poppy Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 I love jigsaw puzzles. I bought this one at the Thrift Store for $3. It took me hours to complete, was very good quality (all the pieces are thick and fit just right), was just the right balance of challenging and easy, and I enjoyed it. It is missing one piece. Not an edge. I don't know if I lost it or if it came that way. I don't THINK I lost it, but who knows? 1000 pieces. Should I return it to the thrift store so someone else can enjoy it? Or should I toss it to save someone the torment of not ever being able to complete it? It doesn't bother me much, but I know that's not true of everyone. If I write "missing 1 piece" on the box, the thrift store will discard it. It's up to me to make the call. WWYD? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jann in TX Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 It would bother me to have one piece missing. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Serenade Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 I think for $3, one missing piece, especially on the edge, wouldn't bother me. I think it's too cool of a puzzle just to toss! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 Toss it! You could do a poll. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 I think you should either mail it to Sereneade or pitch it. Or hang on to it for a little while to see if the missing piece shows up? 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 I think it is the risk one takes buying open jigsaw puzzles. I would be please there was only one missing piece! I'd go ahead and donate with no note. I agree with a pp that you should hang on to it for a week and see if the piece shows up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 I would take it to the thrift store. Our public library has a shelf of puzzles. They are just free for the taking; no one monitors them at all. I dropped a couple off and then in the bottom of my tote bag, found one piece. I haven't seen that puzzle again on the shelf so I haven't been able to stick it back in the box. I assume someone took it home and either did it, or threw it out because it was missing one piece. If I took one off the shelf, I wouldn't mind if it was missing a piece. I might mind if I'd paid for it - not sure. Your puzzle is great! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 I would try to find someone who would take it with 1 piece missing. Perhaps an assisted living type home? I would not re-circulate it without making sure the recipient knows there is a piece missing. I would still enjoy a puzzle with a missing piece, but I would explode my brain trying to find the piece unless I knew one was missing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gstharr Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 When my kid was into puzzles, I would just make the missing piece. Put a piece of cardboard under the gap, trace the pattern, cut out, and draw/color to match. Then cover with tape. . could hardly tell. I would not try to gift or sell the puzzle, but giving away is fine. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 (edited) I would rethrift it with a note inside the box "one edge piece missing, all other 999 are there". Somebody may want it. Edited August 16, 2018 by regentrude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumto2 Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 Dd has that puzzle, it’s a really nice one. I would put a label on the outside of the box saying “1 piece missing, not an edge” and donate it. Honestly, I would much more likely to purchase it knowing that there is just one piece missing. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenaj Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 My mom does thrift store puzzles all the time and returns them to the store so they can be resold. If a piece is missing she just writes a note on the outside of the puzzle and circles its approximate location on the picture. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm37 Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 Toss it. I consider it "broken." But I know some people take their broken toys to thrift stores, too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonfirmath Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 3 minutes ago, Calm37 said: Toss it. I consider it "broken." But I know some people take their broken toys to thrift stores, too. Donate it. One missiing piece can happen as easily between dumping out the box and putting it together. I do not regret putting together a puzzle when I can't find a single piece. And, when I buy them from thrift stores, I'd be expecting a few missing pieces in a puzzle that size. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 If the store will throw it out I would not put a note. Can you ask? If they'd still sell it with a note then I'd do that. I still vote to donate especially since it's not an edge piece. I do jigsaws for the process not the finished product. I don't think one piece makes a puzzle like that less enjoyable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staceyobu Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 Are we allowed to curse on these forums? No. OMG, No. Don't do that to someone. Throw it away. Don't be that person. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 I wouldn’t donate an incomplete puzzle. It would drive me insane to complete an entire puzzle only to discover that there was one piece missing, so I wouldn’t want anyone else to have that same experience. What a waste of a lot of time! I would throw the puzzle away. If you do decide to donate it, please take a Sharpie and write in big letters on the box that there is one piece missing so potential buyers can make an educated decision. Some people like to save their puzzles and hang them up when they’re done assembling them. They couldn’t do that with a piece missing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staceyobu Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 It was really interesting for me to read the replies on this. Obviously us puzzle lovers don't all do it for the same reasons. I would feel like I had wasted hours if I couldn't find the last piece. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannah Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 (edited) I would be extremely disappointed to get to the end of the puzzle and find that it is incomplete. I am very much an outcomes based person. Its about the result, not the process. I have to work hard to be patient. My elder daughter, on the other hand, is a process person and she wouldn't mind at all. This makes her brilliant with animals, but she finds planning and time management challenging. Edited August 16, 2018 by Hannah 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 Some people use puzzle pieces for art projects. I'd put a note on the box and donate it. Regards, Kareni 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 Put an a on the local freecycle page or give-away fb group: "1000 piece part puzzle, 1 piece missing, free to good home". