Dishes - sale ? and selling to replacements.com

[Susie]

Our dishes are Pfaltzgraff stoneware that we got for our wedding 12 years ago.  I still like the pattern, but we had service for 12+, and have lost half the lunch size plates, a few serving pieces, and have cracks in a few others.  I don't consider us especially hard on our dishes, but they keep cracking in the microwave.  The bowls have fared better (we have 9-11 of the original 12 of each size), but we don't have enough plates for our needs.

Naturally the pattern is discontinued.  I checked replacements.com and eBay, and buying the pieces we've lost is not cheap.  $15-20 or more per lunch size plate (when you can even get them)... and I have fair reason to expect to keep cracking.  The pattern (Seychelles) wasn't available for many years so this is not long term sustainable.

So I decided we're going to get new dishes instead, plain white this time, and bone china to avoid the cracking that we've had with more porous stoneware.  I've settled on Lenox Tin Can Alley.  It's available at BBB (can use coupon), Macy's, and Lenox, among other places.  It has taken me forever to find a pattern that was plain white, bone china, and fit my exacting preferences for coffee cup shape and bowl shape, ha.

Now that I have, a couple questions:

1.  Macy's regular price is totally bananas, but they are currently running 50% off through 8/18, and an additional 20% off that, bringing the price below [BBB with 20% coupon].  Would it likely go any lower with holiday sales, e.g. Labor Day, or should I pull the trigger?

2.  The pattern comes in a "Four degree" and "Seven degree" version, referring to number of concentric circles.  I prefer one, Calvin prefers the other.  What says H&G?

Four:


Seven:


3. Has anyone ever sold to replacements.com? How's the process? I was thinking that would be the best option for the non-cracked pieces of the Pfalzgraff pattern, to recoup some of the cost of new dishes. The shipping aspect seems like a lot to deal with though, any feedback?

[sassystace]

1. Don't know about Macy's sales but that sounds reasonably reduced to me!
2. I like the four degree (less circles); less busy, less for food to get stuck in?
3. No experience with replacements.com

[dr.girlfriend]

1. IDK about sales but good luck!
2. I also like 4 degrees
3. I've bought but not sold to Replacements, but I think I remember a thread on here about selling to Replacements and it was positive? I did a little searching but couldn't find it. I'm only on here and Money Matters though, so you could try cross-posting to there.

[Susie]

The four degree was my preference too!

I did some looking around on replacements.com, apparently our current dishes were only available 2006-08.  No wonder stock is so limited.  I knew it was a pretty short run pattern, but didn't realize it was so short.  We got married and registered for them right in the middle, in 2007.

[Violet]

1. Sounds pretty good for Macy's. I usually don't find kitchenwares for much cheaper than BBB + 20% off.
2. 4 degrees
3. Never sold to them

I also want to suggest this set incase you haven't saw it, looks kinda similar to the Lenox set: www.crateandbarrel.com/dinnerware-collections/roulette-dinnerware/
My cousin registered for this pattern when she got married 7 years ago and the set has lasted well. I have a different C&B pattern and have only broke 1 bowl in 8 years.

[Mrs.flang]

I started the process to sell some old dishes to replacements.com at some point last year. I just found the old offer sheet from them in my email. Ultimately I think I figured the cost of shipping wasn't worth it for what I had. But from what I remember it was pretty easy to fill out your info to get the offer sheet sent so I think it'd be worth it to at least see you could get.

I like the 4 degree design better as well.

[TBM]

I prefer the 7.

[cmeon]

I make pottery (including many of our own plates), and primarily work with stoneware clay with an absorbance rate of 1.2% at cone 5. I usually fire a little higher than cone 5, so presumably most of my pieces are even less porous- but, I don't sell, so I've never gone to great lengths to test. I do microwave on my plates, put them in the dishwasher, and generally abuse them without any consequence.

So, yes- bone china is less porous than properly fired stoneware- but, not by enormous amounts. I strongly suspect that there was a defect in the manufacture, glaze, composition or firing of your current set (which would explain the short run if it's a widespread issue in the pattern, I guess). It really sucks that they only warranty them for 90 days!

I (vastly- which is weird when they're fairly similar) prefer the 4 degree over the 7 degree pattern. I definitely wouldn't recommend buying replacements for your current set, and would not be comfortable unloading them on other people (dishes that crack in the microwave are dangerous)!

[daisyduck]

I have found that buying directly from lenox.com is often the best deal and is usually cheaper than Macy's. They run sales on their website too, so check for those.

I prefer 4.

[Susie]

Violet , I like that C&B set, but one of my must-haves (and I realize this is hyper specific, but if I'm shelling out for new dishes I want what I want!) is a coffee cup with very specific attributes.  It's proven hard to find!

This mug, which is a random anniversary mug that Starbucks had one holiday season, is my favorite.  I will be so sad if it ever breaks.  If I could buy a dozen and then just get plates to coordinate, I would.



