Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) – part 7

So, if you’ve been following along, you’ll know I was given a nice chunk of change ($1,000) from PayPal. My task, go shopping for five family members and friends, spend $500 online using PayPal and $500 at the mall buying comparable gifts.

In conclusion...

I’m thankful PayPal gave me this opportunity to shop as a way of giving back to the community this holiday season. Although it was time-consuming, I was able to give a lot more than I’d have been able to do on my own. PayPal definitely makes online shopping quicker and easier because you can bypass entering your credit card information every time you make a purchase. And besides, shopping at the crack of dawn in your PJs can be quite liberating. The only drawback is that PayPal’s not accepted as widely as major credit cards.

When you’re an experienced shopper, going to the mall or other bricks and mortar retail outlets before Christmas, doesn’t necessarily have to be a horrible experience and may even be quicker than shopping online – especially when you’ve prepared a list, done your research in advance and have a game plan before you enter the mall – in other words, planned your visit as I’ve shown. If you’re like me, you may also enjoy the instant gratification and find it less stressful than waiting for deliveries to arrive. (I’m still waiting for an eReader case from Sony Style – urgh!)

The time I spent shopping online first significantly helped alleviate potential frustrations when I shopped at Yorkdale.

Tip: If you’re driving, spend $8 on the valet service. It’s worth every penny this time of year.

So, now you’ve heard all about my experiences spending $1,000 on gifts. Where did you do your holiday shopping and what are your tips? Did you shop more online or at a mall?

Related articles

• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 1
  
• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 2
  
• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 3: dad and teen
• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 4: young girl
  
• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 5: grandma
• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 6: BFF
  

Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) – part 6: BFF

So, if you’ve been following along, you’ll know I was given a nice chunk of change ($1,000) from PayPal. My task, go shopping for five family members and friends, spend $500 online using PayPal and $500 at the mall buying comparable gifts.

Here’s the run down of gifts for your BFF:

Online
What: Maddie Scarf & Betty Mitts (sale priced at $41.30)
Where: Preloved for eBay
Cost: $46.67 ($41.39 Maddie Scarf & Betty Mitts + taxes, free shipping)

In Store
What: Scarf and Mitts set; Scarf and Hat set, Leather gloves, socks ($88)
Where: Smart Set, Yorkdale
Cost: $57.07 ($88 Scarf and Mitts set; Scarf and Hat set, Leather gloves, socks – buy one, get on 50% off – 20% off total for purchases over $70 + tax)

Outcome
I happened to tune in to BT on Friday morning just as they were having a segment about holiday shopping on eBay. I learned preloved had partnered with them over the holidays and saw an awesome wool scarf and mittens set. Wow! What a time saver. There’s no way I had time to shop at Queen West but I could spend a few minutes on eBay with a fully-loaded PayPal account and support a local designer/retailer at the same time. I’m seriously considering ordering a set for myself. Although this was the first item I ordered, it was the second last one to arrive but it was the only one to come in a canvas shopping bag.

So, I guess the fair thing to do would have been to look for a scarf a mitts set of comparable quality at the mall. However, since I knew these purchases would be going to people in need and Smart Set was offering deep discounts on winter accessories, I decided to go there instead of somewhere like Banana Republic or Aritzia. For $10 more than I spent online, I got more than twice the amount of stuff and that will be able to keep more young women warm and stylish this winter.

Donated to: Red Door Family Shelter, Dec. 22

Related articles

• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 1
  
• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 2
  
• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 3: dad and teen
• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 4: young girl
  
• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 5: grandma

Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) – part 5: grandma

So, if you’ve been following along, you’ll know I was given a nice chunk of change ($1,000) from PayPal. My task, go shopping for five family members and friends, spend $500 online using PayPal and $500 at the mall buying comparable gifts.

Here’s the run down of gifts for grandma:

Online
What: The First Snow Gift Box ($34.95)
Where: LUSH.ca
Cost: $39.49 ($34.95 First Snow gift box + taxes; found promotion code for free shipping)

In Store:
What: “Sweet Pea” Gift Basket ($34.95) and
What: Bath & Body Works, Yorkdale
Cost: $29.66 ($34.95 “Sweet Pea” Gift Basket @25% off in-store promotion+ taxes)

Outcome:
I arrived home from a meeting on Dec. 16 to find an attempted delivery notice from Canada Post notifying me about a package available for pick up the next day. The package was from LUSH and required a signature (I asked why some packages were left at my doorstep but not this one.)

