Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
40 Things People ‘Bought For Life’ And They Didn’t Disappoint (New Pics)
Buyer beware! A century-old adage that still remains very much true today. In our highly commercialized world, there are so many cheaply produced products wrapped in attractive packaging that likely cause owners nothing but trouble. Whether we’re talking about planned obsolescence, poor-quality manufacturing, companies taking shortcuts while thinking beyond profits, or consumers falling victim to misleading bargains, it’s frustrating to see products break down in mere seconds.
But what if you find such a high-quality product that you never need to buy that item again? Ever? For the rest of your life?! Here’s where the 'Buy It For Life' (BIFL) subreddit comes in. With over 1.3 million members, it's dedicated to "practical, durable and quality made products that are made to last". Think of a toaster from the 1920s. Or a refrigerator that celebrated its 99th birthday this month!
Below, we hand-picked some of the most interesting and surprising photos of things that stood the test of time and continue to serve people for years to come. So continue scrolling through to enjoy this inspiring collection, be sure to upvote your favorite pics, and let us know if you own any long-lasting items you only bought once in the comments below.
Psst! When you’re finished with this list, more of the same goods can be found in Bored Panda’s previous posts on the same feature here: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
1949 Caloric Ultra-Matic Gas Range. Got It For $20 And It’s Used Daily. Everything Works!
RELATED:
#2
Our Son's Nanny Just Received Her Master's Degree, And We Wanted To Get Her Something Special. My Wife Found This 1980's Coach Briefcase, And I Did A Full Restoration
#3
My Family Heirloom Restoration Complete
#4
108 Years Old And 54 Years Old Boots - Just In Case You Think Boots Can't Last You A Lifetime
#5
My Girlfriend’s Grandma Gave Us This Kitchenaid From The Mid 80’s. It’s In Almost Perfect Condition Except For A Few Scuffs That Give It Some Character. It Still Has The Manual, All Original Attachments, And It Works Flawlessly
#6
122 Year Old Pocket Watch My Grandfather Gifted Me, Still Works Like A Charm With Original Internals
#7
The First Tractor My Great Great Grandfather Bought To Replace His Horses. 1927 Mccormick Deering 10-20 Still Running Strong
#8
My 54 Yr Old Stove Made To Look Like An Antique. Still Can Make A Mean Baked Mac N Cheese With Her
#9
61 Years Ago My Parents Received This Waffle Maker As A Wedding Present In 1961. Still Makes Great Waffles
#10
Still Works. Sunday Spins, A Continued Tradition With Our Kids On The Same Stereo I Had Growing Up
#11
This Desk Lamp (Emeralite Banker’s Lamp) Is 100+ Years Old, And Is Solid As A Rock. So Cool Looking
#12
A Customer Of Mine Came In For Help With Her Voicemail…
Last year around this time I posted an old Motorola Razr one of my customers was finally upgrading from, purchased November 2006. I was advised that those Razrs weren’t BIFL and in fact broke quite often, and that the only true BIFL phones were the old Nokias. Came across one today and figured I’d share.
#13
My Wife Purchased These Doc Martens In 1993 And Hadn’t Worn Them In Over 20 Years. I Restore Leather As A Hobby, And It Still Blows Me Away What Quality Leather Can Come Back From
#14
In Response To The "Vintage" 2009 Bottle Opener, Because I Have Underwear Older Than That, Here's Mine From A Brewery That Closed In 1959
#15
Happy Birthday To Our Refrigerator That Turned 99 Years Old This Month! She’s Still Going Strong
#16
My 53 Year Old Work Truck. The Man I Got It From Bought It Brand New In 1969 And Drove 1 Truck His Entire Career Until He Retired
ShaZam Beaubien 4 years ago
In the US if a vehicle is over 25 years old, emissions are not required.
#17
I Was Told You Guys Would Want To See This! My Mom’s Great Grandma’s Cherry Pitter From 1867. I’ll Be Using This On My Own Cherries Next Season!