It's flared at the top, has texture to make it easy to hang onto, it's not too tall/top heavy, and the angular bottom helps it resist being knocked over.

The flare at the top I just find comfortable to drink out of, and the angular bottom is as opposed to one that curves toward the bottom like our current mugs:



The curve makes them easier to knock over.  Ask me (and my small kids and rambunctious dog) how I know.  Lol.

kellady, I wanted the 4 degree, H wanted the 7.  I have since convinced him citing the noise our kids might try to make dragging a utensil across the rim of the 7.

[dr.girlfriend]

Have you checked etsy for mugs?

[cmeon]

Aug 5, 2019 16:34:03 GMT -5 Susie said:

Violet , I like that C&B set, but one of my must-haves (and I realize this is hyper specific, but if I'm shelling out for new dishes I want what I want!) is a coffee cup with very specific attributes.  It's proven hard to find!

This mug, which is a random anniversary mug that Starbucks had one holiday season, is my favorite.  I will be so sad if it ever breaks.  If I could buy a dozen and then just get plates to coordinate, I would.



It's flared at the top, has texture to make it easy to hang onto, it's not too tall/top heavy, and the angular bottom helps it resist being knocked over.

The flare at the top I just find comfortable to drink out of, and the angular bottom is as opposed to one that curves toward the bottom like our current mugs:



The curve makes them easier to knock over.  Ask me (and my small kids and rambunctious dog) how I know.  Lol.

kellady , I wanted the 4 degree, H wanted the 7.  I have since convinced him citing the noise our kids might try to make dragging a utensil across the rim of the 7.

I don't drink out of mugs regularly (just cocoa, which is appropriate in FL 1-2 times a year- haha), so I don't make them often- but, I love hearing about people's mug preferences. I see some fantastic mugs on my clay forums, you might want to see what's out there in the handmade world. The topic of "belly" shape, thickness/heft, handle shape/size (2 fingers? 3? 4? The weird "warming pocket"?) are always hilarious, and everyone seems to have a different "ideal"!

[pumpkin]

1. I don't know about Macy's sales but that sounds like a good deal to me
2. I like the four degree much better than the seven
3. No experience with replacements.com

And have you tried looking for your mug on eBay? I'm sometimes surprised at what I can reasonably find.

[Deleted]

1. I'm not really familiar with Macy's, but if you've done your due diligence and it's the best current price, I would go for it.
2. I definitely prefer the 4 degree. I realize that they are very similar, but I really, really don't like the 7.
3. I have looked in to doing replacements.com for some China that I have, and after shipping, it just won't be worth the effort. Plus, it kind of ticks me off that they're only going to pay me $34 for a teapot and then turn around and sell it for $560, so there's that LOL

[Susie]

So I got the offer sheet from replacements.com -- and lol.  No.  First, they're not buying about half the pieces I have.  Second, of what they are buying, they're offering $7 for a salad plate, $2 for a bowl, $2 for a mug, $3-7 for serving bowls, etc. There is no chance I could ship stoneware to North Carolina for these prices without losing money, even if I picked just the pieces they offer the most for.  There's also the risk that they may assess some of the pieces at less than mint condition and give me a fraction of the offered price.  ...Then of course they will turn around and mark them up 10x to sell.  I can save myself all the work of packaging, drive it all over to Habitat Restore, and be done for probably the same net amount of money.  Which is a bummer, because their service is a great idea -- but I wonder how many people just say ah, fuck it for exactly the same reason.

And pumpkin - just for funsies, I checked eBay for my beloved mug.  I only found a couple, all in the $26-45 neighborhood plus shipping.  I love that mug but... that is a lot of markup on a Starbucks mug!

[moolarkey]

I had items I wanted to sell to Replacements, things they currently sell. If I remember correctly, they wanted me to bring it to them and not ship. I live probably 800 to 1000 miles away so that wasn't happening.

[sju1982]

I have Tin Can Alley Seven.  First received it in 2011 at my bridal shower. It's our everyday set and we have yet to break anything.  I prefer this set over the Four because I found the Four mugs to be busy with all of the lines.

You can get a 12-piece set on Lennox for $199.95, and use FALL for an additional $35 off $150 or $50 off $250.  Free shipping, too.  Rakuten/Ebates is offering 4.5% cash back at Lenox.com right now, too. 

[Susie]

Aug 6, 2019 11:18:03 GMT -5 sju1982 said:

I have Tin Can Alley Seven.  First received it in 2011 at my bridal shower. It's our everyday set and we have yet to break anything.  I prefer this set over the Four because I found the Four mugs to be busy with all of the lines.

You can get a 12-piece set on Lennox for $199.95, and use FALL for an additional $35 off $150 or $50 off $250.  Free shipping, too.  Rakuten/Ebates is offering 4.5% cash back at Lenox.com right now, too. 

