Buying Designer Kitchenware off of Kijiji (Le Creuset, All Clad, etc.) [moved from Prairie Provinces]

[fought]

What are your thoughts on buying second hand cookware or kitchenware off of websites like Kijiji and craigslist?

For example right now, I found some great Le Creuset and All Clad items! For me these brands are investment pieces because they will last forever and can be passed down for generations.

Have you scored any great finds at sales or thrift stores? Which ones?

[Scary Bill]

Mrs Scary has accumulated enough Le Creuset to stagger a pack elephant. We have a number of pieces she has never used. She started out buying a couple of pieces at regular prices at places like Williams Sonoma and specialty kitchen stores. Then she noticed that Winners and Homesense often had sets and pieces at about 50-60% of the regular price. Sometimes they wer "second", sometimes not. I could never figure out why they were classed as seconds. We certainly have never had problems with any pieces we bought, except to chip the phenolic handle on a top which was our fault and easy to replace. She has also found small sets at Canadian Tire.

So, buy new and buy at the places mentioned above. The only drawback is that you will find it to be hit and miss, but you will pay a lot less.

Confession: Mrs Scary bought a Le Creuset pot as a gift at Winners once, then put it into a Williams Sonoma bag when delivering the gift, since she believed the giftee would check out the price!

[summersupper]

That is hilarious! Great tips, Bill. I will have to visit those shops. If Mrs. Scary ever needs to thin her LC collection, have her email me!

[TSAW]

the lid on the 'second' Le Creuset I purchased at Homesense is not as snug as the 'firsts' but it still is a wonderful pot. I noticed that Homesense has been carrying some other brand lately, not Le Creuset.

[cellophane_star]

I've been building a nice little Le Creuset collection over the past two years. I'd rather buy directly from a Le Creuset store instead of second hand. You don't know what condition you'll find it in, plus the warranty is valid if you keep the receipt to show you personally purchased the item. As you said, they are investment pieces so the extra money you spend to buy it brand new is worth it. then again, I guess it depends on how good of a bargain you find.