Have you ever spent a lot of money on a product thinking that you’re making a good “investment” in a quality piece? You know, spending your money wisely on a high quality product that will last many years? I don’t usually associate quality with price, because I’ve found a lot of high quality products that are inexpensive. But once in a while, even a frugalista like me can be fooled by name brands and perceived quality.
Article A: Simply Vera by Vera Wang Stone Bath Towel
Looks like a lovely bath towel, no? This towel was actually called a, “bath sheet” because it’s so large and lovely. 100% luxurious cotton. With a $59.99 price tag (per towel), I’m pretty sure they were handwoven in Egypt by virgin princesses. Now I’m no fool, and I’m not rich either, so I didn’t pay $60 for a towel (it’s a towel people!).
I bought this bad boy and it’s beautiful mate during a huge Kohl’s sale with a coupon. I purchased them about a year ago so I can’t remember exactly what I paid, but I remember leaving the store with a smug little smile, thinking I had just gotten a steal of a deal.
Needless to say, these towels were so perfect I didn’t want to use them (bizarre, I know!). They sat unused until last week when I said, “I’m worth $60 bath sheets” and tossed them in the wash (you never know who touches stuff in the store, so I don’t use or wear most cloth items until I’ve washed them-paranoid much? Yes!).
After 1 Wash!!
35 minutes later I went down to the basement to retrieve them. When I pulled them out of the washer I found the binding on one of towels completed unraveled. WTH? Are you serious? The first wash and you’re shredded? Mind you, our washer is brand new, high efficiency and doesn’t have a agitator and I washed them on the gentle cycle! There’s nothing for the towel to snag on in the machine and the only other thing in the machine was another brand new towel! Ugg.
After a few google searches, I find that many other people are equally disturbed by the price of these towels given how poor the quality is. They unravel, the bleed in the wash, they shrink 2+ inches and change color (get bleached out if they come in contact with popular face products). Sadly there’s no way to return them to Kohls as I’ve had them sitting in my closet (brand new with tags) for a year and I no longer have the receipt.
Ironically, the cheap-o 100% cotton towels I bought before college are still holding strong (faded slightly, but no unraveling) 12 years later! They still look decent enough and they’re soft and absorbent. I think I paid $10 a piece for 2 of them and the others were high school graduation gifts from family.
So the next time a luxurious item is calling my name (even if it’s a “steal” of a deal) I’ll be checking some Internet reviews before I buy it. Because a $60 towel that falls apart after one wash is a terrible deal.
What’s the Last Product that Disappointed You? Was it Expensive?