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 I'd toss it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 25 minutes ago, regentrude said: Put an a on the local freecycle page or give-away fb group: "1000 piece part puzzle, 1 piece missing, free to good home". I wouldn’t go to that kind of trouble to get rid of a $3.00 item. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 2 minutes ago, Catwoman said: I wouldn’t go to that kind of trouble to get rid of a $3.00 item. I would like a puzzle like that for either putting together or crafting. It's nice to keep things out of landfills. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 10 minutes ago, Catwoman said: I wouldn’t go to that kind of trouble to get rid of a $3.00 item. I hate throwing things away. I have just done a major decluttering spree and have gone to ridiculous lengths to place the items with people who can use them. People want all kinds of odd items, for crafts or homeschooling purposes. And free is much more likely to find a taker. I currently have a box with beads, origami paper and miscellaneous old posters waiting to be picked up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 I would burn it in an ashtray, one piece at a time, one piece per day. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 29 minutes ago, unsinkable said: I would burn it in an ashtray, one piece at a time, one piece per day. Stop it with your Satanic rituals. #puzzlekiller 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 Just now, Catwoman said: Stop it with your Satanic rituals. #puzzlekiller I just snorted so hard I think I peed. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scholastica Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 I'm still trying to figure out why someone would think there could be a low-stakes debate in the Hive. I'm pretty sure that's an existential impossibility. 2 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy Posted August 16, 2018 Author Share Posted August 16, 2018 I'm going to toss it. The guttural vehemence of the anti-donate crowd has convinced me. It's a little sad, though. White Mountain makes such nice puzzles. I spend HOURS on it and genuinely enjoyed myself. Thanks for the answers! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 53 minutes ago, scholastica said: I'm still trying to figure out why someone would think there could be a low-stakes debate in the Hive. I'm pretty sure that's an existential impossibility. And really, would you want to eat a cupcake with 1 missing ingredient? Or wear a kilt with a missing piece of fabric? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 (edited) 2 hours ago, poppy said: I'm going to toss it. The guttural vehemence of the anti-donate crowd has convinced me. It's a little sad, though. White Mountain makes such nice puzzles. I spend HOURS on it and genuinely enjoyed myself. Thanks for the answers! Nooooooooo!!!!! Edited August 16, 2018 by happi duck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 3 hours ago, unsinkable said: I would burn it in an ashtray, one piece at a time, one piece per day. Will this ritual help put the pieces of my life in order or doom me to always be missing one piece? Signed: happi duck who can't get her life together and is willing to try almost anything at this point 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RootAnn Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 My daughters volunteer at a thrift store where one of their tasks is to check to make sure all the pieces are in donated games. They also put together puzzles to verify all the pieces are there. If there is even one piece missing, they are instructed to discard it. (Lots & lots of things end up in the dumpster. It is amazing the state of the trash people donate!) We actually have a cute Cats puzzle here that was missing a piece. Saved it from going into the dumpster.... So, I agree w/not sending it back to the thrift store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 18 minutes ago, happi duck said: Will this ritual help put the pieces of my life in order or doom me to always be missing one piece? Signed: happi duck who can't get her life together and is willing to try almost anything at this point With our luck, if we did that, the smoke from the burning puzzle pieces would be highly toxic. And we’d spill the ashes on the rug and make a big mess. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 1 minute ago, RootAnn said: My daughters volunteer at a thrift store where one of their tasks is to check to make sure all the pieces are in donated games. They also put together puzzles to verify all the pieces are there. If there is even one piece missing, they are instructed to discard it. (Lots & lots of things end up in the dumpster. It is amazing the state of the trash people donate!) We actually have a cute Cats puzzle here that was missing a piece. Saved it from going into the dumpster.... So, I agree w/not sending it back to the thrift store. That’s great that they make sure all of the game and puzzle pieces are in the boxes before they sell them! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgo95 Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 I know you already said you were going to toss it, but what about calling the company to see if it's possible to get a replacement piece? I've done that before with a new puzzle. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 4 minutes ago, sgo95 said: I know you already said you were going to toss it, but what about calling the company to see if it's possible to get a replacement piece? I've done that before with a new puzzle. Ooh!!! That’s a GREAT idea!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 You could do the puzzle again...then take a picture of it. Put the picture in the box with a note that reads, "Missing one piece. See photo for location." Then wrap it up with Saran Wrap, put it on a little table on your lawn and attach a "Free Puzzle" sign. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mothersweets Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 Nice puzzle! I’ve been working puzzles lately, too! I think I’ve done 3 one-thousand piecers in the past month. The puzzle you linked is a nice one, I would re-thrift it but maybe put a note saying that it is missing one piece. