Who is right? I want luxury brands, my husband wants quality

Michie · May 16, 2025

Dear Chuck,

I like buying luxury brands, but my husband couldn't care less about the brand. He says he just wants quality. I argue we are getting both. Who is right?

Luxury Brands Are Quality

A watch from the luxury brand Cartier. | Pexels/Antony Trivet

Dear Luxury Brands Are Quality,

This is a hard argument to mediate since I don’t have all of the information about your financial circumstances. I decided to research the “luxury brand” market and give you some perspective before I reply to who I think is right.

Continued below.

Who is right? I want luxury brands, my husband wants quality

I like buying luxury brands, but my husband couldn t care less about the brand He says he just wants quality I argue we are getting both Who is right

www.christianpost.com

Michie · May 16, 2025

What do you think? I’m middle of the road on this one. I’m not impressed by luxury brands but I can see buying a luxury brand for special occasions every once in awhile. It all depends on your finances. I can see going to Cartier it Tiffany and buying a special piece. It could be passed down through the generations. I don’t see it as a regular shopping habit though. Even if the purchaser is wealthy.

linux.poet · May 16, 2025

It depends on the purchase. Putting a lot of money into a handbag or jewelry strikes me as a waste of money, but my brother wanted a naturally aspirated V8 and Lexus was the only one who had it.

Likewise, I splurge out on Apple mobile devices because for me it is definitely worth the money. Other stuff I don’t care about and can go cheap, but if my phone or tablet doesn’t work, it’s a major crisis on multiple levels.

Tuur · May 18, 2025

I have quite an assortment of tools. Some are big name; some are lesser known names; some are no-names. One well-known name brand tool has a poor grip. Some no-name tools I have are as good as the big names. I've still cleaning socket sets that picked up some corrosion over the years, and can tell no difference between the no-names, the lesser known names, and the big names. Then again, I have one no-name channel lock pliers that are a step above junk, one big name channel lock pliers that are good, and a few different sized no-name channel locks that are good. Big name brands are no assurance of quality; no-name brands are no assurance of junk.

Thought about this yesterday when elsewhere a discussion of electrical tools came up and some rather pricey brands got named. We use one of them at work, but for personal use, I've a crimper of a brand no one mentioned that is just as good as a big-name brand I have a work. Didn't think it was worthy arguing about, but if you can compare the quality of no-name to big name brands and find no difference, why not go with the no-name?

Same with store-brand groceries. Some are pretty good and are less expensive than the big names, so why not save?

OTOH, I used to use a store-brand aftershave until it disappeared. Now I use a big name brand because it has a particular quality I'm looking for. Note that same quality was in the store-brand version, and that's why I used it. What it comes down to is a specific quality rather than the name brand.

Michie · May 18, 2025

Tuur said:
I have quite an assortment of tools. Some are big name; some are lesser known names; some are no-names. One well-known name brand tool has a poor grip. Some no-name tools I have are as good as the big names. I've still cleaning socket sets that picked up some corrosion over the years, and can tell no difference between the no-names, the lesser known names, and the big names. Then again, I have one no-name channel lock pliers that are a step above junk, one big name channel lock pliers that are good, and a few different sized no-name channel locks that are good. Big name brands are no assurance of quality; no-name brands are no assurance of junk.

Thought about this yesterday when elsewhere a discussion of electrical tools came up and some rather pricey brands got named. We use one of them at work, but for personal use, I've a crimper of a brand no one mentioned that is just as good as a big-name brand I have a work. Didn't think it was worthy arguing about, but if you can compare the quality of no-name to big name brands and find no difference, why not go with the no-name?

Same with store-brand groceries. Some are pretty good and are less expensive than the big names, so why not save?

OTOH, I used to use a store-brand aftershave until it disappeared. Now I use a big name brand because it has a particular quality I'm looking for. Note that same quality was in the store-brand version, and that's why I used it. What it comes down to is a specific quality rather than the name brand.

