I'm looking at toasters
Some parts of this post will shock people who know me. I usually hate shopping. I will make lists and research all my options and make the decision on exactly what to buy before I leave the house. Then I go to the shop, straight to what I want, check the return policy, pay for it and leave. It rarely takes me more than twenty minutes to buy anything and if it takes longer, it's because the salesperson wouldn't shut up.
This morning I went shopping in one of those massive home appliance centres. I'd decided what I needed, had done my research online so I knew which brand and model I wanted and how much I was willing to pay, so armed with a sheaf of papers, I entered the store.
The dishwashers were the first things I came across. That was handy because I was looking for a dishwasher - not for me unfortunately, but for another house I have. I wandered along the line, checking the brands and models and prices, then went back to the beginning again. I had time to browse the stoves as well and found a couple I'd like to take home with me - in another life - before a sales assistant finally came up and asked what I wanted.
"I'm looking at dishwashers," I said and smiled as he looked at the gas stove in front of me in confusion. I returned to the dishwashers, him trailing along behind me. "There's the Bosch I was considering but I wanted to see the Fisher & Paykel as well and you don't seem to have it."
He leaned over my paper to check the model number and then pointed to the dishwasher right next to the Bosch. "Do you mean this one?"
I carefully checked the model number and picture against the dishwasher in front of me. "Well, how about that." I looked at them both. "This one's prettier. I'll take it." It actually scored better on the energy and water consumption ratings, and was cheaper too, but I didn't need to share that knowledge. You might have guessed by now I don't like the whole browsing and shopping thing much.
I think it was his quickest sale ever. He recovered quickly, though, and took my details. Before he could close the sale, I said I just wanted to look around because I might want a few other things.
I needed a new toaster, but I knew I would also be needing a new washing machine sometime in the future (as well as the stove) and it's always handy to check out what small appliances are available. I wandered away, thinking I could do a bit of on-the-floor research on my way over to the toasters, which were on the other side of the store.
I was carefully reading the specs of a front-loading washer-dryer when another sales person approached me. I thanked him. "I'm just looking at toasters," I said, smiling.
He looked at the washing machine and then back at me, and I could see clearly on his face exactly what he thought of my toaster-that-was-a-washing-machine. I took the opportunity to ask a few questions about the washing machine. I'd just read it but I like to check to see if sales people know their stock - call it a quirk. After a couple of minutes, I thanked him and moved on.
My next stop was at the sandwich makers. I have a flat one but I no longer have one that cuts while it toasts and I always loved the crunchy edges. I lifted lots of lids and checked prices, not really interested in them but enjoying the sound of the lids closing. (I don't get out much.)
Then I came across a pie maker and a little light bulb went on in my head. I rushed back to the second sales person.
Image from:
http://www.binglee.com.au/
sunbeam-ta6220-toastum-2?
gclid=CK2IkIzQs7YCFcVZpQodHHgAJA"I'm looking for the cutters that come with pie makers. I lost mine. Do you stock them?" An egg ring is almost the right size and I'd been using that, but it's not quite right. Unfortunately, if you want pie cutters, you have to buy another pie maker. I didn't.
Next stop was the kettles. I love looking at kettles. There are so many lovely shapes and colours around at the moment. I sighed over one that I could set the temperature on for specific types of tea, and another one that was clear glass and looked very easy to clean. I didn't need a new kettle, though. I paid $7.00 for one when I was renovating a house, and, when my old one broke I brought it out. It hasn't broken yet, and I won't buy a new one until it does.
I finally made it to the toasters. The toaster was for my house so I expected to spend more than $10 on it. The cheapest was $12 but when I lifted it up I thought it would probably melt the first time it was used. Then I saw the orange one. I like orange. This one had all the controls on one end and the cleaning tray right there as well. It would be very convenient. And did I mention orange?
But I only have toast once a month or less. Could I justify spending well over $100 on something that would see so little use? It seems not. In the end I bought one that looks like a 1950s caravan. It has the same streamlined shape.