Lol, I was thinking all the lines on the four degree mugs would help me not drop them

Glad you have been happy with the pattern!

[pierogigirl]

We have white plates and I bought Fiesta mugs. I often don't like or want the mugs that come with dishes, so I bought sets that didn't come with any.

Fiesta tapered mugs are my favorite and they look like they meet your requirements.  mug



  P.S. I like the one with 4 circles

[pumpkin]

Aug 6, 2019 8:57:56 GMT -5 Susie said:

And pumpkin - just for funsies, I checked eBay for my beloved mug.  I only found a couple, all in the $26-45 neighborhood plus shipping.  I love that mug but... that is a lot of markup on a Starbucks mug!

Of course they are! I hate that!

Aug 7, 2019 16:33:09 GMT -5 pierogigirl said:

Fiesta tapered mugs are my favorite and they look like they meet your requirements.  mug
 

And these are my favorite mugs these days too. I have a whole collection in various colors.

[pierogigirl]

Aug 7, 2019 17:35:14 GMT -5 pumpkin said:

Aug 6, 2019 8:57:56 GMT -5 Susie said:

Aug 7, 2019 16:33:09 GMT -5 pierogigirl said:

Fiesta tapered mugs are my favorite and they look like they meet your requirements.  mug
 

And these are my favorite mugs these days too. I have a whole collection in various colors.

I do too!  I have cobalt, the school bus yellow, shamrock green, turquoise, medium blue, and bright spring green.

[Susie]

I bought the four degree, and most of it came yesterday.  Yay!  I really like it.  The mug in one of the place settings was shattered when it arrived, I hope that is not a harbinger of what is to come, lol -- it all came in 3 boxes with 4 place settings per box, and the other three settings in the same box were all fine, so hopefully that one piece just endured some trauma at some point, maybe before it even went in the box.

On the bright side, I called Macy's to report the breakage, and all I asked was that they send me a replacement mug.  On the current sale, it's a $10.39 item.  They're treating the entire purchased unit (place setting) as defective/broken though, and are replacing the whole thing.  They told me they don't want broken dishes back or customers to cut themselves on anything broken repacking it.  So after I toss the broken mug I end up with the rest of that place setting (dinner plate, accent plate, and bowl) as a free bonus.  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[icedcoffee]

I sold to replacements.com a while ago. We had some old hand me down pieces from this set: www.replacements.com/webquote/snoatt.htm

They gave me $81 and it looks like I spent around $20 to mail it to them. They assist in filing claims for anything that they say was damaged in transit if you buy insurance through USPS. So...I guess I got a few more bucks back from that.

Overall, I didn't make a ton, but it wasn't hard and I got more money than I spent. It worked out for me, I guess.

ETA:  I had just unpacked brand new plates so I had all the packing materials to easily ship it.  If I didn't I may have skipped it since it's more of a hassle.

[lessel]

This thread inspired me to check out replacements for a bowl that was broken years ago in a Calvin Klein set we have. $89.95 for one bowl. Loollll.

[Susie]

Good lord. Today the 12 fruit bowls from the Tin Can Alley pattern came... and 2 of the 12 were shattered. WTF is Macy's doing with these dishes? They're replacing these too, but this is kind of ridiculous!

[sandandsea]

Aug 5, 2019 12:41:40 GMT -5 sassystace said:

1. Don't know about Macy's sales but that sounds reasonably reduced to me!
2. I like the four degree (less circles); less busy, less for food to get stuck in?
3. No experience with replacements.com

This

[dcrunnergirl52]

Aug 9, 2019 20:57:13 GMT -5 Susie said:

Good lord. Today the 12 fruit bowls from the Tin Can Alley pattern came... and 2 of the 12 were shattered. WTF is Macy's doing with these dishes? They're replacing these too, but this is kind of ridiculous!

My mom sent me fiestaware from Kohls and they literally just threw 4 plates in a huge box with a piece of tissue paper. Needless to say, they were all broken.

[pumpkin]

Aug 11, 2019 21:41:19 GMT -5 dcrunnergirl52 said:

Aug 9, 2019 20:57:13 GMT -5 Susie said:

Good lord. Today the 12 fruit bowls from the Tin Can Alley pattern came... and 2 of the 12 were shattered. WTF is Macy's doing with these dishes? They're replacing these too, but this is kind of ridiculous!

My mom sent me fiestaware from Kohls and they literally just threw 4 plates in a huge box with a piece of tissue paper. Needless to say, they were all broken.

Ha! I ordered a fiestaware mug (can't remember from where as I ordered from several places for various colors) and it arrived in one of those plasticky envelopes you often get clothes in - no padding, nothing but the broken mug and receipt! I was actually surprised it wasn't more shattered than it was. I can't believe someone packaged it like that.