Tacky and Expensive Registry Items

klovesd

I've been looking through my H's cousin's bridal registry and there are some pretty expensive items on there!

I didn't even know they made $150 blenders, $300 food processors, or $120 toothbrushes. Yes, a toothbrush, hair straightener, and a $200 electric razor all made its way onto the registry.

Am I being cheap or does that seem a bit ridiculous?

Thankfully, there's still some $20-$50 items on the registry.

mandysmear

I judge registries.  I know that a lot of people will say, "oh well if we go back and buy the stuff ourselves we get a discount if it's on our registry."

the place we registered at lets you add items to your registry up to a year afterwards... so that wasn't an excuse for us to put ridiculous items on our registry. 

my friend put a kitchenaid mixer, dyson vaccuum, list goes on. 

she also had TONNES of small cheap stuff though, so i guess it makes it a little better.

AllAboutTheBenjamin

One of my girlfriends had a treadmill on her registry... a pretty high end one, too.

Simply Fated

A hair straightener? ... I am definitely rolling my eyes. I don't care if people chastise me for judging. I'm judging, anyway.

The pricey items don't bother me. Blenders, mixers and even coffee makers are a lot more expensive than I thought they would be. The coffee maker I want that makes ONE cup at a time is the most expensive one at Target. And I only want it because it makes one cup. The maker that makes 14 cups is a quarter the price.
People can pool their money or spend what they can. Some places give discounts on registry items that aren't purchased.

shoegal715

One of my friends had MAC makeup on her registry, as well as a TV and camera.

stacy&tige

Am I the only one who thinks personal hygiene items shouldn't go on a wedding registry? No razors, straightirons or toothbrushes please.

I kind of get the expensive kitchen appliances...these are easily split between people to share the cost. I have some on my registry, but I love to cook/bake and have always wanted some nice gadgets.

NuggetBrain

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_tacky-expensive-registry-items?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:303adf5e-e25a-46d5-9553-4b3ea9793ad9Post:a5920bfb-3e27-498d-9e8d-d5378d8894ea">Re: Tacky and Expensive Registry Items</a>:
[QUOTE]One of my friends had MAC makeup on her registry, as well as a TV and camera.
Posted by shoegal715[/QUOTE]

I won't even front, if I thought I could even remotely get away with registering at MAC or Sephora my happy ass would have been up there with a gift gun IN A HOT MINUTE.

bel138

DH scanned a set of Shun Kaji steak knives at William Sonoma when I wasn't looking. $800. Those were deleted.

If a couple are serious foodies though, it doesn't bother me when they register for high quality cooking items. I will happily buy a $200 chef's knife or $150 small kitchen appliance for a couple that I know will use it and enjoy it together. So many people said this to us, too. We didn't register for sheets, towels or other home things, only kitchen stuff. And our friends knew we would put it all to good use for many years.

klovesd

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_tacky-expensive-registry-items?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:303adf5e-e25a-46d5-9553-4b3ea9793ad9Post:249f383e-3eeb-4cae-8e6f-d1940c558c6c">Re: Tacky and Expensive Registry Items</a>:
[QUOTE]A hair straightener? ... I am definitely rolling my eyes. I don't care if people chastise me for judging. I'm judging, anyway. The pricey items don't bother me. Blenders, mixers and even coffee makers are a lot more expensive than I thought they would be. The coffee maker I want that makes ONE cup at a time is the most expensive one at Target. And I only want it because it makes one cup. The maker that makes 14 cups is a quarter the price. People can pool their money or spend what they can. Some places give discounts on registry items that aren't purchased.
Posted by Simply Fated[/QUOTE]

I also forgot to mention the $100 CHI hair dryer

temerityjane

I am SO PARANOID about my registry looking gift grabby that I am CONSTANTLY rethinking and deleting things that I think people might judge. I nearly gave myself an aneurism price comparing between two stores so that I could make sure that if an item was available at both, I was registered for the least expensive option. There were some items - say, a crockpot - where the model I wanted was a certain price, but I couldn't bear to put it on the registry in case someone judged it, so I went back and forth between registering for a lower end model so we'd HAVE one, to not registering for one at all so that no one would think I was nuts for registering for it.

I have registry complex.

The funny thing is, though, we're not one of those couples who is registering for upgrades or "nice to have" things. We're registering for things we don't have. I mean, we have no more spoons that aren't bent or garbage disposal-chipped. We don't have any small appliances outside of a quesadilla maker I bought in college. We don't have a microwave. Or one of those pasta spoon thingies, with like the tines sticking out? I think if I was a RATIONAL PERSON I would understand that our registry is pretty reasonable, but I've been BEGGING my mother and sister for WEEKS to look at them and make sure they're not insanely gift grabby. And they HAVEN'T.

I'm having a stroke. Right here in front of you.

lisarose7

I registered for some weird stuff (Wii controlers, a tripod for the camera, weights for FI, etc), but I kept most of the items under $50.  Most of our guests don't have a lot of money to throw around, so I didn't want them feeling like they had to break the bank on our gift.

emarston1

FBIL and FSIL registered for the pedi-paws dog nail trimmer.  I definitely gave them a side-eye for that one.  Not expensive but just ridiculous.

