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.
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”:
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
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.)
Since winning tickets to The Clothing Show last spring, Jean Yee and I have been having a lot of email conversations. Well what do you know, she won them again this fall. Rather than ask her for a recap of the show, I asked if she’d share her preparation process with you. As you’ll see, it’s quite intricate. Planning and preparation for events can at times, take a life of their own, depending on the importance of the event. And the Fall Clothing Show is no different. Autumn is a time when I can take inventory of my fall and winter wardrobe and decide what items can be revived, recycled or retired.
I pondered what is the most efficient and effective way to transition my wardrobe from one season to the next. By strategically organizing, planning and preparing – it became my project to move in my fall wardrobe and move out my summer wardrobe. Nice in theory, but our weather can fluctuate 10ºC to 13ºC in a day. That means we can have 14ºC in the morning and 27ºC by noon. What this means is my wardrobe at this time of year has to accommodate some summer/fall and fall/winter items.
It’s an opportunity for me to ease my transition from my Indian cottons to my cashmere sweaters.
My preparation process to revamp my clothes closet and maximize my Clothing Show shopping experience is as follows:
1. Take a good hard look at my clothes and accessories and throw away what isn’t wearable, give away – to charity, family, friends – and keep what is still useful
2. Look through magazines, in hard copy or online to suss out what to consider as purchases for body type and style
3. Check flyers and newspapers for any sales
4. Window shop at my favourite clothing stores to see what is out there and take note of prices 5. Check my email for those Clothing Show coupons
6. Check the Clothing show vendor section and look at the vendors’ websites
7. On the Clothing Show shopping weekend with list in hand:
Bring cash and bring a credit card
Dress minimally to be able to slip on clothes easily
Take a walk about at the show and check out the booths and take note of which vendors are a must to shop
Take in the fashion shows! The stylists put together some fabulous outfits
When trying on clothes or accessories, I chat with the vendors and get their opinion; sometimes in the course of conversation, they've helped me find an alternative item or exactly something I've been looking for!
It’s a weekend of playing dress up and seeking new items to match my old, find something new or gently used, so I approach it with anticipation to enjoy the experience and shop ’til I drop!
Did you go to The Clothing Show? What did you think? Do you have a preparation process when you go shopping? Share your tips.
Her collection is available in only the finest department stores.
It’s one great sale you won’t want to miss! Whether you’re looking for something sophisticated for a day at the office, a night out on the town or that special something for an upcoming party, this Canadian designer is not to be missed.
When? Friday, Nov. 5, 2010 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Where? 70 Claremont St.. (See map.) Toronto 416-603-7661
We have our winners for free pairs of tickets to The Clothing Show Fall 2010 Edition – offering a weekend of shopping, art, photography and runway shows.
Congratulations to: cnyoung Jean (twice in a row), and Christina from FabulousSavings.ca
Winners: please email me with your real first and last name and the name of your guest by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 22, for details on how get your tickets to the show.
Thanks to everyone for your terrific comments and hope you can make the show even if you aren’t receiving free tickets.
Want free tix? The Clothing Show returns with the Fall 2010 Edition – offering a weekend of shopping, art, photography and runway shows. Once again, Bargainista is giving away three pairs of tickets. Comment by 5 p.m. ET, Friday, September 17 to enter a random draw. Make sure to mention why you’d like to go to The Clothing Show in your comment.
What? The Clothing Show • Shop for unique finds from talented designers and artisans • Sample sales section features big names from our retailers (markdowns up to 90% off retail) • Unique treasures from independent, vintage and retro vendors • Special sales • Runway fashion shows Friday night and all day Saturday • Art gallery featuring works by local artists
Last Tuesday night I attended my first event in ages. Although the invitation arrived in my inbox just the day before, it was hard to pass up and the buzz about the Roots x Douglas Coupland collection has been electric. So, I skipped the visit to the eponymous pop-up store and went directly to Roots’ flagship store on Bloor St. and headed upstairs to see what all the fuss was about.
