http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090105/...rford_wedgwood

LONDON - Waterford Wedgwood PLC, the maker of classic china and crystal,
filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday after attempts to restructure the
struggling business or find a buyer failed.

Four administrators from business advisory firm Deloitte were appointed to
run the company's businesses in Britain and Northern Ireland, while a
Deloitte partner in the Irish Republic was appointed as receiver of
Waterford Wedgwood PLC, the ultimate parent of the U.K. companies, and other
Irish subsidiaries.

The U.K. joint administrators said they intended to continue to run the
business as they seek a buyer. Trading in the company's shares was suspended
on the Irish Stock Exchange where they languished at just one-tenth of a
euro cent and the company's directors - including Anthony O'Reilly, the
Irish publishing magnate who along with his brother-in-law Peter Goulandris
owns more than half of all Waterford Wedgwood shares - handed in their
resignations

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
> http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090105/...ain_waterford_...
>
> LONDON - Waterford Wedgwood PLC, the maker of classic china
> and crystal, filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday after attempts
> to restructure the struggling business or find a buyer failed.


People don't buy those products anymore, not since the advent of fast
food... for years now folks have been conditioned to thinking fine
dining acootiements are made of styrofoam, and the closest thing to
fine crystal is saran wrap.

I just spent the last few days researching which handheld showerhead
to buy, today they're all plastic, thin crappy plastic. I had a
Teledyne Waterpic showerhead for some 20 years and finally it cracked
and sprung a leak I couldn't repair even with Gorilla Glue. So
naturally I ordered a new one... well, the plastic is now so thin it
weighs no more than an egg shell, and the fittings are thin crappy
plastic too (the fittings on the old one are solid brass with real
chrome plating). I can buy a solid brass showerhead but not a hand-
held type, those are all made entirely of crappy thin plastic. And
when I phoned the various manufacturers their customer service
personel become all huffy when I voiced my displeasure about how their
products are now plastic.. in fact they argued with me that their
products are "chrome"... they are not chrome, they are made of plastic
and coated with a plastic film that looks like chrome. Anyway I ended
up ordering this, in hopes it can be installed and not leak like the
Waterpic: http://tinyurl.com/8xdvfd

http://www.amazon.com/Delta-75580-In...1008970&sr=1-2

But now getting back to Waterford... I have (had) one of their crystal
picture frames... the glass part is fine but the easel insert that
holds the picure in and props up the whole deal after some 20 years
finally gave way... remember those black shoelaces I got from the
dollar store, my attempt to repair the frame backing. Well I called
Waterford to find out how I could buy a new insert (it's just a
cardboard thingie with swivel clips that hold it to the glass and the
hinged support), I figured how much could it cost, wrong thinking,
it's not available at any price... the anwser I got from Waterford's
customer service is that essentially I'd have to toss the entire thing
and buy new... and she was so surly, not at all helpful or apologetic,
in fact she actually told me that I used it for twenty years, wasn't
that enough? duh. I will never again buy Waterford, and I suppose now
neither will anyone else... they deserve to have failed. Right after
that conversation with Waterford's cutomer service (no service) I
tossed the entire crystal frame in the trash... the photo is now in a
simple inexpensive wood frame I think made in the Philippines, and I
like it better than that bulky grotesque hunk of way over priced
bottle glass

I firmly believe this is the reason why so many companies are failing,
they don't give a crap about their customers, and the greedy *******s
have cheapened their products to the point that they are not fit for
their intended use. I have no pity for the miserable creeps going
kaput, good riddance to bad rubbish. Folks will never miss Waterford.