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 We had a puzzle with a piece missing and when we assembled it we used bright nail polish to paint the edges where the missing piece would have attached so the next time we did the puzzle we knew not to bother looking for the piece that attached to the hot pink edges. We used to pass puzzles around our family- both my sisters enjoyed them- and we didn’t want to toss a puzzle just because one piece was missing. An index card in the box explained it- and that puzzle made the rounds through sisters and nephews and grandkids. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 We are currently finishing a tough, to me, puzzle of a Van Gogh. Now I can't wait to finish it and start a new puzzle! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanaqui Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 I'd try freecycling before tossing - as mentioned, some people don't mind missing pieces and others might use puzzle pieces for crafts and the like. But yes, write the company and ask for a replacement! I've done that before as well, and they're usually happy to help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmasc Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 (edited) 12 hours ago, happi duck said: We are currently finishing a tough, to me, puzzle of a Van Gogh. Now I can't wait to finish it and start a new puzzle! Do you have your new one picked out yet? Maybe we should start linking some of our favorite puzzles on this thread. ?? ETA: Here’s the one my DSs and I are working on right now. It has actually been a pretty good one! https://smile.amazon.com/MasterPieces-NFL-Map-Puzzle-500-Piece/dp/B0168ZMUJ4/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1534519955&sr=8-1-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=nfl+puzzle&psc=1 Edited August 17, 2018 by mmasc Add link 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 5 minutes ago, mmasc said: Do you have your new one picked out yet? Maybe we should start linking some of our favorite puzzles on this thread. ?? ETA: Here’s the one my DSs and I are working on right now. It has actually been a pretty good one! https://smile.amazon.com/MasterPieces-NFL-Map-Puzzle-500-Piece/dp/B0168ZMUJ4/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1534519955&sr=8-1-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=nfl+puzzle&psc=1 That puzzle has my two favorite teams on it! I don't follow football closely but I have a fondness for it because my late dad and late sister both loved it! I usually prefer no more than 750 pieces but we have a 1000 piece lined up next: https://www.amazon.com/Charley-Harper-Royale-Jigsaw-Puzzle/dp/B06XC77JQS?crid=HHLR1WESN97V&keywords=isle+royale+jigsaw+puzzle&qid=1534520209&sprefix=isle+royale+jigsaw+p&sr=8-1-fkmrnull&ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmrnull_1 I might grab a smaller one to do next instead. Van Gogh Starry Night has been on the board so long that I'd like to do something quicker next! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 I remember liking this puzzle: https://www.amazon.com/Buffalo-Games-Cats-Charles-Wyoscki/dp/B00YFR1XX2?keywords=the+cats+of+charles+wysocki+puzzle+frederick&qid=1534520755&sr=8-1-fkmrnull&ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmrnull_ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmasc Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 1 hour ago, happi duck said: I remember liking this puzzle: https://www.amazon.com/Buffalo-Games-Cats-Charles-Wyoscki/dp/B00YFR1XX2?keywords=the+cats+of+charles+wysocki+puzzle+frederick&qid=1534520755&sr=8-1-fkmrnull&ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmrnull_ That cat one is cute! The other one looks pretty, but hard!? Thanks for the links. I love seeing what others are working on! we might do this one next: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01AUP8GK0/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1 I prefer a bit more than 300, but I’m trying to hold my DSs’ interest and have them help. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy Posted August 17, 2018 Author Share Posted August 17, 2018 18 hours ago, RootAnn said: My daughters volunteer at a thrift store where one of their tasks is to check to make sure all the pieces are in donated games. They also put together puzzles to verify all the pieces are there. If there is even one piece missing, they are instructed to discard it. (Lots & lots of things end up in the dumpster. It is amazing the state of the trash people donate!) We actually have a cute Cats puzzle here that was missing a piece. Saved it from going into the dumpster.... So, I agree w/not sending it back to the thrift store. I did a drive for a women's crisis shelter and I was shocked at what people thought would be acceptable to donate. Old is fine. Broken, badly stained or falling apart is not. If you would not HAND it to another human to use, do not donate it to people in need. It is worse than doing nothing, it gives a false sense of the amount of donated items, plus takes away time from people who SHOULD be sorting through usable goods. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emba Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 (edited) I took a puzzle off of the free table at my library, and it turned out to be missing not one but six pieces. I still enjoyed putting it together, and I passed it along to a friend, with the warning about missing pieces (and all the missing parts circled on the box). She still wanted it. Maybe don't give it to the thrift store but find a friend who doesn't mind missing pieces. ETA - If she hadn't wanted it, i would have thrown it away. I wouldn't have donated it, though I always figure that when i buy a puzzle at a thrift store, missing pieces are a possibility. If the prospect of a missing piece really ruins your puzzle experience, you probably shouldn't buy secondhand puzzles. ? Edited August 17, 2018 by emba56 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted August 19, 2018 Share Posted August 19, 2018 On 8/17/2018 at 12:41 PM, mmasc said: That cat one is cute! The other one looks pretty, but hard!? Thanks for the links. I love seeing what others are working on! we might do this one next: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01AUP8GK0/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1 I prefer a bit more than 300, but I’m trying to hold my DSs’ interest and have them help. I think the 1000 piece puzzle I linked looks too hard but my family talked me into it because it's Charley Harper and Isle Royale. I anticipate I'll get frustrated. We are officially puzzle people...we bought a new coffee table today and the deciding factor was if the puzzle board fit! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.