# Cheap purchases that exceed your expectations **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 1, 2016, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-purchases-that-exceed-your-expectations/761438 "2016-08-01T03:52:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-purchases-that-exceed-your-expectations/761438/1 "2016-08-01T03:52:47Z")
With all the heat this year, we have been seeing a few flies in the house. I think they hover near the garbage cans outside the back door, and sneak in when it is opened. There are never many in evidence near the cans. I bought one of these fly traps, less than $5 at Home Depot: > **[RESCUE!® Disposable Fly Trap](https://www.rescue.com/products/traps/disposable-fly-trap/)** > > Get rid of flies around your home. Just add water; never touch the bait or the flies. The RESCUE!® Disposable Fly Trap keeps flies away without the mess. Catches up to 20,000 flies! You fill it halfway with water and hang it up. A few hours after I did, I spotted a half dozen flies inside. I went to look and most of the surface of the water was covered with dead flies, at least 100 of them. After 3 days the flies are an inch deep in the water, thousands of them. It does smell like an animal died, but only if you get downwind and fairly close. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-purchases-that-exceed-your-expectations/761438/2 "2016-08-01T05:29:17Z")
I almost always get **far** more than my money’s worth out of super cheap flashlights. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-purchases-that-exceed-your-expectations/761438/3 "2016-08-01T05:50:29Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > With all the heat this year, we have been seeing a few flies in the house. I think they hover near the garbage cans outside the back door, and sneak in when it is opened. There are never many in evidence near the cans. > > I bought one of these fly traps, less than $5 at Home Depot: > > [RESCUE!® Disposable Fly Trap](http://www.rescue.com/product/disposable-fly-trap) > > You fill it halfway with water and hang it up. A few hours after I did, I spotted a half dozen flies inside. I went to look and most of the surface of the water was covered with dead flies, at least 100 of them. After 3 days the flies are an inch deep in the water, thousands of them. It does smell like an animal died, but only if you get downwind and fairly close. > > Dennis Yes but does this make any difference? My experience is that insect infestations are so numerous that killing a few hundred is like standing in the ocean scooping a bowl of seawater out in order to try to stay dry. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-purchases-that-exceed-your-expectations/761438/4 "2016-08-01T09:24:47Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Yes but does this make any difference? My experience is that insect infestations are so numerous that killing a few hundred is like standing in the ocean scooping a bowl of seawater out in order to try to stay dry. Oh FFS **Princhester**. You’re an Australian, and we all know that fly-deterrents don’t work down here. Stop being a kill-joy for those in the north who still have hope. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-purchases-that-exceed-your-expectations/761438/5 "2016-08-01T15:41:32Z")
I have a cheap digital sports watch (Armitron?) that I bought on sale at Penney’s probably 15-20 years ago. I’ve never had to replace the battery (although I have replaced the band once or twice) and that thing is still running and keeps perfect time. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-purchases-that-exceed-your-expectations/761438/6 "2016-08-01T16:18:31Z")
I bought a cheap $50 (Digiland) tablet for travel, just to have wi-fi access along the way. It is amazing what I can do with that. Maps and translation and booking travel and bill pay and free unlimited phone calls to any number in North America, from 17 countries so far and 7 more coming up next month. Stood up well under the rigors of travel. Best $50 I’ve ever spent. ---
**Author:** ![CheshireKat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheshirekat/32/1207_2.png) [@CheshireKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheshireKat)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-purchases-that-exceed-your-expectations/761438/7 "2016-08-01T16:22:56Z")
I have a yellow seersucker camp shirt (women’s) I bought for $11 at a K-Mart in 2002. I wear it in the summers on hot days. I’ve always put it in the washer and dryer, it’s never needed ironing and it looks almost brand new to this day. It still has all its original buttons, too. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-purchases-that-exceed-your-expectations/761438/8 "2016-08-01T17:05:49Z")
Target quite often has seasonally-themed children and women’s socks for sale in their cheapo section right at the front of the store. They are $1/pair, and they last fooorrreever. I use them for bicycling socks; they’re about the same thickness/length, and “real” bike socks are like $15/pair. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-purchases-that-exceed-your-expectations/761438/9 "2016-08-01T17:14:46Z")
