Dr.Jass
Pastor of Muppets
Or maybe, just like with their electronics, they tell a manufacturer "We want this model at this price point," which is why two of the exact-same-model Sony TVs appear so differently inside. The $1,000 one from a reputable retailer will have gold circuit-board traces and contacts, where the $600 one from Wal-Mart is tin from end to end. Which one will last longer? I guess no one cares in today's throwaway society, but I've seen it first hand.
It happens in auto parts, too. Advance has specific reman engines only available from their chain: "Tough One" engines. They're done by ATK, to Advance's price point. ATK is a reputable company, but Tough One engines are the nastiest backyard-rebuild-gone-wrong remans you've ever seen. Have you ever seen a 350 Chevy with three +.060" pistons, two +.030" pistons, and the other three were cleaned-up originals? Straight out of the Tough One crate, and one of the OE pistons was in a bore so huge you could measure the ring gap with a wire go/no-go gauge. Yep, they have a warranty. Expect to need it, and not get any compensation for your time and trouble to swap out your new engine for a newer one.
I'm not saying Nitto is making a specific tire just for Wally World, but in my experience with tires bought there, they're generally what would be considered "blems" or "seconds" by companies that live or die selling tires. Those companies would not accept such a tire, and Nitto's just glad someone wants to buy them. I blew a belt on a Wal-Mart tire in less than 50 miles' use, without hitting anything or beating on the car. I also used to live near the largest concentration of outlet stores in the US (eastern PA), and that's the case with virtually everything sold in those stores, no matter if it's shoes, bedding, electronics, or clothing. Sometime's it's as minimal as a funky stitch on a pillowcase providing a great deal on a whole sheet set, but it's there. No way does $194 get tacked on somewhere between the manufacturer and the retailer for the exact-same item. But, like you, most of us don't notice and really don't care when that kind of money is involved. If your son's shoes start to fall apart in three months, Foot Locker will likely make it right. If yours do, the friendly folks at the outlet store will likely say, "What did you expect?" and happily sell you another pair @ $106.
I'm with Fishy on this one. If you're buying something from which you expect to get long-term use, get a brand name from a reputable retailer. Yes, I skimp now and again too, but usually only in cases where it's just not possible for me to afford what I really want to use. I probably would've bought the outlet-store shoes, too, except I'd never pay $100 for pair of shoes.
It happens in auto parts, too. Advance has specific reman engines only available from their chain: "Tough One" engines. They're done by ATK, to Advance's price point. ATK is a reputable company, but Tough One engines are the nastiest backyard-rebuild-gone-wrong remans you've ever seen. Have you ever seen a 350 Chevy with three +.060" pistons, two +.030" pistons, and the other three were cleaned-up originals? Straight out of the Tough One crate, and one of the OE pistons was in a bore so huge you could measure the ring gap with a wire go/no-go gauge. Yep, they have a warranty. Expect to need it, and not get any compensation for your time and trouble to swap out your new engine for a newer one.
I'm not saying Nitto is making a specific tire just for Wally World, but in my experience with tires bought there, they're generally what would be considered "blems" or "seconds" by companies that live or die selling tires. Those companies would not accept such a tire, and Nitto's just glad someone wants to buy them. I blew a belt on a Wal-Mart tire in less than 50 miles' use, without hitting anything or beating on the car. I also used to live near the largest concentration of outlet stores in the US (eastern PA), and that's the case with virtually everything sold in those stores, no matter if it's shoes, bedding, electronics, or clothing. Sometime's it's as minimal as a funky stitch on a pillowcase providing a great deal on a whole sheet set, but it's there. No way does $194 get tacked on somewhere between the manufacturer and the retailer for the exact-same item. But, like you, most of us don't notice and really don't care when that kind of money is involved. If your son's shoes start to fall apart in three months, Foot Locker will likely make it right. If yours do, the friendly folks at the outlet store will likely say, "What did you expect?" and happily sell you another pair @ $106.
I'm with Fishy on this one. If you're buying something from which you expect to get long-term use, get a brand name from a reputable retailer. Yes, I skimp now and again too, but usually only in cases where it's just not possible for me to afford what I really want to use. I probably would've bought the outlet-store shoes, too, except I'd never pay $100 for pair of shoes.
