Our dishwasher is in hospice mode.
It lived a long, low-maintenance life, and although we will be sorry to see it
go, it is time. A small mat underneath the door catches dripping water, and the
machine groans, "Another wash, you filling me up again? Enough! I am ready
for the appliance graveyard. Take me there. Please..."
I am honoring my dishwasher's
wishes.
The dishwasher was the
reason hub and I found ourselves in an appliance store one afternoon. We are
not finicky shoppers and do not want or need lots of bells and whistles we will
not use. It is just hub and I at home. Company descends occasionally. We can
handle the influx with less-than-top-of-the-line appliances.
It did not take long to choose a
dishwasher. And an oven.
Did I mention we also need an
oven? Not in appliance hospice yet, the oven is in the assisted-living phase.
Peeling enamel, inoperative self-cleaning mechanism…Signs for sales on certain
items greeted our entrance into the store. My first choice dishwasher displayed
a price beyond our budget, but the sale price placed it within range. Only one oven
model met our requirements. We bought it.
Hub and I made our way to the
sales desk to complete paperwork. Next to the counter a display of shiny new small
appliances caught my eye. I wandered over to the sleek, stainless steel
toasters, one a two slicer and another a four-slice model.
I carefully examined one of the
models, but could not find a price. Curious I asked the salesman. He looked at me and said,
"two ninety nine and three ninety nine."
I stared at him a few seconds and
muttered, "You mean three hundred and four hundred dollars?"
"Yes."
Who pays that kind of money for a
toaster? What unique accouterments could a toaster possess that would command
such a price?
Hub purchased our current toaster
at our neighborhood Rite Aid. He walked down the street and returned a few
minutes later with a $7.99 white toaster.
“Couldn't find anything plainer
or cheaper?” I asked somewhat sarcastically.
But it works.
I realize some people have an
incredible amount of money, but...My six-plus decades of prudent living cannot
bring myself to pay that amount of money for a toaster. Call me cheap, thrifty,
miserly, whatever. Cannot do it, no matter how much money I might have. Even if
I win the lottery, a $300 toaster will not be on my wish list.
A few days later our new purchases arrived. Two repairmen removed the old appliances and installed the new oven.
Then they unpacked the dishwasher.
Uh oh. The machine was damaged, and the
installer immediately agreed to return it. Unfortunately the local warehouse
did not have a replacement in stock.
So now there is a hole in my
kitchen. I wash
dishes the old fashioned way. By hand. In the sink. And plan meals using as few
utensils, pots, etc. as possible.
Delivery and installation is
scheduled for next week. I
could call the store and ask to add a toaster to my order, since the truck is
returning to my house anyway. (Armed guards might be necessary so no one steals
the precious item.) It would be a conversation piece if situated on my kitchen
counter. I know relatives and friends would think me nuts.
There are a lot of things I will
never buy, even if money was not an issue. I guess a toaster tops my list, just
one of many expensive items I can easily live without.
I found a four-slice toaster for much less at Walmart, and it works beautifully. Even has a setting for bagels and a setting for frozen (eggos, etc.). I don't remember the exact price, but it was under $40.00, and I love it and I love the price. You just have to know where to look. lol
ReplyDeleteThe price is definitely right!
DeleteIt would be an uphill climb for a company to justify that kind of price for a toaster.
ReplyDeleteThe most important thing about a dishwasher is not that it washes the dishes, but it gives you somewhere to hide the dirty ones.
So true - priority is getting the dirty stuff out of sight!
DeleteI'm such a dinosaur--we have a dishwasher, but it's so old, it must have been on the ark! I just wash by hand--at least I have a big window over the sink, with nice views. As for expensive toasters, I think we paid $9 for the last Black and Decker we bought. Our adult kids make fun of us because we have to do two toasting cycles and a flip to get the toast right, but it doesn't bother us! We'd rather save our money.
ReplyDeleteOur adult kids also make fun of our low tech lifestyle.
DeleteCan you take the toaster back if it ever burns the toast?
ReplyDeleteProbably not - I am sure there is tiny print in the warranty that says it can only be returned in case of attack by killer bees...
DeleteI laughed to think that anybody might pay that much for a toaster. I'm sorry your old dishwasher died and was buried before your new one arrived to take over the gravesite. :-)
ReplyDeleteI will appreciate the new one after hand washing dishes!
DeleteIt is truly crazy to see the price of some appliances these days. I can't imagine spending that much for a toaster, unless it also delivered the perfectly done toast to me in bed... with coffee and orange juice... and maybe an omelet. Even then, I'd have to think twice.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could go without a dishwasher but I do like to cook, and I tend to use up every pan,utensil and dish while cooking..I am not a neat cooker! So, I have tons of dishes with just about every dinner I cook.LOVE my dishwasher!! Now that we are retired, even LUNCH makes a bunch of dishes!! I also was able to bring in a gas line to provide me with a GAS cooking stove when we bought this house about 5 years ago-- Got a good gas stove on a great sale.. I love gas cooking! It should last a long long time. On the other hand, our 11 year old refrig broke its ice maker!! I looked on youtube and found out that it is SIMPLE to buy and replace an icemaker! Ken (DH) ordered on line,around $90 and installed in about 15 minutes! I think I can get another 11 years outta the refrig!!!!! Toaster? $7.99 at Walmart!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could go without a dishwasher but I do like to cook, and I tend to use up every pan,utensil and dish while cooking..I am not a neat cooker! So, I have tons of dishes with just about every dinner I cook.LOVE my dishwasher!! Now that we are retired, even LUNCH makes a bunch of dishes!! I also was able to bring in a gas line to provide me with a GAS cooking stove when we bought this house about 5 years ago-- Got a good gas stove on a great sale.. I love gas cooking! It should last a long long time. On the other hand, our 11 year old refrig broke its ice maker!! I looked on youtube and found out that it is SIMPLE to buy and replace an icemaker! Ken (DH) ordered on line,around $90 and installed in about 15 minutes! I think I can get another 11 years outta the refrig!!!!! Toaster? $7.99 at Walmart!
ReplyDelete