Quote:
Originally Posted by BrianL99
What people don't seem to want to accept, is the name brand products sold by big box stores (Lowes, HD) are not necessarily the same product you'd buy at an Appliance Store, no matter how much they look alike.
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Fact check: VERY, VERY TRUE
Reason: substitution of cheaper parts, such as plastic for metal parts where available, aluminum for copper where available, etc. There are numerous ways to cut cost corners with inferior/cheaper parts. . Same with electric hot water tank heaters. . . the larger the cost of an item, the more opportunity to cheapen it for the mass market.
Corporate strategy: people shop by cost, not quality, and the lowest cost wins for sales volumes, which also puts additional pressure on marginal/small competitors. .
Sources: personal finance experience in manufacturing/ sales company, father who was in charge of testing purchases for quality compliance, friends in other manufacturing companies, such as GE