Sheldon wrote:
> "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
>> http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090105/...ain_waterford_...
>>
>> LONDON - Waterford Wedgwood PLC, the maker of classic china
>> and crystal, filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday after attempts
>> to restructure the struggling business or find a buyer failed.
>
>
> People don't buy those products anymore, not since the advent of fast
> food... for years now folks have been conditioned to thinking fine
> dining acootiements are made of styrofoam, and the closest thing to
> fine crystal is saran wrap.
>
> I just spent the last few days researching which handheld showerhead
> to buy, today they're all plastic, thin crappy plastic. I had a
> Teledyne Waterpic showerhead for some 20 years and finally it cracked
> and sprung a leak I couldn't repair even with Gorilla Glue. So
> naturally I ordered a new one... well, the plastic is now so thin it
> weighs no more than an egg shell, and the fittings are thin crappy
> plastic too (the fittings on the old one are solid brass with real
> chrome plating). I can buy a solid brass showerhead but not a hand-
> held type, those are all made entirely of crappy thin plastic. And
> when I phoned the various manufacturers their customer service
> personel become all huffy when I voiced my displeasure about how their
> products are now plastic.. in fact they argued with me that their
> products are "chrome"... they are not chrome, they are made of plastic
> and coated with a plastic film that looks like chrome. Anyway I ended
> up ordering this, in hopes it can be installed and not leak like the
> Waterpic: http://tinyurl.com/8xdvfd
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Delta-75580-In...1008970&sr=1-2
>
> But now getting back to Waterford... I have (had) one of their crystal
> picture frames... the glass part is fine but the easel insert that
> holds the picure in and props up the whole deal after some 20 years
> finally gave way... remember those black shoelaces I got from the
> dollar store, my attempt to repair the frame backing. Well I called
> Waterford to find out how I could buy a new insert (it's just a
> cardboard thingie with swivel clips that hold it to the glass and the
> hinged support), I figured how much could it cost, wrong thinking,
> it's not available at any price... the anwser I got from Waterford's
> customer service is that essentially I'd have to toss the entire thing
> and buy new... and she was so surly, not at all helpful or apologetic,
> in fact she actually told me that I used it for twenty years, wasn't
> that enough? duh. I will never again buy Waterford, and I suppose now
> neither will anyone else... they deserve to have failed. Right after
> that conversation with Waterford's cutomer service (no service) I
> tossed the entire crystal frame in the trash... the photo is now in a
> simple inexpensive wood frame I think made in the Philippines, and I
> like it better than that bulky grotesque hunk of way over priced
> bottle glass
>
> I firmly believe this is the reason why so many companies are failing,
> they don't give a crap about their customers, and the greedy *******s
> have cheapened their products to the point that they are not fit for
> their intended use. I have no pity for the miserable creeps going
> kaput, good riddance to bad rubbish. Folks will never miss Waterford.
>
>
>
I find the original subject sad, but in general you have a VERY
good point.

--
Jean B.

