Chipped plates - what to do?

[angrygoat2]

About a year ago, I bought a dinner set from a well-known boutique’s own brand - they would usually be out of my price range, but they were on sale and I loved the style.

Unfortunately they are all completely chipped around the rim - we are talking half a dozen chips each, approx. 1cm per chip. Don’t have a dishwasher and I don’t think we’ve treated them particularly badly, so I guess it was down to bad quality.

Today I bought a cheap and cheerful set to replace them (I don’t think the shop would be too interested if I brought them back a year later - and while they were expensive for me, they are one of the cheaper sets that the store sells).

That said, I’m wondering what I can actually do with the “old” chipped plates? Don’t think a charity shop would have them but it seems a shame to take them to the recycling centre, so wondering if anyone has an idea on how to upcycle or otherwise use them? Google has suggestions on how to use/repair the odd nice dish, but I’m not sure what to do with an entire set…

Thank you!

I think the tip have a particular place for this kind of thing.

@icelollycraving you are right, but I guess it hurts a bit to take my nice expensive plates to the tip, even though it’s the logical thing to do! :(

Take them to the tip. Not everything can be 'upcycled', and nobody is going to want chipped plates.

Just get rid. Life is too short to try to upcycle a chipped plate. They will also harbour bacteria.

Have a plate smashing evening!?

I use them to stand candles or plant pots on either in the house (turn the chop to the back) or the greenhouse if they’re really bad. If they’re truly knackered I smash them and use the crocks for drainage in plant pots.

Yes, use them for drainage in plant pots.

Your local fete might want them for a plate smashing stall.

Agree, drainage at the bottom of plant pots.

Have a Greek style party.

Paint some, break them and do a mosaic type art feature

art college might have a use for broken ceramics, as a kind of collage.
otherwise smash; make sure cannot be used for food as cannot be kept clear of bacteria.

Yes, contact your local scouts organisation. They love a crockery smash stall

Advertise them on FB market place for mosaic work - or even make one yourself!!

I'd take them back the shop and complain about the quality. Even if they give a token gift voucher, its something. You don't buy plates to replace them so soon. If you hadn't bought them discounted they'd have been very expensive for you

You don't buy plates to last a year, they're not fit for purpose

I'd have sent a few photos to the store ..... all chipped in 12 months ?
Terrible quality, I've got plates older than most MN'rs

Thank you everyone!!!

I will try complaining to the shop - you are right, less than a year of use is ridiculous - but they have a reputation for being quite aloof and unresponsive. It’s the kind of place that stocks a lot of unusual designs/special products, so they know their customers can’t just go elsewhere if the service or product is sub-par. Annoying…

Love the ideas about plate smashing, either for my own party or for local fete/scouts. I already have too much plant paraphernalia but I’ll ask around and see if anyone could use them for this!

Plant dishes, plant pot drainage, mosaics to make stepping stones for the garden, pumpkin dishes. Loads of things for the garden. At least give them away on faceache or freecycle another gardener would have them off your hands.

Offer them on Free Yule as plant pot saucers or maybe a mosaic making person will use them.