Product quality, how do you know?

[WasGSOHM]

Given that failures are caused by internal and external reasons.

Given that there is zero correlation between price and quality.

Given that there is no Consumer Reports for the products "youse guys" run through.

Word of mouth?

 

[Coppersmith]

Word of mouth certainly, however I don't hear too much of that. Usually, it's a matter of the product I'm using failing often enough that I decide to use another brand or type.

As far as products discussion here, I think we spend more time talking about breakers and panels than any other product. As far as devices go, I much prefer Leviton over other brands, but not their breakers or panels.

 

[WasGSOHM]

Usually, it's a matter of the product I'm using failing often enough that I decide to use another brand or type.

Do you ever go back to that brand or type?

If you've seen trends in product quality, does the quality take years or 10s of years to rise or fall?

Thanks.

 

[Coppersmith]

Do you ever go back to that brand or type?

Nope. Once them screw me, they are dead to me.

 

[hbiss]

If I'm buying on-line I always read the reviews. Matter of fact I'll look up reviews even if I'm not buying on line. Depending on what I'm looking to buy, there are probably going to be a lot of reviews from Joe Homeowner types and normally, if they say something doesn't work for them and give it one star it's because they are an idiot. You have to weed through all the reviews to find the credible ones. So other than knowing someone who has been using what I'm looking for, this is the best way I've found to get an idea of the quality and how suitable for the purpose something is.

-Hal

 

[gadfly56]

Given that failures are caused by internal and external reasons.

Given that there is zero correlation between price and quality.

Given that there is no Consumer Reports for the products "youse guys" run through.

Word of mouth?

I come here to see if anyone's had a sad experience with a product or tool. Or vehicle.

 

[WasGSOHM]

For the online stuff, watch out for astroturfing.

I ask this question because you all go through products at a much faster rate than me, so you can pick up trends better.

And the OEMs are watching this forum, and they might actually take your complaints seriously. The larger ones may use Artificial Intelligence to make their business decisions. As a second opinion or maybe a first.

 

[zbang]

When I buy online, and I prefer not to, I ignore the 5-star reviews ("it works!" isn't helpful) and hit the 1 and 2 start reviews to see what failed and how it was dealt with; some of them are just "wrong shade of blue" complaints and some show a real problem. You can also see how the vendor responds to a problem.

 

[WasGSOHM]

and I prefer not to

We're forced into it, like cattle going through increasingly narrower passages.
I fight it, but my wife doesn't even try.

 

[gadfly56]

We're forced into it, like cattle going through increasingly narrower passages.
I fight it, but my wife doesn't even try.

My wife, going seriously against type, despises shopping in person. She is the queen of Amazon purchasing.

 

[WasGSOHM]

My Frau buys clothes and almost half the time those have to be returned. Someone's paying for this, probably all of us.

We're being conditioned. Pavlov and BF Skinner would be proud.

 

[gadfly56]

My Frau buys clothes and almost half the time those have to be returned. Someone's paying for this, probably all of us.

We're being conditioned. Pavlov and BF Skinner would be proud.

Not trying to...pigeon-hole us, are you?

 

[SSDriver]

We're forced into it, like cattle going through increasingly narrower passages.
I fight it, but my wife doesn't even try.

This is why I hate IKEA. LOL, I literally feel like cattle being forced through their store in one direction. I told my wife a long time ago. There is nothing at that store that I need bad enough to have to go there. Plus I hate crowds and most of their cheap junk.

 

[James L]

I second the idea of hitting the 1- & 2-star reviews to see why some people think it sucks. You know what's common? "1 star. No instructions included"

I wish people like that were banned from reviewing.

I bought a garden hose last summer, from amazon. A very small amount of people said theirs leaked. It had thousands of 5-star reviews so I bought it. Mine split and leaked after 3 weeks

I also try new stuff on a small scale. Try it at home first sometimes

I used to balk at the idea of only buying listed stuff. What a racket, right? But I started to realize, they're not going to pay to get junk listed. Right? I hope my logic works.

 

[ptonsparky]

I have begun to use online suppliers for some items in the last few years, only because the delivery time through normal suppliers is weeks vs 2-3 days. I’ve used the items previously and know what to expect. I will not buy ice cube relays from one popular OL supplier because of the problems we had with them on a project. I replaced them with CH relays and no problems since. I was the follow up electrician.

I do buy brainless books to read on my iPad occasionally and do pay more attention to the bad reviews. Brainless is bad enough, but bad reviews on top of it? Nope.

IDK if I’ve ever bought an electrical item that was not listed or recognized.