It extra sucks for rural America where you might only have a handful of stores to pick from and all are discount stores like Walmart and Dollar General. Makes it hard to buy better quality/up market items
I find this to be a challenge in general. Amazon and Walmart killed recognizable name brands as quality markers. Walmart forced their suppliers (some of which were name brands) down in quality and prices in order to maintain shelf space, and Amazon is just a haven for rip-off and junk goods.
But the only places you can find quality with good warranty periods in my experience is ultra-high end suppliers in very top line stores. For instance, I'm trying to buy a leather jacket and everywhere I look both online or in person seems like a junk expo…except if you look at very high end stuff (800+ minimum, 1-2k median).
I've had similar problems with furniture, and even home goods recently. The only place I've had any luck at all is Costco.
PS: I do agree that small town America gets even more screwed because they don't have the high end stores to speak of.
Regarding furniture, check the Amish furniture stores! They make stuff that your grandkids will resent receiving as inheritance because they'll be how many decades old and still in perfectly serviceable condition
So if there's a Lancaster in your state (which there is) there's a good chance there is an Amish population, and they do tend to open showrooms in major cities to facilitate ordering. Do some googling and you should be able to find some (I did). The Amish have some incredibly skilled carpenters and if you're willing to spend the cash you'll get some absolutely wonderful furniture
It extra sucks for rural America where you might only have a handful of stores to pick from and all are discount stores like Walmart and Dollar General. Makes it hard to buy better quality/up market items
I find this to be a challenge in general. Amazon and Walmart killed recognizable name brands as quality markers. Walmart forced their suppliers (some of which were name brands) down in quality and prices in order to maintain shelf space, and Amazon is just a haven for rip-off and junk goods.
But the only places you can find quality with good warranty periods in my experience is ultra-high end suppliers in very top line stores. For instance, I'm trying to buy a leather jacket and everywhere I look both online or in person seems like a junk expo…except if you look at very high end stuff (800+ minimum, 1-2k median).
I've had similar problems with furniture, and even home goods recently. The only place I've had any luck at all is Costco.
PS: I do agree that small town America gets even more screwed because they don't have the high end stores to speak of.
Regarding furniture, check the Amish furniture stores! They make stuff that your grandkids will resent receiving as inheritance because they'll be how many decades old and still in perfectly serviceable condition
I'm in CA, I dunno if that's around here. But it is good advice if you have local Amish.
So if there's a Lancaster in your state (which there is) there's a good chance there is an Amish population, and they do tend to open showrooms in major cities to facilitate ordering. Do some googling and you should be able to find some (I did). The Amish have some incredibly skilled carpenters and if you're willing to spend the cash you'll get some absolutely wonderful furniture