Archive for June 2007
All-You-Can-Eat Shipping at Amazon Prime
Sometimes you can’t be there to give a gift, so delivery is the next best thing. That’s where Amazon Prime comes in handy. For a flat fee of $79, an Amazon Prime membership allows you free two-day shipping to addresses in the continental U.S. For about $4 more per item, you can have it shipped the next day. There is no minimum to buy, so you are no longer hording items in your Amazon.com shopping cart until you reach the “Super Saver Shipping” level.
I have used the service for nearly one year now, and I’m very satisfied with the deliveries. If you use Amazon.com at least four times a year, the $79 pays off rather quickly. And you can share the membership with up to four family members living in the same household. I’m sure that I’ve saved at least $75 in shipping costs. The service will automatically renew for me in August 2007, and I intend to keep it.
If I can give a gift in person, I have it shipped to me via Amazon Prime, so I can wrap it and include a note card or greeting card. It’s also great for everyday gifts, such as a new music CD for my wife.
The shipping deal only works on items sold directly by Amazon.com (not the third party sellers), but that still means you have more than one million items to choose from. These products are clearly marked with an Amazon Prime notice, but the search engine link below is useful for finding Amazon Prime eligible items.
Tags: gift sites, greeting cards, music, note cards, shipping, shopping, shopping online
For Valentine’s Day 2007, my wife gave me a slip of paper that could be the best gift I’ve ever received: a picture of an iPhone. June 29 was iDay, the very first release of the iPhone. So yesterday I waited outside an AT&T store for three hours with friends, and now I have joined the iPhone cult. Actually, I’m writing this entry on the iPhone right now while listening to Don Henley’s “Everything is Different Now.” Uncannily appropriate.
Okay, I’ve switched back to my PowerBook laptop. The keyboard on the iPhone is okay, and I’m sure in a few days my fingers will be flying. Typing aside, the device is revolutionary — an iPod, a cell phone, a full-access web browser, a video/photo viewer and a two-megapixel camera — all packed into the size of a chocolate bar. I must resist the urge to eat it.
iPhone is a very generous gift, but you really need to make sure the recipient wants it, and more importantly, can afford the required two-year cellular contract with AT&T Wireless (formerly Cingular). The least expensive plan is about $60 per month ($1,440 over two years). The iPhone will not work as “just an iPod” unless you activate it with the two-year cellular commitment. Also, iPhones may be hard to get in your hands until probably late July.
So if you want to be exceptionally generous to a Mac fanatic, give a $500 Apple Store gift card. That way, you give the Mac guy or girl a choice: iPhone or something else great from Apple (maybe a video iPod with accessories).
Tags: gadgets, gift cards, music, valentine's day
When brainstorming gift ideas, think about any new, big-ticket items the person has received and consider a gift that goes along with that item.
- Does she have a new patio set? Give a citronella candle holder from Crate & Barrel (a tip of the hat to my sister-in-law for this gift).
- Did he get a new barbecue grill for the patio? Check out a personalized grilling brand iron at SteakBrands.com.
- Is there a new car parked in the garage? For proud college graduates, consider a college-themed license frame, travel mug and a bumper or rear window decal.
- New entertainment center? Order a new DVD movie release from Amazon.com.
So next time your friends and family show or tell you about a new, cherished possession, ask yourself, “What gift would go along with that?” Then add it to your gift dossier as a memory aid.
Tags: candles, choosing gifts, college, dossier, dvds, gift ideas, gift sites, movies
Last month, Michael Bublé released his new album Call Me Irresponsible.
When I’m giving a gift in person, I think it calls for something more tangible: the actual CD with the cover art and imprinted CD label. Sure, I could have burned the iTunes to CD, but the real thing feels, well, real.
But don’t get me wrong. iTunes is a great gift source for delivered gifts. I sent an instant e-mail gift certificate to my sister in Minnesota for her birthday, and she responded within minutes with a thank you. You also can give a specific song, album, audio book, TV show or movie by clicking the “Give this…” button in iTunes.
Tags: everyday gifts, for her, gift ideas, gift sites, movies, music, surprise
Happy Father’s Day! I hope your gifts to your dad (or from your kids) were well received.
I’ll be wrapping Dad’s gift after I post this entry, and I’ll visit him later this afternoon. I also picked out a card that reflects his strong work ethic. But it seems not everybody has the best work ethic when choosing Father’s Day gifts.
Peter Hartlaub of The San Francisco Chronicle wrote a hilarious rant on the seven worst Father’s Day gifts in a column titled World’s worst gifts for world’s best dads.
My favorite line:
It’s impressive that in 2007, you can still buy cologne for under $6. At some point in the next six months, a gallon of Old Spice will probably be less expensive than an equal amount of gasoline.
Tags: father's day, for dad, greeting cards
