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I can also see why, if you’re used to such service, you may end up having a complete melt down when things don’t go entirely the way that you want it to.
Chatting to a chef/chalet manager once who was staying on to do catering/cleaning for the summer MTB crowd she was gossiping about the difference between the cycling crowd and the skiing crowd. For instance; she remembered being really nervous about asking the MTB guests on the last night about whether they'd mind stripping the beds as she was on her own, something she'd not have dared to ask the skiing crowd...
Ladies shoes
Ladies handbags
Just bonkers amount of money for something that is available for 1/10th price, which will probably last longer
Centre Parcs (not in the mumsnet sense)
Many expensive skin care products include things like EGF Proteins which are hideously expensive additives, so even if the bulk is cheap, the tiny proportion of additives, will drive the price and capability up. EGF is what they use in burn treatments and for skin grafts and repair.
Centre Parcs (not in the mumsnet sense)
Begs the question...
Nurofen / Panadol etc. Exactly the same chemical formula as unbranded paracetamol and ibuprofen. It’s not like the factory has a vat of wonky carbon atoms to put in the cheaper version.
While this is 100% true, there have been studies showing that some people do find better pain killing results with the fancy branded stuff, all because of the placebo effect. When you give lots of fancy words and marketing about how your product is the best painkiller on the market, sometimes that suggestion is enough.
I still buy unbranded stuff because it's just silly how much more expensive the branded ones are for exactly the same chemical composition and they work for me, but yeah the placebo effect is very interesting. It even works when people know it's a placebo!
This one is interesting, and very different (obviously!) to the other thread.
This feels more like 'expensive things I haven't bought because I don't think they are worth it/can't afford it.' (ie based on values more than experience). The other thread seems to be based on actual ownership/experience of the thing in question.
Not everything on here granted, just a generalization. Not every opinion in this thread is based on ownership/experience.
New cars for example. I have had a few and don't feel the need any more having bought nearly new and never having actually died as a result.
As the owner of some of the things on this list (not a Ferrari or expensive skincare for the avoidance of doubt), I would actually put them on the other thread as definitely worth it based on the experience, usage and hard-to-define joy of ownership.
I might decide to buy a Ferrari (who am I kidding?!) and based on my reasons for buying it (inadequacies in other parts of my life, mid life crisis, showing that I am 'considerably richer than you', lack of concern for the planet, etc etc - all very philanthropic stuff you understand) think it was worth every penny.
What both threads highlight is that one man's value for money is another's crass folly.
Luxury watches - not accurate, they are just either status pieces or placating someones (normally a man) magpie-like tendencies to hoard nice things. I had a Omega Speedmaster to scratch my magpie itch but sold it because it seemed even more 'out of place' now that I am not working in London.
Diamond rings - just like luxury watches, a triumph of marketing.
Curta Calculators (when compared to a cheap digital ones)
Very lovely to use though.
And if I had actually paid more for it than a normal V6 - a Wahoo Kickr Move.
The back and forth motions isn't particularly realistic - maybe a more damped version would have been to simulate an acceleration 'kick' back when you put the power down but not the slide back forward again.
But if you use the Move with the Climb, and the boot you have to buy for it, then out of saddle cycling, such as when doing one of the Climb Portal routes in Zwift, results in the Climb 'walking', via the see-sawing action, over to one side of the bike and then the bike leans to one side.
So then you end up locking out the Moves front/back motion, which would almost negate the extra £400 you would have paid for it, over the price of a V6. I say almost as the slight side to side motion that occurs in the Move mechanism is still worth it for comfort purposes. Luckily I only paid a good V6 price.
I see several places have the Move on sale, although not as cheap as I paid.
I am about to put my Move/Climb on a plywood base so I can level it on the carpet where I want to place it. I think I will experiment with adding guides for the Climbs motion so it doesn't wander to the side, and something so I can use rubber/sorbothane buffers to restrict the front/back motion in a controlled manner.
Christ on a bike £340 for a black t shirt with some writing on it ! 😳Definitely one born every minute territory 🙄 I’ve got a black t shirt with a tiny Camelbak logo on it I had free at Crankworx in 2010 I’ve worn on a very regular basis hasn’t shrunk or faded wonder if the £340 would last as long ?
Curta Calculators
How much?!?!?!!!!
I had a Omega Speedmaster to scratch my magpie itch but sold it because it seemed even more ‘out of place’ now that I am not working in London.
I'd say that is the one luxury watch that has a bit more to it than the others, besides the history I think it's a lovely looking thing. Love mine and I'm weegie who drives a Ford!
No way would I pay the £7k they're asking for nowadays right enough.
I have absolutely no idea what product Gravedigger is talking about. Is there a translation into English, please?
