junkhound

Justin:

I cannot recall the specific paper that discussed the rationalization aspect of having overspent for a well made but low value due to high overpriced item. However, a quick google search did pull up the following, which is an overview of the subject of buyer remorse, rationalization, and cognitive dissonance.

http://www.acrwebsite.org/volumes/display.asp?id=11992

Awhile back on BT, the subject of $1500 Bosch and similar dishwashers came up. The camps were 100% split, no one who had bought a high priced DWasher thought it was a mistake, no one would admit that they could have used the $$ for better purpose or that they were 'taken'. The other side were the rational or non-wealthy individuals, who had
serviced appliances and could not see mcuh difference for $1200 other than bells and whistles and $20 worth of sound insulation than anyone could add.

Being an all-around DIY, I have never bought anything high-end unless used and broken.
This comment is a generalization of high artificial (e.g. advertising) prices.
That said, the high end stuff generally has a better oriinal fit and finish; however, if you value your own time at no more that about $100 and hour, a few minutes 'tuning up' anything that is fairly solid to begin with results in a better tool than about anything 'out of the box', regardless of cost.
Example: A $50 Craftsman cast iron 10" TS from the 70's - replace the ball bearings with double row, true up the arbor on your lathe, install CI pulleys, peen vs. just shim the mountings, mount on a 400# or heavier bench of scrap lumber vs. spinly legs, and you suddenly have a saw that can slice and dice as well as any $700 saw out of the box.
BTW, dont have a lathe to true up stuff? You could, if you did not spend extravagent amounts on 'new' tools.
One psycology study found that folks that buy high end (be it tools, appliances, cars, etc. ) tend to rate them very high, self protection of an erroneous decision??

Just curious, pretty sure my entry has no aspect of 'winning', but in the remote chance of such, would FHB be required by IRS to send a form 1099 equivalent at the full retail price of the nailer?

If so, since my entry was about frugality, would want you to give the nailer directly to Habitat or others as already have one and the incremental income tax would make winning a losing cash proposition