I wonder how fast it would go towed on the open road.
Image from:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ruby-victoria-letterpress/5257264782/
This morning I went shopping in one of those massive home appliance centres. I'd decided what I needed, had done my research online so I knew which brand and model I wanted and how much I was willing to pay, so armed with a sheaf of papers, I entered the store.
The dishwashers were the first things I came across. That was handy because I was looking for a dishwasher - not for me unfortunately, but for another house I have. I wandered along the line, checking the brands and models and prices, then went back to the beginning again. I had time to browse the stoves as well and found a couple I'd like to take home with me - in another life - before a sales assistant finally came up and asked what I wanted.
"I'm looking at dishwashers," I said and smiled as he looked at the gas stove in front of me in confusion. I returned to the dishwashers, him trailing along behind me. "There's the Bosch I was considering but I wanted to see the Fisher & Paykel as well and you don't seem to have it."
He leaned over my paper to check the model number and then pointed to the dishwasher right next to the Bosch. "Do you mean this one?"
I carefully checked the model number and picture against the dishwasher in front of me. "Well, how about that." I looked at them both. "This one's prettier. I'll take it." It actually scored better on the energy and water consumption ratings, and was cheaper too, but I didn't need to share that knowledge. You might have guessed by now I don't like the whole browsing and shopping thing much.
I think it was his quickest sale ever. He recovered quickly, though, and took my details. Before he could close the sale, I said I just wanted to look around because I might want a few other things.
I needed a new toaster, but I knew I would also be needing a new washing machine sometime in the future (as well as the stove) and it's always handy to check out what small appliances are available. I wandered away, thinking I could do a bit of on-the-floor research on my way over to the toasters, which were on the other side of the store.
I was carefully reading the specs of a front-loading washer-dryer when another sales person approached me. I thanked him. "I'm just looking at toasters," I said, smiling.
He looked at the washing machine and then back at me, and I could see clearly on his face exactly what he thought of my toaster-that-was-a-washing-machine. I took the opportunity to ask a few questions about the washing machine. I'd just read it but I like to check to see if sales people know their stock - call it a quirk. After a couple of minutes, I thanked him and moved on.
My next stop was at the sandwich makers. I have a flat one but I no longer have one that cuts while it toasts and I always loved the crunchy edges. I lifted lots of lids and checked prices, not really interested in them but enjoying the sound of the lids closing. (I don't get out much.)
Then I came across a pie maker and a little light bulb went on in my head. I rushed back to the second sales person.
Image from:http://www.binglee.com.au/
sunbeam-ta6220-toastum-2?
gclid=CK2IkIzQs7YCFcVZpQodHHgAJA"I'm looking for the cutters that come with pie makers. I lost mine. Do you stock them?" An egg ring is almost the right size and I'd been using that, but it's not quite right. Unfortunately, if you want pie cutters, you have to buy another pie maker. I didn't.
Next stop was the kettles. I love looking at kettles. There are so many lovely shapes and colours around at the moment. I sighed over one that I could set the temperature on for specific types of tea, and another one that was clear glass and looked very easy to clean. I didn't need a new kettle, though. I paid $7.00 for one when I was renovating a house, and, when my old one broke I brought it out. It hasn't broken yet, and I won't buy a new one until it does.
I finally made it to the toasters. The toaster was for my house so I expected to spend more than $10 on it. The cheapest was $12 but when I lifted it up I thought it would probably melt the first time it was used. Then I saw the orange one. I like orange. This one had all the controls on one end and the cleaning tray right there as well. It would be very convenient. And did I mention orange?
But I only have toast once a month or less. Could I justify spending well over $100 on something that would see so little use? It seems not. In the end I bought one that looks like a 1950s caravan. It has the same streamlined shape.
I wonder how fast it would go towed on the open road.
Image from:http://www.flickr.com/photos/ruby-victoria-letterpress/5257264782/
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