There's a bit of a catch-22 in this thread in that BIFL need to be proven to be BIFL (so already be many years old) but many companies change manufacturers over time, so by the time we are going to buy said BIFL item it may no longer be made in the same way. Also, any newer companies that are committed to making quality products that may prove to be BIFL are going to be completely overlooked because they haven't existed for many years.
So my request is that we start making BIFL buying guides. I'm all for recommending great products that have proven themselves, but can we also recommend techniques for identifying products that will last? Things like items with fewer moving parts, or how to identify quality metals and plastics, how to spot a good weld or sewing seam. Once we get into specialized equipment it gets harder for a new buyer to know what makes something a quality item. We could also include qualities like; easily repairable, the company sells replacement parts for the pieces that wear out, the company has longevity and a reputation for great customer service.
Maybe you are a chef. You can teach us by making a post about identifying long-lasting kitchen tools. Or maybe you work with lawn equipment. What do you look for when you're buying something to last? What makes something "better quality" than another? Every person has their own knowledge set with the items you use. Let's share that!
What are your ideas? How could we incorporate them into the BIFL community?
Edit: I think it would be great it we could focus the buying guides on spotting quality instead of brands. Brands can let their quality decline after their name gains a certain reputation. What if we were to spot an item at a garage sale or thrift store that had no packaging. How can we see that that item is BIFL quality?
Submitted February 21, 2019 at 10:10AM by liveinthetrees https://ift.tt/2Vder4R
