El Cheapo Brands
Another Jaded Rant By Matt Jolley
            You go into the local Wal-Mart or whatever to look for a TV, Stereo, Camcorder, or
            phone.  You look at the quality, respected brands like RCA, GE, (The same people
            as RCA) Sony, Panasonic, Bell South, Etc.  Then you look at the no-name brands.
            The cheap, nasty, downright SKANKY models that are 50-100 dollars cheaper then
            the name brands.  Respected (hah) brands like Orion, Kinyo, Matchiobitshui,
            Kikobiouatshi, anything Japanese sounding.  Well, it's gotta be a good deal, you
            think, and you take home an Orion TV/VCR combo and a shiny new Teac Stereo.
            Muhahahahahaha!  Your VCR breaks down within 6 months, and guess what...no
            warranty!  Looks like you'll be PAYING for your "good choice" now!  That Teac was
            damned right from the box.  One speaker crackles even at moderate volume, and if
            you try to play or dub from the tape deck, it warbles.  Once again, since you cannot
            just run out to buy an entirely new setup, you're stuck paying for your bargain for the
            foreseeable future.
            ----
            A nasty story, eh?  My "Guardian" is in charge of buying appliances like those
            mentioned above, and every time I BEG this person NOT to get a bargain brand
            system.  I BEG this person.  Every time, the person never disappoints, with a new
            skank-o brand every time.  I am racking them up!  An Orion TV/VCR that died less
            then a year after it was made, a Teac Stereo that would make the best sound being
            dropped out of my window, and the icing on the cake, an Emerson VCR that cannot
            rewind or fast forward at all, and it's less then a year old!  Although I cannot tell my
            "Guardian" this, for fear of being yelled at and getting that "you're not paying the
            bills" speech, I want to beat into everybodies head that YES, the name brands cost
            a little more, but you're paying for extra quality, and a good warranty.  I swear, once
            I get out of Hicktown, KY, I will buy ONLY name brands.  I don't care If I have to
            save up an extra month to get that name brand, at least I won't have to pay for it
            again a few months down the road.
            Don't believe my claims of having name brand equipment last longer then my half year
            time with the el cheapo brands? Look at some name brand equipment that resides at
            my house.
            -
            RCA Provision Camcorder, Manufactured? December of 1985.  Still in tip-top
            working order, although I broke off the microphone like a moron, but wouldn't you
            think equipment with so many moving parts in such a small package would break
            down totally by now?  The only thing suffering from wear and tear is the NiCad
            batteries, which only have about 1/4 of their original power in them.  Of course,
            recharge any battery over and over for 14 years and it will wear down too, it's the
            chemical reaction.  I'd like to see a 14 year old "Orion" camcorder...please? I'm
            waiting for it...come on, Tell me about it!
            -
            Sharp Linytron Color TV, Manufactured? April of 1987.  While Sharp is not a big
            brand, I am pretty sure they were during the 80's.  Anyway, this system has endured
            many years of abuse, and you'd think this relic of the age of tuning "knobs" would be
            dead and buried, but no way, it's sitting right next to my computer, spewing out an
            episode of MST3K from my soon to die Orion el cheapo VCR.
            -
            RCA XL-100 Color TV, Manufactured? February of 1997.  While this is not very old
            yet, I can assure you, barring any natural disasters or excess smashing, my XL-100
            is in it for the long haul.  RCA keeps letting me renew my warranty, even giving me in
            home service, for less then 20 dollars a year.  They'll do this for as long as I have my
            TV.  I can assure you my next anything will be an RCA!
            -
            RCA CD Player, Manufactured? June of 1996.  This CD player is getting on in years,
            well, at least in Electronics Years.  I have even intentionally tried to break this thing,
            and it has stood up to SERIOUS abuse.  Gone on trips, gotten kicked (accidentally
            this time) and even taken apart and put back together.  It still plays like new though.
            -
            I look back on what I wrote and It looks like I am ranting.  Oh well, I feel really good
            about my name brand stuff and wanted to tell you over and over how name brand
            equipment will almost always pay off in the long run.
 
 
 

April 6, 1999  All Text (You Know Who You Are) Is (C)1999 By Matt Jolley
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