The space looked incredible. I didn’t recognize anyone except for David Suzuki, who paid a quick visit and chatted with a few attendees. Minutes later a few friends from the fashion blogger community showed up Kimberly Lyn and Tricia Campbell, who introduced my to the lovely Tanja Zelko, Roots’ own online voice whom I’d been following on Twitter for ages.
Roots did a very cool thing by offering their Facebook fans access to the Roots x Douglas Coupland collection in mid-June (two weeks before it was available in bricks-and-mortar stores). It’s been selling like hotcakes ever since. And I did visit the pop-up store at 680 Queen W. today – it closes July 25 so get their fast if you want to check it out. Love the pop-up store concept but the Bloor St. location is where it’s at if you want the best selection of the Roots x Douglas Coupland collection.
One suggestion I have for Tanja and the event team at Roots is next time, either offer your guests a special discount during events like these and giving guests a little takeaway to remember the event and share with their friends. Tanja was wearing a Roots x Douglas Coupland black leather wristband. Just like this red one but in black. It retails for a mere $8 (and costs Roots less to produce). While visiting the pop-up store I saw a box of posters – that would have done the trick too. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t go to these events expecting discounts or swag, but a little takeaway for the small number of people who attended the event would have gone a long was in helping to spread the word offline.
Have you seen the Roots x Douglas Coupland collection? If so where? What do you think of pop-up stores?
In this baby bargainista post, Jenny shares tips for buying sundresses for little girls.
With the hot weather comes my annual search for inexpensive, yet pretty summer sundresses for our girls. Our oldest is 5 and is deeply into wearing dresses – the frillier, the better – but they don’t always stand up well to her active, still rough-and-tumble lifestyle.
For special occasions, I splurged on a couple of beautiful dresses from Happy Wear. I love their cheerful, colorful designs and the dresses are very well-constructed in such a way that they can be easily adjusted to fit as your child grows through the season, with double-snaps at the shoulders and drawstring waists. Best of all, they are durable, and I’ve bought from them every year so I have a growing collection ready to pass along to Daughter #2! (As I tell my husband, it’s not really splurging, it’s an investment!)
But these gorgeous dresses likely wouldn’t survive a kindergarten birthday party unstained, so I also visited our local Winners and picked up a couple of marked-down frilly dresses. They’re fancy enough to keep Daughter #1 happy, but at $15-20, they’re cheap enough that I won’t mind the occasional cupcake stain.
And for school and active summer holidays, I always swear by Joe Fresh and H&M. Very simple, light cotton dresses can be found for $6-$12 at either store, and their A-line construction, while not fancy or fitted, is perfect for staying comfy and cool on hot summer days. Top 3 tips: 1. At Joe Fresh and at Winners, stock moves quickly, so when you see something in the right size, buy it – it might not be there next week! 2. If you’re not sure about size with Joe Fresh, because they’re located in the supermarket it’s often easier to buy a couple of sizes and try them on the kids at home, then return them during your next grocery run (rather than try to wrangle cranky kids plus a full shopping cart into the fitting room!).
3. At H&M, lines at the checkout can often stretch around the store. Bring a friend to wait in line while you browse, or better yet, if the line is more than 6 people long, do a little browsing for yourself – you might find that the line has shrunk significantly when you are done (and you might discover a few bargains for yourself!).
Since winning tickets to The Clothing Show, Jean Yee and I have been having a lot of email conversations. She was nice enough to share her experience. Hope you’ll enjoy her guest post as much as I did. What a wonderful weekend of shopping we had at The Clothing Show! Thank you again for holding the free tickets to the show contest. My niece and I attended Saturday and Sunday. We felt a special going up to the guest counter to pick up our tickets and have them look up our names on the guest list.
