Can't even buy a decent flyswatter anymore!

[Anonymous Poster]

Can\'t even buy a decent flyswatter anymore!

I went to Lowes a while ago and bought some flyswatters. I ended up taking them back because they were so chintzy they were worthless! They would bend backwards just by swinging them through the air and get all twisted so they wouldn't go straight, therefore the bug would get away (we have a real problem with big biting horse flies this time of year). So, I went to Walmart and bought some. They were just as bad! I'm so sick of having to return things or fix brand new things before they work right. Is it just me? Am I too picky? Toys are another thing that's hard to get in good quality. I've gotten to where I automatically take them out of the package (which takes an act of congress in itself!) and test them before I give them to the kids. I bought some plastic "sailboats" at Walmart and ended up taking them back. When I put them in some water they would immediately tip over and sink because the plastic sail was heavier than the rest of the boat. Toy sailboats are not hard to make. I made the kids' some sail boats our of wood and they work great.

 

[DVerbarg]

Re: Can\'t even buy a decent flyswatter anymore!

I agree that may things are very cheaply made today. Just bought some flyswatters at Wal-Mart and they get mangled up pretty easily. I guess they are suburban fly style. The flys we have are very quick-requiring a fast swing. These fly swatters seem to be good for only 5 swings before the handle is twisted and bent. Straighten the handle and get another x swings...

DaveV

 

[glennmac]

Re: Can\'t even buy a decent flyswatter anymore!

The decline in flyswatters, toys and many other things can be attributed to the use (and overuse) of plastic. The old metal wire handle flyswatters my grandmother had 50 years ago still work. Same thing for metal toys.

The clear lesson is that we should not buy something made of plastic when the same thing is available in metal.

 

[DVerbarg]

Re: Can\'t even buy a decent flyswatter anymore!

The flyswatters I got were "metal", very thin metal, metal that bends to easily. Seems thinner then the wire used in clothes hangers that dry cleaners use.

DaveV

 

[glennmac]

Re: Can\'t even buy a decent flyswatter anymore!

Flyswatters? Who's talking about flyswatters?

 

[PBMAX]

Re: Can\'t even buy a decent flyswatter anymore!

mabye they figure that you'll buy more since you have to straiten the handle so often it will eventually break needing replaced...BUILT IN JOB security....Kinda like the ole incandesent bulb that blows every few months instead of once a year or so.I want my bulbs made by the fellow who made the one in at the LA fire dept.Lasted 23 yrs last I heard.It may still be there...!!!!!! it was only turned off once...Saw it on the news one night a couple of yrs ago...

Laziness is the Father of invention.../w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif
Lil' Paul
Proud owner of TC21D

 

[Boondox]

Re: Can\'t even buy a decent flyswatter anymore!

Hmmm, would you be referring to tractors by any chance..? /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

 

[Boondox]

Re: Can\'t even buy a decent flyswatter anymore!

I watched a PBS special on flies. It said they jump backwards when they take off, so to get them with a swatter aim about an inch and a half behind them. Darn if it didn't work!

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

 

[DVerbarg]

Re: Can\'t even buy a decent flyswatter anymore!

Did not see the special on PBS but when a kid observed that flies jump before flying. Consequently I don't always bother with a flyswatter but merely "clap" my hands together about 1 to 2 inches above the fly. Pretty good hit rate (sometimes kinda messy-not the type of activity to do just prior to eating...) Guess I'll have to try just behind the fly to see if that improves the hit rate...

DaveV

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

Re: Can\'t even buy a decent flyswatter anymore!

DaveV

Maybe they're disposable flyswatters. One use jobs. Everything else is disposable these days, watches run till they break and toss them out. It's cheaper to buy a new TV than repair the one you have, microwaves the same way. Disposable razors, toothbrushes and everything else.

SHF