tucson shopping

Things we can learn from a Bed Bath & Beyond catalog

Bed Bath & Beyond did it again – and the results are not always pretty. Anyone who has shopped there at least once, which is most likely everybody, and happens to get their address on file also happens to get seductive discount coupons mailed to them on a regular basis.

Change your address with a move and the coupons are even more seductive, with even bigger discounts. Don’t buy something for a spell and your coupons start coming with a catalog, just to remind you of all sorts of things you never knew existed but suddenly need with a rabid furor that borders on insanity.

This is where things can get a little ugly. The latest Tucson-area catalog is stocked with items that everyone must have in his or her home, workplace, dorm room or yard – which also illustrate the sad state of the American public. If we pretend we are space aliens and base our assessment of the human race solely on items available in a Bed Bath & Beyond catalog, we come to a sad assessment indeed: humans are basically lazy, paranoid, and organized to the point of being anal.

Buying American may be worth the price

Folks love to shop, and that shopping is all the more thrilling when the price is right.

That is, when the price is cheap, cheap, cheap.

Many of the cheaper products, of course, are manufactured in other countries for mere pennies. Once they hit the U.S. they are greedily snatched up by sweaty, bargain-hunting hands.

It doesn’t matter that buying products manufactured overseas can really hurt our own labor force or economy. Nor does it matter that some of the stuff is not of the best quality.

What matters is the price.

Too bad that old adage of getting what we pay for often kicks in.

Like the crib that killed a baby in Iowa.

About 635, 000 Dorel Asia Cribs, made in China and Vietnam, are being recalled, says the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Reports on the drop side variety cribs include 31 incidents of drop side dangers, with six kids getting trapped between the drop side and the mattress and three kids getting bruised up from being trapped.

An additional 36 reports of broken slats include seven reports of bruises and scratches and two more reports of kids getting trapped.

The Iowa child who died was trapped and strangled after the parents tried to fix the broken hardware on the drop sides themselves.

American made rocks/Art and photo Ryn Gargulinski

A quick glance other recent recalls leave us with enough reading to last through March.

MooreCo Spine Align and Posture Perfect Ergonomic Office Chairs, made in South Korea, might do more than align the spine. They could crack it. The chair’s legs have broken and fallen off while people are seated. Three minor injuries reported and probably dozens of embarrassing moments unreported.

Pier 1 Imports glitter candles feature a dashing sprinkle of glitter mixed in with the candle wax. Too bad the glitter has a habit of bursting into flames. Made in Vietnam.

Consumers are asked to be doubly wary if they also purchased the Pier 1 Imports ceramic Santa tea light holder. These items, too, like to burst into flames. Made in China.

China is not having much luck with flammable objects, as a number of LED light kits manufactured there are also on the recall list. The kits, distributed by Rockland, have a battery pack that likes to overheat – and explode.

Let’s not forget about stuff made in Taiwan. The 2010 Redline Conquest Pro Bicycles and Framesets are being recalled because the bike’s fork legs have been separating from the fork crown, pretty much guaranteeing a crash. Three reports of fork leg separation have been reported, one with minor injuries.

Yes, American products get recalled, too. But the bulk of the items included in recent recalls were made elsewhere.

It must also be pointed out that the recalls were officially made by the manufacturers and include official consumer reports. That leaves out the gads of foreign-made products that shatter, explode, fall apart, chip, crack, or poke eyes out on a daily basis.

Cheap may be well and good until somebody loses an eye.

[tnipoll]

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Ryn Gargulinski is a poet, artist, performer and TucsonCitizen.com Ryngmaster who has never owned glitter candles but once had an incense holder fall over and melt her glasses. Her column appears every Friday on Rynski’s Blogski. Her art, writing and more is at RynRules.com and Rynski.etsy.com. E-mail rynski@tucsoncitizen.com.

What do you think?

Are there certain products that you will ONLY buy if made in America? What are they?

Have you ever had a product blow up, break or be recalled? What happened?

Don’t buy used underwear and other thrift shop tips

Tucson’s yard sales may often be mediocre and its garbage picking slim, but we have tons of fun stuff hanging out at thrift shops.

BeautyBoy was a glorious find at Desert Dust on South Alvernon Way/Ryn Gargulinski

Cheap prices are just one of the thrills of frequenting these places. Others include unique items, vintage finds and a lamp we now call BeautyBoy.

This ornate and garishly delightful gold cupid lamp stands about 5 feet tall atop a heavy gold stand and features a 2-foot gold lampshade.

It has become the centerpiece of my living room and I can no longer imagine the room without it. BeautyBoy was also a special gift from a special person, making it even more enchanting.

Thrift store tips:

Don’t buy:

* Used underwear, used socks or dentures
* Things that have non-working zippers – c’mon, no matter how well meaning you are, you know you’re never going to get it fixed.
* Stuff that doesn’t fit – a case in point was a pair of size 4 antique buckle shoes, which were technically purchased at a mondo garage sale in Michigan, that I tried to wear on my size 8 feet. Never again.

Look for:

* Daily deals many shops offer where a certain color tag will be discounted 50 percent
* Really cheap sheets, pillowcases and tablecloths for fabric crafts, outdoor furniture and creating Lucky Voodoo Dolls
* Items no one else would dare wear
* Jeans and leather jackets that come already broken in
* Underarm stains

My fave Tucson thrift shops:

Savers – various locations around town
Why it rocks: One of the biggest and constantly updated selection of clothes you can find – beats out any department store by a gazillion.
Any warnings: So much stuff you are going to spend, spend, spend.
Best buy: So many – this is my favorite clothing shop, for sure.

Goodwill – various locations around town
Why it rocks: Biggest variety of items, from clothing to shelves, belts to a brand-new sheepskin rug I nabbed for a mere $60.
Any warnings: Employees get to put dibs on items as soon as they come in, but have to wait a day or two until they are allowed to purchase them. If you pick an item everyone wants, like the sheepskin rug, you’re going to piss off a lot of employees. Sorry!
Best buy: Toss up between embellished hippie-type blouse I wore to Woodstock tribute concert and molded dinosaur head I painted pink and stuck in the gravel of my backyard, as if he’s emerging from the depths of hell to feast on someone.

Desert Dust – 1475 S. Alvernon Way
Why it rocks: That’s where BeautyBoy came from. Best tchotchke shop in the West for those seeking kitschy, creepy and very unusual décor.
Any warnings: Not your clothing shop, although I did score a pair of low-waist, flare bottom suede pants that appear they were worn by someone in the Manson Family.
Best buy: In addition to BeautyBoy, this place always has an expansive owl collection to fuel my own menagerie of them.

Buffalo Exchange – various locations around town
Why it rocks: This place can be a bit pricey, but it’s also a goldmine for vintage and crazy finds. Good shopping on the clearance racks.
Any warnings: They buy back clothing but rarely pick anything I bring them, making me feel like I have a closet full of very unfashionable clothing (which I probably do).
Best buy: Velvet vampire shirt with bell sleeves as wide as Alaska; awesome find for less than $10 on the Halloween clearance rack although I intend to wear it for daily use.

What’s your favorite Tucson thrift shop and why?

Do you ever think you’ll get lice from the hats?

Does it freak you out that the clothing could have come from dead people?

What’s your best and worst thrift store find?

tucson shopping

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