Our shopping agenda was to find accessories for my niece’s prom dress. This included shoes, jewellery and purse. After that, whatever money was left over was a “free for all, buy what you want.” This was the first time my niece attended The Clothing Show. She is has talent for art illustration, so this was the perfect event for her to be this weekend.
We watched one of the runway shows to get an idea of what some of the vendors were selling and how some pieces can be worn. Yes, some of the ensembles were strictly for the runway (a bit risque for streetwear by certain standards!), but they did provide inspiration for adapting it to ones own style. And some of the other ensembles were perfect for an event or day wear.
There were ample bargain boxes at vendors' booths to rummage through – we found a lined vest in the $5.00 box, a hooded mohair sweater for $10.00 and some frilly dresses for $15.00. All from vendors selling new stock. In the vintage section, we found a patent black leather clutch for $9.00 and a pink/black bustier for $18.00. Some vendors were selling all their wares, every piece for a flat price of $10.00; everything in their booth! We wondered if we should go beyond budget and buy as much as we could. Experience told us, to stay within budget and stick to the shopping plan. Breathe. Plan the shopping, shop the plan.
Sunday afternoon, we found deeper discounts as vendors wanted to move their stock and I couldn't pass up two Indian 100% silk shawls for $5.00 each. The DIY nail art booth was really different – they were 'rubber stamping' various designs on our fingernails (from lace patterns, to flower designs) that mimics the designs of salon nail art.
One of the advantages of shopping local and small business, is sharing one on one conversations with the owners and designers. I find that part of the shopping experience at this event is getting to know the vendors; what inspires and motivates them. Some showed me their favourite pieces and why/how they made them, found them etc. We had a most inspiring conversation with Glen Anthony, one of the artists creating a Marvel comic mural that was to be auctioned off when he completed it.
At the end of the weekend, we found all the items my niece needed for her prom (and a couple of things myself!), under budget,so we were able to splurge on a couple of extras! Did we enjoy it? Absolutely! We were impressed and inspired by the artistic talent we saw and got our dose of nostalgia browsing and buying in the vintage section. Would be go again? In a heartbeat! Once we save up our money...
Thanks again for the tickets and for making our weekend a memorable one (I can't wait to see the prom photos!)
Did you go to The Clothing Show? What did you think?
What? Vancouver-based Dish Jeans is having a denim event at Long Legs the next two Thursday nights and Dish representative and denim fit expert, Christina Pillar will be on site to help ensure you get the perfect fit... and save 20% off all regular priced Dish denim and tops.
It’s been a while since I wrote about Long Legs and some of the challenges my tall, long-limbed friends have finding clothes that fit. Well, Nancy Pehar, co-owner of Long Legs contacted me to introduce me to her store this week. She was surprised when I told her that although I’m barely 5'3", I’m familiar with her store and had blogged about it before. (Tip: Google Alerts are a great free tool small businesses can use to see what’s being said about them online. If you’re not using them already, start now!) When? Where? Long Legs Toronto Store 2717 Yonge St., Toronto Thurs., May 13, 2010 5:00 p.m.-8 p.m.
Long Legs Mississauga Store 299 Lakeshore Rd. E., Mississauga Thurs., May 20, 2010 5:00 p.m.-8 p.m. Can’t make it in person? You can order online May 13 and 20 (two days only) using the promo code “DISH20” and still get the 20% discount.
A lot has changed in the past few years. Long Legs has a blog and you can also find them on Twitter and Facebook.
Ron White is a Toronto-based high-end shoe store named after it‘s owner, with a focus on premium brands that put comfort first yet are equally fashionable.
Well, Ron White is new to Twitter and as a way to attract new followers and gain awareness for his store, he’s launched a Twitter contest. All you need to do between now and May 11 is email your favourite one of his tweets to Service@ronwhite.ca for a chance to win a $200 gift certificate to Ron White. Make sure to use “Ron TWEETS!” for your subject line. Make sure to check the website for complete details and while your there, check out the good work Ron White does in the community.
