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debm55

(54,479 posts)
Sun Jun 8, 2025, 06:19 PM Jun 2025

What is the worst item you ever bought. Mine had to be the copper pans on the late night info-mmercial. Junk

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What is the worst item you ever bought. Mine had to be the copper pans on the late night info-mmercial. Junk (Original Post) debm55 Jun 2025 OP
X-large Ladies underwear 10-pair iwillalwayswonderwhy Jun 2025 #1
LOL 2MuchNoise Jun 2025 #2
Thank you iwillalwayswonderwhy. I agree, buying bras and underwear is a hit and miss. debm55 Jun 2025 #3
Oh yeah, those copper pans...ugh madaboutharry Jun 2025 #4
psst... The InstaPot is great for hard-boiling eggs... hlthe2b Jun 2025 #6
I agree! They are perfectly done & peel very easily. SheltieLover Jun 2025 #8
You got sucker too, They had all types of pans and casserole dishes. I'm glad I only bought two item.I bought a skillet. debm55 Jun 2025 #7
I always wondered about those sets, but have just stuck with my decades old stainless and a good cast iron skillet... hlthe2b Jun 2025 #5
hlthe2b, they did nothing more then my regular pans did.They were to be nonstick--nope they we not. Had a hell of a time debm55 Jun 2025 #9
I'm pretty sure I kept it through college, but honestly, I dont' really remember... hlthe2b Jun 2025 #10
I flew into LAX in 1976 and rented a Chevy Vega at the airport. Jeebo Jun 2025 #22
The widespread issue with those cars that caused Chevy to end them was the aluminum block but mine was peppy. hlthe2b Jun 2025 #24
I finally rid myself of the cast iron skillet! I grew up in Texas and every household had one of those because it was CTyankee Jun 2025 #13
I have my Mom's smallish one--I don't (and haven't done fried chicken) but searing meats is where it excels. hlthe2b Jun 2025 #25
OMG you ditched the iron skillet?? I've still got my grandma's 100+yr old one!! Callie1979 Jun 2025 #27
Time marches on. My next move is into assisted living somewhere. I'll let their kitchen decisions be theirs not mine. CTyankee Jun 2025 #30
I guess in that case its a GREAT point!! Callie1979 Jun 2025 #41
Better than nothing, which is pretty much mine if I don't have frozen dinners. some of them are pretty good but I have CTyankee Jun 2025 #42
My husband uses his cast iron skillet all the time ! kimbutgar Jun 2025 #66
A projector that projected videos film-style. Jeebo Jun 2025 #11
Thank you Jeebo, I bought a projector that had seasonal disks for it to be shown on your house. Ghosts, bats, for debm55 Jun 2025 #12
DIDI 7 The amazing stain remover. Onthefly Jun 2025 #14
Do you remember the Wam Bam Cloth. I think it came out at the same time. debm55 Jun 2025 #15
I don't remember it. There was a Sham Wow! super towel. Onthefly Jun 2025 #23
I think that is the one I was thinking of. Thank you Onthefly. debm55 Jun 2025 #31
Our Cuisinart Chopper Is Right Up There ProfessorGAC Jun 2025 #16
Gee, I would think that Cuisinart would sell better items. Yep, ProfessorGAC, you know when you have to use a step stool debm55 Jun 2025 #20
I got one for Christmas Sequoia Jun 2025 #51
I love my lil handchopper thingy..info commercial style Demovictory9 Jun 2025 #53
I have one of little things to chop veggies and fruit. I got it from an info commerical. It does work great. debm55 Jun 2025 #55
That's The Thing ProfessorGAC Jun 2025 #63
Oh. I like mine. Thank you ProfessorGAC debm55 Jun 2025 #65
A little Radio Shack "pen printer" jmowreader Jun 2025 #17
HAHAHAHAH. I remember the Commodore. I think I had a printer for it. but the paper was all connected--had holes on the debm55 Jun 2025 #18
.mom bought a dautson b210 horrid car. ugh AllaN01Bear Jun 2025 #19
Thank you very much for sharing with us. AllaN01Bear. Sounds like she got stuck with a lemon. debm55 Jun 2025 #21
A cover to keep cats off furniture 10 Turtle Day Jun 2025 #26
Thank you 10 Turtle Day for sharing with us. debm55 Jun 2025 #33
Under the influence of Ambien, maptap22 Jun 2025 #28
Oh wow. I heard stories about Ambien. Glad your grandkids got to use it thank you maptap22 debm55 Jun 2025 #34
My advanced college education... OhioBack2Blue Jun 2025 #29
i am very sorry that happened to you debm55 Jun 2025 #35
A bundt pan dlilafae Jun 2025 #32
It'a not that copper one is is it? debm55 Jun 2025 #36
A 1977 Chevy Blazer. I had it just three years, even though I had it rustproofed it rusted doc03 Jun 2025 #37
Wow, was it a used car or new. Sorry you got stuck with a lemon.doc.03 debm55 Jun 2025 #38
I special ordered it new, it took a couple months to come in. It also got 8 MPG. nt doc03 Jun 2025 #39
Rep, that was a piece of junk. Sorry ,doc03 debm55 Jun 2025 #40
I remember a Blazer sitting dead in the middle of a field... justaprogressive Jun 2025 #61
My husband wanted the 2014 cady SRX. It was awful TommieMommy Jun 2025 #43
Sorry TommieMommy about the car. Wow,You are right , it was awful. debm55 Jun 2025 #44
I didn't buy it, but it was a battery powered toy truck that had a mouth/jaw with sharp teeth sakabatou Jun 2025 #45
Yep, toys are like that. Some don't last through Chrismas. Thank you very much sakabatou. debm55 Jun 2025 #46
Longest lasting toys were probably my legos sakabatou Jun 2025 #47
Thank you very much , sakabatou. that was so kind of you. debm55 Jun 2025 #48
Didn't buy it, was given a "Ninja" air fryer. Archae Jun 2025 #49
Thank you Archae. I like how it won't heat up the house in the summer. I'll check them out. debm55 Jun 2025 #50
It took me a year to use mine..it is amazing Demovictory9 Jun 2025 #54
Thank you very much, Demovictory9 debm55 Jun 2025 #57
A new dishwasher. Lilithschyld Jun 2025 #52
Thatks a shame Lillitheschld. Do you have a warrenty.? I would keep calling the service center and the store until they debm55 Jun 2025 #56
Oh, yes, we did! Lilithschyld Jun 2025 #58
In that case I would call the consumer affairs in your county or the main office of the store, not the one you bought it debm55 Jun 2025 #59
Thank you! Good suggestion. Lilithschyld Jun 2025 #72
I bought a bathroom cup and soap dish set. They were deep blue glass. applegrove Jun 2025 #60
Oh my applegrove, That stinks, debm55 Jun 2025 #62
I have fallen for too many "cosmeceutical" skin care products... 3catwoman3 Jun 2025 #64
That's true, Thank you 3catwoman3. debm55 Jun 2025 #67
A plane ticket back to the US. nt ImNotGod Jun 2025 #68
Thank you ImNotGod debm55 Jun 2025 #69
A Veg-o-matic catbyte Jun 2025 #70
HAHAHAHAHAH. I bought one to make french fries cut. Didn't work. Thank you catbyte. debm55 Jun 2025 #71

