Sets vs Open Stock

Starqueg

My fiance and I are registered for a lot of kitchen stuff, mainly because we're setting up a kosher kitchen.  This means, two sets of everything (cookware, knives, etc) except dishes and silverware, that's three sets.  

That said, does it make more sense to register for open stock cookware or whole sets?  I know groups of people will sometimes purchase a whole set, and it was easier at the time than looking at all the individual pots and pans.  However, they aren't cheap (not the top of the line though).  The same goes for dishes.  Table settings or individual plates, bowls, and mugs?  Or both?  If either the set or some open stock gets bought, remove the other option?

I was going to ask this at BBB or Crate & Barrel, where we're already registered, but I figured they'd just try to sell me something.

Cackle6

If you're need everything that comes in the sets of cookware, it makes more financial sense to do the sets. Depending on the set, you end up saving anywhere from $200-$500 going with a set rather than purchasing the individual pieces. If you don't need everything that comes in the set, then going open stock might be helpful, as you don't want pans laying around that you won't use.

Dinnerware is a little different, as it really depends on what you pick out. You can get open stock pieces that add up to about the same as a set would. However, since you need 3 sets, I would do at least 2 out of the 3 as sets of dishes, and maybe do one open stock. It's a little more difficult for guests to purchase open stock dishes, as they generally don't come with boxes, so if you did all 3 sets as open stock, it might be a little much. Also, just my two cents about dinnerware - if you want something that's going to last, stick to a porcelian or an everyday bone china. They are more break resistant (especially the bone china). Stay away from earthenware and lower quality stoneware. While a lot of those sets are pretty, they break and chip easily and are not great for an everyday dinnerware.

Also, FWIW, I'm a registry consultant at one of the big name stores, and I never try to "sell" my couples anything. I try really hard to make sure I help them find the item that is going to work the best for them, and 95% of the time, what works best for the couple is not the most expensive choice. I know not all stores are like that, but hopefully the stores you're registered at are! I know when I registered at BBB they were great and were nevery pushy with me about anything.

hoffse

I would register for both.  Don't do sets unless you need what comes in the set, but if you want all of those pots/pans register for both the set and open stock.  If you need two of everything, it's unlikely you're going to have that many "group gifts" to accommodate multiple full sets.  This way if you get say 3 pots/pans from one set and 4 from another, you can return them and buy the full sets with your completion discount since they'll already be on your registry.  I see this a lot and don't find it strange at all to have both listed.

As for dishes, I'd do place settings if they are around $50-$60 or less, and place settings plus open stock if they are more than that.  PP is correct that you save a lot buying sets of pots and pans, but frankly you can also save a LOT buying place settings too - it really depends on the manufacturer.  I know CB will often do boxes of 4 place settings - and in that case I'd probably do both the place settings and the boxes of 4, instead of worrying about open stock for every dinner plate, salad plate, etc.  Most of their dishes aren't terribly expensive, anyway.

I think it's fine that you talked about this here.  Unlike PP I had a horrible experience (twice) at BBB - it was so bad that FI and I deleted our registry there because we didn't want to fool with it.  Macy's was a lot less annoying, but they still couldn't answer my few questions.  Most registry consultants are really for people who haven't done research to know what they are looking for - FI and I had, and so we really didn't need the lecture about why clad pots are better than non-clad pots or why 18/10 stainless is better than 18/0.  We have really only gone into the stores to feel things like bedding/sheets and to stack various sets of china to see how they look.  I like to mix/match dishes to change up the table without buying entire multiple sets, so I've got like lenox, noritake, and wedgwood all together for fancy and pottery barn, juliska, and vietri for casual.  I had to see (most) of those combinations in person.  Our registry consultants did try to upsell us on things like knives and pots/pans when really we were looking for certain "specs" that plenty of mid-ranged options have.

stantokm

Register for open stock cookware; once you have it, return it to the store and buy the sets.  It's easier for your guests who maybe can't afford to purchase a full set, but would love to buy a couple of pots for you and then you get to pocket the savings.

I know at least one couple who did that and got a bunch of money back (probably on a gift card).  If we were registering for cookware, I'd do the same thing.

LeiselEB

I'd maybe do one of the sets AS a set, and the other separate pieces. If people are buying up the separate pieces, switch the other to separate as well. Some people might like to go in together on buy the full set as a group gift. 

Starqueg

Thanks for all the help.  We ended up switching a lot of stuff around, after making some impulse adds the first time around.  Our initial consultant was quick to say that this should be our dream list, which was rather impractical advice.  We switched one of the sets of pots and pans to open stock and kept the other as a set.  Our dishes are all place settings, but we might add individual dishes later.  We feel a lot more comfortable with the items on our registry now, and with the range of prices.