A few months ago, I bought a Snark clip-on guitar tuner for about 12 bucks. It is the best guitar tuner I have ever used, and I have had dozens over the years. I think the only one I paid less for was the pitch pipe I had in the 70s. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-purchases-that-exceed-your-expectations/761438/10 "2016-08-01T18:18:35Z")
Timex watches. I’m still wearing the one I bought about ten years ago and have replaced the battery once and the strap twice. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-purchases-that-exceed-your-expectations/761438/11 "2016-08-01T18:25:32Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Timex watches. I’m still wearing the one I bought about ten years ago and have replaced the battery once and the strap twice. This is so true. They keep perfect time, are nearly indestructible, and look decent. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-purchases-that-exceed-your-expectations/761438/12 "2016-08-01T18:37:37Z")
In the retail world we refer to this as inexpensive, not cheap. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-purchases-that-exceed-your-expectations/761438/13 "2016-08-01T18:38:54Z")
Old Sears Countercraft food processor. I can’t remember what I paid for it, but it was less than they are selling for now on ebay. It doesn’t do fancy slicing and stuff (I don’t even know where those attachments are) but it has been turning out pie crust, and hummus, and pesto for over 30 years. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-purchases-that-exceed-your-expectations/761438/14 "2016-08-01T18:47:28Z")
About ten years ago I decided I wanted to try my hand at 6-string bass guitar, but I didn’t want to spend the US$1,000+ I’ve typically seen on such instruments, in case I decided I didn’t like six strings. So I perused [MusiciansFriend.com](http://MusiciansFriend.com), and I came across this Rogue 6-string: [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/6Mj3bwT.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/6Mj3bwT) Rogue is MF’s “house brand”, and they were offering that bass for US$250. It has ended up being the most solidly-built, best-sounding bass guitar I’ve ever owned. I use it more like a 5-string, rarely using the 6th string at all, but I prefer it to my Fender Classic Series 1960s Jazz bass. I’ve owned a Geddy Lee Signature Model Fender Jazz, a Steinberger, and a Tobias, and that $250 Rogue has them all beat. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-purchases-that-exceed-your-expectations/761438/15 "2016-08-01T18:58:52Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > A few months ago, I bought a Snark clip-on guitar tuner for about 12 bucks. It is the best guitar tuner I have ever used, and I have had dozens over the years. I think the only one I paid less for was the pitch pipe I had in the 70s. First thing I thought of. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-purchases-that-exceed-your-expectations/761438/16 "2016-08-01T19:06:50Z")
The crappy ceramic 7" chef’s knife for $15-20 back, what, seven or eight years ago. I’d read all about how fragile they are and shatter if looked at funny but, since I’d wanted one for years when they were hundreds of dollars, I justified the cost as a novelty and figured it would be broken inside of six months. Damned if it still isn’t going strong. It is probably my second-most-used knife, way ahead of my fancy, expensive Japanese steel knives. I just used it last night to cut zucchini. I agree on the cheap flashlights. It will be difficult to talk me into paying more than about $12 for sunglasses. My Acer netbook from 2009 is still my primary websurfing PC. I got a really nice convertible Lenovo ‘Ultrabook’ a couple years ago but never got comfortable using it for day-to-day stuff. ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-purchases-that-exceed-your-expectations/761438/17 "2016-08-01T19:12:15Z")
$9 cell phone. Takes lovely photos, video, email, web. And you can make calls with it. Holds a battery charge for up to a week. I’ve dropped it into a creek and once accidentally stepped on it. It keeps on going. Plus it displays the time so you never need to wear an annoying watch. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-purchases-that-exceed-your-expectations/761438/18 "2016-08-01T19:30:15Z")
I’m pretty happy with my $500 Jeep. I drive it almost _every single day_. Not a lot of miles, but it always starts and gets me home (so far). ---
**Author:** ![OffByOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/45deac/32.png) [@OffByOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OffByOne)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-purchases-that-exceed-your-expectations/761438/19 "2016-08-01T19:57:59Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > In the retail world we refer to this as inexpensive, not cheap. I was taught that all such words should be avoided in favor of “cost-effective.” ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-purchases-that-exceed-your-expectations/761438/20 "2016-08-01T20:50:57Z")
> [@OffByOne](#): > > I was taught that all such words should be avoided in favor of “cost-effective.” Instead of calling myself cheap, I call myself ‘frugal’. (Which is why I miss Big Lots’ earlier name–MacFrugals.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-purchases-that-exceed-your-expectations/761438.md?page=2)