Wedding Blog
If I could change the caption on this cartoon, it would say, “I’ll be back later — I’m going to Marshall’s to practice my registry buying resistance techniques.”
I have a problem. No, it doesn’t have to do with shoes or clothes (though that can be a problem). Yes, my problem is that I keep buying stuff off our registry. Our registry is small enough as it is, and now I’m buying stuff off of it.
I’m a Marshall’s shopper (I admit it) and sometimes I shop at Ross. For some reason, those stores can have an amazing house and kitchenware selection. Seriously. Mr. Joey and I went to Marshall’s to stock up on socks, and what did I see? Le Creuset Dutch ovens in red. I would have bought one if I didn’t already own it. Actually, I almost bought it to give as a present. The amazon.com price for the 4 and 1/2 quart Dutch oven? $204.95. The Marshall’s price? $65.99. Now you understand my problem.
So yes, we were at Marshall’s buying socks over then weekend and I walked out of there with an OXO garlic press ($9.99), 2 OXO Good Grips Silicone Oven Mitts with Magnets ($2.50 each!) and a Kuhn Rikon Paring Knife ($4.99). Help!
This isn’t the first time I’ve picked off of our registry. We bought all our drinking glasses because I found them at Ross for $6.99 a set, instead of the $29.99 Macy’s was charging. I did check the quality, and there are no dings, scratches or flaws we can’t live with.
I also bought two 6-piece sets of Laguiole Steak Knives for $8.00 a set. Seriously? These retail between $40-100 a set. So I have two problems, actually. For one, I’m cheap. I can’t stand to ask someone to buy me a present that costs $60 when I know I can find the exact same item for $10. And second, I keep dealing with problem one—just buying stuff off our registry when it’s on sale.
I have to say, my registry problem isn’t limited to Marshall’s and Ross. If I see one of our registry items on clearance at Macy’s or Bed, Bath and Beyond, I usually buy it.
Does anyone else grapple with full-price registry issues? When I think about it, I wonder if it is even a bad problem to have.
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Share this post: Leave. The. Registry. Alone?
LMAO! This is hilarious because I can absolutely see myself doing that when the time comes (we haven’t made the registry-making step quite yet!).
This is too funny. I hope I don’t get that way once we finally register….but I have a feeling I will.
wow!
I have to say though - is this really a problem?
What’s the worst that could happen? They buy the same thing you already bought, and you have to return it (for store credit?)
You SO funny Miss J! That’s really cute! I love Ross too, I always find the best deals there… my last purchase there was a pair of black Enzo Angiolini peep toes…how much? $22!
I am the EXACT same way! I wanted to put a note on our website registry page that said “Please do not buy us anything unless its on sale”….I CANNOT stand paying full price for anything and don’t want my guests to either 
One thing to keep in mind about the discounters (I love tj maxx personally!) is that the products are ever so slightly different. For example, I was looking at a kitchen aid frying pan at a department store, but realized I could buy a cheaper one at tj maxx. I did indeed find a similar one, but it was made in another country, as opposed to the department store version, which was made in the US.
Another example: I had some nine west gladiator sandals, and saw them next season at marshalls. except these had a much lower quality leather. so yes, things are cheaper, but they aren’t really the same. close, but not exactly!
I hated registering for this reason (among many more). It’s one of the reasons why we registered at bed bath & beyond (standard 20% off coupons) and then at myregistry.com so we could register from any store rather than be stuck to one store.
Yes I love me some ross and Marshalls house hold item deals. I tried to not register for stuff that I could find at Marshalls but yes it is hard to not buy stuff, I have avoiding places like that lately. Your post makes me want to take a Marshalls trip today!!
I LOVE Ross. We have so many outlet/closeout/overstock stores here– for example, a Sysco outlet (yes, the foodservice company) and Ollie’s, (which is just like a Big Lots), etc. Love ‘em.
I know what you mean about the registry thing– I usually will buy off a registry because then I know that they want it, but often, I KNOW it’ll be cheaper somewhere else (eh? Why do you need spatulas from Bed Bath and Beyond when I know they’re cheaper at Target?), but I buy from the registry store so that they know someone got it and the little “fulfilled” pops up.
Oh man. I completely do this. I hate buying things full price and am so weirded out to put expensive things on the registry when I know they’re less elsewhere! I heart Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Ross… and I totally found salad plates I liked on clearance at BB&B last time we were there registering and bought them all and am now not registering for those at all.
@Miss Gloss–I so want to put something on our registry site saying “please wait for Macy’s and BB&B sales to buy all this—and ps, BBB has 20%off all the time…!” but I think it might be inappropriate…sigh
I’ve already bought two items off of my registry… at the places I’ve registered for them. They were on sale. I couldn’t help myself.
And I’ve unregistered things and re-registered for lower priced versions of said things about a hundred times. I can’t pull myself away. I have a problem.
Le Creuset! OMG I. would. have. flipped. out. I totally can’t blame you.
Perhaps your guests are also bargain shoppers and will use the same technique when buying gifts for you. Most registries (especially weddingchannel) will just take the item off your registry if your guest buys it elsewhere and calls and lets them know. I always send my co-worker the latest registry when a friend gets married. She lets me know when amazon or someone else puts it on sale and then I can get much more for the bride (three place settings instead of two or whatever).
