What's the difference between $50 and $100 Patio Umbrellas?

[mshan]

I am interested in getting a basic patio umbrella.

I see lots of advertisements for these 9 ft. market umbrellas, which seem to fall into around the $50 and $100 price point.

What does the extra $50 get you in terms of features, quality, and durability?

 

[biggestmuff]

 

[91TTZ]

$50

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
$50

You apparently failed to read the topic summary, me thinks.... He already called people on their bad jokes before anyone could reply.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: blurredvision

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
$50

You apparently failed to read the topic summary, me thinks.... He already called people on their bad jokes before anyone could reply.

I saw that, but you can't leave yourself open like that and depend on a little disclaimer to stop it from happening.

 

[meltdown75]

here's what i know about my two patio umbrellas.

one of them has a crappy base and the other one has a sturdy and higher quality base with a better "tightener" in it. also, the material on one seems to be a little sturdier. one has a frilly thing at the top which is a little fancier than the other. also, check to see if they come with a zip-up cover or not. some of those covers tear easier than others.

just feel them up to see if there is a big difference in quality in terms of the material, and compare the quality of build. if you think the $100 one is worth $50 more because it will last another 5 years, go with it. personally, with stuff like that, i stay away from the lower-end stuff because it's just cheap. basically you just try to get a feel for which one will last longer. sometimes it's the cheaper one and you just get a deal on it, or there is little difference.

you have to be able to touch & play with them a bit to really get a feel for the quality IMO. g/l

 

[Scarpozzi]

You can't tell....Some $50 are probably as good or better than the $100 ones. You need to check each one for quality and design. These days, everything is made overseas and NOTHING is guaranteed to last.

In the last 2 months, I've bought hair clippers that didn't cut. I've had a brand new samsonite bag break. I've had a new pair of shoes that I had to take back because the inside material (padding) tore from 1 week's wear. We're officially buying crap these days...and over paying for it.

 

[djheater]

As long as you can remember to put it down if it's going to be windy, I've found the $50 ones to be fine.

We had a $150 one that an in-law bought us when we moved in, and the wind broke that one too. So I can't see it's worth it.

Got this one last time, and I think it was on sale for $40 when I bought...

Text

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
You can't tell....Some $50 are probably as good or better than the $100 ones. You need to check each one for quality and design. These days, everything is made overseas and NOTHING is guaranteed to last.

In the last 2 months, I've bought hair clippers that didn't cut. I've had a brand new samsonite bag break. I've had a new pair of shoes that I had to take back because the inside material (padding) tore from 1 week's wear. We're officially buying crap these days...and over paying for it.

QFT. The corporations are making almost everything in China nowadays, and build quality had gone into the crapper. It's not just about lower wages, it's lower quality as well.

 

[DrPizza]

The difference is when they'll sell. The $50 ones will be of about the same quality as the $100 ones next to them. People out to purchase an umbrella are going to get one regardless, but the people on the fence about the purchase will realize that "wow, what a great bargain, I can't tell the difference. I'll get the same quality as a $100 umbrella for much less." and will get the $50 one thinking it's a great bargain. (In reality, it's probably worth only about $25) In late August, they'll finally run out of the $50 umbrellas, so they'll clearance the $100 umbrellas for $50 each. People who didn't get one earlier won't be able to pass up the bargain of getting an umbrella for 50% off. Consumers are so easy to dupe.

 

[IGBT]

..the cheapo has a light weight base?? the good ones usually come with a heavy metal base so the thing doesn't blow away.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: IGBT
..the cheapo has a light weight base?? the good ones usually come with a heavy metal base so the thing doesn't blow away.

The bases are usually sold separately. The big difference may be in the weight of the materials they're built from, (thicker, stronger tubing) better mechanism for folding the umbrella, etc.

 

[Mermaidman]

We've bought 2 patio umbrellas
-$30 umbrella was faded, rusted, and ugly after one summer.
-$60 still looks good, but one 'rib' was broken by strong wind.

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: blurredvision

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
$50

You apparently failed to read the topic summary, me thinks.... He already called people on their bad jokes before anyone could reply.

Since when did that stop anybody around here?

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
$50

Damn it!

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
You can't tell....Some $50 are probably as good or better than the $100 ones. You need to check each one for quality and design. These days, everything is made overseas and NOTHING is guaranteed to last.

In the last 2 months, I've bought hair clippers that didn't cut. I've had a brand new samsonite bag break. I've had a new pair of shoes that I had to take back because the inside material (padding) tore from 1 week's wear. We're officially buying crap these days...and over paying for it.

QFT. The corporations are making almost everything in China nowadays, and build quality had gone into the crapper. It's not just about lower wages, it's lower quality as well.

Do you shop at Wal-mart?