#18
Brass Drafting Instruments And Brass Pacific Arc Lead Holder
#19
The Chandelier At Our Cottage Has This Vintage Light Bulb From The Early 1900s. It Still Works!
#20
White Mountain Model 692. Been Making Ice Cream For Birthday Parties And July 4th’s For Decades
#21
I Inherited This Toaster From The 1920s Around 10 Years Ago And It Has Worked Great Every Single Day
#22
My New Visionware - 30 Years Old And The Cheapest Way To Completely Avoid Teflon/Chemicals I Could Find
#23
My Mom’s Joint Roller From 1969
#24
Twenty Six Years Old, 326,000 Miles And Still Going Strong. I Love This Thing
#25
Though I’d Share This Here. This Dryer Came With My House, And It Still Works Amazing. (See Description)
I’ve never had a problem with it not drying fully on a standard 20 minute cycle, never had a problem with lint clogging (cleaning the filter and ducts as recommended of course), and I love the simplicity. About a year ago, it wasn’t drying and when I opened it, there was a schematic, and on the schematic was a written note that a repair was made in 1980! The issue was a broken belt, which I was able to replace very easily. I would estimate this to be from the 70’s and it still functions as if it was new!
#26
1970's Montgomery Ward Powr Kraft Drill. Before And After. Still Works Great
#27
My Journaling Setup Is Complete! The Desk Lamp Was Made In Japan By A Company Named Sinar. My Late Grandfather Used It When He Was Painting. The Writing Bureau Is Walnut Veneer And Is At Least 70 Years Old
#28
Little Tykes Climber & Slide. My Grandfather Bought This For Me In 1985. It’s Entertained Countless Cousins And Nieces And Nephews. Now My Daughter Plays On It. Poolside Since 1995
#29
Mom Said "They Liked The Le Creuset Your Aunt Gave You? Show Your Internet Friends Mine!". Well, Internet Friends, There You Go
#30
1950 Frigidaire (By General Motors)
jknbt jknbt 4 years ago
if you ever have to throw it out, take a hammer & smash completely the locking mechanism... if a little kid hides in one in the junkyard playing hide & seek, he will asphyxiate unless someone lets him out in time otherwise. There is not a release mechanism that operates from inside. BE WARNED!
#31
Rescued Oil Can (Before And After) Manufactured Around The 1930's — It Currently Sits On My Work Bench And Is Used Regularly. Should Last Another 90 Years
#32
My Ti-84 Plus Turns 15 This Month; It's Lasted From 7th Grade Through My Doctorate!
Aiden Brough 4 years ago
I still use my calculator for work, then one I used for my GCSEs - over 33 years ago!!
#33
The Richard Milous Nixon Watergate Commemorative Iced Tea Cooler Made By Gott In 1974. Of Course It's Lasted, It's Space Age Plastic! It's Holding Lipton Iced Tea Now! It Just Doesn't Quit! It'll Probably Give Us All Cancer!
#34
My Dad Has Used This Escort Digital Alarm Clock Since The 1980's. I Needed A New Clock In My Bedroom So He Let Me Have It. I Love How It Looks And It Feels Much Better Quality Than Most Cheap Digital Clocks You Can Get Today
#35
My Grandma Has The Same Blender Since The 1970s, Still Works Perfectly. Not Repaired Even Once
#36
I Teach 5th And 6th Grade Math. I Inherited My Grandmother's Pencil Sharpener From My Aunt About Five Years Ago And This Beast Has Been Tirelessly Working In My Classroom For Three Years. I Have No Idea How Old It Is, But It's Certainly Older Than All The Students And Some Of The Teachers
#37
Roper Automatic Dishwasher. Installed 1978. Works Great And Is Quieter Than Most Of The New Dishwashers
#38
Microsoft USB Intellimouse, Still Working After 22 Years
#39
Here Are My Orka Silicone Oven Mitts That Have Lasted 15 Years. They Look Like New, And Whenever They Are Dirty I Just Throw Them In The Dishwasher
#40
Chicco Stroller. This Beast Is Over 10 Years Old And Been Through 4 Kids, Traveled Around The World To 5 Countries, Uncountable Mall And Theme Parks, Tossed In The Back Of Trunks Like A Hostage, And Treated Like A Jungle Gym More Times Than... Well A Jungle Gym
Karl Baxter 4 years ago
Just 10 years old? You might want to check your definition of “vintage” 😀
#41
Aunt Called To Give Me A "Simple Gift"... I'd Never Guess That Would Be A Le Creuset!
