Alan Shepard, the first American in space, famously remarked as he sat atop his rocket before liftoff that every part of the ship was built by the lowest bidder. This story illustrates the importance of considering quality over price, as when the critical time of performance arrives, all that matters is if the product or service will do its job. It is better to choose highest quality from the start to avoid regretting the decision later and having to apologize for poor performance.