On Jan 6, 11:28�am, "Jean B." > wrote:
> Sheldon wrote:
> > "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
> >>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090105/...ain_waterford_....
>
> >> LONDON - Waterford Wedgwood PLC, the maker of classic china
> >> and crystal, filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday after attempts
> >> to restructure the struggling business or find a buyer failed.
>
> > People don't buy those products anymore, not since the advent of fast
> > food... for years now folks have been conditioned to thinking fine
> > dining acootiements are made of styrofoam, and the closest thing to
> > fine crystal is saran wrap.
>
> > I just spent the last few days researching which handheld showerhead
> > to buy, today they're all plastic, thin crappy plastic. �I had a
> > Teledyne Waterpic showerhead for some 20 years and finally it cracked
> > and sprung a leak I couldn't repair even with Gorilla Glue. �So
> > naturally I ordered a new one... well, the plastic is now so thin it
> > weighs no more than an egg shell, and the fittings are thin crappy
> > plastic too (the fittings on the old one are solid brass with real
> > chrome plating). �I can buy a solid brass showerhead but not a hand-
> > held type, those are all made entirely of crappy thin plastic. �And
> > when I phoned the various manufacturers their customer service
> > personel become all huffy when I voiced my displeasure about how their
> > products are now plastic.. in fact they argued with me that their
> > products are "chrome"... they are not chrome, they are made of plastic
> > and coated with a plastic film that looks like chrome. �Anyway I ended
> > up ordering this, in hopes it can be installed and not leak like the
> > Waterpic: �http://tinyurl.com/8xdvfd
>
> >http://www.amazon.com/Delta-75580-In...hower/dp/B000L...
>
> > But now getting back to Waterford... I have (had) one of their crystal
> > picture frames... the glass part is fine but the easel insert that
> > holds the picure in and props up the whole deal after some 20 years
> > finally gave way... remember those black shoelaces I got from the
> > dollar store, my attempt to repair the frame backing. �Well I called
> > Waterford to find out how I could buy a new insert (it's just a
> > cardboard thingie with swivel clips that hold it to the glass and the
> > hinged support), � I figured how much could it cost, wrong thinking,
> > it's not available at any price... the anwser I got from Waterford's
> > customer service is that essentially I'd have to toss the entire thing
> > and buy new... and she was so surly, not at all helpful or apologetic,
> > in fact she actually told me that I used it for twenty years, wasn't
> > that enough? duh. �I will never again buy Waterford, and I suppose now
> > neither will anyone else... they deserve to have failed. �Right after
> > that conversation with Waterford's cutomer service (no service) I
> > tossed the entire crystal frame in the trash... the photo is now in a
> > simple inexpensive wood frame I think made in the Philippines, and I
> > like it better than that bulky grotesque hunk of way over priced
> > bottle glass
>
> > I firmly believe this is the reason why so many companies are failing,
> > they don't give a crap about their customers, and the greedy *******s
> > have cheapened their products to the point that they are not fit for
> > their intended use. �I have no pity for the miserable creeps going
> > kaput, good riddance to bad rubbish. �Folks will never miss Waterford.
>
> I find the original subject sad, but in general you have a VERY
> good point.

No one needs Waterford crystal. The picture frame was a gift, I would
never buy such a thing. By not selling the backings Waterford gave me
the perfect excuse to dispose of that grotesque glass frame... I was
tired of wasting Windex on it.

Sheldon wrote:
> No one needs Waterford crystal. The picture frame was a gift, I would
> never buy such a thing. By not selling the backings Waterford gave me
> the perfect excuse to dispose of that grotesque glass frame... I was
> tired of wasting Windex on it.

True enough. But that is a lot of tradition potentially ending.
Thus is life, I guess.

Oh, I just remembered someone who fed his/her cat in crystal
bowl. That sounded kind-of cute.

--
Jean B.

On Tue 06 Jan 2009 10:26:16a, Jean B. told us...

> Sheldon wrote:
>> No one needs Waterford crystal. The picture frame was a gift, I would
>> never buy such a thing. By not selling the backings Waterford gave me
>> the perfect excuse to dispose of that grotesque glass frame... I was
>> tired of wasting Windex on it.
>
> True enough. But that is a lot of tradition potentially ending.
> Thus is life, I guess.
>
> Oh, I just remembered someone who fed his/her cat in crystal
> bowl. That sounded kind-of cute.
>

I'm glad I bought all of my good china and crystal in the 1960s.

--
Wayne Boatwright
(correct the spelling of "geemail" to reply)
************************************************** **********************
Date: Tuesday, 01(I)/06(VI)/09(MMIX)
************************************************** **********************
Countdown till Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
1wks 5dys 8hrs 34mins
************************************************** **********************
Just as Schopenhauer predicted, absolutely nothing is happening.
************************************************** **********************

"Jean B." > wrote in message
> Oh, I just remembered someone who fed his/her cat in crystal bowl. That
> sounded kind-of cute.
>
> --
> Jean B.

Royal Doulton has a dog food bowl. In their outlet store it was $40. I
never paid that much for a dog, let alone a bowl.

Michael "Dog3" wrote:
> "Jean B." > : in
> rec.food.cooking
>
>> Oh, I just remembered someone who fed his/her cat in crystal
>> bowl. That sounded kind-of cute.
>
> All 4 of my cats line up at precisely 9pm for their evening snack, of
> exactly 5 pieces each, of Feline Greenies every night. They get their
> snacks in faux crystal bowls ;-) I bought 'em at Target. You can put them
> in the dishwasher.
>
> Michael
>
LOL! That sounds so cute--and the cats are so deserving of crystal!

