Virtually There - December 2008

This year will be the most streamlined Christmas ever.

 

Take the concept of KISS (keep it simple, stupid), mix it with liberal doses of “it’s the thought that counts”, wrap it up in last month’s credit card statement and some leftover tinsel and proceed directly to 1-day.co.nz. 1-day is now the second most visited site in New Zealand after the ubiquitous TradeMe and they make a business of buying up surplus stuff and selling it cheap. There is a new, random product for sale every day and, if you trust in serendipity, this could be the solution to your Christmas woes. Windbreakers, tanning lotion, twin-blade radio-controlled helicopters, sneakers, books on wine appreciation and K-Y Jelly gift sets: surely you can think of someone who will love every bit of it. Log on every day between now and Christmas with your list of recipients in one hand and your credit card in the other and all you have to do is decide who will be the lucky beneficiary. 

If this approach seems just a little lacking in the spirit of the season, you may be right. So, still in the interests of simplicity, here is your no-effort-spared-to-show-you-how-much-I-love-you Christmas shopping list. If the significant other in your life has a bit of style, try the extremely cool wooden LED clock from iconic.co.nz. If they’ve had a trend bypass, however, skip the clock and get a solar-powered baseball cap, thereby allowing them to see in the dark without taking their hat off (2clight.co.nz). 

 

The perfect gift for anyone with a bach (I’m thinking in-laws here) is a set of the hand-painted retro Kiwi tea towels from cleverbastards.co.nz. And, if they don’t have a bach, Clever Bastards will sell you one (the iPAD kitset bach) as well. 

 

A pair of Phat-As Sumo Suits from iwantthat.co.nz will provide hours of fun for all the family, as will a remote-controlled Stunt Granny. Which reminds me – Grandma doesn’t really want another hanky or soap set. So how about giving a Gift of Hope (a goat? A dairy cow? A well?) from worldvision.org.nz on her behalf?

 

Grandad will love an iPod shuffle, particularly if you preload it with his favourite songs. And don’t forget the Apple Store (apple.co.nz) will engrave and gift wrap all MP3 players (this actually looks very effective under the tree). Your teen will love you forever if you give them a voucher to the iTunes store (get there by downloading iTunes from the Apple site).

 

Finally, don’t let anxiety about credit card security stop you taking advantage of internet shopping this Christmas. Get a card just for internet purchases and make sure the limit is small (say $500) to ensure no nasty person can go crazy with it. And then… go shopping! 

 

 

 

Site-seeing What wouldn’t you buy on the internet these days?  Garden furniture and swimming pools used to head the list, but not since I found Poynters.co.nz. Finally, a mail-order swimming pool – to be precise, a Technypool portable pool. The Naxos model gives you a 4.5m diameter at a depth of 1.3m for a mere $3400 (filtration system extra). They also sell saunas, hot tubs, concrete furniture and, my favourite, the Soley circular outdoor lounger with adjustable hood at $11,990!    Hire purchase online? I didn’t believe it either, but Perweek.co.nz offers it and it might just be for you. They sell an astonishing range of goods. You particularly need an extremely hip Tangent Quattro wireless internet clock radio (tangent-audio.com). However, there is no gadget so cool it is worth collapsing into debt for… Take care this Christmas.