Prov. Cliché If you do not pay much money for something, it is probably of poor quality.; If you pay well for something, it is more likely to be of good quality. Alan: I was so pleased to find shoes for such a low price, but look, they're falling apart already. Jane: You get what you pay for. This brand of soup is more expensive, but remember, you get what you pay for.
Inexpensive goods or services are likely to be inferior, as in That vacuum cleaner fell apart in a year-I guess you get what you pay for, or The volunteers take three times as long with the mailing, but you get what you pay for . This economic observation probably dates from ancient times but is disputed by those who do not equate high price with high quality.