--
Jean B.

In article >,
says...
> "Jean B." > : in
> rec.food.cooking
>
> >
> > Oh, I just remembered someone who fed his/her cat in crystal
> > bowl. That sounded kind-of cute.
>
> All 4 of my cats line up at precisely 9pm for their evening snack, of
> exactly 5 pieces each, of Feline Greenies every night. They get their
> snacks in faux crystal bowls ;-) I bought 'em at Target. You can put them
> in the dishwasher.
>
> Michael
>
>

Nice! I'll have to get one for Angie. She's the only Felid in Residence
at the moment.

On Jan 6, 10:35*am, Sheldon > wrote:
> On Jan 6, 11:28 am, "Jean B." > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Sheldon wrote:
> > > "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
> > >>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090105/...ain_waterford_....
>
> > >> LONDON - Waterford Wedgwood PLC, the maker of classic china
> > >> and crystal, filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday after attempts
> > >> to restructure the struggling business or find a buyer failed.
>
> > > People don't buy those products anymore, not since the advent of fast
> > > food... for years now folks have been conditioned to thinking fine
> > > dining acootiements are made of styrofoam, and the closest thing to
> > > fine crystal is saran wrap.
>
> > > I just spent the last few days researching which handheld showerhead
> > > to buy, today they're all plastic, thin crappy plastic. I had a
> > > Teledyne Waterpic showerhead for some 20 years and finally it cracked
> > > and sprung a leak I couldn't repair even with Gorilla Glue. So
> > > naturally I ordered a new one... well, the plastic is now so thin it
> > > weighs no more than an egg shell, and the fittings are thin crappy
> > > plastic too (the fittings on the old one are solid brass with real
> > > chrome plating). I can buy a solid brass showerhead but not a hand-
> > > held type, those are all made entirely of crappy thin plastic. And
> > > when I phoned the various manufacturers their customer service
> > > personel become all huffy when I voiced my displeasure about how their
> > > products are now plastic.. in fact they argued with me that their
> > > products are "chrome"... they are not chrome, they are made of plastic
> > > and coated with a plastic film that looks like chrome. Anyway I ended
> > > up ordering this, in hopes it can be installed and not leak like the
> > > Waterpic:http://tinyurl.com/8xdvfd
>
> > >http://www.amazon.com/Delta-75580-In...hower/dp/B000L....
>
> > > But now getting back to Waterford... I have (had) one of their crystal
> > > picture frames... the glass part is fine but the easel insert that
> > > holds the picure in and props up the whole deal after some 20 years
> > > finally gave way... remember those black shoelaces I got from the
> > > dollar store, my attempt to repair the frame backing. Well I called
> > > Waterford to find out how I could buy a new insert (it's just a
> > > cardboard thingie with swivel clips that hold it to the glass and the
> > > hinged support), I figured how much could it cost, wrong thinking,
> > > it's not available at any price... the anwser I got from Waterford's
> > > customer service is that essentially I'd have to toss the entire thing
> > > and buy new... and she was so surly, not at all helpful or apologetic,
> > > in fact she actually told me that I used it for twenty years, wasn't
> > > that enough? duh. I will never again buy Waterford, and I suppose now
> > > neither will anyone else... they deserve to have failed. Right after
> > > that conversation with Waterford's cutomer service (no service) I
> > > tossed the entire crystal frame in the trash... the photo is now in a
> > > simple inexpensive wood frame I think made in the Philippines, and I
> > > like it better than that bulky grotesque hunk of way over priced
> > > bottle glass
>
> > > I firmly believe this is the reason why so many companies are failing,
> > > they don't give a crap about their customers, and the greedy *******s
> > > have cheapened their products to the point that they are not fit for
> > > their intended use. I have no pity for the miserable creeps going
> > > kaput, good riddance to bad rubbish. Folks will never miss Waterford.
>
> > I find the original subject sad, but in general you have a VERY
> > good point.
>
> No one needs Waterford crystal. *The picture frame was a gift, I would
> never buy such a thing. *By not selling the backings Waterford gave me
> the perfect excuse to dispose of that grotesque glass frame... I was
> tired of wasting Windex on it.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

