Sam Walton just proves my point. ;)

Well, Tiger Woods played a mean game of golf at 12, but that doesn't mean any kid will. ;)

(I edited out my 'kid yourself' remark because I didnt want anyone to think it was directed at them personally.)

:ermm: Your point? Sam Walton is a rare example, certainly not the norm. If anything, he disproves your "point."

Listen, no one here is saying that "being phony" is a good thing. But sometimes wearing expensive and/or name brand clothes actually has an effect beyond just making the wearer feel better about themselves.

You can be a renegade all you want, wearing paper bags from 7-11 if you like... but that doesn't necessarily mean you're gonna get the job, be the hit of the party, or get laid.

That's life, whether you agree with it or not.

2 grand is cheap to pay someone to leave vs. 20 years in jail from a murder charge.

That might be life as it is now, but it wasn't that way back in my day. ;)

Sure, back then all farmers wore suspenders....

$2000 is a lot to the vast majority of people (it's about ?1100 over here). If it's not alot to you then you are very lucky and should remember that. :)

I have a good example.

I have an Acer laptop. Cheap is the word to describe it. It is half the price of the majority of its nearest competitors. So people think they are paying double to go somewhere else with better quality. They are very wrong.

The truth is, 3 places in the world build laptop components. The Acer hardware will very likely be the same as the Samsung or HP ones you will find out there. It's all about branding, quality is irrelevant. My laptop isn't bad, it does what I ask of it. I see no reason to spend that extra 400 quid when I might as well save it or even buy a duplicate Acer to back the other one up.

Fair on you sir, if you want to pay double for a white tick (because really, that's what it is).

I buy cheaper stuff because (food is the big example with me) it usually tastes better and is more good for you. Corporate products tend to be over-developed in my opinion, and have too much content. As with all kinds of products, the ones that concentrate on just getting it to a standard (and making it marketable) the basics is perhaps what some want. That's why I rarely buy branded food. What's the point?

lol.. couldnt stop laughing on this comments...

Sure, you can buy a decent $15 steak at Outback; but have you ever had the Filet from Mortons or Ruths Chris? Hey, I can take the family (wife and five kids) to Outback for about $80. Dinner for the wife and I at either of the previous two places cost double just for the two of us; and, man, is it worth it.

I've owned four Dodge Vipers. I love the car - sure you can buy other cars that are much cheaper, but who wouldn't love driving around with the top off in a car that is as much fun to drive as a Viper?

If you can afford it there is nothing wrong with spending money on things that make you happy. It's not showing off - it's enjoying the life that you've worked hard to earn.