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: blurredvision

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
$50

You apparently failed to read the topic summary, me thinks.... He already called people on their bad jokes before anyone could reply.

its called an act of defiance!

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
You can't tell....Some $50 are probably as good or better than the $100 ones. You need to check each one for quality and design. These days, everything is made overseas and NOTHING is guaranteed to last.

In the last 2 months, I've bought hair clippers that didn't cut. I've had a brand new samsonite bag break. I've had a new pair of shoes that I had to take back because the inside material (padding) tore from 1 week's wear. We're officially buying crap these days...and over paying for it.

QFT. The corporations are making almost everything in China nowadays, and build quality had gone into the crapper. It's not just about lower wages, it's lower quality as well.

Do you shop at Wal-mart?

I used to, back in the days when Sam was proud of the Made in USA products he sold, but nowadays, almost never.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
You can't tell....Some $50 are probably as good or better than the $100 ones. You need to check each one for quality and design. These days, everything is made overseas and NOTHING is guaranteed to last.

In the last 2 months, I've bought hair clippers that didn't cut. I've had a brand new samsonite bag break. I've had a new pair of shoes that I had to take back because the inside material (padding) tore from 1 week's wear. We're officially buying crap these days...and over paying for it.

QFT. The corporations are making almost everything in China nowadays, and build quality had gone into the crapper. It's not just about lower wages, it's lower quality as well.

Do you shop at Wal-mart?

I used to, back in the days when Sam was proud of the Made in USA products he sold, but nowadays, almost never.

Sam Walton made his suppliers cut their prices every year, so what else could they do? And the consumers, when faced with the choice of paying more for an American-made product or buying the one from China, generally buy the one from China. You can't blame it all on the corporations, we all did our part.

 

[ObiDon]

Originally posted by: mugs
consumers, when faced with the choice of paying more for an American-made product or buying the one from China, generally buy the one from China.

not me. they can't even make a decent bicycle. why would i trust them with anything more complex than that?

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: mugs
<parsed>
Sam Walton made his suppliers cut their prices every year, so what else could they do? And the consumers, when faced with the choice of paying more for an American-made product or buying the one from China, generally buy the one from China. You can't blame it all on the corporations, we all did our part.

I agree...sort of. The consumers are often offered no decent alternatives to Chinese built junk, but sadly, many people don't care where it's made, they only care about how much it costs at the time.

I do my best to buy "Made in the USA" whenever I can, even if it costs a bit more. I believe America and American workers are worth it.

When I don't have an American Made option, I then look for products that are at least made in free countries.

"Made in China" is always my last choice.

Sadly, there are getting to be far too many categories where I have ZERO options besides the Made in China one.

 

[StageLeft]

Timely thread. We just bought one tonight. I bought a 49lb base for $55, the priciest at lowes, but a $130 umbrella instead of the $200 ones. They had ones starting at $80 (if you want 9', the 7.5' were cheaper). We went in part on color but more on the feel of the umbrella material itself. I realize it's mostly important to remember to bring it down if it will be windy, which it often is here!

Anyway, no real answer to the original question.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: mugs
<parsed>
Sam Walton made his suppliers cut their prices every year, so what else could they do? And the consumers, when faced with the choice of paying more for an American-made product or buying the one from China, generally buy the one from China. You can't blame it all on the corporations, we all did our part.

I agree...sort of. The consumers are often offered no decent alternatives to Chinese built junk, but sadly, many people don't care where it's made, they only care about how much it costs at the time.

I do my best to buy "Made in the USA" whenever I can, even if it costs a bit more. I believe America and American workers are worth it.

When I don't have an American Made option, I then look for products that are at least made in free countries.

"Made in China" is always my last choice.

Sadly, there are getting to be far too many categories where I have ZERO options besides the Made in China one.

We do the same now. I'd rather keep the money here for a little while, at least.

Did you know that Ring Pop candies are all made in China now? Who wants to give their kids that? :shocked:

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
We do the same now. I'd rather keep the money here for a little while, at least.

Did you know that Ring Pop candies are all made in China now? Who wants to give their kids that? :shocked:

Nah, didn't know that, but I'm not surprised. We read labels and do NOT buy any food item that comes from China. Unfortunately, US law doesn't require food manufacturers to list where the ingredients come from...hopefully that'll change soon. It's been discussed since the recent Chinese ingredient poisonings. (pet food, anti-freeze in toothpaste, etc.)

Fortunately, we have no kids running around to pester us into buying that kind of crap.

 

[ObiDon]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Did you know that Ring Pop candies are all made in China now? Who wants to give their kids that? :shocked:

that's frickin' sweet! so, you no longer have to go through the huge effort of moving into a pre-1980s house for your kids to be able to eat paint chips and get their doseage of lead!