this post was submitted on 05 Jan 2024
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I saw this post and wanted to ask the opposite. What are some items that really aren't worth paying the expensive version for? Preferably more extreme or unexpected examples.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 10 months ago (8 children)
  • salt

    table salt, iodized salt, himalayan... they're all the same for me. I don't think my taste buds are adapted to the subtle differences so cheaper ones are better.

  • show-off jewelry, wallet, purses

    showing off jewelry is an invitation to be mugged (again, imo. ymmv) so the cheaper ones are the better options.

  • coffee

    if only you're fine with cheaper ways to wake yourself.

  • wax-based lip balm

    anything beeswax is good. then again ymmv since people can be allergic

  • pure or as-is things like land, electricity, internet, water, oxygen cans, gas/ heating, alcohol (disinfectant)

[–] Chorche 9 points 10 months ago (2 children)

I mean, I do make coffee myself... But good coffeebeans do come at a premium.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago

I totally agree and it's within reasonable bounds.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Like all things food related, coffee needs to be somewhat fresh, which increases price.

[–] Cinner 0 points 10 months ago

It's not just the freshness but the trees/breed, growing conditions, etc. But I just stick to Adderall.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Salt isn't so much a case of different flavours but of different uses. Like how you'd use rock salt on an icy path, it's better to use maldon salt to garnish a salad and you'd chuck fine sea salt on a soup base. If you think MSG tastes like table salt, though, it's time to hand your tongue in at the front desk. You can also get smoked salt and that kind of carry on.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

you have a good point with "use" as a differentiator.

this is similar to buying non-potable water vs potable, with pretty much the potable water being more expensive.

I think it's within reasonable bounds because the extra cost comes from the added iodine or the minute minerals in maldon to add the extra taste.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Or cleaning vinegar vs. malt vinegar vs. balsamic vinegar.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

There certainly is a difference between regular and himalayan salt, with the latter tasting more, like...uhm...cavey? In a good way. The point of iodized salt is not the taste but the actual iodine, which supports your thyroid gland and other parts of the body.

Internet service may vary greatly in quality; also, for all pure and as-us things it's the source that may matter. I'd pay a little extra for more green options (as in solar electricity, properly treated water, etc. etc.).

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

Thanks for the input on the salt, I'll try it again and see what I am missing on the cavey sensation.

You have a good point with electric sources being a differentiator. This is like with watered bottles saying their water comes from a natural spring in a mountain.

Here's another viewpoint to that, if you will: maybe you are paying a mark up for the source (or the assurance of such source, depending on the marketing) and the pure commodity itself doesn't have to be marked up for it.

As for internet, I think quality happens because businesses tier it to be. And, of course, with pure internet you have to pay for what amount you have used. I still don't think you need to go full bells and whistles as it is more reasonable to just pay what you used. I understand though that some areas don't have much choice on this.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago

I love my speckled ax coffee beans, but if you didn't go down the rabbit hole of a good grinder and coffee machine then expensive coffee is not worth it.

[–] madcaesar 2 points 10 months ago (2 children)

🀣 This is an awful list. Pretty much everything on it is worth the better version. Except jewelry and electricity I guess.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

this is where your-mileage-may-vary(ymmv) comes in.

I am sure everybody has different preferences to things and the point still comes across. You might still splurge on to some preferences but "better version" doesn't mean the "expensive" bells-and-whistles one.

I am happy reading each comment and knowing how people treat their salt, coffee and internet with different kinds of values.

[–] DingoBilly 1 points 10 months ago

Pretty spot on in my opinion.

I buy the cheapest coffee beans I can from supermarket, and have had coffee snobs comment how much they love the coffee I make and where I buy it from.

Salt is salt, it tastes the same.

Not sure on the land one.. That one is a bit odd admittedly.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

About salt, afaik there is no difference in taste, only in texture (by grain size) and color.

[–] evasive_chimpanzee 6 points 10 months ago

And density. There's more salt in a spoonful of table salt than a spoonful of kosher salt

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

table salt, iodized salt, himalayan... they're all the same for me. I don't think my taste buds are adapted to the subtle differences so cheaper ones are better.

Do yourself a favor and find some blue salt. It's absolutely better/different in flavor vs those other ones!

But as far as salt goes, you have to know when and how to use it. Finishing salts are generally added on top of food, and not mixed into recipes. You also don't want to use table salt as a finishing salt.

But try the blue salt. Seriously.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Thank you for the suggestion! I'll try it when I stumble on some.

[–] SacralPlexus 1 points 10 months ago

Everybody is stuck on defending salt while I’m like….land? Like real estate? Because there are definitely reasons to buy nicer properties than cheaper ones. I’m confused.