debm55

(54,479 posts)
3. Thank you iwillalwayswonderwhy. I agree, buying bras and underwear is a hit and miss.
Sun Jun 8, 2025, 06:27 PM
Jun 2025

Last edited Mon Jun 9, 2025, 06:28 AM - Edit history (1)

madaboutharry

(42,025 posts)
4. Oh yeah, those copper pans...ugh
Sun Jun 8, 2025, 06:29 PM
Jun 2025

A hard boil egg maker. I don’t know what was dumber, the alleged egg maker or me for buying it. Note to self: Boiling water in a pot still works just fine.

hlthe2b

(112,514 posts)
6. psst... The InstaPot is great for hard-boiling eggs...
Sun Jun 8, 2025, 06:32 PM
Jun 2025

Of course, mine is almost never out of service to do so, given I use it to make yogurt 2x weekly, but it really does a great job with h/b eggs.

debm55

(54,479 posts)
7. You got sucker too, They had all types of pans and casserole dishes. I'm glad I only bought two item.I bought a skillet.
Sun Jun 8, 2025, 06:33 PM
Jun 2025

two

hlthe2b

(112,514 posts)
5. I always wondered about those sets, but have just stuck with my decades old stainless and a good cast iron skillet...
Sun Jun 8, 2025, 06:30 PM
Jun 2025

So, what was the story with those copper-bottom pans advertised on TV, debm55?