You could have cut a new piece of cardboard to fit and then used clear
caulk or hot glue to fasten it - permanently, yes, but it would have
worked. You could have put a picture of your favoritist kitty in it,
for all time. An easel back isn't that hard to make.

N.

> the quality of the item. *I suspect you'll be seeing Waterford in
> discount stores soon. *Much like the Martha Stewart line. Although the
> circumstances for the Stewart line are much different than the Waterford
> line will be.
>
text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Actually, Martha isn't so discounted in some things - I like some of
her table lamps (I'm shopping for new ones) and they run upwards of
$300, and the designs are very clean and simple.

N.

On Jan 6, 12:20�pm, "Michael \"Dog3\"" > wrote:
> "Jean B." > :in
> rec.food.cooking
>
> > Sheldon wrote:
> >> "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
> >>>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090105/...ain_waterford_
> >>> ...
>
> >>> LONDON - Waterford Wedgwood PLC, the maker of classic china
> >>> and crystal, filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday after
> >>> attempts to restructure the struggling business or find a buyer
> >>> failed.
>
> <snip for space>
>
> >> People don't buy those products anymore, not since the advent of fast
> >> food... for years now folks have been conditioned to thinking fine
> >> dining acootiements are made of styrofoam, and the closest thing to
> >> fine crystal is saran wrap.
>
> Oh yes they do buy it. �Lots of it. People are sucked in by the name of
> "Waterford". �I worked for The Irish Crystal Company part time for well
> over a year. �It was a real neat experience. I learned much about the
> crystal trade. I learned a great deal about the manufacture process as
> well.
>
> <snip shower head horror story for space and story about nasty Waterford
> CS rep>
>
>
>
>
>
> >> I will never again buy Waterford,
> >> and I suppose now neither will anyone else... they deserve to have
> >> failed. �Right after that conversation with Waterford's cutomer
> >> service (no service) I tossed the entire crystal frame in the
> >> trash... the photo is now in a simple inexpensive wood frame I think
> >> made in the Philippines, and I like it better than that bulky
> >> grotesque hunk of way over priced bottle glass
>
> >> I firmly believe this is the reason why so many companies are
> >> failing, they don't give a crap about their customers, and the greedy
> >> *******s have cheapened their products to the point that they are not
> >> fit for their intended use. �I have no pity for the miserable creeps
> >> going kaput, good riddance to bad rubbish. �Folks will never miss
> >> Waterford.
>
> > I find the original subject sad, but in general you have a VERY
> > good point.
>
> Sheldon has an excellent point. More than excellent actually. �I don't
> recall the exact year but Waterford went through reorganization back in
> the late 70s or early 80s. They had a severe financial crunch. �They laid
> off many of their craftsmen who in turn, started their own company called
> Heritage Crystal. In order to expandand and stay profitable, Waterford
> decided to minimize their craftsmanship and go to machine made crystal.
> This was the beginning of their demise IMO. �When you pick up a piece of
> Waterford look on the box where it was made. You'll find many of the
> items are made in places like Belgravia etc. �These are all machine made
> products. �None of these items are hand blown by the craftsmen in
> Ireland. I'm not even sure some of the items marked made in Ireland are
> hand blown. �Waterford then decided to diversify into other areas.. �They
> are making Xmas ornaments and a lot of other items. �Machine made.. �At
> that point, Waterford was a household name and that is what was allowing
> them to hang on. �Waterford's product has been cheapened to the point of
> no return. You'll be paying for the name of Waterford and certainly not
> the quality of the item. �I suspect you'll be seeing Waterford in
> discount stores soon. �Much like the Martha Stewart line. Although the
> circumstances for the Stewart line are much different than the Waterford
> line will be.
>
> Heritage has always been superior crystal IMO. �It is all still hand
> blown and quite beautiful. �Of course they don't have the millions of
> different items Waterford put out but when you buy Heritage you're buying
> an heirloom piece. Heritage has not tried to become a household name. At
> least not yet. �When you look at comparable pieces of Waterford and
> Heritage you can tell the difference. �There are a few Waterford lines
> out there that are still hand blown and still quite nice. �These items I
> give as gifts on occassion. �Looks like it'll be Heritage from now on.
>
> Michael