We haven’t really added much to our registry yet, but I know I’ll be the same way. My sister is actually a buyer for Homegoods and I know what kind of markup is done at other stores, so I have a feeling I’ll be buying most of my necessaties at Homegoods and have a hrd time adding other things to my regitry.
Maybe your guests are budget concious too,
I always watch for the Macy sales or Bed Bath and Beyond coupons. I hardly ever buy wedding gifts at full price because I start watching for sales as soon as I know they are registered. That way I can get them more for the money I planned to spend.
@Miss Gloss: I told friends that if they found an item off out registry for cheaper, they should buy it and just tell me to take it off.
@bluedec: I didn’t know about myregistry.com until too late! Mr. Joey won’t let me add a third place to register at or else I would!
My FH and I met when we were both working at a Marshall’s during college. We left a note on our wedding website that said, “Four years ago Marshall’s helped us learn what love is all about. Now it’s time to return the favor: if you run into something from our registry at a great deal, snag it!”
I would think a note like that would work even for those of you that did not bond over a strong desire to help people make the most of their “shopportunities.”
ok, this is craking me up! Last night I was checking our registry and our bread knife (originally 115) was on sale for 22 bucks until midnight so I bought it right away! I’m all about a deal and if I can get it for that cheap why should someone else have to spend that much on it
I am so guilty of this! I literally just walked in the door with a bag from Marshalls…with a registry item in it. But I can’t resist a deal…my FI thinks it’s a sickness
i can totally see myself doing that — how could i pass up a deal like that?!
agree with Miss Rye Bread that you COULD return the stuff for store credit and indirectly get other stuff that you want!
I have vowed that if our dishes go on sale, I’m buying them. I think that’s about it out of what I really will buy… i hope. good to know that I’m not the only one
OH MY GOSH…this is totally me!
this is how we ended up with every OXO utensil and a total of 17 pieces of Calphalon cookware (we have an outlet store near us).
I tried to justify it for awhile by saying- FI will be moving to a new place in August, just collect a few things so he will have nice new stuff. Um, we have a closet full.
You got it exactly right though- why would I ask that someone buy me this $250 saute pan from Macy’s when I can get it at the outlet for $50. Bed Bath and Beyond’s “SPECIAL PURCHASE” items also drive me crazy—I WANT IT SO BADLY! What is they run out?
So from one thrifty shopper to another I say, keep it up!
I can’t say they are problems. If I did, I have the same problem! I looove marshall’s, tjmaxx and the like and wished the registries were doable at those places.
They have much cooler selection than most department stores and at better prices, whats not to love?
I will say that I saw our hibachi grill on sale at target for half price and came thisclose to buying it myself.
Oh if only I could REGISTER at TJMaxx and Marshalls!! I totally understand- I was at HomeGoods yesterday and had to practice major self-restraint!
AGREED!!!
Maybe register for giftcards or the VISA cards?
Your guests probably are sale- and coupon-conscious too! Everyone knows about the BB&B coupons and the sales at Macy’s….they are probably waiting to get you a gift when they’re cheaper too
I completely have this problem…I feel bad that someone else is going to pay full price when I find it for half. I almost bought some pieces of our China pattern when I saw them at the waterford outlet (no dings or scratches) and my FI talked me out of it…
@chelseamorning: We didn’t register at either place. We went with Crate and Barrel and Amazon.com. We tried Macy’s and hated it. I’m not sure why we didn’t go with Bed Bath and Beyond. We should have.
i have bought a few things off of our registry only because my fiance and i moved into our own apartment. they were things that we really couldnt live w/o for these few months though. i do love ross and marshals and after the big day i plan on spending a lot of time in both stores.
Hee-hee! This feels like a club. I love Marshalls/TJMaxx/HomeGoods way too much and wish I could register there too. 
On the plus side I live within driving distance of at least a dozen of those stores. Seriously.
While we haven’t created any registries yet I can see myself doing some of the same things. Especially going and buying items from our registry if they’re on clearance. If it make it on the registry that means myself or the Mr. want it and if it goes on clearance there’s no telling if they’ll ever get back in stock if they sell out. So, in that case…it’d be really hard for me not to purchase them! Plus, when my BFF got married Bed Bath & Beyond discontinued her dishes and she couldn’t get a complete set!
I have the same problem, I never buy anything for full price. That’s why we’re going to register at Target and BB&B so at least people aren’t paying high prices for things!
I have this problem too! I saw some things go on clearance and I was afraid they would be discontinued before anyone bought them, so I bought them. I keep checking my registries now, just in case!
I think I would have this problem if I had money to buy the stuff now. I completely understand not wanting guests to pay full price, I feel the same way. I am a bargain shopper through and through. It would be so much better if people gave money so that I could get more bang for the buck but I would never ask for just money.
uhhhhhh i LOVE Le Creuset and have been ITCHING to buy for SO long! oh no oh no! im tempted to run down to marshalls just to see what they have!
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Mrs. Joey, Seattle
Age and Occupation: 28, Project Administrator for Public Health NGO
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30, High School History Teacher
Engagement Date: June 24, 2008
Wedding Date: August 2009
Venue: Eastside Catholic Chapel and Lake Union Cafe
About Me: I'm a Seattle girl through and through except for the fact that I don't drink coffee. I love my job most of the time because I get to travel and work with brilliant people who are trying to prevent Malaria. I love DIY projects of all sorts, cooking, and watching sports. I'd wear anything at Anthropologie and could spend all day on Etsy. I love to travel but shouldn't because I always get myself into unbelievable situations!
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