John K Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 I have a great respect for old people, I myself hope to become one, however I think I am starting to notice a bit of a trend. Neither my Dad (91) nor my neighbor (76) are hard up, so why is it every time they decide to buy something - as in when they have given up trying to fix something at least 300 years past its serviceable lifespan - the seem to go to PoundSaver and then look in the bargain bucket. And then they come home with something that breaks, falls apart, injures them or makes significantly worse the situation that it was supposed to make better. Whilst helping my neighbor patch up a whole in a ceiling, I was sweeping up the dust in the void. "Oh wait" he said "I've got cordless cleaner for that, it's got two head lights on it" and proceed to give me a cheap knock off Chinese Dyson that sucked up all the dust and then promptly spat it out of the fan vents into my face. And some of the crap my Dad buys, screwdrivers with the bit hardness of Cheddar cheese... Anybody else have to suffer this..? Funny thing is, before they were pensioners they bought good stuff, I should know because I snaffled most of it for my tool shed. I think its the badge of being a pensioner that flips a switch in their heads. Quote
Captain Colonial Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 4 minutes ago, John K said: Neither my Dad (91) nor my neighbor (76) are hard up, so why is it every time they decide to buy something - as in when they have given up trying to fix something at least 300 years past its serviceable lifespan - the seem to go to PoundSaver and then look in the bargain bucket. 5 minutes ago, John K said: Funny thing is, before they were pensioners they bought good stuff, I should know because I snaffled most of it for my tool shed. Congrats, you managed to answer your own question. They buy cheap because they know a kleptomaniac who only steals good things and they don't want him to have anything else. Quote
John K Posted January 31, 2017 Author Posted January 31, 2017 1 minute ago, Scott Young - WSCC Chairman said: Congrats, you managed to answer your own question. It's actually worse than that... My Dad wanted a pair of wireless headphone to watch the TV. He is deaf as a post and would have done fine with a pair from ebay. I walked him into Richer Sounds and picked him a pair of £300 Sennheisers. "Why do I need a £300 pair of headphones?" he asked "Because I'll be inheriting them soon and I don't want any old crap" was my reply. Don't know what was funnier, my Dad wetting himself (well he is 91) with laughter or the look on the sales assistants face..! Quote
Thrustyjust Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 You dont have to be old to buy tat. Just see the Newbury Poundstretcher , they queue at any age on any day, as dont work at 9am in the mornings, just before the post office opens............Most have lovely vibrant neck tattoos, brightens the dullest of days. Quote
jeff oakley Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 It is a mind set. My mum who died last year never bought anything good for at least 2o years before,as in her mind she would not get the wear out of them. Same reason she would not get a new passport, "£70 I will not be going abroad for that long" so she wouldn't buy one or let me "waste money on one". They associate cheap with good and free much better. FIL is deaf, after sitting with him whilst my ears bled as the TV was so loud, we took him to get an hearing aid. His hearing was good enough to hear he needed and to hear the price, he instantly chose the NHS beige one, because it was free. The fact it drops out whistles and doesn't seem to work that good is fine, because it is free. Quote
jeff oakley Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 Forgot to mention that as you age, you will see specialist catalogues arriving from wonderful places with every aid you can imagine, all cheap tat that only the old would buy. Last one that was sent to my mum had the usual crap, magnifying glass that you could see the rings of Saturn through, adult bin but this had vibrators and lube, which could double up as a handy device to massage those aches and pains apparently. Quote
Rory's Dad Posted January 31, 2017 Posted January 31, 2017 It's about having a fixed income and endless time rather than endless money and no time. ( ask me how I know ) 1 Quote
Rusty Nuts Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 My mum manages to buy expensive junk, double whammy Quote
Man On The Clapham Omnibus Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 My Dad gave up on a German folding roll-film camera with a very good lens and shutter for a £5 piece of plastic rubbish with the lens made from the bottom of a 1950 Coca Cola bottle. I, who am not in the first flush of youth but not yet senile, buy tools that "I might need that/those soon" and then forget I have them! Quote
corsechris Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 I am the old people in my life and I find as time passes, I tend to buy more and more expensive stuff, having learned that buying cheap is a waste of time and money. But, I do also apply the "it'll see me out" test to some items. 1 Quote
stephenh Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 44 minutes ago, corsechris said: I am the old people in my life and I find as time passes, I tend to buy more and more expensive stuff, having learned that buying cheap is a waste of time and money. But, I do also apply the "it'll see me out" test to some items. Snap to that! Quote
iain m Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 Perhaps these "oldies are not aware they are buying cheap?? Someone at 90 will have started work with a wage of £5 a week and bought their first home for a few hundred pounds so buying items we perceive as " cheap" probably is ok compared to say them buying a Dyson for 60 times their first wage?? Alternatively todays 90+ will possibly be the last generation to leave considerable estates to their families and consider buying " expensive " wasteful. or to quote my Mum who passed away a few years ago at 96 also regularly muttered " it will see me out ".!!!! Quote
Northwarks Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 yep dad asked for TV recommendation - he's not skint by any stretch, but recommended a nice LG, Samsung and Panosonic all around the 400-500 mark. He opted for this nasty thing from Asda, the type they bring in for one off sales you have never heard of - resolution and light bleed is terrible, doesn't even show black. He took it back after I commented only to get the same brand only a different size - has the same issues. He did the same with a tablet ... I just stopped doing the research for him as he just ignores it ... It doesn't stop there tho' - His suitcases are held together with cable ties when he goes on his holidays, just won't replace them. Quote
John K Posted February 1, 2017 Author Posted February 1, 2017 14 minutes ago, Northwarks said: yep dad asked for TV recommendation - he's not skint by any stretch, but recommended a nice LG, Samsung and Panosonic all around the 400-500 mark. He opted for this nasty thing from Asda, the type they bring in for one off sales you have never heard of - resolution and light bleed is terrible, doesn't even show black. He took it back after I commented only to get the same brand only a different size - has the same issues. He did the same with a tablet ... I just stopped doing the research for him as he just ignores it ... It doesn't stop there tho' - His suitcases are held together with cable ties when he goes on his holidays, just won't replace them. I feel your pain, really I do... Exactly the same scenario as I face every time he wants to buy something. Not really such a big thing for a TV or headphones, but when he buys powertools or kettles from a market stall that could actually 'blow up' and maim or burn the bungalow down, I do get a bit stressed. But the worst thing is, he then trots out the line "well, I'm past 90, I don't care if I die" at which point I throw a wobbly and explain whilst he's having a nice sleep, I will be dealing with 30 lawyers and 20 documents each one a 1,000 pages long... Quote
SootySport Posted February 1, 2017 Posted February 1, 2017 Love all these stories, scary thing is we will all be doing the same oneday. What I have noticed around theses parts, when blokes retire they buy one of those small box trailers, you see them every summer down the local Tip. A couple of retired neighbours tell me " it's to clear all the old tat from their gardens sheds lofts & garages". When I look at the gardens now, after a couple of years it appears just more Tat has arrived. One of our neighbours is so friendly and proudly showed me around his new workshop last year, I say new but he's just patched it up with some old floorboards and a tarp tied over the roof, he's bought a pillar drill, lathe, new handtools etc all from the bargain pound stores. I reckon if those tools break he'll be in hospital more than he bargained for or loose some fingers. Think I better not retire yet or I'll end up like them. Quote
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