Dog nail trimmer =/= necessary for starting your new life together.

NuggetBrain

Don't worry TJ, I was the same way.  I had a few family members actually tell me I needed to put some more expensive things on my registry.  I don't think I had anything over $99 on there even after I added more expensive things.  Noodle put a digital picture frame for $125 on there and I panicked and deleted it when I got home.

temerityjane

Nugget, the ONE THING Buddy asked for - a set of sheets - is giving me a conniption. The ONE THING he was very very VERY specific about wanting on the registry. One thing in the entirety of our household that matters to him. Quality sheets.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH GOOD SHEETS COST?

I'm dying from it. I'm dying.

Oh, also, the first time we went out to register, I let him work the gun. There were eight sets of knives on the registry when we got home. Do you know what eight sets of knives says about a couple? Nothing good. That's what.

temerityjane

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_tacky-expensive-registry-items?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:303adf5e-e25a-46d5-9553-4b3ea9793ad9Post:0fcb1f82-c44a-4d78-be9a-0c10a512a95d">Re: Tacky and Expensive Registry Items</a>:
[QUOTE]FBIL and FSIL registered for the pedi-paws dog nail trimmer.  I definitely gave them a side-eye for that one.  Not expensive but just ridiculous. Dog nail trimmer =/= necessary for starting your new life together.
Posted by emarston1[/QUOTE]

We registered for a nice pet buffet (the thing that holds the bowls up high for big dogs and also has food storage in it) because right now, Brinkley eats off the top of an old rubbermaid container and Sheldon has to bend to the floor.

I was overcome with shame and deleted it two days ago.

klovesd

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_tacky-expensive-registry-items?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:303adf5e-e25a-46d5-9553-4b3ea9793ad9Post:110d8440-e74a-4477-aaf0-65300cf65063">Re: Tacky and Expensive Registry Items</a>:
[QUOTE]I am SO PARANOID about my registry looking gift grabby that I am CONSTANTLY rethinking and deleting things that I think people might judge. I nearly gave myself an aneurism price comparing between two stores so that I could make sure that if an item was available at both, I was registered for the least expensive option. There were some items - say, a crockpot - where the model I wanted was a certain price, but I couldn't bear to put it on the registry in case someone judged it, so I went back and forth between registering for a lower end model so we'd HAVE one, to not registering for one at all so that no one would think I was nuts for registering for it. I have registry complex. The funny thing is, though, we're not one of those couples who is registering for upgrades or "nice to have" things. We're registering for things we don't have. I mean, we have no more spoons that aren't bent or garbage disposal-chipped. We don't have any small appliances outside of a quesadilla maker I bought in college. We don't have a microwave. Or one of those pasta spoon thingies, with like the tines sticking out? I think if I was a RATIONAL PERSON I would understand that our registry is pretty reasonable, but I've been BEGGING my mother and sister for WEEKS to look at them and make sure they're not insanely gift grabby. And they HAVEN'T. I'm having a stroke. Right here in front of you.
Posted by temerityjane[/QUOTE]

If you give a link to your registry, I'm sure a few knottie wouldn't mind helping you sort things out.

LD1970

You guys are silly.  I wouldn't put a razor or toothbrush on a registry, but a crock pot, mixer, or vacuum?  Of course that's what goes on, AND you put the one you want!  Why settle for a crap version of an item when you can get the one you really want instead?  You're not holding a gun to anyone's head to buy it.  If they want to, they will, if they don't, they won't.  They'll go for something cheaper, go in together, get a gift card to the store, or if it's the wedding & not the shower, give cash.  It's really not a big enough deal to make yourself crazy over or shortchange yourself over.  Your registry is your wish list, after all, not your demand list.  You take the etiquette thing just a hair too far.

temerityjane

LD1970, I'm not thinking about it in terms of etiquette, exactly. I think a lot of people are just polite by nature so, while registries are totally acceptable, it brushes so close to asking for gifts - specific gifts - that it's just uncomfortable for some people.

Well, that's the best way I can explain it, anyway.

emarston1

It wasn't so much the fact that they registered for a pet item, it was more so the fact that they just registered for a bunch of inexpensive random crap.

No dishes, towels, sheets, flatware, or anything like that.  It was pretty much just the pedi-paws, Apples to Apples (board game), rolling cooler, and a few assorted kitchen items.  And FSIL had a shower and then was upset when she got a bunch of random gifts she didn't want because there was nothing left on the registry.

ledalia

Our registry is focused on upgrading the things we have. We have lived together for two years and you'd be surprised at how many of the less expensive things we bought that we already need to replace - our vacuum, blender, coffee pot, etc. Most of our items are kitchen-related because FI is a chef. We definitely have some pricey items - Calphalon tri-ply cookware set, KitchenAid stand mixer, Shun knives. We don't expect to get them all but these are items that would last a lifetime. I try not to judge  registries but you can definitely tell when someone hasn't lived together or still has no clue what they really need for their household.

ehathewa

I put a KitchenAid stand mixer on our registry.  I do a lot of baking and I really want a good stand mixer.  I was afraidd to put it on there because I didn't want anyone to think I was greedy.  I really don't expect anyone to buy it...  but I would be so excited if someone did.  I think my mom put in a word to my aunts that it might be a good group gift. 

