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How do I gift registry? (Plus tool question)
Hevach
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Ok, just got a text message saying I get to go do the gift registry thing today with my fiancee and future mother-in-law. Yay?
Anyway, fiancee and I have talked about this, and both of us are basically clueless. I'm basically being dumped in the hardware department of Sears and left to my own devices for an hour. I'll just list my questions basically:
How much should I put on the list? We're aiming at around 150 guests, current invite list is about 130 but there's people we haven't tracked down yet. That's invites of course, we don't really have a ballpark on how many will actually come yet.
How do I handle things price wise? Is there an upper limit, or is it basically firing a shotgun into a fishtank and seeing what you hit? How much stuff should I put on the list? Do people do "package deals" on lower cost items buying from these lists?
I'm probably overthinking this massively, but the only advice I've managed to solicit from family is, and I quote exactly, "You just use the little scanner thingie and scan stuff. Just scan it and it goes on the list when you scan it."
And the tool question: Since she wants to go the traditional route and using the registry to fill up the kitchen and garage shelves (she wants to put some small appliances we don't have on it and replace most of our crappy Wal Mart/dollar store/hand-me-down kitchen stuff), like I said, I'm being dumped in the hardware department to figure things out.
I'm not a handyman. At all. I know I'd like to get a cat5 tool for work and replace my old multimeter (not that I ever use the one I have, but still), but other than that I'm at a loss. My current tool collection consists of three different hammers, various screwdrivers mostly stolen from relatives, a crescent wrench, a mismatched box end wrench set, and a 30 year old electric drill (I have a 1 inch spade bit and that's it). I've never had the inclination to get more except maybe a better set of screwdrivers, since my big flat head seems to be a phillips that somebody hammered flat.
So the last question, any useful or indispensable tools for the typical homeowner? What's good, what stuff sucks, how easy is it to ditch your mother-in-law in a Sears parking lot?
Anyway, fiancee and I have talked about this, and both of us are basically clueless. I'm basically being dumped in the hardware department of Sears and left to my own devices for an hour. I'll just list my questions basically:
How much should I put on the list? We're aiming at around 150 guests, current invite list is about 130 but there's people we haven't tracked down yet. That's invites of course, we don't really have a ballpark on how many will actually come yet.
How do I handle things price wise? Is there an upper limit, or is it basically firing a shotgun into a fishtank and seeing what you hit? How much stuff should I put on the list? Do people do "package deals" on lower cost items buying from these lists?
I'm probably overthinking this massively, but the only advice I've managed to solicit from family is, and I quote exactly, "You just use the little scanner thingie and scan stuff. Just scan it and it goes on the list when you scan it."
And the tool question: Since she wants to go the traditional route and using the registry to fill up the kitchen and garage shelves (she wants to put some small appliances we don't have on it and replace most of our crappy Wal Mart/dollar store/hand-me-down kitchen stuff), like I said, I'm being dumped in the hardware department to figure things out.
I'm not a handyman. At all. I know I'd like to get a cat5 tool for work and replace my old multimeter (not that I ever use the one I have, but still), but other than that I'm at a loss. My current tool collection consists of three different hammers, various screwdrivers mostly stolen from relatives, a crescent wrench, a mismatched box end wrench set, and a 30 year old electric drill (I have a 1 inch spade bit and that's it). I've never had the inclination to get more except maybe a better set of screwdrivers, since my big flat head seems to be a phillips that somebody hammered flat.
So the last question, any useful or indispensable tools for the typical homeowner? What's good, what stuff sucks, how easy is it to ditch your mother-in-law in a Sears parking lot?
Hevach on
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Maybe a newer electric screwdriver or drill. It may be worth it to pick up a set of screwdrivers in various sizes.
Maybe invest in a stud finder?
Price-wise, you should have a good range. Anywhere from $20 to $200, so you can cater to people who aren't looking to spend much and people who are willing to splurge a bit. You can always throw a few expensive items on too, just in case :P
Beyond maybe an oil change, I don't want to work on my car. I tried once, but the thing was designed by Satan. You need to take the air filter out to refill the washer fluid, and the battery is underneath the washer fluid tank (and to make things really fun the battery blocks access to the driver's side headlight). Refinishing furniture, maybe, but that's probably beyond me too.
I know my way around electrical, and I did half-ass my kitchen sink together without it leaking or exploding. I'm pretty much limited to basic home repairs, hanging stuff, cabinet and drawer hardware, doorknobs, hinges, sharpening lawnmower blades. A switch, plug, or light fixture is about the handiest thing I can do without my insurance going up.
I'm looking at Sears online right now. Anyone have experience with the Craftsman gear wrenches? Basically box end wrenches with a ratchet in the closed end. Any good, or are they prone to breaking like the old as seen on TV things from the 80's?
