From What Tian has Learned comes this great story about a salesman trying to sell an overpriced set of cookware to some of Tian's friends:
Overpriced Cookware by Classica and Regal Ware
Until last Saturday, I have never heard of Classica cookware by Regal Ware.
Two weeks ago, my friends Matt and Kristin went to Chandler Balloon Festival. At the festival, one of the booths was advertising in-home cooking demonstrations in exchange for free hotel-stays. The cookware company would send a sales person to your home, cook your family dinner, and try to sell you their cookware. Regardless if you decide to purchase the cookware or not, the company would pay for 3-nights resort stay at a Mexico vacation spot.
Matt and Kristin were interested in the free hotel-stays, so they decide to give it a try. They have also invited their friends Teelk and Sammie from Lake Elsinore, California for the cooking demonstration.
And a bit more:
According to Jay, Classica cookware is made by Regal Ware in Wisconsin, USA. The reason they are the superior cookware is because they are made from T-304 surgical grade stainless steel.
That is a lie.
T-304 is the most common type of stainless steel. For surgical use, only T-316 grade of stainless steel can be used.
To uniformly transfer the heat, the cookware is made from 5-layers of metals sandwiched together. Outer layers are T304 stainless steel, then 1145 aluminum, and the center layer is 3004 aluminum-alloy.
That was lie number 2.
Since thermal conductivities of T304 stainless steel (16.2 W/m-K), 1145 aluminum (230 W/m-K), and 3004 aluminum-alloy (163 W/m-K) are different, sandwich them together would not improve thermal conductivity, rather it will create thermal gradients.
The meal:
One and half hours have passed by, the dinner is now been served. It consisted of skinless chicken breast, potatoes, broccoli, onion, and carrots, the typical American meal without seasoning. The chicken was a bit dry, the rest of the food tasted like if they were from hospital's cafeteria.
The cost:
Since everyone has been fed and Jay's cookware has been cleaned, it is time for the sales pitch. Jay pulled out a movie poster sized pamphlet which featured every single piece of cookware from Classica. The whole set consisting of 55 pieces is called the "Galaxy Set". When he revealed the price, it was so overpriced that it is truly laughable!
Classica's 55-piece stainless steal cookware made by Regal Ware is $6,895, excluding tax!
Matt and Kristin did get the 3-day stay in Mexico but their hotel was a time-share condominium and they were pressured to buy in. The Classica sales force is an MLM distribution scam -- the salesman tried to recruit them as new salespeople. Hat tip to BoingBoing