I think that it is OK to have a few higher priced items on your registry, as long as you have some lower ones to balance it out. 

mica178

As a person who loves to cook, I'll admit to having expensive cooking implements on my registry.  I look forward to preparing great meals for my future husband and our families and friends.  I'd rather ask for slightly more expensive items that'll last for years so I can keep remembering "This is the serving dish we received from Aunt Y for our wedding," rather than ask for cheap crap that I'll toss in a few years or keep in its chipped/broken state out of guilt since it was a wedding gift.

Now hair straigteners and razors are a different story.  But whatever.  If you don't want to buy those items for your FI's family, pick something else on the list or give them cash.

parker624

Our wedding is 3 weeks away and most of the things we registered for have already been purchased.  I'm getting a LOT of grief from my mother who is telling me that her friends want to buy us gifts, so we need to put more things on the registry.  DUH; if they wanted to buy something off our registry, they should have done it  month ago when there was still like 80 things to purchase!  So, I added some things we really do want but didn't think were necessary to register for-- a down comforter and pillows, and luggage.  They are expensive, but mom said that people really really really want to buy us nice things and not the $30-50 items that are left, so we'll see what happens. It doesn't hurt to ask, right?

NuggetBrain

Luggage is the one thing that I REALLY wish I had of registered for.  We don't have any, because we don't travel a lot (Noodle has a carry-on bag that he just crams everything in and I use my mom's suitcase when I do travel). 

[Deleted User]

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_tacky-expensive-registry-items?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:303adf5e-e25a-46d5-9553-4b3ea9793ad9Post:6a879ff1-f22b-4d50-b3ae-cb19d02dc04d">Re: Tacky and Expensive Registry Items</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>Am I the only one who thinks personal hygiene items shouldn't go on a wedding registry?</strong> No razors, straightirons or toothbrushes please. I kind of get the expensive kitchen appliances...these are easily split between people to share the cost. I have some on my registry, but I love to cook/bake and have always wanted some nice gadgets.
Posted by stacy&tige[/QUOTE]

No. My guy friend who got married last year registered for tools and stuff at Home Depot and lots of video games at Wal-Mart and Target. When I go and buy a wedding present, I definitely don't buy personal items. It is going to be something for the house/kitchen in my price range.

When we created our registry, we had some higher priced items on there, and we knew full well we weren't going to get a lot of them. At the same time, we had much more reasonably priced in the $50-75 range items on there. The good thing is that it stays active for a while and I know my Grandma is planning to get us the mixer for Christmas this year.

nhelene

TJ, my advice to you is to register for the crock pot you want, not a cheap imitation of what you want.

ETA: hit submit too early. 

When someone buys you a gift, they're hoping you're going to use it to the fullest and enjoy it.  I'd be kind of disappointed if I knew I had bought someone a gift that they weren't 100% crazy about.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

Eh, I have a kitchenaid mixer on my registry. But that's the most expensive item. And I'm assuming one of our parents will buy it for us, not, like, a coworker.

Edit: I also have a kitchenaid food processor and coffee make that I bought myself, so why wouldn't I register for more kitchenaid items?

nhelene

I have a few items in the $150 range, and we're trying to pick out a vaccuum to register for.  There will be people who do want to spend that much.

I'm actually having trouble finding gifts in that $50-75 range.  So far that's like 5 things and everything else is cheaper odds and ends. 

mandysmear

When I registered the woman told me that lots of girls registered at the MAC counter for showers.  Makes sense to me. 

Not for the wedding though.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_tacky-expensive-registry-items?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:303adf5e-e25a-46d5-9553-4b3ea9793ad9Post:fe89bad8-a9e0-4c2a-bcaf-07bff9f0a394">Re: Tacky and Expensive Registry Items</a>:
[QUOTE]LD1970, I'm not thinking about it in terms of etiquette, exactly. I think a lot of people are just polite by nature so, while registries are totally acceptable, it brushes so close to asking for gifts - specific gifts - that it's just uncomfortable for some people. Well, that's the best way I can explain it, anyway.
Posted by temerityjane[/QUOTE]

I totally get this.

We're doing a bunch of upgrades. I was actually surprised that there was a bunch of stuff we didn't have that would be nice to have, too. It's all fairly traditional registry stuff, though.

I was pissed at FI about 2 months ago, though. We needed new sheets. He went out and bought on-sale sheets instead of what was on our registry. I was like, "Why don't boy brains work right?!" Not really, but he was pissed that I was mad about it.

temerityjane

When I search on sites to pull up our registry and it shows similiar names, like on Bed Bath & Beyond, I totally peek at other people's registries for ideas of reasonableness.