On our weekend trip in Florida earlier this summer, Mr. Handsome had an interesting experience.
As I mentioned in my last post, he rented a jet ski for an hour, while Little Buddy and I stayed happily (and safely) on the shore. When Mr. Handsome was returning the jet ski keys to the rental company, he overheard a conversation between another customer and one of the employees. It went something like this:
Customer: “I seem to have lost my sunglasses on the jet ski.”
Employee: “Unfortunately that happens a lot. That’s why in our rental agreement, we ask riders to either leave their sunglasses on the beach or secure them with a lanyard.”
Customer: “The sun is blinding, and I didn’t have a lanyard. What should I do?”
Employee (clearly becoming a bit annoyed): “Did they fall in the ocean?”
Customer: “Yes.”
Employee: “Sadly, you probably aren’t going to find them.”
Customer (as if this was a very normal situation): “But they were Cartier sunglasses. Made of gold and worth over $1,000.”
Employee (not knowing whether to laugh or cry): “Oh my… I’m very sorry to hear that, sir, but there’s nothing I can do.” At that point, the customer walked away in a huff.
Can you imagine? Personally, I can’t fathom buying such expensive sunglasses, knowing how easily that sunglasses of any price point can break or scratch. But if I did ever acquire a pair of $1,000 gold sunglasses, I wouldn’t dream of taking them on a jet ski, or anywhere near the beach for that matter. I do feel bad for the guy, though. Everyone makes poor decisions, and it’s too bad this one had to come at such a costly price.
What are your thoughts on $1,000 gold sunglasses?
Anonymous
You’re a better person than me feeling bad for him cause the only word that came to my mind was “stupid.”
Alicia
I agree. However, if he can afford $1000 sunglasses and chose to wear them on a jetski, in the ocean, he can probably buy another pair….and probably already has.
Ellie
You’re probably right, Alicia!
Federica
He paid the “stupidity tax”. We all do at some point or another.
Take care Ellie!
Jasmine
My thought’s on gold sunglasses are….you can get them at Dollar tree for much cheaper and who cares what they look like;) lol
MarriedUK
It’s ridiculous! I have lots and lots of money and could buy stupidly expensive stuff like that but why would I want to? Regular sunglasses that cost about £35 do the job perfectly well!
Ellie
That’s a great approach to spending! 🙂
MarriedUK
Thanks! I try to stay sensible. Although, I guess one side of living in London is that one is always thinking about everything in relation to the cost of housing (my 2,000 sq ft house cost over £2m…) House prices are mental.
Ellie
A few years ago we talked to some acquaintances who lived in London, and we were shocked to hear the price of their small flat. And I thought housing prices were getting expensive in Nashville!
MarriedUK
It’s totally nuts! We are lucky that we had a bit of family help and my husband is a high earner. However, I have lots of professional friends who can only take 6 months off when a baby is born (we can have up to a year of maternity leave) because of the mortgage!
Anonymous
My first thought was, “A fool and his money are soon parted!”
Eileen
I don’t think I would admit to having gold sunglasses worth $1000.00 and that I unwisely chose to wear them while out in the water. I definitely would not expect a business to search the ocean for them!
A
My prescription glasses are over $1000… with the lenses making up the bulk of the cost. So, I kinda get it.
Ellie
I definitely understand that, as I used to have glasses. Lenses can be expensive. 🙁 I don’t think his sunglasses were prescription though, LOL
Ann
Why would old you spend that much a prescription glass. You should have told them you could aford that much and they old have have lower the amount. For you
A
My glasses are so expensive because my prescription is particularly bad. They are not covered by insurance and have to be specially made and only a very few places can fulfill the prescription. I can’t just go into a Walmart or similar vision center because their facilities are unable to make my lenses.
Anonymous
My prescription glasses have photo gray in lenses, so I don’t need to buy sunglasses. I never knew you could buy $1000 dollar sunglasses.
Stacey N
I have a hard enough time buying brand name stuff at the grocery store( because I always go for deals instead!), I would not spend more than maybe 10 or 20 dollars for sunglasses, but that’s just me!
Ellie
Oh yes, I agree. The name brand stuff can be so marked up. Sometimes there’s a different, but often not.
Jane
My go-to sunglasses come from Walmart and cost around $10. I could do a whole lot with a $1000 than buy sunglasses. 😎
Ellie
That’s where I get Mr. Handsome’s. Mine are $19 from Costco, but that’s about all I’ll pay. You could take an entire vacation with $1,000!
AmyRyb
Most of my sunglasses are from the dollar store. With kids it’s too easy for them to fall off my head or get pulled off and thrown, so I’d rather replace them a few times as needed than spend a lot. The outside level of plastic does tend to peel more often, but it’s rare for me to upgrade beyond the cheapest ones at Walmart!
Ellie
That’s a good philosophy. I keep my $19 ones in a case because I’m so paranoid about scratching or breaking them. I just hate the thought of spending an unnecessary $19, let alone $1,000!
Regina
Well if I had $1000 gold sunglasses they better be able to not only protect my eyes but have the ability to magically prepare my meals, mend my clothes and come with apps!
Ellie
That’s what I was thinking, LOL! At the very least, they better have significantly better protection from solar rays than basic sunglasses.
Sami
Why would some idit pay $1000 for sunglasses. I got mine for free at the hospital when I had my eye surgery.
Anonymous
If a person could afford those sunglasses it’s their choice to have them. In this case it was not for long. They obviously felt their loss. It brings us to a larger question, your husband was on the ocean on the jet ski! That’s a greater loss if he does not come back for some reason. I always remember Barbra Walters interviewing Steve Erwin’s wife and asking her if she was angry that he continued to take risks after choosing to be her husband and becoming a father? The day he never came home from the ocean was a great loss. Is your husband taking risks? Playing recklessly for a man whose paid a high price for his position in life?
Anonymous
I would rather lose a pair of expensive sunglasses on a jet ski then lose my life while on a jet ski.
Anonymous
I miss the Crocodile Hunter! I cried and cried when I learned about his death.
Anonymous
We cannot assume that what makes one person happy will make another person happy. Although most would probably agree that you shouldn’t buy an expensive pair of sunglasses, if he was wealthy that might just be a drop in the bucket for him. You also have to consider that they could have been a gift, or perhaps he has some involvement or investment in the eyeglass company. Things are not always as straightforward as they seem, that’s why I try not to judge things like that
Hope
If you wear glasses just get the the sunglasses clip ons. They cost $3.00.
My friends eye doctor told her that and she has bad eyes and she can still see. He gave them to her.
Tina
I think it’s a blessing to be able to create things and also to be able to buy them. Whether it’s a $1 ice cream from McDonald’s or a $1000 pair of sunglasses or an invisible sculpture for $18,000, having money to buy what brings you joy is a gift, so is receiving money to help support your life. I’m grateful we can all make different decisions. And in a case like this where the purchase isn’t something blatantly immoral (ie illegal, or harmful to human life and wellbeing) I really wouldn’t want to judge or name call the buyer. I do think a good lesson can be learned from this story, about listening to warnings and following advice. It really is too bad the man didn’t buy a lanyard as the company suggested. But we all make unwise choices sometimes. In my opinion, it’s better not to mock or belittle each other when we do.
Anon
Well said.