#42
Eames Chair. Expensive? F**k Yes. Will It Last A Lifetime? Also Yes
Dispatcherqueen 4 years ago
My friend just gifted me hers...it has a round wooden base for the chair and ottoman, cream colored leather. She bought hers in the early 70's. Gorgeous, aren't they?
#43
Great Grandpa’s Pencil Sharpener
#44
My Grandparents Bought This Chrome Beauty 52 Years Ago And Now I Plan On Using It For The Next 52
#45
The Rubbermaid 1-Gallon Pitcher: Holding A Lifetime Of Tang, Lemonade, And Ice Tea
#46
Regal Ware Inc. Cake Pan From The 1930s. My Great Grandmother’s. Still Transfers Cakes Safely And Securely To This Day
Deb Johnston 4 years ago
I have one like this that I bought at an Antique Shop for $20. Mine is shiny and in perfect condition. I use it all the time, and every time I bring it to a gathering, I get so many compliments.
#47
100+ Year Old Hose Nozzle From My Great Great Grandfather. I Change The Gaskets Every 5-10 Years And It Still Works Perfectly
#48
My Grandma's Pepper Grinder. It's 70 Years Old And Works Flawlessly
#49
Henckels Kitchen Knives. I Hone Them Daily And Sharpen Them Once A Year. I Have Cooked Literally Thousands Of Meals With These Since I Got Them In 1999
Torben Møller-Nielsen 4 years ago
I have 10 Zwilling knives ranging from small to large - almost all of them are now more than 25 years old. Use them every day.
#50
Anchor Hocking Fire King Mcdonalds Mug From The 70s
#51
Craftsman Tool Chest Inherited From My Dad In 2006. It’s Probably 40-50 Years Old
#52
Fiskars Scissors: The Pair On The Left Have My Oldest Son's Initials On Them, Because I Bought Them For Kindergarten When He Was 5. He Will Be 40 This Year. The Ones On The Right Were Bought For Crocheting Holiday Gifts In 1990
#53
My Grandfather Got This Knife By His Job, He Gave It To My Father When He Started His First Job. My Father Gave It To Me When I Got My First Job. Sent A Message To The Company Who Made It I Got An Really Interesting Answer Which Made My Day. It's In Use Every Single Day It's From 1960
#54
This Is Eternal, Still Working
#55
The First Microwave Produced For Home Use. The Amana Radarange
#56
Made And Canned Tomato Sauce Yesterday With My Mother's 50 Year Old Squeezo Strainer
#57
My Dad Bought This Razor In 1960. I Shave With It Every Day
#58
My Father's Original Leatherman Pocket Survival Tool I Carry Everyday. Circa 1988(?)
Trond Hermansen 4 years ago
Got exactly that model. Bought it in 1999. It carries a 25 year warranty but I suspect I won't be needing it.
#59
Bought In 1997 For £20, This Has Been Cutting My Hair For 25 Years. Not Even Had To Sharpen It. That's Saved Me Around £3,000 And Over 300 Hours Of Travelling And Waiting For A Barber. There's A Reason Wahl Is So Often Recommended In Here
#60
Wade & Butcher Straight Razor Circa 1890
#61
My Mom's 40 Year Old Canvas Shopping Bags. Well Made Canvas Is Practically Indestructible
Louise Clarke 4 years ago
I have a pair of Converse that I wore from Christmas in grade 9 all through high school and still sometimes wear them and they are still holding on.