Taylor Swift Eras Tour resale tickets. Can't decide whether they should be in this thread or the other one, but at £700 a ticket that's quite a penalty for missing out when they went on sale last year. Not that I've bought them yet, but seriously considering it. 😳
Is there a translation into English, please?
I think it’s in Newspeak. Definitely from some dystopian future in which cycling is a stationary indoors pursuit, where technology is used to try and stimulate humans so they have a temporary feeling of being genuinely alive.
Not that I’ve bought them yet, but seriously considering it. 😳
most resale tickets (assuming they're sold through the original outlet - ie ticketmaster or seetickets or whomever) get pretty cheap near the date, I often pick up tickets to big-name gigs at list price +/- 10% the week of the gig. All the sales at the moment will be people ripping you off, most of those the week before will be someone who got sick and just wants their money back.
most resale tickets (assuming they’re sold through the original outlet – ie ticketmaster or seetickets or whomever) get pretty cheap near the date
I doubt there's much chance of that for Taylor Swift. The waiting list will have thousands on it already so the resale sites like Stubhub are probably the best bet (with usual caveats about scams etc).
get pretty cheap near the date
That made me laugh! Someone’s not got Swifties in the family. Demand is insane for these tickets. I’ve met ‘Merican youngsters who are flying to London for the weekend to see her because the USA tickets are so hard/expensive to get hold of.
Merino wool, especially base layers used for activity.
In a previous job I tested a lot of base layers, merino wool was consistently terrible: quickly shapeless, took ages to dry, didn’t wick moisture away very well. And twice the price.
I have lots in a drawer, only worn for lounging around at home.
Although the active compound in generic drugs is the same as the more expensive branded versions, the formulation of 'everything else' in them can vary. This can affect things like how quickly the active compound is released as a tablet dissolves, for example, or how fast it enters the blood stream.
So yes, the 'good bits' are the same, but some of the 'other bits' may affect efficiency of delivery.
Does that make any difference in reality...depends...
[edit to add...I use Tesco's loratadine rather than clarityn...works for me...]
Branded medications work better* than unbranded ones, it’s been proved many times.
*because of the placebo effect.
“Texas Carbons*”
Wasn’t there a Grid song named after them?
Skiing
Cruises - went on one around the Scottish islands a couple of years ago (not my idea), awful holiday - and that was a small boat, never, ever again.
To the defence of Apple (never thought I'd say that) their support had, until recently, been years ahead of their competitors, literally. Google only offered 7 years of support on their latest models and still don't have a tablet with a comparable length of support.
So yeah, ios devices can be worth it.
Would I hell buy a computer off them though.
First Class train travel is NOT worth the money – £800 for a round trip to Leeds in December.
Paid for on the day?
I saw Rapha mentioned in the other thread so I came here to balance things up, though I see someone else has already got there.
Easily the least comfortable pair of bibshorts I own and easily the most expensive.
Business and first class flights. I’ve done loads over the years but all on business. Would I pay for it myself? No way. I fall asleep in row 55 as well as row 1.
Chatting to a chef/chalet manager once who was staying on to do catering/cleaning for the summer MTB crowd she was gossiping about the difference between the cycling crowd and the skiing crowd. For instance; she remembered being really nervous about asking the MTB guests on the last night about whether they’d mind stripping the beds as she was on her own, something she’d not have dared to ask the skiing crowd…
Yep. I think we've done the difference between the skiing set and the MTB mob quite thoroughly on a previous thread ...
No way would I pay the £7k they’re asking for nowadays right enough.[/quoyte]And that one has a movement that hasn't been through the Nasa test cycle (twice) but they still call it the Moonwatch...
I got the Speedmaster because I saw lots of forum types calling it there One Watch Nirvana, so the theory was that I wouldn't hanker for more watches after that - and it worked.
Although originally I wanted the Heuer Carrera reissue, which used the same Lemania movement - probably would have kept that as it's smaller and also a reissue of a 1964 watch, which was my birth year. Wife reckoned it was too small though, and I was tired from workng overnight...
bikes of any price are amazing value for money.
Apparently £12,001 is the amount they become ‘not worth it’
The UK government
’sRwanda policy
FTFY
Tempted to say the House of Lords but very occasionally they stop the Commons doing something really stupid, so I don't know... Vinyl, cds are harder to damage, easier to store and can be used to scare birds from allotments.
Business and first class flights. I’ve done loads over the years but all on business. Would I pay for it myself? No way. I fall asleep in row 55 as well as row 1.
Whereas I can't. I can get a better sleep in a Megabus with beds than any economy class seat.
Although the active compound in generic drugs is the same as the more expensive branded versions, the formulation of ‘everything else’ in them can vary. This can affect things like how quickly the active compound is released as a tablet dissolves, for example, or how fast it enters the blood stream.