Nowhere on the picture frame was it engraved with any identifying
marks, only way I knew it was a Waterford product (doesn't mean they
made it) is because I kept the box... in fact I at first had forgotten
what brand it was. All my Lalique pieces are engraved with their name
and serial number. I have many very nice crystal pieces of all types
from barware to candy dishes to vases to whimsical artworks. But the
entire crystal industry has been in decline ever since it was
ascertained that lead is a big health problem. I no longer use my
leaded crystal glassware and decanters, and neither should any of
yoose.

"Sheldon" > wrote in message
> But the
> entire crystal industry has been in decline ever since it was
> ascertained that lead is a big health problem. I no longer use my
> leaded crystal glassware and decanters, and neither should any of
> yoose.

I no longer use the decanter as the liqour could sit in there for long
periods sucking up lead. I still use the glassware since it is not very
often and the liquid is only in there a short time. My last house had a
lead water main from when it was build in the late 1940's. Still there when
we sold it in 1981..

"Ed Pawlowski" > wrote in message
news
>
> "Sheldon" > wrote in message
>> But the
>> entire crystal industry has been in decline ever since it was
>> ascertained that lead is a big health problem. I no longer use my
>> leaded crystal glassware and decanters, and neither should any of
>> yoose.
>
> I no longer use the decanter as the liqour could sit in there for long
> periods sucking up lead. I still use the glassware since it is not very
> often and the liquid is only in there a short time. My last house had a
> lead water main from when it was build in the late 1940's. Still there
> when we sold it in 1981..
>

We still use our Waterford stemware for the reasons you mentioned. IIRC
when the warning came out about leaded crystal the recommendation was not to
store liquors and liqueurs in decanters.

"Sheldon" > wrote in message
...
> "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
>> http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090105/...ain_waterford_...
>>
>> LONDON - Waterford Wedgwood PLC, the maker of classic china
>> and crystal, filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday after attempts
>> to restructure the struggling business or find a buyer failed.
>
>
> People don't buy those products anymore, not since the advent of fast
> food... for years now folks have been conditioned to thinking fine
> dining acootiements are made of styrofoam, and the closest thing to
> fine crystal is saran wrap.
>
(snip)
>
That's not really true. I don't know about Wedgwood but I am using the
Fukagawa platinum rimmed china:

http://www.replacements.com/webquote/FUKSIL.htm

This is funny stuff because it came with individual ashtrays for each place
setting. That was life in 1951 when my parents bought this as their wedding
china. There are also milk glasses, napkin rings, egg shaped salt & pepper
shakers. (I just use the plates and cups.)

I also have this Noritake china, which I use about once a week:

http://www.replacements.com/webquote/N__ORIEN.htm

Neither one is terribly expensive, but they're pretty. And Mom always saved
them for "special occasions". I no longer believe in saving china for
special occasions. It was made to be used. So I'm using it.

