Retail products that exceeded your expectations?

[Regulator75]

Let's see what retail products you own that surpassed their life expectancy.
In our world Western world of constant consumerism, it's nice to have something that actually lasts.

I purchased 3 or 4 different hair clippers before buying the Remington Titanium (it was around $30.00) back in 2003, I've used it every 1-2 weeks since and it's never failed on me.

All the previous ones (some more expensive) would just die after a couple months.

It will be interesting to see what random products show up.

Not that it lasted long, but REALLY worked well was the Furminator.

I was hesitant to pay $50 for an animal brush, but the amount of hair that I get off my dogs and cats is stupid. I did them all the first night I bought it and got 2 grocery bags full of hair.

[DownhillGoat]

Savage Arms Stevens 200. Ridiculously accurate, and dirt cheap. Still shoots like the day I bought it.

[Wormius]

My central vac (Duovac). I occasionally do home renos and pick up a lot of drywall dust and this sucks it up without any problems. My old upright vac just died as soon as it tasted drywall dust. Also used it to suck out leaves from the eavestrough. Good stuff. Also the little dust buster I picked up from Liquidation World about 10 years ago still going strong. Hate the baby blue colour though. Have to keep it hidden.

To contrast though... the IKEA-version of the "Slapchop" is useless (probably the original is useless too) and the MEC coffee burr-grinder. The price was right, but the utter ergonomics made it unusable.

[Rathji]

Our Dyson vacuum.

Sucks so much up, that even when used immediately after another vacuum, it often will fill the canister.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

My fleshlight has lasted 200,000 thrusts and counting. She's as tight as the day I bought her.

[8sPOT]

XBOX 360 Elite, had the original XBOX 360 and it got the red ring of death, so did the 2 repairs it received, and also the replacement unit. The Elite has been going strong for over ONE FULL YEAR!! *knock on wood*

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by Puxlut

Not that it lasted long, but REALLY worked well was the Furminator.

I was hesitant to pay $50 for an animal brush, but the amount of hair that I get off my dogs and cats is stupid. I did them all the first night I bought it and got 2 grocery bags full of hair.

This for sure. The furminator is the greatest invention for pet hair management of all time. Don't let the cost put you off because it's much more durable than other brushes.

[Russic]

My PS2 bought at launch has been rocking since the day I bought it in November of 2000. Those were my post-highschool days, so that thing saw A LOT of usage. Granted it hasn't been turned on more than 5 times since 2006, but I'm still impressed with it.

[LChoy]

Originally Posted by 8sPOT

XBOX 360 Elite, had the original XBOX 360 and it got the red ring of death, so did the 2 repairs it received, and also the replacement unit. The Elite has been going strong for over ONE FULL YEAR!! *knock on wood*

Mine's just the opposite of yours. My original Xbox is still running fine. Got it as a Christmas present in 2006. Although, when it does eventually needs to be replaced, the Elite ones look really nice

[Hack&Lube]

Metro Data Vacuum ED500 Datavac Electric Duster

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...086&CatId=7094

75 Peak HP (this thing is so powerful, you need a firm grip), 70 CFM out of a small nozzle = tremendous PSI. more portable than a normal compressor. Pays for itself in terms of compressed air cans in months. So powerful you can clean your pets, detail your car, clean your house, prep areas for work, quick dry projects, clean all electronic equipment, I have so many uses for this thing it's insane.

[peter12]

Any of my major sartorial purchases have turned out extremely well. Spending over $300 for a pair of shoes is a must if you want them to last more than 1 year. Indeed, anything over this price range will certainly look excellent in 10 years from now. My favourite pair of boots, these Alden Indys, still look amazing 2 years, and probably 150 wears after I bought them.

Any suiting by Samuelsohn (Canadian) also holds up extremely well at the price.

Flame away.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by peter12

Any of my major sartorial purchases have turned out extremely well. Spending over $300 for a pair of shoes is a must if you want them to last more than 1 year. Indeed, anything over this price range will certainly look excellent in 10 years from now. My favourite pair of boots, these Alden Indys, still look amazing 2 years, and probably 150 wears after I bought them.

Any suiting by Samuelsohn (Canadian) also holds up extremely well at the price.

Flame away.

Definitely. Some people think that because they because they pay $30 for a pair of shoes that they wear maybe twice a year, that their cheap shoes magically last years and years. I wear one pair of shoes almost exclusively, and they last well over 2 years, and that's in almost every weather condition.

Yes, I love these fur-lined Birk clogs. Unfortunately now I need to order this particular style from Germany as they lost favour in Canada, it seems.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Savage Arms Stevens 200. Ridiculously accurate, and dirt cheap. Still shoots like the day I bought it.

I've heard good things about Savage. I would like to pick one up myself. Would like something in .30 cal.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I've had a pair of Oakley Juliets for 10 full years. Impressed that they still look good, even more impressed that I've managed not to lose them.

[aaronck]

I got a Spyder winter coat last year as a gift-I thought I would never drop that much $$$ on a coat, it's warm, but doesn't overheat, has many secret pockets, wind and waterproof. I would not hesitate in the future to get another...

[Hack&Lube]

I'm currently wearing a pair of Puma sneakers I bought in 2001 that I have worn almost every day I don't wear dress shoes.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

I've heard good things about Savage. I would like to pick one up myself. Would like something in .30 cal.

Not a lot of bells and whistles, but I sure am happy with it. Picked it up in a .270 the first year of hunting, with the intentions of upgrading if I went hunting a second year. I never bothered upgrading. There's a few cons to it (no hinge plate or releasable magazine, the plastic stock makes it look pretty cheap), but bang for your buck (pun intended) I can't recommend it highly enough. Two of my buddies went out and picked up the same rifle after using it.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

My fleshlight has lasted 200,000 thrusts and counting. She's as tight as the day I bought her.

I can hardly believe you've used it 50,000 times!

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Not a lot of bells and whistles, but I sure am happy with it. Picked it up in a .270 the first year of hunting, with the intentions of upgrading if I went hunting a second year. I never bothered upgrading. There's a few cons to it (no hinge plate or releasable magazine, the plastic stock makes it look pretty cheap), but bang for your buck (pun intended) I can't recommend it highly enough. Two of my buddies went out and picked up the same rifle after using it.

Ya, I've heard they are a pretty no frills rifles. Not much to look at but hard to argue with their accuracy. I've been tossing up between buying a modern bolt action rifle (current one is from WWII) or a shotgun. I've become quite fond of skeet shooting.