I have no big issues with it. As I said, I am middle of the road. I see no reason to buy luxury brands as the norm. It just depends. I can see going to Tiffany’s or another luxury brand for special occasions, etc. But there are some that go overboard with the brands even if they are going into debt for it. That’s a problem imo. You bring up tools which I do not consider luxury brands per se. I like high quality cooking pans, etc. but are they considered luxury brands? I don’t know. It’s just not something I give much head space to. I think more along the lines of vanity items when it comes to brands.

Michie · May 18, 2025

linux.poet said:
It depends on the purchase. Putting a lot of money into a handbag or jewelry strikes me as a waste of money, but my brother wanted a naturally aspirated V8 and Lexus was the only one who had it.

Likewise, I splurge out on Apple mobile devices because for me it is definitely worth the money. Other stuff I don’t care about and can go cheap, but if my phone or tablet doesn’t work, it’s a major crisis on multiple levels.

I think there is a difference in name brands and luxury brands. Apple and such really does not strike me as luxury as much as just a name brand.

trophy33 · May 18, 2025

Luxury brands are not quality. The vast majority of such products is made in China, India, Pakistan, Vietnam etc. for less than the 10th of the price.

If we are not talking about things like Ferrari cars, of course. With shoes, bags, t-shirts, watches, cosmetics and similar you pay for marketing and for advertisement, not for a higher quality production cost.

Tuur · May 18, 2025

Michie said:
I have no big issues with it. As I said, I am middle of the road. I see no reason to buy luxury brands as the norm. It just depends. I can see going to Tiffany’s or another luxury brand for special occasions, etc. But there are some that go overboard with the brands even if they are going into debt for it. That’s a problem imo. You bring up tools which I do not consider luxury brands per se. I like high quality cooking pans, etc. but are they considered luxury brands? I don’t know. It’s just not something I give much head space to. I think more along the lines of vanity items when it comes to brands.

Tools and aftershave are just the only things I can really deal with that come close to luxury/discount. Some tools have premium names and premium prices. It's what we use to call "buying the name."

Example: I've just looked at a well-known high-class brand of sockets that run into the hundreds for the sockets alone. A check with a much cheaper brand-name has them for a little over $10. From experience, they work just as good, so what am I really buying with that high-class brand?

Maybe watches work better. Anyone can spend as much as they want on a watch, but what do you get? From experience, some of those cheap discount store quartz wrist watches works can be more accurate than another brand that's not quite as inexpensive. Pope Francis famously favored a particular inexpensive brand, and it likely was just as accurate as one costing thousands.

I just looked up a certain brand of watch because a coworker wore one. I know because she asked me to change the battery in it a few times. The insides do not look different from the ones my wife favors, and the ones my wife picks cost about ten times less.

Michie · May 18, 2025

I think we are talking name brands. Luxury brands seem to fall more in line with Chanel, Prada, and the like.

Craftsman, etc. seem more like name brands and do not really evoke a luxury vibe imo. Lol

Cooking can evoke luxury in a way but I guess what I’m trying to decipher here is what makes something a quality brand name and what makes something a luxury item. The name? The price?

For instance:

Amazon.com

35,100.00 *Yikes*

ETA: Luxury brands are often aspirational and cater to those willing to pay for exclusivity, craftsmanship, and prestige.

trophy33 · May 19, 2025

Michie said:
Cooking can evoke luxury in a way but I guess what I’m trying to decipher here is what makes something a quality brand name and what makes something a luxury item. The name? The price?

Certifications, international standards (ISO), rigorous testing, high quality materials, hand-made etc. - this makes a quality brand.

Advertisement, marketing and absurdly high prices to create the feeling of a higher social status - this makes a fake luxury brand.

Some high quality brands are considered luxury because of the price, but the price is because of a specific quality (like Ferrari cars or some Swiss watches).
Or, If some producer just adds gold or diamonds to watches, then it is also just for luxury, for social status. Because the watches do not become inherently better because of it. However, there is an objective reason for the higher price.

