Shopping a Registry

[XTinabell]

My maid of honour is throwing me a bridal shower (theme is stock your bar and bathroom), it was suggested I register and Bed bath and beyond. So I've been doing that online and am a little horrified at how expensive everything is. Everything that is nice is over 50 dollars, a small pack of stir sticks is 20 dollars. This is just a bridal shower so I would assume everyone wants to spend UNDER 50 dollars! I would prefer people just went out and bought what they wanted, maybe using my registry as a guideline. My question is, do you think people will only purchase off my registry and I'll end up with really expensive small items (or loads of cheap ugly ones) or do people only use registry's as a guide? What would you do in my situation?

 

[Sparx]

I think a lot of people tend to buy off the registry if they can afford it. Why don't you look at other stores? There are plenty of affordable stores that have a similar quality of merchandise.

 

[Rora]

I think a lot of people tend to buy off the registry if they can afford it. Why don't you look at other stores? There are plenty of affordable stores that have a similar quality of merchandise.

This is good advice.

If I were you, I'd look at Target, Kohls, and Macy's as well as Bed Bath and Beyond. This will give your party-goers a wide range of items and prices! Usually, most try to stick to the registry or buy a gift card to the store where you're registered.

Best of luck and congrats!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My maid of honour is throwing me a bridal shower (theme is stock your bar and bathroom), it was suggested I register and Bed bath and beyond. So I've been doing that online and am a little horrified at how expensive everything is. Everything that is nice is over 50 dollars, a small pack of stir sticks is 20 dollars. This is just a bridal shower so I would assume everyone wants to spend UNDER 50 dollars! I would prefer people just went out and bought what they wanted, maybe using my registry as a guideline. My question is, do you think people will only purchase off my registry and I'll end up with really expensive small items (or loads of cheap ugly ones) or do people only use registry's as a guide? What would you do in my situation?

Don't register random stuff there. My dd's friend registered there and it is so not worth it. I found the selection to be limited. Register stuff that you love or want. If nothing really says, "I want it", cross it off your list as a place to be registered.

Do like the PP suggested and register at Target, Kohl's, etc....much much better.

 

[barkley]

i don't know if they have a regsitry, but cost plus world market is an awsome and inexpensive place to stock a bar. they carry everything (except the liquor in some states) we needed to set our bar up.

i love the stock the bar theme-the bathroom not so much. i just see you ending up with either way too many towels, shower curtains you either don't like or don't need (depending on the bathroom set up), multiple toilet brushes, or tons of foo-foo god awful scented "guest" soaps (that noone ever dare uses so they just collect dust).

make sure you include an actual bar tool set and a copy of "mr. bostons" book in your registry-essential musts for every home bar.

 

[Kimberle]

I would look to register in another store. Can they change the "theme" of the shower to a more universal one? Maybe add the kitchen in. You can also register at more than one store. Do BB&B, then maybe add a Target or Walmart for your little "gadets". If the guests ask, your MOH could also suggest folks purchase a nice bottle of wine. If you'll be entertaining, it's nice to have a nice selection of wine.

Not everybody buys off the registery anyway. Sometime 2-3 people go in to buy a more expensive gift.

Register for stuff you truly want, don't "pad" with stuff you really don't want. Besure to include a wide range of price's.

 

[golfgal]

Bed Bath and Beyond is expensive for what you get (a lot of what they sell are irregulars yet they aren't marked as such). I agree that you are better off registering (in person) at Kohl's, Target, Macy's or even stores like Room and Board or Pier I.

 

[XTinabell]

Thank you everyone, that is what I was thinking so it's nice for the confirmation. I think I will cancel my registry with BB&B, I just don't love the stuff for the prices. The bathroom theme is an add on to the bar theme because a few of the guests that are coming are against drinking for religious reasons and out of courtesy wanted to provide them with an option they're more comfortable with.

 

[mjkacmom]

I agree with the others - register somewhere else. I love BB&B, but only with a coupon. Really be practical when you register - I married 15 years ago, and wish I could register again! One thing I still regret is keeping the knife set DH's uncle purchased for us. I registered for an expensive set (I love to cook), and he purchased a cheap one. I kept it, and 15 years later, can't justify buying a good set for myself, and spending that kind of money on myself.

 

[luvmy3]

I would do as everyone else here suggested, check out other stores and find one that has the things you would like and register there. I always buy from the registry or give a GC to the place the person registered to. Also there may be alot of people who can't/won't spend alot so there should be a few types of items in the lowest price range to give them some other options, or else you may end up with 1000's of stir sticks and no glasses to use them in

 

[MsLeFever]

You can also create a registry on amazon.com. My brother and sister-in-law have done this for the baby shower and it is working very well!

 

[bumbershoot]

Definitely don't put items you don't want onto your registry. The lovely thing about gifts is that you can remember who gave what to you...if all you remember is "that gift went back to buy something somewhere else", well, that's not as nice.

I also suggest going to the stores. Not only is that lots of fun for fiances (there's a beeping scanning "gun" involved and I've never known a guy who doesn't enjoy that!), but they also tend to have other, smaller, things, that online doesn't necessarily have.

That said, I didn't use BB&B at all. Too expensive!

I registered for an expensive set (I love to cook), and he purchased a cheap one. I kept it, and 15 years later, can't justify buying a good set for myself, and spending that kind of money on myself.

Justify it! Think of how you use the knives every day, quite possibly, and how every time you use those knives they bug you. If you've found you don't use all of the set, buy the knives individually if it makes financial sense. We are vegetarian so don't use anywhere near all the knives in a set, so we have a big chef's knife, later we bought a santoku (or whatever they are called), and we also have a paring and a bread knife, and that's it. Later we found a nice block that was inexpensive (but matches our knife brand) and it is all useful and less expensive than buying a big set.

Just do it!