What do you do if you think you made the wrong purchase decision?

[firebirdgold]

I really want your opinions because I''m very conflicted about something. (and dh thinks I''m being silly to be obsessing over it). I''m going to be a bit vague about the details so the actual object doesn''t influence your opinions, so please bear with me.

I spent months researching and thinking about a multi-thousand dollar purchase decision I was going to make. I spent an entire weekend taking a class so I''d be more skilled in using the item. I was really sure which specific version/brand of the item I was going to get right up until the final time came to buy it. Then I started to really get confused. The brand I originally wanted to get was being sold by a retailer I didn''t feel comfortable with. I felt that they were being condescending to me because I''m a woman. When I went in to look at accessories, no one ever came over to see if I needed help or even acknowledged I was in the shop at all! When I was looking at the selection of items, they were reluctant to let handle the more expensive ones. The location of the shop also made it difficult (at the time) to get the item home or back again to the shop for help.
Then I went to another shop that was much closer to home. I already had a relationship with them from buying a much less expensive item. They are extremely nice and helpful. When I went there looking for accessories, I was helped immediately. They are courteous and were happy to let me play with anything I wanted. One of the items they had was much bigger (and more expensive) than I needed or intended to get, but it felt good and comfortable and I ended up buying it.

But as time has gone on, I''m not sure I made the right decision. I just don''t love it as much as I though I would. It is too big for me in a way that makes me physically uncomfortable on occasion. But I''ve been told I''ll adjust to the size. But the main thing is it''s just not as cute as what I had originally intended to get. However it is a really high quality and very nice item, and there are some very good features about it. And I do enjoy using it everyday.

So here are my options:

 

[neatfreak]

I hate to say this, but for me it really depends on what the item is. How often I use it, how integral it is to my life, how long it will be until I need a new one anyway, etc.

 

[JulieN]

If you went to a class on usage, that suggests that being really good at it requires some practice/skill.

If it is too BIG for you, that could hinder your performance with this thing, and make it not worth all the money you spent.

 

[firebirdgold]

Date: 5/31/2008 2:55:03 PM
Author: neatfreak
I hate to say this, but for me it really depends on what the item is. How often I use it, how integral it is to my life, how long it will be until I need a new one anyway, etc.

It''s something I use everyday, it makes my life easier and more fun, and I should be able to keep it for at least 5 years, maybe 10.


I have damaged the item because of it''s size, but I haven''t damaged myself.

 

[mercoledi]

Date: 5/31/2008 3:08:04 PM
Author: IndieJones

Date: 5/31/2008 2:55:03 PM

Author: neatfreak

I hate to say this, but for me it really depends on what the item is. How often I use it, how integral it is to my life, how long it will be until I need a new one anyway, etc.

It''s something I use everyday, it makes my life easier and more fun, and I should be able to keep it for at least 5 years, maybe 10.



I have damaged the item because of it''s size, but I haven''t damaged myself.

I think I know what it is, and I think you should get the smaller one.

Whether from the nice people or the mean people, you should have the item that suits your needs best, not the most suped-up one they could sell you. I''d try to start at the nice store and negotiate to keep as much value as you can.

 

[Sabine]

I put to trade/sell the current one and get the one you originally wanted. It''s difficult without knowing what the item is. Is there any way you could buy the one you originally wanted before you would trade/sell the one you have? That way you could be 100% certain you like it better before you get rid of this one. However, I probably wouldn''t do this if the item is something you''re going to keep buying accessories for, need servicing on, etc., anything that made you HAVE to deal with the mean people at the store (unless you can get the new item serviced at the nicer store even though you didn''t buy it there).

I would not buy an additional smaller/cuter version if it''s not the one you originally wanted, because you will still be left comparing it to what you could have had.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I voted for trading it in for the smaller one since you are uncomfortable with the larger one. (I thought about doing this many times with my diamond, haha!) If you can''t use both at one time, there probably isn''t any point in keeping the larger one.

At the end of the thread, do we get to know what the item is? Does it begin with "m"?

 

[LaurenThePartier]

I''m 100% sure I know what it is, and I definitely would go with the smaller one.

I''ve done this exact thing, with an . . . item . . . that was used nearly every day . . . and luckily the shop I purchased it from, was able to let me trade it for the one I really wanted, after a week with the larger one.

 

[Selkie]

I have NO idea what it is, but my mind is boggling at the possibilities. Do tell!

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 5/31/2008 10:01:38 PM
Author: Selkie
I have NO idea what it is, but my mind is boggling at the possibilities. Do tell!

Lol. Me neither...I cannot think of anything that meets these descriptions that costs thousands of dollars!

 

[firebirdgold]

Ok, OK! I''ll give!

The small version I originally wanted:

 

[firebirdgold]

Another color of it:

 

[firebirdgold]

The small scooter from the nicer people:

 

[firebirdgold]

The slightly less expensive small scooter from the nicer people:

 

[firebirdgold]

And what I actually got:

I know there's no way to compare sizes with these photos, but someone with a scooter just like what I originally wanted keeps parking next to me, and it's really remarkably smaller!

