backstab outlets

It's not the receptacle, it's the labor. Strip and stab is quicker than strip and screw. The general contractor asked the electrical sub for cheap, and the electrical sub delivered. If you can set and torque screw terminals in 2 seconds, you need to go into business.

There are thirty companies whose stock makes up the Dow-Jones Industrial Average. Of these, 29 are down. Some WAY down (GE from $41 to $17, 3M from $89 to $59, GM from $40 to $4, H-P from $53 to $30).

The only one that's up? Walmart. (WMT from $42 to $50).

Dear God that is scary. The fact that Wal-Mart is up is even more frightening than that others are down. Cheap Chinese crap is going to take over the world.

Me? I am just riding it out. I was too slow to sell so I might as well hold, it's going to be 30+ years before I need any of it anyway.

nate

You seem to have just proved my point.

But overall its the "Walmart syndrome". At one time people used to consider value. Now its cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap. So they demand cheap from the builder and the builder demands cheap from the subs and the subs demand cheap from their suppliers.

I don't know why people keep picking on walmart in particular. It's no different than the supermarket chains, or any other large chain. Supermarkets killed the local farmers markets. Target, Kmart, and Walmart are pretty much the same kind of company. Sears was doing it

Bitch bitch bitch. If you want to compete with walmart&co, you simply have to find a niche and do it better at least until walmart copies you. Farmers markets stay in business by providing niche products (organic, etc.) Lots of small bookstores, retail outlets have done the same. Or pretend that you don't have to improve and watch the local supermarket kill your business.

But that's good!

Sometimes cheap is better, sometimes not. If the only difference between a gallon of milk or a bag of chips is the price, well, why not?

Here's what I bought at my last trip to Walmart:

• A package of 8 foam brushes
• A gallon of Kilz paint
• A package of picture-hanging hooks
• A package of house-brand Kool-Aid (I don't want to be accused of being a Kool-Aid drinker)
• A package of teeny Snickers bars in anticipation of Halloween. This doesn't really count because I ate them all.

Here's another thought: If you can't tell the difference between quality, good enough, and junk, then you should shop at stores that make the decision for you.

Those that want quality only, but can't tell the difference, may very well shop at Graingers. Those that will settle for mostly good enough, will probably go to Walmart, or a box store. Those that knowingly want junk (because of the price) hang out at the dollar stores (Wonder if the dollar-store has made-in-Mexico Snickers bars? Good enough for Halloween.)

We live in a world full of lazy fu*kers. Bending a wire is too much work for them. They'd rather do something useful like sit in front of their hdtv drinking beer and doing crack while watching the Springer show. That explains why so many products are defective when they are sold.

You say that like there is something wrong with smoking crack and Springer.

:)

Plus, back stab receptacles have been around a lot longer than Wal-mart has.

But they perfected it and took it much further that anyone else so they should get credit.

Sure but the discussion involves poor quality. Take a look at the older version of a lot of stuff and the current version.

You mean like dentistry?

Cheesy has always been around. You just don't remember it, because all the junk has been thrown away. It's the same old "they don't build them like they used to," when the fact is that only the excellent homes survived long enough for a comparison. There was a lot of crap that fell down decades ago. It's why we have building codes.

to be fair, backstab receptacles always sucked.

nate

Walmart has dentists?

Wouldn't surprise me if they did; I believe they have optometrists now.

nate

IMHO the people that should be stabbed in the back area are at UL that allows these atrocities. At least you can't use #12 wire anymore.