#62
I Know Some Might Consider This New When Compared To Other Appliances On This Sub, But I’m Still Proud Of My 1985 Quasar Microwave!
#63
Another Testament To The Quality Of Herman Miller Chairs. I Got This One At An Office Liquidation, Only To Find Out It Was Manufactured In 1999. Still In Great Shape With No Issues
Apatheist 62 4 years ago
I have my "executive" chair that I got from a well-known Swedish warehouse in 1992. Sitting on it as I type this.
#65
The Fritz Hansen 3107 Chair, Mine Are From 1982!
#66
1990 Jeep Xj, I’ve Had It 20 Years - Careful Maintenance And My Daughter Will Take Over For Her Kids
Audra Sisler 4 years ago
Husband sells Jeeps. As well as Chrysler,RAM, and Dodges. But I absolutely LOVE Jeeps 😍 all newer models but they are still amazing lol
#67
My Coworker Says This Lunchbox Was His Grandpa's From Before He Was Born. So Probably From The 60s Or 70s?
#68
Drove 7 Hours Roundtrip For Speed Queen Tr5 And Dc5 Set For $650
#69
In 1967 My Great Uncle Bought A 1965 Snapper 308x, I've Been Mowing My Lawn With It For 12 Years Now
TheEndIsNigh🇨🇦and🇬🇧in🇺🇲 4 years ago
I have one of these! The blade thingy no longer works, but it still runs, so we hitched a little trailer cart to the back. Works great for when the goats are feeling cheeky and don't want to come in from the pasture. They love riding in the cart, and will race to be the first one in when they see their "ride" coming. It has officially become the goat wagon 😁🐐🚜❤️
#71
The Slow Cooker My Grandpa Used My Entire Life (And Who Knows How Long Before It)
#72
Early 1960s Bridgeport Box Terrier Crate Hammer, Originally Used In My Family's Deli, Later My Mom's Favorite Hammer, And Now The Best Heirloom She Left Me
#73
1987 Panasonic Quintrix TV - Still Works Perfectly After Almost 35 Years Of Regular Use
DC 4 years ago
... try to gather a powermeter and look and be shocked - a tube TV sucks about 5...10 Watt for Standby (keeping the tubes hot), loses lifetime every time it is truly switched off, and at a regular volume, my slightly newer and smaller Siemens TV (1998 or so) consumed 40 W. TVs aren't what's to be used forever, I think, due to wasting energy.
#74
Coffee Machine From Wmf, German Build In 1991. My Aunt And Uncle Owed A Restaurant And Hotel And Retired 10y/Ago But This Wall Mounted Baddy Is Still Going Strong
#75
I'm Using This Ipod Since 2009
Moo Moo Futch 4 years ago
That's a good point. I still have mine in reach but it stopped working years ago. I used it one day and put it down and then went to use it again and it was no longer working.
#76
Got This Queen Sized Pendleton Blanket For $114 At The Mill In Pendleton, Oregon. It Is A Factory Second. It Brings A Strange Amount Of Joy Despite Just Being A Blanket
#77
Picked Up A Maytag Commercial Grade Dryer For $600 At Lowes Open Box With Manufacturer Warranty. Msrp 1200! No WiFi And Annoying Buzzer That Lets You Know When It’s Done Working?? I’ll Take It!
#78
Jack Donaghy Would Be Proud: Ge Microwave Still Pulling Its Weight. Bought 25 Years Ago And Used Daily Without Issue
Moo Moo Futch 4 years ago
We had a microwave from the early eighties. We only got rid of it because of an issue with the bulb in it. It wasn't easy to replace and the bulbs weren't easy to get hold of. So in the end we took it to the dump and bought a new microwave. That new microwave was awful. The plate never stayed on the bracket inside, it was always wobbly and it was so small. Nothing felt hot enough. Honestly if you have old technology and it still works DO NOT REPLACE IT.
