Maybe, but are they rich because they do it, or the other way around? Buying quality stuff is possible without being rich: Most of my friends in school had their fourth walkman before i had my first one (worked for 30+ years btw).

I know this doesn’t change your point but adding a 0 would make it match reality a bit more.

And then multiplying it by 2.

Show me the boots that are 3.3x more expensive but last 5x as long. When buying new, it's very rare that buying expensive actually saves you money.

There’s definitely a point of diminishing returns, but boots from Ross can cost about $45, while a $300 pair of red wings would last a lifetime, if maintained properly. A pair of $1000 boots are definitely beyond that line and will also last a lifetime, while costing 3.3x more

There are several brands of boots like this. I have a pair of Red Wing boots that I purchased new in 2013 (I don’t remember the price but today they are $350). Unlike most other modern sneakers or boots, they are made so that the soles be replaced, which I have done once for $100. Other than this, the only consumable part is shoelaces. With maintenance of the leather, it is completely expected for these boots to outlive me.

$350/3.3 is $106. Do you expect these boots to last 5x longer than $106 boots?

Mine did; I'm still wearing them (I bought mine in 2016, and they haven't needed resoled yet) and the $100 boots I was wearing (US Navy authorized) would barely last a year. So for the $300 or so I paid then I got 6 years hard use out of them, and I'm still using them for stuff now that I don't wear them for work.

I have other pairs of dress shoes from Red Wing that are similar; I doubt I'll EVER need to replace them.

Note: the boots are style 2412, the shoes are a variety but the oldest are called MIL-1 Congress boots (Chelsea). I have a few pairs of a different style dress shoe from the heritage line as well.

What were the $100 boots? Do you wear your current boots an equal amount?

Bates and Belleville, and at least as much.

I understand your point, but realize some of us really do live in these boots and have found some that make a huge difference.

The only (and big) negative for the Red Wings was the break in process. It was protracted and brutal. Once broken in they've been wonderful though.

Also, I'm giving the boots too much credit. Just looked them up and the Bellevilles I wore (800 ST) just before the Red Wings are $230 today. I replaced them yearly because they were coming apart.

For hiking and climbing I wear La Sportiva and they have been excellent as well, as another brand to look at.

Google search for that brand reveals:

> Our boot regulations and contracts severely limit our options to only a few very expensive-and often ineffective-models.

So these are just overpriced boots. My main point is that OP is pushing a narrative about how rich people somehow save money with their expensive purchases, which is complete nonsense. They buy luxury products which are more expensive in the long run.

$106 would put someone at some okayish timberlands, which definitely degrade quick. Maybe not a year, but definitely 3 years max

Given that the $100 Timberlands only last a year or two, the Red Wings already have lasted 5X longer.

$300/3.3 is $90. Do you think those boots will last 5x longer than $90 boots?

I can't speak for his boots, but my Loake Sedbergh still look brand new after 2 years continuous use and with minimal care.

I give them a 10 second clean before use and 30 second clean + some polish after.

https://www.loake.com/product/sedbergh-black-grain/

What boots cost 3.3x these and will last 5x as long: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Brahma-Men-s-Combustion-6-Steel-T...

Looking at the reviews: Most of them in that range.

The top review literally says it's better to buy these over and over when they wear out vs more expensive boots.

Finding $99.99 boots that last over a year isn't hard. And yet, yes, some people would apparently rather buy $30 ones every couple of months.

Scale accordingly for variance in usage and quality for the ones claiming 2w vs 1y.

I have worn the same 3 pairs of wesco boots for 25 years, and expect them to last at least another 25. working alot of that time as a metal fabricator. 1 is one its last legs, 1 is ok, and 1 is nearly new.

I hope they're still in business.

No problem!

I purchased a pair of Chelsea Boots from Churches of London in the late 90s and they still look great today!

I’ve had new soles a few times, and recent had a partial reconstruction; liners, pull tags and so on.

But I’ve had them 25 years and the actual boot leather is still fantastic!

Looks like Church’s was acquired by Prada USA corp in 1999. They may or may not be the same quality now.

Don’t get hooked about the boots. You will probably not find boots for $6 neither. The point is about availability of options, not about how much a boot costs or lasts. See Pratchett quote above.

I like the way Terry Pratchett put this in Men At Arms:

The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money.

Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles.

But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that’d still be keeping his feet dry in ten years’ time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet.

https://terrypratchett.com/explore-discworld/sam-vimes-boots...

Oh so that’s where I remember that from. Thanks! Mr Pratchett was a gift to humanity.

DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT A MAN IS NOT DEAD WHILE HIS NAME IS STILL SPOKEN?

(I know this wasn't spoken by DEATH but it seemed appropriate)

For a true DEATH quote:

‘DON’T THINK OF IT AS DYING,’ said Death. ‘JUST THINK OF IT AS LEAVING EARLY TO AVOID THE RUSH.’

Ironically enough, the last sarcastic clause about being out of touch is true.

Do you expect people who have the means to flagellate themselves with cheap stuff to satisfy you? Or simply waste money buying the best of everything first time?

I don’t understand this comment. Flagellation is not my thing, I’m good, thank you.