Just one word of caution, most items in the collection are well above $200, so while the winner probably won’t be getting a new pair of shoes or sandals for free, she will get a hefty discount.
I’d be curious to learn the total number of entries for this contest and the number of followers he gains compared to entries. How about you?
Patricia Pinkney introduced herself to me on Twitter last winter. We got to know each other on Twitter a bit and I invited her for a Bargainista interview to learn more about Patricia and the work she’s doing with the Pangea Collection – her fair trade jewellery business.
What can you tell us in a nutshell about your different collections? The name Pangea Collection comes from the name of the continent “Pangea” (or “Pangaea”) which was the name of the super continent that existed before the break up of the continents as we know them today. The idea is Pangea-Collection.com brings the world back together again so you can find all the beautiful fair trade and artisan jewellery from around the world in one easy place, at a click of a mouse.
Each jewellery collection reflects the culture from which it originates. Pangea Collection has jewellery from Asia, Africa, North and South America and Europe. Some of these jewellery crafting techniques date back centuries. Purchasing a piece of jewellery from these fair trade and independent artisans not only helps the artisan achieve the art of self reliance but also helps to preserve traditional techniques which might otherwise be lost if a market couldn't be found for their jewellery artwork.
Pangea Collection jewellery is fashionable AND socially conscious. That's what our customers love about Pangea Collection jewellery. They feel like they have a little piece of culture adorning them and they feel good about supporting the artisan.
Our most popular collections include the Handmade Silver Jewelry from Mexico, the Bali Jewelry (Harmony Balls in particular) and the Fair Trade Indian Jewelry.
What type of customer do you have in mind when choosing pieces for your collection? Pangea Collection customers look for pieces that reflect their personality. Jewellery that they won't find at mass stores or shopping malls. They like to travel and explore different cultures and usually shop when travelling. I look for jewellery that reflects the cultural origins and when our customers wear them they will get that "that's beautiful, where did you get that?" question. They can then tell the story of the jewellery, it's origin and artisan who handcrafted it. Our customers love that.
Where can Bargainista readers buy items from Pangea Collection? www.Pangea-Collection.com – everything is available online, starting at just $20 including free shipping! That's a bargain, for a bargainista!
What inspires you? Travel and the discovery of how much beautiful creative work there is in the world. I am also inspired by women entrepreneurs, especially women in developing markets who start businesses even under very challenging market conditions and through pure persistence make a viable business to support their families.
I‘m also a huge fan of micro financing and organisations like Opportunity International. For as little as a $50 loan, a women in a developing market can use that loan to start a business.
What would you like people to know about your approach to jewellery? That I seek the world to find the most beautiful jewellery pieces that are handcrafted by fair trade and independent jewellery artisans so that every woman can feel beautiful. The woman who wears it and the women (and sometimes men) who handcraft it.
I am aware of trends and always keep them in mind but that is not what drives my buying. I look for jewellery that I would feel great wearing today and in 20 years. Sometimes a piece that Pangea Collection has had in stock already becomes “trendy” the next season.
Why Twitter? Is it helping you build your business? How do you know? Are you using other social media tools? Which ones and why? Twitter (@pangeacollecton – no “i” in collection) and other social media are fascinating. I use both, Facebook more than Twitter but I really need to find more time to use Twitter. These social media tools aren’t really driving sales for Pangea Collection but they really do help me from other business perspectives such as finding new artisans understanding who is talking about issues that are important to us and connecting with media, etc.
How do I know if social media is successful? I measure everything I do. I use the available free tools to measure success of any initiative that Pangea Collection uses.
Celebrated Canadian jewelry designer Rita Tesolin is having an inventory clearance sale. Items include costume, Sterling Silver and semi-precious jewellery collections and a wide array of one-of-a-kind belts. Prices starting as low as $5.00. Different items will be continually added. A great opportunity to buy designer accessories at bargain prices.