In summary, there is a fake luxury and a real luxury. Which is which depends on whether the product is objectively worth the higher price or not.

DavidTheGnome · May 19, 2025

When it comes to buying a car, which would you prefer, a Koenigsegg Agera RS, or a Subaru Forester?

Me personally, even if I had 999 centillion dollars to my name, and was rapidly making trillions of dollars, which I don't do either of, I'd most definitely pick the Forester, because I want reliability.

com7fy8 · Jun 3, 2025

DavidTheGnome said:
When it comes to buying a car,

I would consider buying local from a dealer who specializes in selling and servicing the car you buy.

In town we bought a used car from a dealer which specializes in another brand. They honored the warranty and more. But then we needed stuff requiring manufacturers codes, and our seller did not have that. So, we had to go out of town to our brand's dealership.

com7fy8 · Jun 3, 2025

Michie said:
I like buying luxury brands, but my husband couldn't care less about the brand. He says he just wants quality. I argue we are getting both. Who is right?

Whoever is right for that particular choice.

I have an expensive computer, and a cheap phone that handles calls and texts and does not seem right for any more than that, but it works.

Often enough, it seems merchants can take shortcuts in their own no-name products. And there seem to be fake-gourmet name food makers who use cheaper and less nutritious ingredients, like soy oil instead of olive oil, maybe to cut costs . . . things like this - - in case I am right about olive oil being more nutritious. So, I will pay more for something with quality if it is important.

But it seems some no-name foods can be competitive with name brands. Plus, sometimes I find a product of no name and no one with a name is making it. For example, where I have looked I have found dehydrated beets only as a chain store product. And the name trail mixes can have a lot of sugar stuff in coatings and in fruit chunks, but I might find a simple mix that is no-name.

Tuur · Jun 3, 2025

com7fy8 said:
I would consider buying local from a dealer who specializes in selling and servicing the car you buy.

In town we bought a used car from a dealer which specializes in another brand. They honored the warranty and more. But then we needed stuff requiring manufacturers codes, and our seller did not have that. So, we had to go out of town to our brand's dealership.

?

Sidebar time: I got a cheap code reader at Walmart a few years ago. You can get them that will connect to an app on a smart phone, but this is just a plain code reader. It works.

Michie · Jun 3, 2025

The definition of a luxury item:

Luxury goods are exclusive personal items that convey the owner's status and taste. They are characterized by high prices, limited sales, and high quality. Luxury goods are different from necessity goods, where demand increases proportionally less than income. For luxury goods, demand increases more than proportionally as income rises. Luxury goods are often unique, and limited editions and one-of-a-kind pieces are especially sought after.

com7fy8 · Jun 5, 2025

"let him deny himself" (in Luke 9:23).

But God "gives us richly all things to enjoy" (in 1 Timothy 6:17)

AMOG · Jun 7, 2025

Read 'The Millionaire Next Door" for a sobering perspective on the disconnect you have with your husband. It's not a biblical book, but it does illustrate the behavior patterns of people who amass financial resources as opposed to people who amass astounding debt.

prodromos · Jun 8, 2025

My wife has a great eye for quality clothing and accessories at Op-Shops. Usually it is older items that have been donated because much of the new stuff put out by the 'luxury' brands is no better quality than other brands. It simply has the name. My wife has managed to collect a number of pure silk tops and dresses, cashmere overcoat, quality leather shoes and a number of leather bags and handbags at ridiculously cheap prices.
We had gone to a leather goods repair shop and the proprietor commented on the high quality of her bag. He then showed us an older handbag a customer had brought in to have the colour changed, as well as a new bag from the same luxury brand and the new bag was significantly thinner and cheaper leather.

Who is right? I want luxury brands, my husband wants quality

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

out of love attunement

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Regular Member

Senior Veteran

Similar threads