Saturday, April 5

[gottawonder]

Today I am grateful for:

Gorgeous weather. There's nothing like springtime in Canada, after a long, dark winter.

Getting decent sleep, and still getting up in reasonable time to go to the city.

My Sweetie did outside chores for me, so that I could stay clean.

We went to the city to look at vacuum cleaners, though oddly all of the stores close REALLY early on Saturday.

We went to a store that has been around a long time, since that seems to be a good indication of someone who might know what they're doing. We went in with a fairly good idea of what we were looking for...though the woman who helped us ONLY showed us Miele, without even a moment's thought to any other brand.

That bothered me a bit, because that's possibly the most expensive brand they carry. She COULD have talked to us about budget.

We weren't opposed to Miele, and were somewhat resigned to that being our choice. The woman was showing us two models, one slightly more expensive one, and another one that still felt like it would do fine for our needs.

We were fairly settled on the one that was a bit cheaper, though by NO MEANS cheap, when who I think was a store owner came over and got VERY PUSHY about the more expensive one, saying that it was MUCH better for hardwood floors, and MUCH better for carpet.

It bothered me that A) why would a machine that was $200 more be SO MUCH BETTER, and B) I thought she was rude to her employee, who was doing JUST FINE helping us C) she was borderline rude in her making it seem like we were just being cheap going for the other model, or something. Like we'd regret it for the rest of our lives.

So, I just shut it all down. I hate rudeness, I hate high pressure sales. Buying a vacuum is NOT something that should be treated like a life/death decision.

I just stopped interacting, acted bored, and said "well, we need to get going. Bye."

I don't know if we'll go back. There are other stores. The only consideration is whether or not other places will have parts and service.

So, I'm starting to feel like I'm not destined to have a vacuum cleaner. That's twice we've gone out intending to buy one, and it just fails.

That annoyed me pretty hard.

Then we went to the art gallery, and that was great.

We started in the basement, which is also display space, and saw Andrew, our "art gallery friend". We had a great conversation with him.

Then we went to the third floor, which is usually emerging artists, often local.

I did what I am now trying to do every time we go, is to ask one of the people who work there (or they volunteer?)...you know, the gallery attendant or whatever they're called...I ask them what their favorite piece is.

These people usually learn a ton about the works so they can answer people's questions, and they are often people with art history backgrounds. They have spent hour upon hour looking at the exhibit, so they've had time to think about it.

They usually have SUCH fantastic insight into some of the work, and doesn't everyone have a favorite, and they will know even MORE about that one?

It led to a great conversation.

We went for a walk in the area near the art gallery, hoping to find a different art thing that was supposed to be happening, but no luck.

Then we went to pick up a funky dress from a Marketplace ad, that I hope might be the right dress to wear if we do dress up for the grad/wedding party we might have at the barn.

I had ANOTHER great conversation with the woman who sold it to me. She has a beautiful collie dog named Dolly (who gave me sweet kisses) and we chatted about the dress (it's almost a costume piece, but might work as a "normal" dress), her creativity, costumes she's made for her son, and so on. I kind of felt like it was a bit of a shame we probably won't run into each other again.

Then we parked, and started walking to one of our restaurants. We deliberately parked far enough away to make it a nice walk, along the funky downtown district we like to peruse.

We stuck our heads into a natural soap shop, and an absolutely joyful fellow was working there. You could tell that he loved the products, that the family that owned the business made right there, out in the open. We had ANOTHER great conversation with this person, bought a bit of soap, and once again felt like this was more than just a store.

So many interactions that could have just been impersonal, and they felt very connected.

We had a great rest of our walk to the restaurant, had a nice meal (vegan),and interacted a bit with the serving person that seems to live there.

We walked back to the car a different way, a couple of streets to the North, and found a community art show that was free and open to the public. It was a "grand opening" for an art community in this old building that looks to be a former school. It was a very cool old building, with some funky art. We felt a bit like we were party crashers, as it seemed like everyone else there were all friends.

All told, a lot of walking, but it was SO NICE because it was warm enough that we didn't need jackets, and I had good shoes on for walking. A lot of people were out walking today, since it was so nice. It was hard to believe that when we were in the city a week ago, it felt a lot more winter-y.

We still have snow, but in the city a lot of the sidewalks and paths are clear and dry now.

