Do you remember the Tightwad Gazette craze of the ’90s? Amy Dacyczn published newsletters and books on the art of saving money. It was embraced by a whole generation of women looking to prosper. Along with frugal living tips, she lectured on the art of the deal, of doing your homework to avoid impulse purchases. She taught you how to spend the time to familiarize yourself with all the products on the market to make an informed decision. While she was extremely frugal, she also encouraged wise spending on the best quality products as they would last longer and performs better over the long haul.
I thought of Amy recently when Jim and I were walking down the aisles at our local Buchheit. He was looking once again at the Milwaukee tools. He needed to replace many of his battery operated tools as they were finally, after ten years of constant use, wearing out. He stayed open-minded to switching brands, and we spent many afternoons in the big box stores talking to that one salesman on the floor who knew his products. Jim came close to pulling the trigger on this significant purchase during the seasonal sales at Christmas, but since we were talking a sizable investment, he kept looking. He browsed at exclusive sales at hardware and tools stores, attended Contractor events, read all the materials on-line concerning the pros and cons of different brands, but he still wasn’t ready. I learned a lot along with him as I got the job of reading all the tiny print on the boxes to see if that product had brushes or were the higher quality brushless tool. Yes, it’s been fun!
As we were once again in the tools at Buchheit, he spied a large red box filled with Milwaukee battery-operated tools. The storage locker on wheels held all the tools was the final selling point as the ease of getting all his tools in and out of the truck to a job site was a real plus. He pulled the trigger and after months of shopping, purchased the entire set at Buchheit. Of all the stores in the area, Buchheit had the best buy at the best price for all the tools he needed!
He took them home and unboxed all his new “toys” no I mean “tools”! After several weeks of using them practically every day, I asked Jim if he had made the right choice. He said that the new batteries that held a much longer charge were in themselves well worth the cost. Many times, once a company has gained a following and established a reputation for quality products, they will start trading on that name and cut corners. I asked him if the new tools lived up to Milwaukee’s former standards and he said he was pleasantly surprised at not only the design improvements but the continued quality of their tools. He was thrilled we stopped at that endcap at Buchheit that day!
So Amy Dacyczn was proven right once again! It pays to do your homework and put the time into researching a product before you buy. When you know your product, you will be able to spot the best possible buy. The tightwad tool saga was a success, but I am grateful that I won’t have to squint and read all the fine print on the boxes for a while.
I hope this was helpful! May your batteries recharge quickly! Be Blessed! Ann May