#79
Sleeping On These Sheets Since The 80s
#80
Pulled This Oreck Xl Off The Curb. Replaced Belts And Power Cord, Works Beautifully (2005)
#81
My Dad Got This Bike For Smoking So Many Cigarettes 25 Years Ago. Hasn’t Smoked In 24 Years. He Was About To Throw It Away Last Weekend. Got A Tune Up, Rides Perfect!
#82
My Dad Plugged This In Over 50 Years Ago. Still Works
#83
I Have Had This Super Thick Leather Nautica Belt For More Than 25 Years. I Have Probably Worn It Around Half Of The Total Days In That Time. It Shows Absolutely No Sign Of Failing
Libby Tailor 4 years ago
I bought a Benetton leather belt in a second hand store 24 yrs ago. Still using and no sign of heavy use. Almost like brand new.
#84
Krups Rotary 500 Food Processor Bought In ~1982, Wedding/New Home Present My Parents Received And Passed On. Still Use It Several Times A Week. It's Older Than I Am
#85
This Smoker That My Fil Has Used For Over 60 Years For His Bees
#86
I’ve Had This Amazon Kindle Paperwhite For 10 Years Now – No Issues, Still Supported & Works Well
#87
This Mouse Pad Has Been Around For Almost 30 Years. I Use It Every Day And Is Still Holding Up!
#88
A Black & Decker Toaster My Mother Bought Over 34 Years Ago For Her First Apartment. Used Daily And Still Works Like A Charm
#89
My Late Grandfather’s Air Wrench. Still Works After Decades
#90
1950s David Bradley Chainsaw. Still Works
#91
My Dad's 2003 Hewescraft Alaskan Sea Runner. It Has An Aluminum Welded Hull With A Lifetime Warranty
Joshua Moon 4 years ago
I have an aluminum 12 shallow V fishing boat from 1963 and the Johnson motor is from 1965. I still bang it around the river going after cat fish.
#92
These Cutco Knives My Parents Bought From My Babysitter 25 Years Ago
ShaZam Beaubien 4 years ago
Your babysitter carried knives? That's probably why they bought them.
#93
Four Years In, I Think They’ve Actually Gotten Better?
#94
Pentel Twisterase 0.7mm Mechanical Pencil - Made In Japan. 4+ Years Of Engineering School And Still As Good As The Day I Bought It
Phoebe Bean 4 years ago
This is one of my favorite brands. I have mechanical pencils from the 80´s and they work just fine.
#95
I Haven’t Always Owned It But After 30 Years Of Use It’s Still Running Perfectly. My 1991 Ibm Model M
#96
2010 Dickies Work Socks - Still Like New And Worn Every Week!
#97
Pretty Sure This Little Igloo Cooler Is Older Than I Am. Picked It Up At A Thrift Shop And Have Used It Almost Every Day For Years. It’s Been Full Of Caught Fish, Drinks, Food, Etc. Holds Up Great And You Can Still Buy Them New - Which If I’m Right Is The Point Of This Sub (Can For Scale/Drinking)
#98
After 29 Years, Roughly 13 Moves (A Number Of Them Cross-Country), A New Plug, Multiple Drops, And A Broken Base, My Dad’s Rowena Iron Ironed Its Last Shirt Today
Aunt Messy 4 years ago
Rowenta irons are still the best, but if you buy one, make sure it's built in Germany, NOT the US or China.
#99
This Is A Bit Of A Different Bifl, But Shout-Out To Shun. This Knife Has Seen Probably Close To, Or Over 6000 Hours Of Work And It Still Holds An Edge Like Nothing I've Seen Before. They'll Also Sharpen It For Free Forever As Long As You Pay Shipping
Peign Gaming 4 years ago
As long as they are the hand forged Shun knives and not the stamped ones.
#100
Crappy Dirt Devil Has Way Over Delivered
#101
I Know It’s Not The Same Company Still Making Them At The Level Of Their Former Glory, But It’s Still A Beast Nonetheless
#102
18 Years Going Strong And Smooth As Glass
#104
Happy 10th Birthday Kobo!