We stopped at the grocery store for bananas, as my Sweetie hopes to bake tomorrow.

Then we came home, returned Dandy, and watched "Conclave", which was very good.

Comments

[ratunderpaper]

I asked my friend about her Shark. She said it lasted a few months and then they bought a Miele. I had no idea of this turn of events, but I always welcome people to Team Miele.

I know there are Dyson supporters! They are usually very happy with their choice and I salute them!

[ratunderpaper]

A vacuum is an important purchase, and knowing the correct appliance for the owner's needs is important. No salesperson is going to be appreciated for being pushy, however.

The cheap vacuums are meant to be replaced every 2-4 years. Their lifespan is months, not years. A vacuum that is going to last 20+ years is not going to be "cheap" in the short run, but only you can decide if it's a good purchase for the long run.

[gottawonder]

I get it.

We weren't looking at ANYTHING CHEAP. We were looking at two different Miele vacuums, the only kind you recommended.

One was a slightly cheaper model, by about $200. The ONLY difference we could see, is that the cleaning head had three different heights for cleaning carpet. We really weren't sure it was worth the extra money for that, as all we'd likely ever be cleaning is a low area rug.

We are having a hard time wrapping our heads around spending over a thousand dollars for a cleaner for two very cheap area rugs in our home.

That's literally all we have. The rest would be hardwood, and frankly, I can SWEEP hardwood.

Given that we are already thinking that we could just throw away our rugs every year for the next ten years for what we spent on them, vs. the cost of a vacuum cleaner, it's not hard to understand our reluctance.

We don't spend a lot on rugs, because our animals literally run to them to vomit or scratch to sharpen their nails. If we spent five hundred dollars on a nice rug, it would be ruined in about the same time as a cheap one.

We already threw away one rug that we only had for a few years, because the cats destroyed the edges of it by scratching/chewing.

I tend to buy them at thrift stores, or Ikea.

We're not really worried about preserving heirlooms here.

SO. Spending a thousand dollars for the "cheap" Miele already seemed like enough to spend, and I had had it with this other woman trying to make me feel stingy/poor/lower class/stupid for not springing for the MORE expensive vacuum to clean our $25 thrift store rug and our $100 Ikea rug.

It really would be understandable if I did go buy something cheap, since it's not like I'm vacuuming an entire house of expensive rugs or carpets.

I honestly at this point could take or leave a Miele, if it's going to be associated with snobbery.

[ratunderpaper]

I think it'll be associated with snobbery if you send it to private school or get it a subscription to Town & Country, lol.

[gottawonder]

When the pressure and the sales pitch feel like "Oh, but you MUST", I back off.

I know very well that you can pay twice as much for a car based on the snob appeal, twice as much for the same house based on whether or not it is in the ritzy neighborhood, and there are all kinds of snob things around whether or not you have an Apple product or Jimmy Choo shoes.

Some of those things are legitimately better, some are not.

The moment I feel like I'm buying a product based on it's cachet or peer pressure, I am uncomfortable.

[ratunderpaper]

How one feels about peer pressure or cachet does not turn one's vacuum cleaner into a status symbol. Until Van Cleef and Arpels makes a shop vac, there's nothing to worry about in terms of snob appeal.

How does buying a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes turn a person (who is not otherwise a snob) into a snob? That would be some kind of magic right there.

[gottawonder]

Well, how about....

If I went into a shoe store, that had a range of brands that maybe weren't SO EXPENSIVE, but also carried a few Jimmy Choo shoes, and I went in and said "I'm looking for a nice pair of dress shoes for my niece's wedding", and they took me straight to the Jimmy Choos, without even asking if I wanted to look at the other brands.

THEN, when I maybe was willing to consider the $3000 pumps they heavily suggested, even though my niece's wedding was likely going to be in someone's back yard with a hot dog buffet afterwards, the owner of the shoe store shoves the person who was helping me out of the way, sensing that I might be willing to spend even more money, and starts stridently insisting that "for only a few hundred dollars more" I could buy a "much more appropriate pair of luxury pumps, even though the pair you are looking at are already quite expensive, and possibly more than you really wanted to spend".

AND, making me feel like I was cheap trailer trash if I didn't.