There was a time my mother only served butter on "special occasions", too.
Heh, I use butter all the time

Jill

"Sheldon" > wrote in message
...
> "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
>> http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090105/...ain_waterford_...
>>
>> LONDON - Waterford Wedgwood PLC, the maker of classic china
>> and crystal, filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday after attempts
>> to restructure the struggling business or find a buyer failed.
>
>
> People don't buy those products anymore, not since the advent of fast
> food... for years now folks have been conditioned to thinking fine
> dining acootiements are made of styrofoam, and the closest thing to
> fine crystal is saran wrap.
>
> I just spent the last few days researching which handheld showerhead
> to buy, today they're all plastic, thin crappy plastic. I had a
> Teledyne Waterpic showerhead for some 20 years and finally it cracked
> and sprung a leak I couldn't repair even with Gorilla Glue. So
> naturally I ordered a new one... well, the plastic is now so thin it
> weighs no more than an egg shell, and the fittings are thin crappy
> plastic too (the fittings on the old one are solid brass with real
> chrome plating). I can buy a solid brass showerhead but not a hand-
> held type, those are all made entirely of crappy thin plastic. And
> when I phoned the various manufacturers their customer service
> personel become all huffy when I voiced my displeasure about how their
> products are now plastic.. in fact they argued with me that their
> products are "chrome"... they are not chrome, they are made of plastic
> and coated with a plastic film that looks like chrome. Anyway I ended
> up ordering this, in hopes it can be installed and not leak like the
> Waterpic: http://tinyurl.com/8xdvfd
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Delta-75580-In...1008970&sr=1-2
>
> But now getting back to Waterford... I have (had) one of their crystal
> picture frames... the glass part is fine but the easel insert that
> holds the picure in and props up the whole deal after some 20 years
> finally gave way... remember those black shoelaces I got from the
> dollar store, my attempt to repair the frame backing. Well I called
> Waterford to find out how I could buy a new insert (it's just a
> cardboard thingie with swivel clips that hold it to the glass and the
> hinged support), I figured how much could it cost, wrong thinking,
> it's not available at any price... the anwser I got from Waterford's
> customer service is that essentially I'd have to toss the entire thing
> and buy new... and she was so surly, not at all helpful or apologetic,
> in fact she actually told me that I used it for twenty years, wasn't
> that enough? duh. I will never again buy Waterford, and I suppose now
> neither will anyone else... they deserve to have failed. Right after
> that conversation with Waterford's cutomer service (no service) I
> tossed the entire crystal frame in the trash... the photo is now in a
> simple inexpensive wood frame I think made in the Philippines, and I
> like it better than that bulky grotesque hunk of way over priced
> bottle glass
>
> I firmly believe this is the reason why so many companies are failing,
> they don't give a crap about their customers, and the greedy *******s
> have cheapened their products to the point that they are not fit for
> their intended use. I have no pity for the miserable creeps going
> kaput, good riddance to bad rubbish. Folks will never miss Waterford.
>
>
>


Try this site:

http://www.blackman.com/

Wedgewood's design went to the dogs when they were taken over by/merged with
Waterford. Suddenly they became blandsville. I love china, but I would be
hard pressed to find a newer pattern of theirs that would interest me.

Waterford still makes great stuff, but they also make the cheaper, bland
stuff with no character.

In general, leaning in the direction of bland design with little or no
handwork, along the lines of Mikasa, Lenox, and the like.

Janet wrote on Tue, 6 Jan 2009 12:06:12 -0500:

> Waterford still makes great stuff, but they also make the
> cheaper, bland stuff with no character.

We received a full set of Wedgewood china as a wedding present many
years ago. It was the shapes of the pieces that were attractive not the
patterns and my mother bought unpatterned pieces as we requested. She
was a bit disappointed, I think, but my daughter chose a restrained
blue and gold pattern when her turn came. I don't remember the name.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

In article >,
"Janet" > wrote:

> Wedgewood's design went to the dogs when they were taken over by/merged with
> Waterford. Suddenly they became blandsville. I love china, but I would be
> hard pressed to find a newer pattern of theirs that would interest me.
>
> Waterford still makes great stuff, but they also make the cheaper, bland
> stuff with no character.
>
> In general, leaning in the direction of bland design with little or no
> handwork, along the lines of Mikasa, Lenox, and the like.

Maybe its a guy thing, but I don't see the appeal of fancy china and
cutlery. A set of inexpensive ceramic plates and basic cutlery from
Target, Ikea, or another discount store is fine by me. The cheap stuff
lasts many years without lightening my wallet too much.

