Thursday, May 17, 2007

How did this happen?

How did I live to be this ripe old age and avoid setting foot in a Bed Bath & Beyond until today?

I wish I could have put it off longer. But I am in desperation mode. I had already been to some of my favorite bargain stores to find a Comforter for the bed. Tuesday Morning had some gorgeous things, but it was the first store and I didn't know any better at the time.

The wall of comforters at Value City was enormous. Up to the ceiling. I could not grab the attention of any staff working the floor, so I found a step ladder and got it myself! That certainly should have brought the staff running, but nay.

Once I got it home, the package marked Queen was not a Queen. It was some weird size, maybe a Queen size in Lilliput but not at the Maryrosa. So I took it back.

That's how I ended up at BB&B.

Christ, what an intimidating place! Too many choices! Too many things I had no idea what they were!

What the hell is a duvet cover? Is it like a table cloth for a bed? I examined the pseudo bed on display and the cover was fat and plush. It contrasted with the flat small package I held in my hand ($129). "How does it become big and fluffy" I turned the package over and over seeing if I needed to add water or what!! (like those magic sponges).

I was hesitant to take it out of the package because I had already taken a curtain "scarf" out of the package to ascertain why it would be $69.99 when the panels were only $19.99. Wouldn't one purchase a third panel and make do? When I tried to stuff it back into the plastic bag I realized it was not going to be pretty!

I hid it on the bottom shelf behind some other stuff.

I finally ran across an all inclusive set, comforter, shams and skirt and not a moment too soon as I was feeling my face begin to flush from the sheer absurdity of myself in such a store.

I have too much of my frugal Mother in me.

7 comments:

meno said...

We have one of those stores near us. I try to shop there, and then i am overwhelmed by the choices and the smell of all those perfumed things.

Sudeaux Lux said...

I don't think I've ever been into one of those either but I sure can relate to having too much of the frugal mother vibe. Great writing, by the way.

Lisa :-] said...

A "duvet" is a big fabric envelope into which you slip a comforter. Allowing you to change the look of your comforter without buying a new one. And many times they are just as expensive as buying a new comforter would be.

You crack me up, Mary. I LOVE BBB.

Wil said...

While I *like* lisa's explanation, a duvet is an eider (duck or goose) down comforter. Because it is full of minute feathers, a separate cover is used to a)keep from being pricked in your sleep by something other than your consort, and b)minimize the amount of feather dust you are exposed to in order to keep dust allergies at bay.

Like you, I avoid the place. It's over-priced for the quality of what they sell and my allergies go haywire with all the scents in there.

Paul said...

So you went with bed-in-a-bag? I know it well.

Chris said...

I can spend all day in any store that has kitchen gadgets but I don't care for the rest of Bed Bath and Beyond!

Duvet....isn't that one of those toilets that squirt water at your behind? (ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha)

Have a Great weekend!
Chris
My Blog

Nelle said...

Having worked at Macy's I can confirm that the duvet is actually the down comforter and the duvet cover is the fabric you slip it into. I have found that a down comforter was my best investment ever. I ordered it from the company store catalog and ten years later still have it. I slip it into various duvet covers fancy or even flannel but nothing keeps you toasty and warm like a down comforter does. It's worth it to get a good quality one. You can wash it on gentle yourself when need be.