Worst thing I ever bought? Probably my first car--a very cute but very poorly constructed little Chevy Vega. The aluminum engine block caused it to burn oil like crazy--even new. But, it was cute.

debm55

(54,479 posts)
9. hlthe2b, they did nothing more then my regular pans did.They were to be nonstick--nope they we not. Had a hell of a time
Sun Jun 8, 2025, 06:42 PM
Jun 2025

getting stuff out of it. HAHAHAHAHAHAH.I remember the Vega. How long did you have it?

hlthe2b

(112,514 posts)
10. I'm pretty sure I kept it through college, but honestly, I dont' really remember...
Sun Jun 8, 2025, 06:47 PM
Jun 2025

I just remember my Dad being pissed at me for buying it--so much that he let me drive it home (manual transmission) by myself and I'd never driven a stick before. The car and I both survived, but the hilly streets of Richmond, Virginia, were full of angry motorists having to stop for me and behind me at stoplights as I tried to learn how to use a clutch.

But, he was right about it being a likely lemon, but ya know we don't listen to parents at that age...

Jeebo

(2,549 posts)
22. I flew into LAX in 1976 and rented a Chevy Vega at the airport.
Sun Jun 8, 2025, 10:38 PM
Jun 2025

That was absolutely the wimpiest car I've ever driven in my life. That thing was so pathetic that I had to blow on the windshield to get it to go 45 mph uphill on the L.A. freeways. I felt like I was taking my life into my own hands going that slow on the L.A. freeways. After that experience, there was NO chance I ever would have bought a Chevy Vega. I feel for you if you actually had to own one of those.

-- Ron

hlthe2b

(112,514 posts)
24. The widespread issue with those cars that caused Chevy to end them was the aluminum block but mine was peppy.
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 05:19 AM
Jun 2025

Even for a 4-cylinder, I did not experience what you did or I'd have returned/sold it immediately. You clearly had the "Lemon's lemon" and I suspect the rental agency knew it and failed to take it out of their fleet. But, no. I drove it on interstates with a "lead foot" and likewise in some pretty heavy snow (with snow tires) and it did "okay." But that oil burning that clearly suggested a pending engine failure--nope. Not a V-8 muscle car, certainly, but mine really was peppy and because of the oil-burning I made sure I kept up with regular tune-ups as well.

CTyankee

(67,693 posts)
13. I finally rid myself of the cast iron skillet! I grew up in Texas and every household had one of those because it was
Sun Jun 8, 2025, 07:42 PM
Jun 2025

"known" that you couldn't make your fried chicken with cream gravy with any other pan. the hell with that!

I don't cook fried chicken any more, nor much else. Too old and too arthritic and so I don't cook much any more. and even if I did I wouldn't make fried chicken. My supermarket sells it!

hlthe2b

(112,514 posts)
25. I have my Mom's smallish one--I don't (and haven't done fried chicken) but searing meats is where it excels.
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 05:26 AM
Jun 2025

I would not have kept one of those more common "giant" versions, but this one is light enough and small enough that I still pull it out for searing--even though I COULD do it in my InstaPot or other stainless pans. Steaks, porkchops, breaded fish, chicken breasts, bacon, sauted vegetables and eggs... it is great. And nostalgic...

If you had one of those more common comparatively enormous cast-iron skillet, I dont' blame you for a minute in getting rid of it.

Callie1979

(1,066 posts)
27. OMG you ditched the iron skillet?? I've still got my grandma's 100+yr old one!!
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 05:39 AM
Jun 2025

Never washed with more than a wipe with soap & water. Its been seasoned with oil since probably 1920. Eggs still slide right out!

CTyankee

(67,693 posts)
30. Time marches on. My next move is into assisted living somewhere. I'll let their kitchen decisions be theirs not mine.
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 06:16 AM
Jun 2025

CTyankee

(67,693 posts)
42. Better than nothing, which is pretty much mine if I don't have frozen dinners. some of them are pretty good but I have
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 09:40 AM
Jun 2025

to be careful of sodium levels. However, I can't do everything!

kimbutgar

(26,637 posts)
66. My husband uses his cast iron skillet all the time !
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 12:34 PM
Jun 2025

My mother never used one so I never learned how to cook on it!

Jeebo

(2,549 posts)
11. A projector that projected videos film-style.
Sun Jun 8, 2025, 06:54 PM
Jun 2025

I didn't buy it, my brother did, but I was the one who took it out of the box and used it for the first time. It did everything the manufacturers/marketers claimed, but so what? Unless you projected the image on a clean white wall or projection screen from a very short distance, the image was so dim that you had to have a perfectly dark room to see anything. And if you projected it from a short distance, the image was so small that you lost all advantage of watching the video in that way. Also, you had to project it straight-on. If there was an even slight angle, the image was distorted. That thing was pathetic. It was worse than useless. Nobody would want to watch a video like that. I told my brother his money was wasted, but he was a real pack-rat about things like that and kept it anyway. I don't know if he ever actually used it, though. He died six years ago and I think the useless "projector" was thrown away then.