I guess with the sour economy gripping many countries, more people are
asking themselves why they need to spend a lot of money on fancy place
settings, when there are much cheaper alternatives that work just as
fine and are more durable.

On Jan 7, 6:53*am, Stan Horwitz > wrote:

> Maybe its a guy thing, but I don't see the appeal of fancy china and
> cutlery. A set of inexpensive ceramic plates and basic cutlery from
> Target, Ikea, or another discount store is fine by me. The cheap stuff
> lasts many years without lightening my wallet too much.

It's not a guy thing. Sure, a well set table looks pretty, but you
don't eat
the dishes.

Our only set of dishes is white stoneware with a narrow green band
around
it. You can find similar in any diner. We've had them for almost 20
years,
they get knocked around and put in the dishwasher, and they still look
pretty much just as they did when we bought them. I think I broke one
cereal bowl in all that time.

People love to come to our house. We cook good food, and the table
looks
inviting when it is set. Above all, people feel comfortable in our
house and
they frequently say so.

Cindy Hamilton

> I guess with the sour economy gripping many countries, more people are
> asking themselves why they need to spend a lot of money on fancy place
> settings, when there are much cheaper alternatives that work just as
> fine and are more durable.

Stan Horwitz wrote:
> In article >,
> "Janet" > wrote:
>
>> Wedgewood's design went to the dogs when they were taken over
>> by/merged with Waterford. Suddenly they became blandsville. I love
>> china, but I would be hard pressed to find a newer pattern of theirs
>> that would interest me.
>>
>> Waterford still makes great stuff, but they also make the cheaper,
>> bland stuff with no character.
>>
>> In general, leaning in the direction of bland design with little or
>> no handwork, along the lines of Mikasa, Lenox, and the like.
>
> Maybe its a guy thing, but I don't see the appeal of fancy china and
> cutlery. A set of inexpensive ceramic plates and basic cutlery from
> Target, Ikea, or another discount store is fine by me. The cheap stuff
> lasts many years without lightening my wallet too much.
>
> I guess with the sour economy gripping many countries, more people are
> asking themselves why they need to spend a lot of money on fancy place
> settings, when there are much cheaper alternatives that work just as
> fine and are more durable.

You can also store your books on shelves made of bricks and planks. <G> It's
an aesthetic thing. Either it matters to you or it doesn't.

I'm not a fan of "place settings" when it comes to china, though. I have 12
dinner plates in a number of patterns, and a few different sets of 12 salad
plates that harmonize with them. Same thing with serving pieces. And we use
it all every day.

"Stan Horwitz" > wrote in message
>
> Maybe its a guy thing, but I don't see the appeal of fancy china and
> cutlery. A set of inexpensive ceramic plates and basic cutlery from
> Target, Ikea, or another discount store is fine by me. The cheap stuff
> lasts many years without lightening my wallet too much.
>
> I guess with the sour economy gripping many countries, more people are
> asking themselves why they need to spend a lot of money on fancy place
> settings, when there are much cheaper alternatives that work just as
> fine and are more durable.

For my breakfast I grab a plastic plate for my egg and toast. Use it for a
sandwich at times too.

That said, we still like nice stuff. Our every day dishes are Royal Dalton.
The mug I use for my morning tea is hand painted from Italy. We have an
overflowing large hutch with probably 8 different sets of four Tyrone
crystal (white wine, red wine, champagne, G & T, tumbler, old fashioned) as
well as at least 6 others sets of four wine glasses. Not to mention Kolsch
beer glasses, Pilsner glasses, and other assorted cocktail and liqueur
glasses. Not to mention the iced tea and other everyday glasses and mugs.

We have both my mother's and grandmother's good China but it rarely gets
used. I can't justify the cost, but there are a couple of elegant Lennox
patterns I'd like to have.

Did I mention the 12 gold plated espresso spoons? That makes 16 spoons and
6 cups and saucers for espresso.