 

[swingirl]

If you are going to possibly sell the bigger one I''d say get the one you really want, keep both for a while and make sure you don''t "grow out" of the smaller one before you sell the big one. I knew you were talking about a motorcycle or scooter as I read your post.

I just recently made some dirt bike purchases. Got the first, which was perfect, but grew out of it in 6 months. Sold it on Craigslist. Bought the bigger one and now IT is perfect, although it initially would have been too big and probably dangerous and not as fun.

I also went with a dealer that was the nicest to me. I won''t give my business to jerks.

 

[mercoledi]

I knew it! I''d get the smaller one, I know I would probably hurt myself trying to lug/maneuver that big one about.

Have you talked to the nice people about a trade in?

 

[neatfreak]

Ahhh!!!! Well then I would trade in and get the smaller one because you might hurt yourself if you feel like you can''t handle the big one!

 

[jcrow]

i''d say get the smaller one. i don''t think you''ll be happy with what you''ve got now, since it''s not what you wanted to begin with.

 

[Sabine]

Do you think you''ll grow out of the smaller one, or will you always like it more because it''s cuter? If you might grow out of the smaller one, I''d buy it and still keep the one you have, then, when you grow out of the smaller one, sell it.

 

[purrfectpear]

As a former road racer (much larger bikes) I''d say try to get used to the larger scooter if it has more horsepower. It''s hard enough to be seen by car drivers as it is, and the larger scooter will command a little more respect. In addition if it has more power that''s a big plus also. Give it another couple of months if you can. If you really hate it, obviously don''t bother.

 

[Miranda]

I''d get the smaller one and deal with the nice store. I love your choices! I joke with DH that I''m going to get a scooter wit a sidecar to tote the kids around in.

 

[FrekeChild]

Date: 6/1/2008 12:53:39 AM
Author: IndieJones
Ok, OK! I'll give!

The small version I originally wanted:

I knew it!!!I'm so excited for you Indie!!! I still don't know what I'd do though...

FF and I are talking about getting one. Don't you live in NM?

 

[diamondseeker2006]

That was my guess, too! My "m" word was motorcycle. That was the only thing I could think of that required a class to learn to use and the item costs thousands. A gun crossed my mind until you said you used it daily.

(not to mention that would be a VERY expensive gun! lol!)

It is a beautiful bike, but I'd choose the one I felt most confident riding.

 

[spike13]

Go with whichever one you are the most comfortable with and like the best.

 

[Independent Gal]

Get the smaller one! It''s WAY cuter, and will be safer if it''s easier to handle.

Safety comes first! Cuteness is a close second.

 

[Erin]

Date: 6/1/2008 5:26:17 PM
Author: purrfectpear
As a former road racer (much larger bikes) I''d say try to get used to the larger scooter if it has more horsepower. It''s hard enough to be seen by car drivers as it is, and the larger scooter will command a little more respect. In addition if it has more power that''s a big plus also. Give it another couple of months if you can. If you really hate it, obviously don''t bother.

Ditto this except I am not a former road racer.

 

[decodelighted]

I voted trade-in for the new, smaller scooter that you originally wanted. Keeps the transactions to "one" (not buying & selling ... and the loss is the same, assuming 1k). You''re probably gonna keep wanting that one & always feel like you made the wrong decision -- even if you do get used to the bigger one.

Hilariously though -- from the talk of the folks who KNOW scooters -- you''ll probably also regret THIS decision.

But, yanno -- that''s life. If you can afford to get what you really want then do it & if you want a bigger one in a year or five, and you can afford it then -- do it then. That option is STILL cheaper than the cccccrazeee option of buying them BOTH now! But that''s just my opinion. I''m thrifty (cheap).

Cute scooters though -- ALL of em!

 

[purrfectpear]

Ladies, ladies, unless OP is going to be driving this on the sidewalk (illegal) then she''s going to be around cars.

You buy the scooter with the most amount of power that you can LEARN to handle. Not the smallest and cutest. Trust me on this.

If I could LEARN to race a 400 lbs. motorcycle in 1978 at 5''3" and 107lbs. then OP can learn to handle a motor scooter that has enough horsepower to be safe and SEEN.

Unless you live in some tiny little village with minimal traffic you NEED horsepower. I see these little scooters all the time putt-putting around at 40mph with a strong tailwind and they are a danger to themselves and others IMO. Personally I''m dismayed when I see people riding little scooters because they usually don''t dress for the fact that they are on a bike (although a smaller, slower bike). If you get hit you will wish you had on a full face helmet, leather jacket, gloves, jeans (at a minimum) and boots. Instead people think "how cute" and slap on a tiny helmet, with shorts, flipflops, etc. Road rash means plastic surgery, just somethin'' to think about

.

Not trying to scare you but you need to spend some time talking to people who have ridden bikes for awhile. Ask them how many times a car turned left right in front of them (that''s where power saves your butt), or how many parked cars opened their door right in front of you (again, power to swerve is good), or how many times drivers cut in front (more horsepower = better brakes) of them. Good luck and ride safe