So yes, the ‘good bits’ are the same, but some of the ‘other bits’ may affect efficiency of delivery.
Does that make any difference in reality…depends…
[edit to add…I use Tesco’s loratadine rather than clarityn…works for me…]
I worked for the biggest UK generic firm, everything was designed to copy slavishly the brand leaders dissolution profile (the delivery). Otherwise you wouldn't get approval to market.
Here's one that could be in either this thread and/or the original one - dependant on your point of view or focus.
DSLR cameras - camera bodies, not lenses.
I'm still using a Canon EOS6D mk1 from c2013
- works well for me so I'm more interested in lenses.
Having looked at possible replacement (or additional) camera body...ouch £££.
I'm sure the pros can easily justify the cameras they use but, for amateurs (like me) or enthusiasts, would a better camera make much of a difference?
I doubt it but could be wrong.
Having said that I'm seriously considering a canon EOS1v - the last of canon's high-end film cameras.
As for lenses, I've looked repeatedly at an EF 50mm f1 but the starting price is c£3k for a lens which has been out of production for 20 years!
Mad, hypocritical, contradictory?
Definitely!
Tatoos. I don't hate them. I don't judge people for having them. I just don't understand why people would pay for them.
Cheese. I don't necessarily buy the cheapest cheese, but it's usually down near the bottom end, an inexpensive mature or extra mature or occasional red leicester or orkney. Got more budget? Purchase more cheese. Some cheese can be a little bit nicer than the ones I buy but more cheese is nicer than less cheese
Cheese. I don’t necessarily buy the cheapest cheese, but it’s usually down near the bottom end, an inexpensive mature or extra mature or occasional red leicester or orkney. Got more budget? Purchase more cheese. Some cheese can be a little bit nicer than the ones I buy but more cheese is nicer than less cheese
I love cheese, I use mature cheddar as a daily driver/go-to cheese, there's no shame in that. it's a very good type of cheese!
I am dissapointed by what you have said, though, Feta, Brie, a bit of blue on occasion.. there's a whole world of cheese out there!
A thin slob of brie on a cracker with a smidge of black cherry jam... it cannot be beaten.
I’m sorry, but I think you’ll find that’s the moon
I hate to break it to you, and I'm sorry that it's me that has to give you the news, but the moon is just a big 'ol rock, and you'll find better cheese in France or Italy!
I hate to break it to you, and I’m sorry that it’s me that has to give you the news, but the moon is just a big ‘ol rock, and you’ll find better cheese in France or Italy!
I'm going out on a limb here, but you're wrong. I know you think you're right and I respect you for that, but all this indicates to me is you haven't found the right cheesemonger yet. In either the cheap vs expensive or the FR/IT is better than British. On the latter, it's different, but there's such variety in the UK to write it all off as worse....like I say, you're just wrong.
On the moon - I'll give you that, despite documentary evidence to the contrary which suggested it was a bit like Wensleydale.
12 speed. 11 is absolutely fine.
Nope. 3 weeks in advance.
@daffy that's madness, I was looking at ~£100 difference on a return to Bridgewater from Largs last year (if I booked myself and not through the ripoff works booking agent). Still wasn't authorised mind, would have been a more productive trip if I was...
First is only worth it on certain lines, Intercity for Scotrail and the major west and east coast operators. The rest aren't worth the money IMO.
I’m sorry, but I think you’ll find that’s the moon.
I might re-subscribe just so I can upvote this comment.
😀
On the moon – I’ll give you that, despite documentary evidence to the contrary which suggested it was a bit like Wensleydale.
Wallace and gromit is not a documentry
so away from business class, club class, whatever down in depths of the budget airtravel with which I am familiar, does anyone actually pay for priority boarding or allocated seating or whatever? And if so, why?
I've paid for allocated seating when travelling with my wife and kids, but otherwise, no. <br /><br />Priority boarding is useful if you think the OHBs may be full and you don't want your luggage in the hold.
so away from business class, club class, whatever down in depths of the budget airtravel with which I am familiar, does anyone actually pay for priority boarding or allocated seating or whatever? And if so, why?
I'm currently on holiday in Portugal. 3hr flight from Newcastle.
Paid £10 extra to sit in the front row and get loads of leg room.
Definitely worth it.
Business Class air travel is lovely. Used to get it on long haul for work. Makes flying an enjoyable experience. Best ever was Singapore Airlines in an A380. Absolute luxury. God knows what 1st Class must be like.
Would I pay for it myself? No way!
Paid £10 extra to sit in the front row and get loads of leg room.
done that
I’ve paid for allocated seating when travelling with my wife and kids
and that. Wouldn't want to risk being seated too near them. But now it's just me and my wife, and we're going to see plenty of each other where we're going...?
