Sticker shock

The old faithful nonstick cookware set that I've had for 15 years (and was pretty high end at the time) is finally starting to give up the ghost. I've already replaced both saute pans, and since I don't really want to be eating flaking bits of nonstick coating, I decided it was time to go buy a couple of new pots as well. I went into the local Bed, Bath & Beyond, and started hunting for a 2 quart and 3 quart pot. At first I couldn't find anything that didn't appear to be part of a set, and I didn't really need an entire set, just a couple of saucepans. Around then, a gentleman (the manager, I think) drifted by and asked if I needed help. I told him I was looking for 2 and 3 quart open stock saucepans. So he leads me over to the Calphalon and proudly points at the three quart pan and informs me that it can be purchased either as part of a set or as open stock.

Gamely I look at the price tag, and say, "Oh, that's the price for the whole set."

"Oh no," he chuckles only slightly condescendingly. "That's just for the one pan."

I stared at the tag. $268.99

For one pan.

I know this is Boulder and a good percentage of the people here have more money than sense, but I assume since this is a chain, that this price is the same no matter where your BB&B is located. I somewhat rudely blurted out that the price was insane and he showed me, reluctantly, the lower-end Calphalon pans they had in their 'special' (aka 'cheapskate') collection and I managed to find one 2.5 quart pan I could afford.

Do people really pay this much for cookware? Really? I think it's all Food Network's fault. Damn that foodporn. :)