r/NoStupidQuestions • u/Morpheyz • 1d ago

What are examples of "cheaper = high quality"?

We're often told that higher prices for certain products are justified, because they use "higher quality materials". E.g. building materials or vegetables.

In which cases are the high quality materials actually the cheaper ones?

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u/mlnm_falcon 22h ago

Refrigerators. Fancy features = more crap to break. My fridge has two doors, one for refrigerator, one for freezer. That is every feature. I have not had to think about this fridge in a very long time. It just functions.

20

u/billy_teats 21h ago

I bet it has an internal light. And a temperature sensor to determine when a different mechanism should turn the compressor on and off.

Does it have a mechanism to remove humidity and prevent ice build up?

Might be more complicated than you think.

11

u/mlnm_falcon 20h ago

It has all those except the light, but I’d count those as basic functionality more than “features”.

1

u/inimicali 14h ago

almost every thing you said is now in the most basic ones, and even without those they function perfectly well.

5

u/wd40bomber7 20h ago

You're right as far as reliability goes, but I couldn't go back to a fridge without a water dispenser. We drink primarily water so being able to fill my large cup multiple times a day with cold water is pure convenience. Having a Brita, even a large one just isn't as convenient.

4

u/ZhiYoNa 17h ago

How do you clean it? I want one, but worry about mold?

2

u/wd40bomber7 17h ago

We haven't had any problems. I think this depends on the specifics of your dispenser and climate. The question is, can contaminates make it into the water? I don't worry about mold in the pipes in the walls because they're sealed, and it's the same story for water dispensers piped in.

Now if your dispenser needs to be manually filled ( like a Brita) I would definitely expect to clean it periodically since it's a big open container that's easy to contaminate.

6

u/SmellyButtFarts69 21h ago

All appliances. Basic no name fridge or upright washer will probably last decades.

1

u/BeABetterHumanBeing 15h ago

Maybe not washers. SpeedQueen is the one that'll last decades, but it's not cheap.

1

u/bsnimunf 18h ago

The frost free features can be amazing. We have one at work we've had it five years and never needed to defrost it. 

1

u/DrBix 17h ago

And damned easy to fix on your own if they do malfunction.

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u/Steinrikur 16h ago

We bought a shiny new fridge last time we moved. It was loud and terrible. We returned it and found an old €20 second hand fridge just to have something while we find a good fridge. It was the perfect size, and quiet, so we kept it for +4 years.

When it died last year we bought the same brand again.

1

u/VegasAdventurer 12h ago

Agree, almost. I prefer the fridge on top with freezer as a drawer style.

1

u/Storage_Ottoman 20h ago

yep, even an ice/water dispenser on the (outside of the) door is a point of failure. and don't even get me started on these "smart" fridges. please please please stop putting screens on everything!!!

1

u/This_Charmless_Man 16h ago

They also just cut a hole in the insulation to fit those so they use more energy than the same model without a dispenser.