| #1 How often am I going to use this product? | | | | product today. |
| Too many of us set out to buy a new outdoor | | | | #4 Does this item require maintenance? |
| product to add to our collections without thinking | | | | Planning ahead pays off when it comes to the |
| about the amount of usage, wear and tear the item | | | | maintenance of new items you purchase. Thinking |
| is going to see during its' use on your outdoor | | | | about buying a gun? Guns need oil and a cleaning kit |
| adventures. All to often we buy a product that will | | | | to avoid rust. If you avoid rust today you will avoid |
| never last as long as initially planned. We often fall for | | | | costly repairs in the future! Make sure you buy a |
| the low priced items and usually end up getting | | | | cleaning kit to keep it in "like-new" condition for years |
| something with lower quality that doesn't last. Even if | | | | to come. Buying a trolling motor? Don't forget a high |
| your new item does last, we're often unhappy with it | | | | quality wiring, battery, charger and maintenance |
| soon after purchasing it because it lacks the features | | | | supplies to keep your batteries charged and clean. |
| needed to really make your experience outdoors a | | | | Almost every product you buy and take out on your |
| much better one. That leads me to question #2. | | | | next adventure will require cleaning and maintenance. |
| #2 Is this product going to meet all my needs? | | | | Keep that in mind the next time you're ready to buy. |
| We too often see a product we like and quickly snap | | | | #5 How do other people rate this product? |
| it up without really thinking about how we will be | | | | There are plenty of reviews on almost any product |
| using it. What do you really know about the item? | | | | imaginable. You will see both good and bad |
| Have you checked out the manufacturer's website | | | | information about a product while reading reviews. |
| yet to look over ALL the features? Maybe the same | | | | Read at least 10 reviews about a product before |
| manufacturer makes a slightly better product with | | | | jumping to any conclusions about it, good or bad. Be |
| more options - the options you will need on your | | | | careful not to pay too much attention to the overly |
| next adventure? How many times have you found | | | | simple reviews such as "I just love this product" and |
| yourself buying a "starter" product and later finding | | | | take that as your signal that it's ok to buy. You want |
| yourself upgrading to a better model the following | | | | to read informative reviews where people actually list |
| year? There are several reasons this happens to | | | | both the good and bad about a product. Sometimes |
| most of us and I believe the most common reason is | | | | the "bad" reviews are simply minor complaints that |
| we did not imagine ourselves in all the different | | | | the product mentioned didn't come in the color or |
| scenarios we'd be using the product. The best way | | | | size the customer needed or any number of things |
| to solve this problem - more research before buying. | | | | that might not matter to you. If you do not take the |
| #3 How long am I going to need this product? | | | | time to fully read the reviews then do yourself a |
| Generally, the longer I view myself using a product, | | | | favor and skip the reviewing process altogether. The |
| the higher the quality and number of features I will | | | | review process will also bring other questions to mind |
| look for before making the purchase. I realize that I | | | | that you should be considering while shopping. Just |
| want to keep the item in working condition for the | | | | because an item is rated 4 or 5 stars does not mean |
| long term and even more important, I want to be | | | | it's the product you should be buying. |
| happy with my purchase for years to come. The | | | | We believe if you take the time to evaluate and |
| best way to do this is avoid cheap products of | | | | research products properly before you buy, you will |
| inferior quality and design. Sometimes it's actually | | | | save money in the long run, be happier with the |
| cheaper in the long run to invest more money today | | | | products you do buy and even happier about the |
| on a product that will last and meet your needs. | | | | products you do not buy! |
| Upgrading later is more costly than picking the right | | | | |