Faern Grey 4 years ago
I've got an old Kobo aura and they are honestly one of the best e-readers. Mines still going strong and has a battery life that still astounds me.
#105
Wenger Swiss Watch... Cheap Watch, But Leasted Flawless For More Then 25 Years..almost 10 Battery Replacements
DC 4 years ago
Wenger makes watches? I have a few bankets from them, and they're good, too, made of some recycled plastic fleece or so ... but none of them is flawless anymore, due to smoking, there are a few holes in every blanket I have...... Yeah, I know. My Watch, also from CH, is a Fortis Flieger Automatik, who returned to me after being lost two times, and is 27 by now and will likely not leave me before I leave the living.
#106
My Kun Shoulder Rest. Almost 10 Years With This Fella Saving My Neck :)
Katie Lutesinger 4 years ago
If you meet enough professional violinists, a lot of them will have a mark on their neck from the violin pressing against the skin! An interesting fact I eventually picked up on.
#107
Kirby Tradition Cb3 - 1960s?
Deb Johnston 4 years ago
I had one in the 80s & those things are a beast, super heavy. I prefer my light weight dyson.
#109
Here’s My Senator Ink Pen That I’ve Been Using For Close To Ten Years
#110
I’d Like To Nominate Wigwam Socks As Bifl, I’ve Been Cycling Through Two Pair Over The Past Year And They’ve Out Lived Three Pairs Of Leather Work Shoes With No Signs Of Wear. And I Average Walking 10 Miles A Week At Work
Nathan Pogorzala 4 years ago
I was issued 45 pairs of Wigwam socks by my employer. I didn't think i would love socks, but i do.
#111
Chrome Industries Barrage - Had It For 8 Years And I Take It Everywhere. I Keep Wanting To Buy A New One But There Is Just No Reason To
#112
My North Face Denali Jacket From 2000 Was Built To Last
Upstaged75 4 years ago
I have a pull over one that has been worn daily during the winter for almost 20 years now. It's still in great shape.
#113
This Gps Has Been In My Family For 10+ Years. It’s Still Supported By Garmin With Map Updates
#114
A Snippet Of My Pendleton Collection. Ages Range From 5-30+ Years Old And Years Owned Range From 2 Months To 5 Years. Most Are Made In The USA And Have No Holes Or Rips, Despite Years Of Regular Wear
#115
Apt Corporation Holman Preamp + Amplifier 1, Designed In 1978 By Tomlison Holman (Thx Founder And Inventor Of 5.1 Surround). Giving This System A New Lease On Life Is Such A Privilege To Me
#116
This Wallet My Dad Just Replaced - Which He’s Used Since 1993
#117
11 Years And Still Going Strong - Logitech Wave K350 Wireless Keyboard
#118
9 Year Old Iron Rangers From Redwing
#120
Mechanix Mpact Work Gloves. Just Nailed Up My Second Pair In The Garage. I've Lived Here 17 Years
#121
Fossil Purse Used Daily For ~8 Years
Amanda Rose 4 years ago
I've had watches from this company. Looks like the bags last better than the watches do. Mine all broke beyond repair within five years.
#122
This George Foreman Has Been A Part Of My Family Longer Than I Have
#124
Scored This 2 Year Old Herman Miller Loni Desk Chair For My Wife With Warranty Still Intact
#125
Feetures Running Stocks Used 3x Weekly For 5 Years And Still Going Strong vs. New Pair
Add New Image
Explore more of these tags
What do you think ?
LittlePiggie 4 years ago
I bet you have a lot of interesting stories, life advice, and wisdom to share. :^)
Load More Replies...
Yourname942 4 years ago
I miss products being built to be the best and to last, now we just get c**p that is planned obsolescence.
LittlePiggie 4 years ago
I bet you have a lot of interesting stories, life advice, and wisdom to share. :^)
Load More Replies... Yourname942 4 years ago
I miss products being built to be the best and to last, now we just get c**p that is planned obsolescence.
Related on Bored Panda