I bought one of those late-night commercial products that was useless. It was a kerosene-lantern style lamp that ran on batteries. It was supposed to give you something to light your room during power failures, but it wasn't even as good as an ordinary flashlight or a for-real kerosene lantern. Not only that, but during the phone call they kept me on the line for an additional 35 or 40 minutes trying to sell me more stuff. I swore off those late-night commercials because of that experience. I've never bought anything from them since then and never will. And I will never believe the claims presented in those late-night television commercials.

-- Ron

debm55

(54,479 posts)
12. Thank you Jeebo, I bought a projector that had seasonal disks for it to be shown on your house. Ghosts, bats, for
Sun Jun 8, 2025, 07:07 PM
Jun 2025

halloween, snowflakes for Christmas . I had the the same problem that you had. I threw it away. It looked so nice on TV.

ProfessorGAC

(75,610 posts)
16. Our Cuisinart Chopper Is Right Up There
Sun Jun 8, 2025, 08:37 PM
Jun 2025

Seemed like a good idea when we got it.
Really hard to load into the chute, clogs really easily, the pieces are not machine like consistent.
I think we used it twice. It's now collecting dust behind the liqueurs I use to cook with. I need a step stool to get to it. That's how likely I am to use it.

debm55

(54,479 posts)
20. Gee, I would think that Cuisinart would sell better items. Yep, ProfessorGAC, you know when you have to use a step stool
Sun Jun 8, 2025, 09:31 PM
Jun 2025

to get it, that it is on it's way out. My copper pans are in the step stool cabinets.

Sequoia

(12,714 posts)
51. I got one for Christmas
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 10:48 AM
Jun 2025

Although I never wanted it. Didn't want to hurt hubby's feelings so I kept it and finally gave it to Goodwill. Guess I still prefer to chop things by hand even if it takes longer.

debm55

(54,479 posts)
55. I have one of little things to chop veggies and fruit. I got it from an info commerical. It does work great.
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 11:01 AM
Jun 2025

ProfessorGAC

(75,610 posts)
63. That's The Thing
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 11:57 AM
Jun 2025

The chute is so small that I had to cut into pieces anyway, and the low power chopper doesn't exactly slice like a speed demon.
When I included the clean-up time, it didn't save any time!

jmowreader

(52,845 posts)
17. A little Radio Shack "pen printer"
Sun Jun 8, 2025, 09:00 PM
Jun 2025

I was going to use it with a Commodore VIC-20, and I didn't want to pay more for the printer than I did for the computer which is what would have happened if I'd have bought a Commodore printer. I was able to get the printer to work with the computer after building an interface card for it, but when it was done it printed on four-inch-wide paper so in the end it wasn't much better than NOT getting it to work.

debm55

(54,479 posts)
18. HAHAHAHAH. I remember the Commodore. I think I had a printer for it. but the paper was all connected--had holes on the
Sun Jun 8, 2025, 09:21 PM
Jun 2025

sides and would always jam. Thank you jwomreader for sharing with us.

debm55

(54,479 posts)
21. Thank you very much for sharing with us. AllaN01Bear. Sounds like she got stuck with a lemon.
Sun Jun 8, 2025, 09:33 PM
Jun 2025

10 Turtle Day

(1,024 posts)
26. A cover to keep cats off furniture
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 05:35 AM
Jun 2025

It was in the clearance section for $10 and was an impulse buy. It had a crinkly side that supposedly cats wouldn’t like. I had 2 really bad cats at the time, they were the most destructive unruly things ever. Rescued barn kittens whose mom had died. Anyway, they walked all over it and even curled up to sleep on it. To this day I regret not taking a photo of these cats sleeping on it and sending it to the manufacturer asking for my money back.

maptap22

(245 posts)
28. Under the influence of Ambien,
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 05:42 AM
Jun 2025

One night I ordered a $300 bean bag chair. Thought that I dreamt it until the chair arrived. I still have the chair and never took Ambien again. My grandkids use the chair.

debm55

(54,479 posts)
34. Oh wow. I heard stories about Ambien. Glad your grandkids got to use it thank you maptap22
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 06:42 AM
Jun 2025