Sure enough, when I opened the box, a lovely wrapped gift just like the one on the website appeared inside. Although it would have been nice to check that what I thought I was ordering was in the box, it was convenient to have it nicely wrapped with a pretty bow and gift tag. They also surprised me with two samples of hand-cut soap. I really liked how LUSH added a “Holiday” tab to their website with lots of great gift ideas, including a page for people who want to give holiday gifts but not necessarily for Christmas.

Had I ordered $100 or more, I could have used an advertised promo code for free shipping and guaranteed two-day shipping. Instead, I Googled “lush promo” and found a code for free shipping that still works.

LUSH doesn’t have a store at Yorkdale. I considered The Body Shop and Aveda but when I passed by Bath & Body Works, I saw a big 25% off sale sign caught my eye.
I’m less familiar with Bath & Body Works but they had a whole bunch of gift baskets displayed at the entrance, I figured I couldn’t lose. They had a whole bunch of large baskets, including a small picture frame, regularly priced for the same amount as the gift box from LUSH, minus 25%. Wow! The only thing I didn’t like was that the baskets weren’t wrapped. I would have preferred them with cellophane.

Donated to: Red Door Family Shelter, Dec. 22

Related articles

• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 1
• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 2
  
• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 3: dad and teen
  
• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 4: young girl
  

Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) – part 4: young girl

So, if you’ve been following along, you’ll know I was given a nice chunk of change ($1,000) from PayPal. My task, go shopping for five family members and friends, spend $500 online using PayPal and $500 at the mall buying comparable gifts.

Here’s the run down of gifts for a young girl:

Online
What: Groovy Girl: Fayla Fairy Doll ($15.95) + Fayla Fairy Dress Up Outfit $34.95
Where: honeybunch
Cost: $65.38 ($15.95 Groovy Girl: Fayla Fairy Doll + $34.95 Dress Up Outfit + $6.95 shipping + taxes)

In Store
What: Corolle Les Chéries Camille Doll (Best Toy Award platinum winner, $49.95, note it’s $26.95 online but they don’t have the special addition I found in the store) and Les Chéries denim set ($28.95, note it’s $26.95 online)
Where: Indigo, Yorkdale
Cost: $70.04 ($37.42, 49.95 @ 25% off discount coupon Les Chéries Corolle Doll and $28.95 Outfit – $5 promotional discount + taxes)

Outcome
I shopped with a little four-year-old family fried in mind. I checked out a few different Canadian-owned smaller online stores. There were some wonderful handcrafted toys and other goodies you just don’t see at the mall. Problem is, they really ding you on shipping costs. honeybunch seemed to have the best shipping rates. I would have saved $5 on my order had I registered for their email newsletter. The package arrived on December 15.

Indigo was my first stop at Yorkdale. I arrived with a 25% off coupon for any single item in the store and I was greeted by a salesperson who handed me another coupon for $5 off my purchase. I had every intention of buying the same items at Indigo but when I saw the Corolle doll and outfit and factored in the two coupons plus no shipping, I decided to upgrade and go for the award winner instead. Despite expecting a long line-up based on two earlier visits this season, when I got to the cash, there was only one person in front of me and it moved quickly. I was super excited about this purchase because I felt with the discounts I was able to get a much better quality doll and outfit for $5 more than the purchase online until…

I received the package from honeybunch. You see I wasn’t shopping as smartly as I usually d0. This was the last gift I bought online and I spent much longer than I anticipated. I knew I still had money left in the budget so when I was at the checkout and a suggestion for an outfit appeared, I ordered it too. I didn’t look to see what I was buying and assumed it was an outfit for the doll. Much to my surprise, I was delighted to see a thank you note when I opened the box offering me 10% off my next purchase. Then I found the Groovy Girl inside bright yellow tissue paper along with a matching Fayla Fairy outfit for a little girl. What four-year-old doesn’t like to play dress-up or like the idea of having a matching doll?

This was definitely a win-win situation in each instance.

Donated to: SickKids Dec. 21

Related articles

• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 1
• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 2
  
• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 3: dad and teen
  

Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) – part 3: dad and teen

So, if you’ve been following along, you’ll know I was given a nice chunk of change ($1,000) from Scott Taber at Media Profile on behalf of his client PayPal. My task, go shopping for five family members and friends, spend $500 online using PayPal and $500 at the mall buying comparable gifts.

Here’s the play-by-play on gifts for “Dad” and “Teen”:

What:
Sony Reader Pocket Edition™ (Silver), Zipper Case Pocket Edition (online) and Premium Cover for the Pocket Edition (in-store)


iPod + Phone Speaker Dock/Clock Radio

Where: SonyStyle.ca and Sony Style at Yorkdale

Outcome:

Online
The SonyStyle website was a bit slow. It was a pain registering too but it was easy to find what I wanted quickly and clear they accepted PayPal. I also liked how they let you know upfront if an item was out of stock and the anticipated availability date.

