X, I think that buying "brand names" has two major components, which are very different. One, which I practice myself, is striving to buy quality, because it is better made and will last longer. Thus, I have a Sony big-screen projection TV. I spent a lot of time comparison-shopping, and Sony was the best deal for the money, in my opinion. Yes, I could have spent less money on something not as good, but that's not what I wanted to do.
The other component, which I abhor, is spending money just to have a name. A Donna Karan tee-shirt doesn't keep you any warmer than a Fruit of the Loom tee-shirt, which now come in dozens of nice colors. Of course, you don't get the trendy Donna Karan logo, but only a dolt cares about that. My secretary has a Rolex, she says it keeps terrible time, it was a gift, but she'd never buy one. My dad wears a Rolex because it says "status." I have a Seiko, it keeps good time. |
