What Makes a BuyMeOnce Product?

Over at BuyMeOnce HQ, we are asked three questions time and time again; why are the products we sell expensive, why are there products on our site without lifetime guarantees and what makes a product BuyMeOnce worthy? We wanted to take the time to address these questions and talk to you about what we do, how we do it and what makes a BuyMeOnce product.

1. Consumer champions first and foremost

We make it our mission to act as a consumer champion by finding the longest lasting things on the planet. We do this because it’s true that ‘they don’t make ‘em like they used to!’ For many things this is the case, prompting us to buy more stuff, more frequently. What’s broadly available, while potentially cheaper and more immediately accessible, is often of reduced quality and non-functional long-term. The upfront cost may be less, but over time we are parting with more cash as the need to replace failing, low-quality items increases. When you invest in a sustainable, made-to-last item, the cost is greater because the materials used are of higher quality, the construction is considered and well executed and those involved in the process are fairly paid for their work and skill.

We have become so accustomed to the availability of cheap products that when faced with a higher price tag, the tendency is often to resist. We’re not here to judge – we know a bigger upfront cost isn’t always a possible load to bear. However, it is our hope that the combination of a consumer perspective shift and more manufacturers building products to last will mean buying once and buying well will become more easily achievable for everyone.

2. What does ‘best in show’ actually mean?

We search high and low for the products that are ‘best in show’ in their category. We rigorously compare products in each category until we’ve curated a shortlist of items that outperform their competitors in terms of longevity. While team BuyMeOnce works tirelessly to track down items with no quibble lifetime guarantees, the reality is that in some categories these don’t exist.

For example, we have yet to find a lifetime guaranteed laptop (a pipe dream?!) or a washing machine as these products simply aren’t available on the market. Yet. (That said, we have found something pretty exciting on the washing machine front... stay tuned and subscribe here to be the first to know when it launches.) We know that demand for these products is strong, so for BuyMeOnce to truly act as a consumer champion and be useful to the community, we do the work to find the best options available on the market.

3. What do we look for?

The starting point for our research is always the following questions; we present to you our five-point criteria, our guiding principles:

• Do the materials and craftsmanship make this product more durable than its competitors?
• Do customer and independent reviews confirm its durability?
• Is it made ethically and, if possible, made of sustainable materials?
• Are the aftercare and after-sales policies offered by the manufacturer exceptional?
• Is the design timeless and future-proof rather than trend-driven?

When we say that a product is not available yet, did we mention that we’re also engaged in trying to close the product gap in our offering? We campaign for manufacturers to create products with longevity built in. We know they can do better; there’s enough skill and know-how within manufacturing industries to get together and design things that are built to last. If enough people lend their voices to challenge planned obsolescence and demand more from the makers and vote with their wallets, real change is possible.

Hopefully, this has illustrated how BuyMeOnce is so much more than a compilation of lifetime guaranteed products. Through our rigorous selection process, we aim to not only find you the best and longest-lasting products available today, but also raise the bar for longevity across the entire market.

We never said we weren’t ambitious.