Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

In the past I have relied upon previous purchaser reviews to assist in my decision to buy an item, and I carefully read every review for this set of 400 thread count white twin XL sheets. I usually give little weight to laundering irregularities and "feel" of textiles, because that is very subjective - except shrinkage, of course. So I went ahead with this purchase thinking I would at the very least be getting sheets in a substantial enough fabric - 400 thread count, white is white, so no problem there (I thought), and I am not averse to trimming a few loose threads. Price was decent, because XL twin sheets that are not "dorm-like" are impossible to buy in my small town. When I opened the package I was immediately struck by the difference in color tone of the 3 pieces. The pillowcase was almost pinkish - and felt very thin to me, like a well-used vintage hankie. So I felt the flat sheet, and thought, all right - this is better. Firmly woven, not see-through, nicely finished. Soft white color, but different than the pillowcase. The fitted sheet was the same soft white, but the fabric was entirely different from the flat sheet - thin like the pillowcase. It's as if someone went through the bargain bin and picked out a pillowcase, flat sheet, and bottom sheet from different piles, then packaged them together as a "set". This is not what I expect when I buy a set of sheets, from anywhere, at any price. Only because I needed these sheets for a guest the next day did I put them in the wash, front load, delicate cycle, warm water, no bleach, average fabric softener, no other items in the load. (I wash a lot of sheets - I own a bed and breakfast - so I know what I'm doing!). Dried on low. Result: sheets came out quite wrinkled, but expected that because they are cotton. The fabric itself is what I would describe as "micro-crinkled" - not smooth feeling like sheets should be. I iron all of our pillowcases for the guest beds, so I ironed this one, also. It's so thin! If this pillowcase and fitted sheet are 400 thread count, I'd like to talk to the person counting the threads. The flat sheet feels like it could be 400 thread count by the weight of the fabric, but the side hems rolled over twice upon themselves during drying. Only way to fix this is to iron them flat. Too high maintenance. Not one of my other sets of sheets (I have twelve sets from other sources, from 400 to 800 thread count, all cotton) has had a problem with rolling hems. I have been a seamstress for over 40 years, and have handled lots of fabrics. The pillowcase and fitted sheet are one weave (looks like twill) and the flat sheet appears to be more like a percale, but not as crisp. These sheets are not even of the same type of fabric - they just do not match at all! And everyone knows that the bottom sheet wears out first. I'd give this flimsy one 3 months. Not happy. Even if I had paid only $30 for this set of sheets, I would still feel like I had gotten an inferior set of sheets. As it is, I feel cheated for paying almost $60. I have 800 thread count herringbone weave queen sheets that cost only $60 - and after a year of heavy use (very frequent washing, often with bleach) they still look beautiful. I do not recommend the Pointehaven 400 TC Deep pocket 100 percent Pima Cotton sheets at all if you're particular about your bed linens. These do not live up to even my least expectations. I wish I could return them, but probably can't since they've been washed. Live and learn.