On top of that, I am being told by others how Jimmy Choos are the ONLY shoes a person should own, because "cheap shoes don't last", even though I've had shoes I've spent as little as $100 on last a long time (I still think $100 is a fair amount of money to spend on a pair of shoes).

That's when I feel like the whole thing is about snob appeal. Jimmy Choos might be nice shoes, but are they literally one hundred times better than a three hundred dollar pair of shoes? Would they last one hundred times longer? No, they are all about what people will think of you if they realize what you're wearing.

I get that Miele is a good brand. It can't be the only good brand out there, and at this point, I'm starting to feel like Miele is being shoved down my throat.

I wouldn't be a snob if I bought the Jimmy Choos, OR the Miele, unless I started making other people feel like second class citizens for not owning those items.

No, I wouldn't be a snob, but now I feel that I would just be caving in to the snobbery of others if I bought a Miele.

[ratunderpaper]

Try as I might, I can't quite get your analogy.

If you want shoes for a hotdog picnic, wouldn't you say so, and give the salesperson your price point? If there is real and not perceived judgment, it's the staff, not the product.

Why do you think purchasing designer fashion is "all about what people will think of you if they realize what you're wearing"? It is impossible to agree with that. What does that say of art, design, style or individual taste?

That said, for a businessperson to call someone a snob or trash is an insult - that behaviour should result in immediate termination.

[gottawonder]

People buy expensive things to "keep up with the Joneses", or to impress other people, as often as they buy them for the pure enjoyment of the item.

For example, the ENTIRE point of the red soles of Louboutin shoes is to make them instantly recognizable, both to the person who might buy them, AND to impress everyone at the party because they will recognize those red soles and know that the wearer paid a ton of money for them.

The same as logos, even the small crocodile on Lacoste shirts. Otherwise, why would a plain white shirt even need a logo, except as recognition that it is a designer item?

It's branding.

Do you truly think that the ONLY reason why people wear/buy expensive things is to express personal style?

Do you think that the ONLY reason for someone to own a sports car is to enjoy the drive of a well engineered vehicle?

LOTS of things out there are not inherently better than it's competitors in terms of functionality, and things become just known for being "the best", when maybe there are other brands that perform as well.

If you are a rural person, that's even true of machinery. John Deere is indeed a good brand for tractors and other implements, but you'll pay a lot more for them even though Kubota is an excellent company that makes very good farm implements. There is now a saying..."you'll pay a lot more if it's green".

LOTS of farmers are "tractor snobs" about buying only John Deere stuff, and look down on people who don't.

It goes on and on.

The person who made me feel badly about not instantly buying their most expensive vacuum cleaner wasn't a sales person, it was the owner (I presume). When I was looking at their SECOND most expensive machine, she swept the sales person out of the way to try to push the MOST expensive one on me.

She didn't call me trash outright, but you KNOW people have ways of making you understand that without saying it bluntly.

You don't INSIST that someone buy a more expensive machine, you should be able to demonstrate why it's a better choice, and if a person decides that it isn't for them, then proudly sell them the one they want.

If their SECOND most expensive vacuum is such an inferior product, then maybe don't offer it.

Anyhow, the act of owning a Miele doesn't instantly make a person a snob, but looking down on other people's choices or thinking they are buying something inferior just as a reflex is snobby.

[ratunderpaper]

It sounds like the owner/manager was the problem for you, not the product. Hopefully, you have lodged a complaint.

There are probably lots of designer shoes at the fictitious party you describe, lol, not just Louboutins. The Chanel fans will be in their Chanels, the Armani fans in their Armanis, the Loro Pianas in their Loro Pianas, and so on. Some of the most "expensive" designers don't use brand logos - just saying - but I like your image of people hopping around showing off their red soles as though that was the point.

If you like fashion, you may have favourite designers, favourite styles. Some designer fashion is more expensive than others. If you don't give two hoots about fashion per se, then one sweatshirt may be just like another. But style and preference have little to do with trying to show how much money was spent. Niche designers are not names you recognise, but they have recognisable style traits that make their work collectible. It's more complex than one's wanting to impress.

I can't comment on rural folk or farming equipment. Or cars. Here, cars have become political symbols - at least Teslas have.

[gottawonder]

I think it is possible to buy expensive things because they work well or are simply beautiful without being a snob about it, in exactly the way I've already stated; by not looking down on others.