How Much To Ask For Waterless Cookware?

Q: Please forgive the cross-post, but I don't know exactly which newsgroup would be more appropriate for my question, as I've seen waterless cookware discussed in both places. My problem is this: My mother recently attended a picnic where waterless cookware was being demonstrated by a company called Townecraft. Thinking that this would make a good present for her aging mother, she bought what apparently was the "starter set" for what she tells me was about $2800. This includes ~5 pieces in total, about two pots and 3 pans, all with lids IIRC. Unfortunately my grandmother was unable to lift the pans, which are somewhat hefty, especially for someone in her mid-eighties. It has now fallen upon me to attempt to sell this set. I have little doubt that the price my mother paid was inflated, but I'm not sure by how much...I was crestfallen to find so-called "waterless" sets on ebay for around $200, but I find it difficult to believe that they are comparable, even taking artificial inflation into account. This is what I hope, at least. So, the question is how much should I ask when selling this cookware? I don't want to rip anyone off, but I would like to sell it for close to whatever it's really worth, as it's never been used. Any ideas?

A: Sadly, $200 is probably the high end. Check some of the retail cookware sites online (Chef's Catalog, for example) for stainless cookware sets, then discount by about half. You aren't going to get anywhere near full retail for a 10 piece (5 pots/5 lids) set. The term "waterless" is pretty irrelevant. It isn't called artificial inflation, it's called taking advantage of people. How long ago did she buy it? How long until she tried to return it? Many jurisdictions have "cooling off" periods for large, high pressure retail sales. If such a law is on the books in her area and she can prove she tried to return the goods during the period, they have to refund the money. It might pay to retain an attorney for a couple of hundred dollars if she can get her $2800 back. An attorney could probably write a letter to the company that might get results that a letter from a disgruntled customer wouldn't. Take this in the spirit in which it's intended ... your mother learned a very expensive lesson. In the future she will think twice before falling for sales pitches. She's old enough to know what she was signing. I'm very sorry that happened to her, but you are not going to get anywhere near what she paid for the set. Perhaps if you sell it by the piece you'll get more? Or donate it to a charity and take the tax writeoff? She might make more that way. $2800 for 5 pots, that's a crime. Except, she agreed. My recommendation? Get a lawyer. And call the police and see if there's a question of fraud. And contact the credit card company, if that's what was used to pay, and see about returning the stuff and stopping the payment. However... I wonder if "default user" isn't actually trying to pull something here, unloading this garbage at a "bargain price".

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