I make use of free priority/extra bags/allocated seating when flying with BA - we get over a quarter of a tonne of free baggage allowance when we fly as a family. when we fly on the cheapy airlines its free-hand-baggage-only (the small ones, can get a weeks worth of stuff in there), check in late and normally get good enough seats.
Tatoos. I don’t hate them. I don’t judge people for having them. I just don’t understand why people would pay for them.
Having seen about as many "aged" tattoos as anyone is likely to, they uniformly look awful after a decade or two, no matter how well done they were.
Wallace and gromit is not a documentry
Eh?!!
does anyone actually pay for priority boarding or allocated seating or whatever? And if so, why?
Last year with Easyjet, it was the cheapest way to take a large cabin bag to and from Geneva and skip the massive check-in scrum at Geneva on the way back.
Wot Kramer says - I did on Ryan air recently as you get a bigger hand luggage bag. Picked a poor seat tho due to confusion. Warra numpty
does anyone actually pay for priority boarding or allocated seating or whatever?
I fly into Cork and Kerry airports regularly, row 1,2 or 3 sees you off the plane and in car hire long before the hoards descend. Occasionally at Kerry airport you can be leaving in the hire car when people are still getting off the plane.
As a tall person business class is great for the extra room.
@gobuchul. My last work flight was business upgraded to first back from Atlanta. Slightly nicer food (on demand), bigger bed, individual cabin and board/leaving first. Completely not worth the money. 11hrs sitting on a plane or really nice FS MTB.... or a full really really nice holiday sitting in economy.
12 speed. 11 is absolutely fine.
I've just put 12sp on my HT build for £244 and on my ebike for £179 as it already had an 11/12sp chainring. All works faultlessley
Taken from my Big Al spreadsheet
Shifter - Shimano XT - £38
Mech - Shimano SLX long cage - £63
Chainset - Shimano SLX 170mm 30t - £65
Chain - Shimano SLX - £20
Cassette - Shimano SLX 10-51t - £58
Wot Kramer says – I did on Ryan air recently as you get a bigger hand luggage bag. Picked a poor seat tho due to confusion. Warra numpty
I think it's something to do with them needing to fill the over wing seats next to the emergency exits, so they make them a bit of a bargain to encourage people to use them.
An added bonus is (I think) that they have the highest chance of survival in a crash too.
WRT first class being worth your own money:
A few years ago the snow in Canada in December was awesome, and I decided to book a cheeky pre-Christmas skiing holiday in Canada.
Because I was only going for a week, and remember the jet lag being a problem, at the check-in desk I asked if I could pay for a seat upgrade.
No problem, just go across to the Air Canada desk and they can help me there.
At the desk they told me that my tickets were not upgradable, and therefore if I wanted to upgrade I'd need to buy new tickets and they'd be very expensive.
Quite indignant, I said I thought that I would be the judge of how expensive they were, thank you very much.
So she told me the price, £thousands (~20 years ago).
I went pale, humbly agreed that they were very expensive, put my tail between my legs and started the long walk of shame back to the pleb class security queue.
£244
You could buy a whole bike for that.
Train Travel in the UK – ridiculous prices.
This. Even worse, 'first class' train travel in the UK. A friend once sorted out some tickets to Newcastle for us, as she had some spare 'train miles' or whatever frequent traveller corporate promotion she was offered. Slightly bigger seats, not particularly clean, dreadful coffee and tea, and food that could have been bought for just a few quid from one of the many terrible outlets found at most large UK stations. And dirty cutlery. And not particularly nice staff. I was left wondering why anyone would willingly pay 3x the cost for getting somewhere at exactly the same time as everyone else. And that's before we even get to the utterly boring and irritating business types talking incessantly into their 'phones the whole journey, in spite of 'quiet carriage' signs, and the constant tappity tap of laptop keyboards. Give me cattle class any time. You might even get to have a chat with someone interesting.
I was left wondering why anyone would willingly pay 3x the cost for getting somewhere at exactly the same time as everyone else
As guaranteed a seat as possible and a table to work from.
And not having to chat to someone.
As guaranteed a seat as possible and a table to work from.
And not having to chat to someone.
You can reserve a table/window/etc seat in cattle class if you book early enough. As for working on a train; how sad is that? Being a corporate drown beholden to your employers to the extent you have to work every minute possible. I prefer to relax, enjoy the view, watch a film on my iPad, listen to some music perhaps, enjoy nice food I've brought from home. With clean cutlery. And enjoy a chat with a fellow human being. And not have to listen to some dead-eyed wage slave droning on about ringfencing a unicorn or whatever soul-destroying banality they are forced to abide by.