People will get multiple sets of things, particularly linens, kitchen/serving items. Since you'll want 8 or 12 sets of place setting items, one couple can get 4, another 2, etc. so they don't go over their budget.
So for your stuff, even though a complete toolset might be a better deal, picking out a set of scewdrivers, a set of rachets, etc. will probably work out better.
Your 'big' item could be one of their metal tool carts. Otherwise fuck it and go crazy in the TV department.
I'd say a good set of screwdrivers, a set of crescent wrenches, some pliers, a good hammer, a crowbar (Stanley has some nice ones), and some sort of small saw would be a good start. I've always been told Craftsmen is good.
This works even better if the place has a policy that gives you 20% off whatever wasn't purchased off your registry. Post-wedding, add the set to the registry (stores let you do this), return the single items, and buy the set at the discount.
As far as how much to put on the registry, it's better to have more than less, but don't put shit on there you don't really want, because that'll end up being the stuff people buy.
A top quality set of screwdrivers (go cheap on screwdrivers and you'll regret it, in my toolbox I've got over $1000 worth of screwdrivers...) and nice set of combination wrenches, a 3/8" and a 1/2" ratchet set, a set of side cutters, wire strippers and linesman pliers and you should be pretty much right.
Depending on how much cash your rellies have, they could 'go in' together on a starter set from someone like Kincrome like this or this.
With something like that (especially the second set) you can tackle almost any job around the home or garage, and they have a lifetime warranty.
As for other things, how about yard equipment like a mower, chainsaw, whippersnipper, chipper/mulcher, lawn edger, leafblower etc.
Then there's the things all boys love, big-ass barbeques, billiard tables, ping-pong tables, a nice dartboard and beer fridge for the shed, a pinball table etc. etc. etc.
Get whatever the hell you want. Do you want and/or need some new camping gear or a blu-ray player? Seriously, these days you can register for anything and to limit yourself based on tradition when you don't even know what you need 'traditionally' is not worth worrying about.
As for how much, there should be at least one item for everyone but split into different price ranges. Remember, she has a bridal shower that people will shop from the registry for too. Put on the kitchen aid stand mixer but throw on a set of mixing bowls to balance it. Don't put stuff on you don't want just to get it. You could stock your kitchen to high heaven but if you're never going to use the chicken fryer then it's just going to clutter up the house. Don't be afraid of putting on fun stuff. People like having choices so register in at least two places. Something like Sears/Macy's and Wal-Mart/Target. I've seen people use Bed, Bath and Beyond and Dick's too depending on what they need.
In addition to kitchen stuff you want to upgrade think about the bedroom and bathroom too. Need new towels or a new bed set? Do you have a deck you could use some outdoor dining settings for or maybe a new hammock? How do the curtains look? Want a picnic table? I second adding a nice grill to the list, you never know when people will pool up or that rich relative turns out to really like you.
I second the idea to get small things that people can add up. Things like duct or gaffer's tape- super handy, expensive to buy a lot of.
A pair of vice grips is invaluable. Needle nose pliers as well. Maybe a pipe wrench would be useful.
I would put a decent cordless drill on there as well. It's a nice midrange item pricewise, and there's a lot can be done with a drill.
1) register in a few different places. My fiancee and I went with Amazon and Bed, Bath & Beyond.
2) offer a wide range of prices. Our most expensive item was somewhere around $750 and our least expensive was somewhere around $10. People will want to get you something, even if they can't afford much.
3) have fun.
We're not doing this (I hope). I did talk her out of a deep fryer we'd use about once a year and shouldn't even use that much. She wants a mixer, since we don't have one and she does a lot of stuff by hand as it is, but most of what she wants is just new - replacing our damaged pots and worn out towels, which gives us a good guide to fill out the list. Tool wise, though, there's not much to be replaced, since there's not much there to start with.
We are registering at either Meijer or Wal-Mart as well as Sears, but we're hitting Sears here in about an hour.
Thanks for all the posts, I think I can get a good direction now. Especially the idea of putting lots of individual items and trading them in for the rest of the set afterward, I'll have to pass that one along for the other half.
A set of metric & English sockets, socket driver with adaptors
12V cordless drill (Makita makes nice ones) with phillips/flat tips and a small set of decent drillbits
A set of pliers with needlenose, regular and large size normal ones (avoid the shitty adjustable-strap ones)
A Roomba (trust me oh god they're awesome)
Plus if you have a cat, they can ride it!
When my GF's cousin got married they put stuff like Wii-motes and games along with the kitchen stuff. A tool/kitchen gizmo you'll never use, is a pretty pointless gift.
Hell yes, a kitchenaid, and not a classic - ask for an artisan. Classics are kinda puny now.
And $10 to $200 is a good range, you can go over $200 obviously but don't expect to get it, and put anything you want on there including non-traditional stuff. Most items that aren't purchased do get a discount and if you can get a discount on a PS3 or other console that you want just because nobody bought it for you, what's the harm?