It’s that time of year again, when we’re happy to hear about shoppers performing good deeds and random acts of kindness. Some of those warm-hearted folks we know better than others, including Pennsylvania’s “Santa B” layaway angel, who has now covered the cost of Walmart shoppers’ layaway items for the third year in a row. [More]
hanukkah
Target Reissues Menorah Recall Over The Wrong Kind Of Fire Concerns
By 12.7.16
This Hanukkah, you’ll want to gather around the table with your family to light the menorah. While you want there to be flickering flames, what you definitely do not want is a melted candelabrum melting all over your holiday decor. [More]
Burger King Selling A Doughnut Burger For Hanukkah
By 12.6.16 — Updated: 12.9.16
If you love doughnuts, burgers, and burgers made with doughnuts, you might want to think about spending Hanukkah in Israel, where Burger King will be offering doughnut burgers for the holiday. [More]
Kmart Apologizes For Layaway Debacle, Says Some Cancellations Were “Inadvertent”
By 12.17.14
UPDATE: Sears Holding Company has now posted a new entry on its blog with instructions for customers affected by the layaway fiasco. [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]
Of Course Someone Trademarked “Thanksgivukkah” Before You Thought Of It
By 11.26.13
It’s not going to happen again ever in our lifetimes (or likely for thousands of years, for that matter) so the forward-thinking woman who trademarked the term “Thanksgivukkah” a year ago had better milk it for all it’s worth. And also yes, we know you’re sad you didn’t think to trademark it ourselves, considering that everyone seems to be talking about Hanukkah coinciding with turkey day this year. [More]
Here’s How A Craft Store Should Handle Customers Who Seek Hanukkah Merchandise
By 10.8.13
Julie has followed the recent tsuris over Hobby Lobby’s new store in New Jersey and its lack of merchandise related to Hanukkah or other Jewish holidays. She had a similar dispute with competing big-box craft store Michaels, but resolved it in a different way. Instead of taking to the Internet, she wrote to the company president. The response was not what she had expected. [More]
Hobby Lobby Totally Wants To Spin The Dreidel With You Now
By 10.7.13 — Updated: 2.11.14
In a statement released late on Friday afternoon, Hobby Lobby put out what it probably hopes is the last update in the controversy over the Oklahoma-based chain’s lack of Jewish holiday items on its shelves. What started as one customer’s simple search for a bar mitzvah card has become a pre-holiday public relations nightmare for the craft retailer. [More]
Wrong Holiday: Whole Foods Doesn't Bother To Research What People Actually Eat During Hanukkah
By 12.20.11
UPDATE: Just hours after a Washington Post blogger ranted against a Washington D.C. area Whole Foods with a Hanukkah display of matzoh has responded via Twitter to apologize for the incident. [More]
Amazon Patents Tech That Returns And Exchanges Bad Gifts Before You Get Them
By 12.29.10
Call it “The Bad Gift Filter.” Amazon has patented a system that could intercept the yet another sweater Aunt Janice has sent you and automatically return it and exchange it for something you actually want. [More]
What Was The Best Gift You Ever Received?
By 12.10.10
Yesterday we asked you to tell about the crappiest present you ever received. And after all that outpouring of bad memories and disappointment we’re ending the week in a better mood. [More]
What's The Crappiest Gift You've Ever Received?
By 12.9.10
With the Christmas countdown in full effect and Hanukkah 2010 in the books, the topic of gifts and gift-giving is everywhere. But for all the holiday cheer and goodwill, some gifts are bad enough to bring out the Scrooge in all of us. [More]
Consumers Plan To Purchase Fewer, Cheaper Presents
By 11.4.07
Prepare for disappointment this holiday season because a survey from Deloitte & Touche says the average consumer is planning to spend less on fewer presents. The average New England holiday shopping budget is down 19% to $517, and the average shopper is prepared to buy only 24 gifts – which to us, still seems like a lot.
