An Alphabet Of My Life: Q

~ beetleypete

Q=Quality

One good piece of advice my dad gave me was, “Pay more for quality”. I took that to heart.

A handmade bespoke suit can last a lifetime.

Loake shoes may cost four times as much as a high-street brand, but will last you ten times longer.

A Sony Colour TV was three times more expensive than other leading brands in 1977. But the picture quality was outstanding, and it never went wrong.

A good cashmere overcoat, carefully-stored and regularly dry-cleaned, will be the only overcoat you ever need.

Don’t be tempted by cheap, badly-made cars. They will break down all the time, go rusty, and lose almost their entire value in under five years. Buy a more expensive car, and it will last you for a very long time.

Cheap clothes are a false economy. I have shirts that I paid £50 for in 1990, and I still wear them today. They are as good as new.

You get the idea…

48 thoughts on “An Alphabet Of My Life: Q”

  1. Pingback: Life’s Alphabet – Q | Stevie Turner

  6. There’s a point of diminishing returns in the $ equals quality equation, but we’ll leave quarter of a million-dollar SUVs and thirty five grand refrigerators out of the equation. I would agree with you on most of the list but I am hell on shoes. My mother once accused me of intentionally ruining my shoes. But not true. I got sme serious Italian loafers (shoes, not citizens) in Italy and beat the crap out them as fast as my $30 cheapies, Doc Martens, etc. I do have a pair of nearly 30 year old Luchese cowboy boots. Re-soled and heeled twice. And they would have been worth the price even if I’d paid it. They are their reputation. As for suits, never buy a trendy one. Keep the lapels sane and you can wear it forever. Same with a tux. And tools. Never buy bargain tools. They will keep you from swearing and knuckle busting working on that car you bought your daughter because no sixteen year old needs a new Lexus. Great stuff.

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  14. Wearing a uniform was a bonus. I bought a few “classic” items of clothing and still have man of them, 40 years on. Now I just wear jeans and sweatshirts, a different sort of uniform. Anytime I went shopping I could be relied upon to zero in on the most expensive item. Usually compromised, but quality does last. (Or used to)

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  15. My mother was the same, and I always seem to gravitate to the most expensive items. But as you say quality lasts. And so much better for the planet. We do seem to be living in a throwaway society now.

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    1. Yes, cheap clothing from shops like Primark may appear to more affordable. But ultimately they get thrown away and replaced, so the customers spend just as much money, and contribute more rubbish to landfill.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  20. I still have my mother’s Somy Trinitron television, working well, and it must be at least 25 years old. It’s huge, of course, but I’m in no hurry to get a flatscreen telly while it still functions. Cheers, Jon.

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    2. Those CRT televisions were great quality indeed. I got rid of our Sony 29-inch TV when we moved, because it took up so much space. The 40-inch Toshiba LED flatscreen that replaced it has worked okay for 10 years, but I still prefer the picture we had on the old Sony.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  21. I have some shirts I bought in 2010 unfortunately although they are good quality I’ve out grown them Hmmmmm diet time (said as I’m eating a snikers bar) but absolutely right buy quality can’t go wrong

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