Hi, my name is Kim and I’m an addict.
I never thought it would happen, but the ultimate “giving in” to purchasing the set of dishes I’ve drooled over for several years has led to an Ebay addiction hunting for rare, matching pieces that are out of production in that pattern. It wouldn’t be so bad if people on Ebay didn’t seem to have a damn lot of the stuff to offer.
See, over the past couple years, several of the Pfaltzgraff factory outlet stores have closed, I assume because they’ve really improved their website in the past few years and have a lot better selection there, with frequent “free shipping” sales. Anywho, apparently people with money and perhaps sense made the decision to buy these places out for purposes of putting the stuff on Ebay. Smart smart smart, and damnably tempting.
I’ve spent hours this week looking at what’s available, researching whether it is still available for purchase as new through Pfaltzgraff (or JC Penney), checking prices including shipping costs, and essentially coming up with way too many items that I want want want.
I’m always weak in October. It’s some mental thing about wanting to be selfish since “it’s my birthday.” So, I’ve put bids in on several items, most NIB, listed by only a few sellers, with their promises of discounted shipping on multiple auctions. The grand total, if I win everything, is about $150 with shipping. After scoffing for months about spending $200 on the dishes themselves, I can’t help but think it is hilarious that I’m dropping nearly that much on “accessories” now, apparently without so much as blinking.
Well, anyway… in only 5d 07h 03m from now, I’ll know for certain whether I’ll be adding the following to my collection: salad set (server bowl, 8 matching salad bowls, serving utensils), a treat jar, a flower vase, a large pitcher, a gadget crock, salt and pepper shakers, 2 large shell serving dishes, 4 juice glasses, 4 placemats, 4 mixing bowls, and a french bread tray. I may be getting all this stuff for less than half the retail price, but seriously… look at this f’d up list. I’m just addicted. All I really wanted was the salad set, because of the different style bowls that sell for $14 each, but the set with 8 is going for $39. And maybe I wanted the flower vase, because it is older and rare and going for a whopping $4. The other stuff is the by product of browsing those sellers stores for cheap items and discounted shipping possibilities. The salt & pepper shakers go new for $20 a set, these are going for $7. Am I a fool or just a female for not being able to recognize what I actually need from what I need because it is on sale?
In other news Marc & Jennie have actually set a wedding date for May 13th. It is the weekend after their family reuinion, and probably the Saturday before Mother’s Day. It is also the weekend after Marc’s 30th birthday (May 9th), which Jennie is hoping to have a big bash for. That’s a lot of plates to keep in the air, which I guess she finds maneagable because it’s so far in the future. I’m just not sure that cousin Jennie is up to par in the party planning area with uber-planner
Upon her calling with the “date” info, I had to ask… so can I assume that means you and Marc have talked out your problems? She just said that they are “doing well now.” I don’t want to think of those as famous last words, so I’ll continue to wish them well. We’re probably heading up for a quick visit weekend after this one.
aoide has made a Comment
Ok, I was on board till you said 4 juice glasses. 4?! I mean usually it’s a setting for at least 6. What would one do with just 4 juice glasses?
October 6, 2005 @ 2:14 pm
flerly has made a Comment
Well, I only have a four-seater table….
but in this case, the 4-glasses were part of a “bulk” auction. Mixing bowls, juice glasses, and 2 shell serving plates, all for one price.
Meh… see? It makes no real sense to me either. I just wanted the shell plates. Why? I dunno. Because they’re unusual I guess. Because I already have a plate hanger thing which holds two where I could display them?
Who knows what excuses an addict would come up with.
October 6, 2005 @ 2:18 pm
blistex has made a Comment
We were shopping on Amazon for dishes last night for The Registry (we have a bunch of old hand-me-down mismatched 70s dishes right now and his parents are keen on buying us a set), and I saw this pretty pattern I kind of liked, so I clicked on it. And though, wow that looks familiar .. wait… that’s Kim’s pattern! So you have good taste in dishes, and are therefore justified in purchasing every accessory known to man. Plus, eBay is just like that. Every couple of weeks I have to cut myself off; last weekend I bought $80 of cashmere yarn (hey it was half off retail) and now I’m monitoring auctions of back issues of Martha Stewart Weddings. SO BAD.
October 6, 2005 @ 3:46 pm
flerly has made a Comment
Sweet! I was just adding some pieces to my Amazon wishlist the other day, mainly because wishing for them is cheaper than bidding on them. =)
Anywho.. just an fyi, not that it makes a HUGE difference, these are pretty big dinner plates, like 10.5″, which is right at the maximum size that will fit in my dishwasher and have the thing still spin. Didn’t really think about that when I lusted over them, but since we’re just renting, I’ll have to make do and just be sure to buy a generous sized dishwasher in our “real” house someday.
And, pretty as they are JT complained about the deep bowls that come with the place setting not being great for pasta as our old bowls were, thus I’m already bidding on new bowls in the set that are wider and more shallow. I think they do that on purpose so you’ll have an excuse to spend more money on things like the… 8″ ‘luncheon’ plates and one or two of the fifty-gazillion other bowl choices they sell.
Not that I’m complaining. =) I’ll soon be complaining about cabinet space though.
October 6, 2005 @ 3:57 pm
amiaba has made a Comment
I totally relate. I went crazy over the Summer Breeze collection and got most of the accessories. Problem now is that we revamped the kitchen into black and red. Now I need whole new set of dishes to match the new black table cuz the yellow is just not cutting it. I just need a better excuse to get rid of the whole set. Positive is that dust collecting china looks great. I just need to throw dinner parties 🙂
Good Luck fellow addict. I find myself trying to turn my house into a Pottery Barn catalog every time I go to Ebay.
October 7, 2005 @ 4:26 am