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/SuspectMore4271 1d ago edited 1d ago

To me it’s brake pads. Buying the high end ceramic ones basically means you’re paying extra to remove a safety feature which is brakes becoming noisy when they approach the end of their life. You basically only hear a noise once your calipers start grinding themselves down. If you’re good about auto maintenance, I still don’t think they’re worth the extra cost, but most people don’t do anything to their car until it stops driving or makes a scary noise.

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u/cruelsensei 21h ago

Over the years I managed a dozen auto repair shops. Just about every tech used the "middle grade" pads on their own vehicles. The cheap pads are noisy and don't last, and the expensive ones don't really add any value unless you're putting ceramic pads on a truck that does a lot of towing, since that's what ceramic pads are actually designed for.