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I know it's not just me but things I used to buy and took for granted seem to be no longer available.
One thing is good sheets. I'm not asking for some humongous thread count, just good 200 thread count 100% cotton percale sheets. Also, I want to buy ONE sheet, not a set of top sheet, bottom sheet and two pillow cases! You used to be able to buy a good quality sheet by itself and it didn't cost a small fortune.
Another thing, and this one is really bothering me--towels. Are they all cheap junk made in China or Pakistan or some other far flung place? The bath towels I bought back in 1990 are just now beginning to show signs of wear and I'd like to replace them but I can't because they don't exist.
These towels were by Martex, they were pima cotton, and they were regular size, not oversized. Now all you can get is these huge bath sheets. What they call regular size is HUGE. I think my old towels are about 48" long. These HUGE towels take up more space in the washer, the dryer, on the towel rack and when they are wet they are HEAVY. As you get older, you don't want huge heavy towels, at least I don't.
Those two items come to mind but there are other things I look for in vain. Anyone else?
haha, we are on the same wave length....thus why I started the new online shopping thread.
It's next to impossible for me to find reasonably priced items like percale bed sheets, quality cotton socks, absorbant towels, well made shoes (I do have one special pair made in Poland that are lasting a lifetime), cotton pajamas that don't cost 100 bucks, etc. A lot of the specialty boutiquey stores carry this stuff, if you want to drop a handsome buck. Used to be you could go to the 5 and Dime (good old Woolworth's, where are you) and pick up so much of these basic, well made household items and clothing for something reasonable in line with your take-home pay. These days, everything is poor quality from China...or if you buy from upscale boutiques, simple things like a set of good cotton sheets easily take a day's pay. I even went to a yard goods store to check out what it would cost to make percale sheets...they didn't carry the material, only muslin, and it's $22 a yard! So you could probably spend an afternoon making one bed sheet for $60.
As for towels, I don't use full size any more. I use good sized hand towels and don't miss the oversized ones that take up the whole washing machine space. I get the best quality hand towels I can find and buy up a half dozen at a time.
There is a Cannon outlet store in Wells, Maine, where I am headed this fall. I usually get good stuff there.
Wow, for awhile there I thought I had inadvertantly clicked on the wrong forum, but then I noticed that it had the word retirees in the title and I knew that all was right with the world.
Glad you feel at home here. We are differentiating now between issues for the young and the same issues for the old.
I know it's not just me but things I used to buy and took for granted seem to be no longer available.
One thing is good sheets. I'm not asking for some humongous thread count, just good 200 thread count 100% cotton percale sheets. Also, I want to buy ONE sheet, not a set of top sheet, bottom sheet and two pillow cases! You used to be able to buy a good quality sheet by itself and it didn't cost a small fortune.
Another thing, and this one is really bothering me--towels. Are they all cheap junk made in China or Pakistan or some other far flung place? The bath towels I bought back in 1990 are just now beginning to show signs of wear and I'd like to replace them but I can't because they don't exist.
These towels were by Martex, they were pima cotton, and they were regular size, not oversized. Now all you can get is these huge bath sheets. What they call regular size is HUGE. I think my old towels are about 48" long. These HUGE towels take up more space in the washer, the dryer, on the towel rack and when they are wet they are HEAVY. As you get older, you don't want huge heavy towels, at least I don't.
Those two items come to mind but there are other things I look for in vain. Anyone else?
You need to shop in stores you're not now visiting. Everything you say yoiu can't find I see everyday where I live. Start at Target. Sears. Regional department stores. Outlet malls. The stuff is there. Just go get it!
I don't think normal sized bath towels are out there anymore. I did look in Sears and they were poor quality plus huge size. I'm going to try the Canon outlet that newenglandgal mentioned, maybe I'll find towels there.
I thought I was the only person who wanted a smaller, more absorbent, but lightweight towel. Who likes those HUGE, HEAVY towels? They are ridiculous. I feel guilty for wasting water and resources every time I use one of those.
If the industry were paying attention they would see that people like smaller bath towels and adjust the product, accordingly.
I also want to buy one sheet when I want to - not an entire bedding package. I do not like Percale sheets, however . . . only 100% cotton.
I wonder why there is not more good quality stuff available these days.
I went into "Forever 21" with my daughter and there were racks and racks of clothes that were literally all of the same. I told her "in my day," even the big department stores like Macy's and Emporium only had one of each item (for dresses anyway) . . .so you knew when you bought that one, high quality dress, with exceptional tailoring, no one else would have one just like it. It was such a treat to shop back then. The quality was exquisite.
If I had a few wishes to spare, one might be to go in a time capsule back to the 1960's to re-experience shopping at Macy's, the Emporium and the several boutiques that were flourishing at that time.
Now, if you need a dress for a special occasion, it is all but impossible to find something classic and interesting, design-wise. Everything is "cookie-cutter," and the fabrics are cheesy and the design horrible.
Last edited by imcurious; 08-16-2012 at 09:23 PM..
I went through 2 sets of sheets, actually just the fitted sheet was torn, in a few months. I told my daughter that it
must be the dog jumping up on the bed but she says she has the same problem. I finally put a jersey tshirt type fitted
sheet on and it's holding up well. ( I have 2 flat sheets and 4 pillowcases that are still good from those other sets.)
Campbell's Chili Bean soup - it made the best starting base for chil dogs
Pepsi Lemon - so I make my own now
The original Herbal Essence shampoo - the new stuff doesn't smell the same
I saw the Herbal Essence in some kind of nostalgia catalog (there is a catalog of old stuff you can purchase, candy bars, shampoos, etc. I'm sorry I don't have the name, but I bet you can find it online).
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We are differentiating now between issues for the young and the same issues for the old.
Things You Can't Find Anymore