I didn’t want to chance free shipping because I wanted the goods fast so I paid $30 for 1-2 business day delivery. The delivery showed up via Purolator Dec. 14 but I was out. I received a note telling me to pick it up from their depot in Etobicoke. I called and asked if they would try again, they did and I got the package the next morning. Unfortunately, the case wasn’t included and I’m still waiting. According to the website, it should have been available and delivered by Dec. 16.

Cost: $ $353.38 ($179 eReader + $79 iPod dock + $19 eReader case + $30 shipping + taxes)

In Store
The Sony Style store at Yorkdale was busy but there was ample staff mulling around. However, I waited several minutes before someone even acknowledged me in the store. Once they did, the service was quick and friendly. I was surprised to learn they only carried the more expensive $39.99 eReader case in the store and the $19 one was only available online. At the store, I requested gift receipts, an option I didn’t have online. (Note the photo on the right was taken while I was shopping during this challenge.)

Cost: $338.97 ($179.99 eReader + $79.99 iPod dock + $39.99 eReader case + taxes) in store (including taxes)

Donated: December 16 to HoHoTO, some of the items will be available this evening in the HoHoTO Hangover Auction.

Want a say in where the remaining items are donated? (Sneak peek) You have until 11:59 p.m. ET to vote.

Related articles

• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 1
• Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) - part 2
  
• Bargainista and friends' holiday wish list
  

Escape the Mall Challenge (for charity) – part 1

When Scott Taber from Media Profile asked me to participate in PayPal’s Escape the Mall Challenge, I accepted. In exchange for my time, I’d get to do some good in the community and help those less fortunate this holiday season.

So, here’s how it works...
PayPal deposited $500 into my PayPal account. I was asked to buy gifts for five people, somewhat typical of what the average person would need to buy for immediate family members or close friends – the catch was all the gifts had to be purchased from online stores that accept PayPal. They also sent me $500 worth of Vanilla MasterCard PrePaid cards and asked to buy similar gifts for the same five people at the mall – the following week. The second part of the challenge was to document my experiences online. Scott even loaned me an Olympus E-PL1 camera (more on that in a future post.)

And why did I agree to spend my time doing all this shopping? Well, the cool thing is that I get to donate all items to a charity (or charities of my choice). Pretty sweet, eh?

Don’t tell anyone but I stepped outside the lines a bit and did all my shopping this weekend. I made one online purchase last night and the rest this morning. Dressed in my PJs while my family was still asleep and before the malls were open, I went gift shopping in the comfort of my own home.

At 2 p.m. this afternoon, I hit the mall, Yorkdale to be exact. What was I thinking? Who goes to an always busy mall two Saturdays before Christmas smack dab in the middle of the afternoon? Me, that’s who.

At first, I thought I’d do it the easy was and go when the mall opened on a weekday morning but no, that would be way to easy. I figured if I was being challenged, I’d do it right.

Over the next two weeks leading up to Christmas, I’ll be sharing the results of my Escape the Mall Challenge with you on the blog as shipments from the online stores arrive.

How you can help make a difference?
I’m planning on donating some of the items to HoHoTO’s silent auction on Thursday night. As for the remainder, well that’s where I need your help. Please leave a comment suggesting where you’d like to have the gifts donated. A subsequent blog post will include a poll for Bargainista readers to decide. (Hint: gifts include electronics, women’s winter clothing accessories, girls’ toys and yummy bath products.)

Related articles

• Bargainista kicks off the holiday shopping season!
  
• Online shopping keeps getting better
• Hanukkah miracles do happen
  

Help raise money and set a Guinness World Record to #BeatCancer

For my October series of weekly posts to raise awareness for breast cancer in honour of my friend Andrea, here’s something we can all do to help… and it’s so simple.

I'm helping to raise funds to
#beatcancer, by blogging, tweeting
and posting Facebook status
updates.

Click here to join me!

All you need to do is Tweet, update your Facebook status or write a blog post including the hashtag “#beatcancer” until noon EST today and eBay/PayPal and Miller Coors will donate 1 cent to cancer research. It’s part of a campaign to raise money and awareness to beat cancer. Lend a helping hand and be part of this social media experiment to try and set a Guinness World Record for the most social media mentions in 24 hours (yes, I know, this post is a bit late but there’s nothing like the present for a good cause.)

There are four charities listed on the #BeatCancer website where you can make a direct donation. For us Canadian folks, you may prefer making a donation to a local organization. I’ll be making one to rethink breast cancer today.