Gunkata
Drag Race Newbie
any field? business? pretty much anything?? this should be pretty.. obvious, Z.
TL;DR
6
Price vs. Performance: What do you choose?
- Thread starter grambles423
- Start date
any field? business? pretty much anything?? this should be pretty.. obvious, Z.
TL;DR
nouse4aname
Go Kart Champion
Yeah another good example. AT&T has some of the highest pricing and yet also the worst customer satisfaction ratings in the industry. They're just the big brand name obvious choice of most people who presume you're "getting what you pay for" over a cheaper service(that's actually better).
Gunkata
Drag Race Newbie
I should start a poll:
Do you prefer to save money by buying shit products, or do you spend the absolute most on a product to get the absolute best quality, while spending a fortune in the process?
too many gray areas..... variables, new companies can have a new product that is great - very high quality, etc., but will be priced lower than existing competition - does that mean it is automatically not as good?
Do you prefer to save money by buying shit products, or do you spend the absolute most on a product to get the absolute best quality, while spending a fortune in the process?
too many gray areas..... variables, new companies can have a new product that is great - very high quality, etc., but will be priced lower than existing competition - does that mean it is automatically not as good?
My point is that there is no 'TRUE' meaning to the word 'Quality' as it varies for every individual. Reliability is rarely a consideration when looking at quality to me. I differentiate the two and use them to represent two different things. Total or Overall Product Quality would include reliability, but not be dependent upon.
For me, from the consumer standpoint and not manufacturing standpoint (like most);
Quality = materials, build, fit&finish, performance, aesthetics, etc. Things you can perceive or be utilized or realized. How 'good' it is.
Reliability/Durability = longevity Simply how longs it lasts.
So in that case an example might be;
Which is higher Quality, Bentley or Scion?
Which is higher Reliability, Bentley or Scion?
I am sure you have used the expression "that is a quality X" (tv, shirt, shoe, speaker, watch, etc.) without even considering (or knowing) its reliability/durability.
Bender1
Banned
In the business world - organizational size can be used to drive quality UP and price DOWN with effective management OR with ineffective management will ALWAYS result in lower quality at higher prices (think 1990s Honda v 1990s GM).
Period.
mustache rash
Go Kart Champion
To quote Arin, "The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten."
grambles423
Automotive Engineer
This is more conditional than anything else. Outsourcing, Cost improvements (Value Added Projects), Continuing quality advancement...etc. can all impact these depending on what the company views as "Quality"
I DO agree that high priced items does not always equal quality. But I KNOW that quality does come with a price tag.
I mean, damn, I work in Quality for a economy level car company. Obviously, its not about price.....but many many other things that have been mentioned here.
IE:
Reliability
Perceived Value
"Bang for the Buck"
Customer Service
Maintenance
etc. etc. etc.
I agree with C4L that there is a level of grey area and subjectivity to it.....but doing what I do, I can easily look at construction changes and know how well their process and end consumer representation will be due to it.
Why does Mercedes have SO many damn problems? Having worked for them I can name about 100 reasons why and none of it has to deal with the actual materials they use. Well, maybe 1 or two.
Strangely enough....you are not considered a QUALITY company unless oyu have a ISO-9001 certification and have been audited. I'm lead auditor trained and have my certification so I kind of feel I know what I'm looking for in a quality company.
It also depends how and where it is sold/marketed/advertised.
I have found plenty of very high quality products from companies that sell directly from the manufacture and don't market/advertise. These costs are passed on to consumers. and the price directly reflects them, even if the quality of the product is unchanged.
I voted price bc that should be the majority vote on there. No one goes into a mod without looking at the price. If you want to buy an IC, and the cost is 1k, you'll reconsider that. You want to solidify your subframe, and bam, $200 for collars & bolts...
Everything has a value to it. That being said, Even though I voted for price, that doesn't mean I have chosen the cheapest parts at all on my car. I would rather invest in used parts if possible. If something is expensive, and I can justify the cost given the value of it (to me), then I'll save...
You own a Higher Trim Level Volkswagen, does that matter?
To me, yes. I want to use as as close to or better than OEM quality.
Do you like sticking with just one company?
No. VW doesn't either. If you subtract price from the equation, I would have no problem buying everything through APR. You add in the premium for that name, and I will value shop for what I think gets me the best bang for the buck (given a certain quality).
Do you look for data?
When available and when I can understand it, yes. I work for a data company. I am b4lls deep in data everyday, all day. I prefer it.
Do you care about other member reviews?
Absolutely. I think most people on here do. Everyone wants to make an informed decision or feel like they are. The problem is that most reviews are subjective (this is where data comes in handy).
Everything has a value to it. That being said, Even though I voted for price, that doesn't mean I have chosen the cheapest parts at all on my car. I would rather invest in used parts if possible. If something is expensive, and I can justify the cost given the value of it (to me), then I'll save...
You own a Higher Trim Level Volkswagen, does that matter?
To me, yes. I want to use as as close to or better than OEM quality.
Do you like sticking with just one company?
No. VW doesn't either. If you subtract price from the equation, I would have no problem buying everything through APR. You add in the premium for that name, and I will value shop for what I think gets me the best bang for the buck (given a certain quality).
Do you look for data?
When available and when I can understand it, yes. I work for a data company. I am b4lls deep in data everyday, all day. I prefer it.
Do you care about other member reviews?
Absolutely. I think most people on here do. Everyone wants to make an informed decision or feel like they are. The problem is that most reviews are subjective (this is where data comes in handy).
troyguitar
Go Kart Champion
I believe in maximizing performance to price ratio, while getting up to at least a minimum performance level (which for me is usually very high).
I obviously look for data (being an automotive engineer with a mathematics background who grew up on race tracks...), but in the VW scene there is almost no data available for any handling or braking upgrades. The only things we have any real data on are power upgrades and even that is somewhat scarce.
That is why I stopped at Stage 1 + Wheels/Tires + brake pads. At roughly $2k total in mods I was already smoking the competition in my time trial class. Getting fast enough to move up to the next class would have cost me a LOT of money ($10k roughly) and the FWD platform just wasn't enough fun to drive to justify that kind of expense. Enter the S4.
I obviously look for data (being an automotive engineer with a mathematics background who grew up on race tracks...), but in the VW scene there is almost no data available for any handling or braking upgrades. The only things we have any real data on are power upgrades and even that is somewhat scarce.
That is why I stopped at Stage 1 + Wheels/Tires + brake pads. At roughly $2k total in mods I was already smoking the competition in my time trial class. Getting fast enough to move up to the next class would have cost me a LOT of money ($10k roughly) and the FWD platform just wasn't enough fun to drive to justify that kind of expense. Enter the S4.
ElectricEye
Autocross Newbie
This from a manufacturing standpoint, not the consumer standpoint. Unfortunately, consumers can't see quality in the way you can because they aren't involved in the R&D and assembly of the product like you are.
Quality in the consumer marketplace is perceived simply because that is all consumers have to go by. And because all people have different perceptions, the views on 'quality' can vary drastically.
Bender1
Banned
Enter the law of diminishing returns.
brett_duenas
Ready to race!
Compromise. Do you want to spend $5-$6k on 3pc forged wheels just for your daily drive? Nope.
There's a time and place for quality > quantity and vise versa. Use your best judgement.
There's a time and place for quality > quantity and vise versa. Use your best judgement.