson’s intrinsic value really is objectively higher than the high street fashion jacket. And that makes us feel good, knowing we are just a little smarter than the system wants us to be :)
Well said quality and intrinsic value beat hype every time. Realizing that is a nice reminder you’re buying with intention, not just feeding the system.
 

olivia11

New in Town
Messages
21
We live in capitalist societies where we are encouraged to find happiness in consumption, constantly told that the more we spend the happier we will be. It feels good to give yourself that reality check, to see that the ridiculously expensive things you can’t afford really aren’t that special or worth the sacrifices it would take to acquire.

That Vanson’s intrinsic value really is objectively higher than the high street fashion jacket. And that makes us feel good, knowing we are just a little smarter than the system wants us to be :)
Exactly once you see past the hype, the appeal fades fast. Choosing real quality over status feels like a quiet win against the system.
 

Jon Crow

One Too Many
Messages
1,349
Location
Alcalá De Henares Madrid
We live in capitalist societies where we are encouraged to find happiness in consumption, constantly told that the more we spend the happier we will be. It feels good to give yourself that reality check, to see that the ridiculously expensive things you can’t afford really aren’t that special or worth the sacrifices it would take to acquire.

That Vanson’s intrinsic value really is objectively higher than the high street fashion jacket. And that makes us feel good, knowing we are just a little smarter than the system wants us to be :)
Basically don't be a Lemming or shop at sport direct haha ;)
 

The Lost Cowboy

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,610
Location
Southeast Asia
Okay, even something cheap can be overpriced. But if I want something and I can afford it, then I buy it. If I feel that it's not worth the price, then there's a good chance that it's not worth it to me at half the price either.

I have a RL Polo corduroy jacket purchased new in Bangkok at a 30% discount. I like the pattern very much and find it to be particularly well-fitted. For those qualities, I was willing to pay a bit more than I usually spend because the pattern is so great.

But the jacket construction is not worth the original price tag - it just doesn't have enough longevity.

So for me, the discount was the only correct price. I would not have bought it at the original price.

And there are TONS of clothes like that imo. Echoing Monitor, the question isn't which makers are overpriced, but which ones are NOT overpriced.

And I have to say that from what I've seen, only Vanson really seems to be priced correctly.
 

The Lost Cowboy

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,610
Location
Southeast Asia
In the world of hats, Akubra is the only modern maker whose quality really equals the price tag (edit: except for some custom makers). But their prices have risen recently and now I would probably only purchase a new one if it were on sale unless I really needed it for work.

And that is one of the differences to me. I will buy new and ignore the price if I need the item. A new hat or a new pair of boots for work, for example. When I need an item, I want it new and I want the very best quality I can afford.

But if I only want it, then I usually shop used because the original prices just aren't worth it.
 
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Biff42

One Too Many
Messages
1,051
Meanwhile, here in the US, my teen daughters run around in pajama bottoms, crocs, and sometimes Jordans. My youngest doesn't wear a proper jacket, but takes a blanket to school to drape around herself. That's a "cool" thing with the kids these days.

In fashion, beauty, and value really are in the eye of the beholder.
 

MrProper

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,140
Location
Europe
But if I only want it, then I usually shop used because the original prices just aren't worth it.
You forgot to say “to me.” at the end of your sentence. Because there will certainly be someone who has a completely different opinion on this. I don't think opinions should be generalized.

There are two different ways to look at things that people tend to conflate: (1) pricing (“cheap” vs “overpriced”) and (2) value received or perceived. I see some people discussing the former, whereas the latter is what actually matters. Being “frugal,” for example, means not wasteful and maximizing the value received while minimizing the payment for it. In contrast, being “cheap” means buying the lowest price possible, regardless of value. Being cheap tends to become more expensive in the long run. When people say “overpriced”, what they really mean is that alternative options exist that would provide you essentially the same value at a cheaper price point.

I was looking at the following pants made from upcycled vintage Army surplus tents. Cool concept, nice fabric but its price tag is insane ($629). Maybe I’m just frugal, regardless of how much money I make or have, I wouldn’t ever buy that. I’d rather make my own.

[/URL]

View attachment 756000

I found a different one on Etsy, still $495. I’d still pass.

[/URL]
Cool pants. If I could try them on and they suited me, I might be tempted to buy them.

I think pretty much all the posts in this thread lead to the conclusion that whether something is expensive or cheap, valuable or worthless, is simply a matter of personal preference. There is no universal rule.
 

The Lost Cowboy

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,610
Location
Southeast Asia
You forgot to say “to me.” at the end of your sentence. Because there will certainly be someone who has a completely different opinion on this. I don't think opinions should be generalized.
Wow, seriously pedantic. How many times do I have to write "to me" or "for me" or "imo" or "from what I've seen" in my responses? Nothing that I wrote was couched as a generalization.

If you wanna debate, go for it, but this is petty.

Not worth further response from me. I'm not gonna quibble (esp. with someone I like very much) over this kind of thing.
 

MrProper

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,140
Location
Europe
Wow, seriously pedantic. How many times do I have to write "to me" or "for me" or "imo" or "from what I've seen" in my responses? Nothing that I wrote was couched as a generalization.

If you wanna debate, go for it, but this is petty.

Not worth further response from me. I'm not gonna quibble (esp. with someone I like very much) over this kind of thing.
Yes, that's true. Text communication is often misleading, especially when you're as bad at the language as I am. lol.
Maybe I'm oversensitive because in German-speaking countries people like to generalize their own opinions (at least in some bubbles). I'm glad I misunderstood that about you.
 

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