Days after Consumerist highlighted privacy concerns related to Birchbox sharing the personal addresses of gift recipients with the person who sent the gift, the company says it has changed its practices. [More]
gifts
Hatchimals, This Holiday’s Hot Toy, Leaves Many Parents Disappointed
By 12.28.16
If you have a child of a certain age — or you just keep up with the latest trends — then you’ve probably heard of Hatchimals. The interactive toy was amongst the hottest, in-demand products this holiday season. But for some who were able to score the coveted plaything it left a lot to be desired. [More]
The Big List Of Consumer Reports Gift Guides
By 12.19.16 — Updated: 12.20.16
’Tis the season, when you’ve realized you have a long list of friends and loved ones to shop for, but absolutely zero ideas about what to get them. We can help. [More]
1-800-Flowers Has Watson-Powered Robo-Concierge To Help You Choose Gifts
By 5.3.16
Do you need help selecting just the right gift for your loved ones, but don’t want to ask an actual human being for that help? 1-800-Flowers, a florist chain named after the dominant way to order things 30 years ago, now has a robo-concierge powered by IBM’s Watson platform that will tell you what someone really wants as a gift. [More]
This Year’s Avalanche Of Online Orders Won’t Be So Great For Retailers When Everyone Starts Returning Gifts
By 12.30.15
While many retailers were surely over the moon with an increase of online sales this year, that same burst in orders will have one effect that likely won’t make companies happy. Because when it comes time to return gifts purchased online, retailers are often on the hook to cover the costs involved. [More]
Here Are Some Last-Minute Gift Ideas For Last-Minute Gift-Givers
By 12.21.15
It’s December 21, shipping deadlines are winding down, and you have gifts left to arrange. What do you do? “Panic” isn’t a valid option, so here are some ideas for what you can do instead. [More]
Laundry, Newspapers, And Kink: Terrible Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
By 5.10.15
Earlier this week, we asked you to send along poorly-thought-out ideas that marketers have presented as great ideas for Mother’s Day gifts. Americans plan to spend a little more on their moms this year, and marketers want a part of it. [More]
The Hot Potato Principle: Why This Grandma’s Bank Stuck Her With Counterfeit Cash
By 3.9.15
Counterfeit currency operates on the “hot potato” principle. Like the children’s game, the last person caught with the object loses. Once you accept counterfeit cash–even if it’s from a financial institution–it’s yours. This made for a very disappointing birthday gift for a 14-year-old from his grandmother. [More]
18 Times Our Readers Got The Absolute Best Gift Ever
By 12.24.14
There’s nothing like the moment when you realize that you’ve just received your heart’s desire in the form of a gift from someone else. Not only does it mean adding something wonderful to your life — whether it’s that prized toy you’ve been coveting, freedom from tyranny or a new fuzzy friend. Speaking of fuzzy, we asked you, our wonderful, giving readers a few weeks ago to tell us about the best gift you’ve ever gotten, whether it was Christmas, Hanukkah or just a regular day. [More]
Tell Us About The Best Gift You’ve Ever Received
By 12.12.14
It was Christmas morning/eve. It was the best night of Hanukkah. There was that one gift, the thing you received from your mom/dad/sister/brother/spouse/whoever, that stood out from all the rest as the best thing you could have ever gotten. [More]
Which Popular Holiday Gifts Are The Worst To Get?
By 12.12.14
The moment of dread has arrived: You have to open gifts in front of your loved ones, and pretend you like what they’ve given you, no matter if it’s a bottle of peppermint schnapps or a candle shaped like a Christmas tree that smells like a car air freshener. But this year, perhaps if we reflect upon the gifts people hate getting the most, we can avoid those items and bring more cheer than fear. [More]
Cracker Barrel Waitress Scores Ultimate Tip: A Car
By 12.5.14
After seeing the woeful state of their waitress’s car parked outside the Branson, MO, Cracker Barrel where she worked, a couple from Arkansas decided to leave her a pretty nice tip — in the form of a car. [More]
1-800-Flowers Will Shell Out $143M To Buy Harry & David
By 9.2.14
Love is in the air, and in this case the couple-to-be has plenty of gift options to choose from to celebrate the occasion — 1-800-Flowers.com Inc. says it’ll be buying Harry & David for $143 million in cash, in an effort to take on the gift-giving world and fill it with its wares. [More]
16 Ways To Not Suck At Making Mother’s Day Special
By 5.5.14
Mother’s Day is almost here. The day to celebrate the woman who brought you into the world… Or to celebrate the woman who gave you children. Or both. Flowers are a lovely gift (in those instances where the recipient gets what you actually ordered) but they’re not exactly an original or personal gift and can be costly.
Here’s how to not suck at saying thanks to Mom with some frugal and creative ideas. [More]
How To Not Suck… At Valentine’s Day Gifts
By 2.11.14
Heads-up to everyone in a couple: Valentine’s Day is Friday and some of you will be expected to give some sort of gift to your loved ones. Sure, there’s nothing wrong with chocolates, jewelry, or flowers, but that special someone in your life is probably worth a little creativity and planning… right? [More]
I Can’t Return This Christmas Gift Without Upsetting My Mom
By 1.13.14
Lies can get you in trouble. Even when you mean well, sometimes they catch up with you and you get stuck in an impossible position. That’s what John learned when he lied by omission about a Christmas gift to spare his mom’s feelings, and is now stuck with an expensive GoPro camera that he can’t return. [More]
Christmas Ordering Deadlines For 25 Top Online Retailers
By 12.12.13
Still working on your Christmas shopping? If you’re going online to buy those gifts, you need to be aware of the sites’ wildly varying cutoff dates for placing orders in time to get them under the tree on the big day. [More]
At Sports Authority, A Gift Receipt Doesn’t Mean Much
By 1.3.13
Marjorie received a Christmas gift from her sister from Sports Authority, and needs to take it back. No big deal: that’s why her sister included a gift receipt. The problem is that the item’s price has dropped, likely because it’s on clearance, and they want to give Marjorie $77 when her sister paid $101. That’s funny, because that’s against the chain’s stated holiday season return policy…on the web site. In retail stores, who knows? [More]
