Warranty State
I don't know how I ever got here. Perhaps it was because my beloved grandfather would only buy Craftsman tools (at least the major ones). I look around or even listen to myself describe things I've bought and one theme is consistent throughout, warranty. It could be dumb luck from wanting the better things, but I know better. It's not a side effect, but the very reason I buy the things I do.
My buddies and I subscribe to the "Axe Book" way of thinking. Buy something of quality, and our impact on the earth is minimized. Think about how many $20 coolers Walmart sells every single day. What if you spent five times the money and never had to buy one again, barring unusual circumstances? Yeah, that's it in a nutshell. Spend a little more sometimes to get the right product, durable and trustworthy, and send a little less fuel to the disposable kingdom-works of American consumerism. The real irony is that the "better choices" are the very products that usually come with a no fuss warranty. Make no mistake, I look for just that in a quality product. I want to buy what I need once and forget about it, but if it does break, I don't want to fumble around looking for registration or to see if the company even still exists.
This logic has finally started paying for itself after years of buying things "my way". I look around and most of the things I have and use are things I bought years ago and only bought once. Recently I've noticed an increase in warranty work, and I love it! I lost the thumb-stud on my pocket knife, they mailed me a replacement with no more than an e-mail exchange (SOG). One of my pocket pistols started acting up after cleaning, total factory reconditioning for the price of one-way overnight mailing(Kel-Tec). I sent in an 8 year-old Parka with a handwritten letter and got a replacement in three weeks(Columbia). After 7 years of dutiful service, my sunglasses finally snapped on a 20 degree duck hunt, replaced for a third of the original price (Costa Del Mar). The list goes on and on.
I even have a queue started. I'm waiting patiently for my second pair of Filson socks to wear out so I can get both pair replaced. I smoked one of my Terralux flashlight products and they're waiting on me to send it back to be replaced under warranty. I can go on, but you see the point is clear(at least to me). I don't have tons of money to buy toys, but when I do make a purchase, I intend it to be my last. So far it's proving to be the right play. I take very seriously my gear and the dollars I work for to buy it all. I even agonize for months over pennies to be spent on just the right investment for my needs. Obviously there's satisfaction when an investment fits the bill, proves efficient and durable and ultimately is backed by the manufacturer if failure occurs. If I gave you advice, you'd probably look at me sideways, but consider what the "Axe Book
taught us the next time you buy something.
The Axe Book from Gränsfors Bruks
