Consumer goods-- "white" goods

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

When did "white goods" (sheets, towels, etc) become so outrageously expensive?  For even the cheap stuff?

My long-lasting waterbed sheets have finally gone the distance-- I had two sets, and one is already retired for cloth-rags, and the last, working one is soon to follow.

Now, I knew that finding them locally is problematic, as waterbeds have been relegated to on-line only shopping.   But I figured I'd buy pair of top-sheets only and "roll my own" as it were-- I can sew triangles to the corners, and the top to the bottom as easily as anyone else can.

But lordy-lordy, the prices have gone through the roof!   I looked on-line for quality sheets and was dismayed to find I'd need to shell out $60-80 for a single set of waterbed sheets for the bed!  What?   I found some cheaper, but the reviews all complained about how thin and cheap they were.... from Amazon....!!! (I usually expect quite a discount from them or their vendors).

Seriously, I had rather expected to pay $20 or so for a single flat sheet -- but first, almost nobody will sell you a single flat sheet-- they now come in sets only:  flat, fitted bottom, a pair of pillow-cases.   For way, way too much $$ for the quality of the fabric.

I did locate individual flat sheets at Bed Bath & Beyond your budget "on sale" for $100 per each.... whaaaaa?

I almost asked the salesperson if, at that price, they came with a butler to put them on the bed for you?  No?  Hmmmm....

So, back to Amazon, where I can get allegedly 1200-count all Egyptian cotton (a type of cotton, not a place of manufacture I have now learned) for about $80-100, allegedly "American Made" too.   A full set (top sewn to bottom, bottom with corner-pockets), including two pillow-covers.  And, from what I found out in retail, that's not a bad deal at all.

Dayum.   I paid less than $40 for both my current sets, and it wasn't all that long ago.....?  (or maybe it was... time flies... let's see-- when did I get those, actually?  In the early 90's?  And it's 2012?  So... 20 years of daily use?  Oh-kaaay... that's a pretty good bargain right there.....)

But an inflation rate of, what?   $20 --> $100?   Over only 20 years?  That is quite a lot, actually....

... my, how times have changed. 

If I could afford it, I'd buy 4 sets this time-- leave 2 sets unopened, and re-sell them in 20 years on EBay and make a fortune..... <snerk>

[Swatopluk]

Would be 8.37% yearly inflation, if I calculated correctly.

[Sibling DavidH]

Steal 4 dishdashes from a group of passing Arabs, boil and wash thoroughly 6 times then remove your gas-mask and gloves and sew them into shape.

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

Would be 8.37% yearly inflation, if I calculated correctly.

Well, when you put it that way, it's not that unreasonable ... meh.

[Griffin NoName]

White goods in the UK means kitchen appliances, eg. washing machine, dishwasher etc. Maybe they muddled the prices up with these items? 

[Swatopluk]

White goods in the UK means kitchen appliances, eg. washing machine, dishwasher etc. Maybe they muddled the prices up with these items? 

Same here (Weiße Ware)

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

I may be wrong... but it made sense to me at the time.... as sheets used to be exclusively white...  :shrug:

[Swatopluk]

I may be wrong... but it made sense to me at the time.... as sheets used to be exclusively white...  :shrug:

That would be Weißzeug.
But white only is a thing of the past there too

[Opsa]

Here we call them "linens".

Everything has leapt in price in the past two years. There are ways around it, though. Try going to a discount store or checking out the clearance linens. You can sometimes find decent deals there. You can also try thrift shops- sometimes there are sheets there that are still in their original packing.

I was in a Kmart today and saw a whole set of King sized flannel sheets for $29. I use king sized sheets on my extra tall queen mattress. The deep queen sized sheets are outrageously expensive, but a little extra tucking and a lesser priced king fitted sheet works just fine.

[Swatopluk]

Linnen is an old term here too but strictly spoken it is wrong these days since it is no longer flax fibre but almost always cotton.

[Griffin NoName]

Yes, linen here too. Though even as a child it was actually made of cotton - Egyptian cotton.

[Sibling DavidH]

What was it made of when it grew up?

I also thought that white goods were kitchen appliances.

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

The last sets we got were from Target, on discount ~$40 IIRC, but you can go crazy with those and indeed the prices have come up, although I perceive them as 'expensive' for at least the last 10-15 years.

[Griffin NoName]

What was it made of when it grew up?

PolyCotton Mix

[Aggie]

If you want thread count, you'll pay for it. I'd consider anything >400 tc and <$50 to be a fair deal.  Flannelette and the like are usually more reasonable.

At these prices, I don't usually keep a backup set of sheets.

[Griffin NoName]

I need a flat polycotton kingsize sheet - the ones that match my exisiting linen are £16 each. Not too bad.

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

Update:

I found a local retailer who sells waterbed sheet-sets.   They were reasonably priced, quality fabric-- and best yet?  He had a 2-for-1 sale, so I got two complete sets for the price of one.

I was prepared to pay as much as $100 for quality-- and nearly did purchase on-line.  But I decided with that high a budget, I ought to give the local merchants a chance.  I'm glad I did.  It's cotton/polyester blend, so it'll last, while feeling quite comfortable on the skin.  

The salesman was nice-- and cautioned me to wash these before use, as they ship with a kind of starch or sizing in them to make them nice for the package, washing removes that and softens the fabric.  

I like darker colors, so I got hunter green and chocolate brown (they were out of burgundy, my first choice, and also of royal blue, my second).

I nearly shelled out for a satin set-- he had one left (also on sale).  But I chickened out, and stuck with what I know (cotton/poly).   Oh, I paid $60 for two complete sets.  Not bad.

[Griffin NoName]

mmmmm satin sheets ...mmmmm I just ordered the polycotton sheets I need, shame. I like dark colours too. They don't show the stains from messy meals in bed. (although they do show other stains, that is not a consideration for me LoL)