OhioBack2Blue

(82 posts)
29. My advanced college education...
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 06:16 AM
Jun 2025

Gave me lots of practical skills, none wanted by the corrupt, for-proft labor markets, and non-profts were always labor window shoppers drooling over what they could be if they ever found solid funding. Now, I, a former ophan/foster child, multiple time Pell grant recipient, am over 60, dying/drowning under $60,000 of educational loans and predatory govt interest because Republicans have a sickness in their brains that makes them think education and training is bad, and I should be punished for my "personal moral failure" of not being a billionaire in America.

dlilafae

(367 posts)
32. A bundt pan
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 06:32 AM
Jun 2025

in which, (not matter what non-stick you use) some of the cake is left behind, stuck on the pan. Garbage.

doc03

(38,756 posts)
37. A 1977 Chevy Blazer. I had it just three years, even though I had it rustproofed it rusted
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 07:36 AM
Jun 2025

out in 18 months. From there it got worse, radiator, alternator, universal joints, CV joints and even replaced the
windshield washer pump twice. traded it after three years and less than 40k miles

doc03

(38,756 posts)
39. I special ordered it new, it took a couple months to come in. It also got 8 MPG. nt
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 07:47 AM
Jun 2025

justaprogressive

(6,198 posts)
61. I remember a Blazer sitting dead in the middle of a field...
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 11:20 AM
Jun 2025

The owner used a 4 by 8ft piece of plywood for a sign...

Spray painted on the plywood was "Like A Rock!"

TommieMommy

(2,590 posts)
43. My husband wanted the 2014 cady SRX. It was awful
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 02:42 PM
Jun 2025

When we picked up the car it was loaded with ants. They said put any traps in it. Over the next few years so many problems including replacing the engine and the cue center. Total of 13 problems.

sakabatou

(45,656 posts)
45. I didn't buy it, but it was a battery powered toy truck that had a mouth/jaw with sharp teeth
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 05:49 PM
Jun 2025

Lasted less than two weeks before it stoped working.

debm55

(54,479 posts)
46. Yep, toys are like that. Some don't last through Chrismas. Thank you very much sakabatou.
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 05:53 PM
Jun 2025

sakabatou

(45,656 posts)
47. Longest lasting toys were probably my legos
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 06:37 PM
Jun 2025

I think some of the pieces were 20+ years old before I gifted them away.

 

Archae

(47,245 posts)
49. Didn't buy it, was given a "Ninja" air fryer.
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 10:26 AM
Jun 2025

Couple years ago.

I have yet to use it.

debm55

(54,479 posts)
50. Thank you Archae. I like how it won't heat up the house in the summer. I'll check them out.
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 10:46 AM
Jun 2025

Lilithschyld

(90 posts)
52. A new dishwasher.
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 10:53 AM
Jun 2025

We paid 700 bucks for a completely useless thing. It never worked properly and we lived just outside the area for any repair company to service it. 🙄

debm55

(54,479 posts)
56. Thatks a shame Lillitheschld. Do you have a warrenty.? I would keep calling the service center and the store until they
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 11:05 AM
Jun 2025

it,

Lilithschyld

(90 posts)
58. Oh, yes, we did!
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 11:13 AM
Jun 2025

I fought with the company over the phone many times. They would end up giving me a phone number to another local company that serviced their products. I would call the company, make an appointment for them to come out, and they would never show up. That happened five times. Finally, the last person who was supposed to come out admitted that we were outside the area of service, so they weren't compelled to come. One of the down sides of living outside a town or city, I guess. Many good things about, though.

debm55

(54,479 posts)
59. In that case I would call the consumer affairs in your county or the main office of the store, not the one you bought it
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 11:18 AM
Jun 2025

from. Good Luck.

applegrove

(129,798 posts)
60. I bought a bathroom cup and soap dish set. They were deep blue glass.
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 11:18 AM
Jun 2025

Turned out it was paper mache and they bled blue all over my bathroom appliances.

3catwoman3

(28,428 posts)
64. I have fallen for too many "cosmeceutical" skin care products...
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 12:22 PM
Jun 2025

...which next-to-never even come close to delivering what they claim. I should know better, but hope springs eternal...

A dermatologist once told me that if there were one anti-aging cream that really worked, it would be the only one on the market because it would be the only one people would buy.

debm55

(54,479 posts)
71. HAHAHAHAHAH. I bought one to make french fries cut. Didn't work. Thank you catbyte.
Tue Jun 10, 2025, 04:47 PM
Jun 2025
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