Don’t miss a chance to buy original pieces featured in such magazines as Elle Canada, Flare, Fashion, Chatelaine, Zoomer and many more at up to 90% off.
As expected, lots had changed – newish venue – the Direct Energy Centre is a terrific spot with lots of room for people to move around. Exhibitors have enough room to really strut their stuff. I liked the smaller kiosks featuring first-time exhibitors too.
There was the usual – jewelry, home decor, photography, paintings, accessories, clothing and food and the unusual – decorative bowls made out of real fruits and vegetables (can you see the carrot slices above?). I liked the focus on green and sustainable items too. There were lots of things – especially jewelry that were neither one-of-a-kind nor original.
Two things surprised me: • Some vendors weren’t taking advantage of e-commerce and selling online. It’s a no-brainer to set up an Etsy shop. • Many vendors didn’t like having pictures taken of their kiosk or creations
As for the latter, I can understand their concerns about being knocked off (see my earlier comment about the lack of originality). Some artists showed a distrust of prospective customers and/or fans. They wanted control of how their works would be photographed and shared. I tested the waters a bit. I took some photos without asking, some photos with asking, explained why I wanted to take photos and even offered to delete a photo – fortunately, no one demanded I delete any images. FYI, show organizers create displays throughout the venue and no one balks when pictures are taken.
Control isn’t just about the written message but about the visual one as well. One vendor/artist handed me his card and told me to use the images on the website – he wanted to have full control of any imagery of his work.
Unfortunately, these artists have no idea of the power of online word of mouth and how people will celebrate and share their work online. They didn’t seem to understand or care that I was helping them market their businesses. (For the record, I usually don’t use the fact that I blog to push my weight around. Domistyle Inc. was more than happy to accommodate my photo snapping. They were familiar with Bargainista too and found a new fan. Aren’t their aprons the cutest?)
One suggestion I have for the One of a Kind organizers next fall is to help educate the exhibitors teach them the power organic, online marketing and social networking has in driving awareness and sales.
As for retail stores, it used to be you couldn’t take any pictures inside. These days, retailers are softening up although I often ask for permission when inside since they own/lease the property. I don’t pay to be there so I feel the need to be respectful.
When at the One of a Kind or another show where I’m paying to attend, the vendors are being giving access to potential customers who otherwise would never see their skills and craftsmanship, I feel I have more of a right to create a journal (text or photo) of my experience.
What do you think? Are bloggers and/or other online content creators wrong to think they can photograph when the inspiration strikes? Do we need to ask permission first? Am I missing the mark and should I be asking permission before taking any photos?
Like many other parents, I was off last week for March break. For us, there was a nice balance of visiting relatives in Montreal and staycation back in Toronto. The staycation part was a great opportunity for us to experience some of the new shops in the neighbourhood – and there are many as a result of vacancies left by casualties of the recession.
Just off Avenue Road, south of the 401, Short & Sweet Cupcakes is a sweet spot hidden on Old Orchard Grove. (Check out their blog.) Like its name, there was lots of sweet goodness inside. The owners were lovely and told me how appreciative of the support they’ve been receiving from the community. In fact, they have so many special orders, they’re finding it a challenge keeping their storefront filled with a variety of tasty cupcakes with clever names like Diamonds & Pearls (that’s next on my list), Key Lime Kick, Lady in Red and Black & White Affair.
Price wise, at $3 per cupcake, $13 per ½ dozen and $26 per dozen, they’re comparable to other cupcake shops in the city. Taste wise, they were superior to several – including others with greater visual appeal – yes, looks can be deceiving. I really liked the micro-cupcake samples they have on hand. When I stopped by I tried BBM, a banana butterscotch cupcake with maple buttercream, it was terrific.
I picked up two for my kids – Coco Loco, the coconut chocolate one was delicious – I had a nibble. I didn’t taste the One Hundred & One, an Oreo-flavoured cupcake with Oreo buttercream but my son wasn’t blown away. Regardless, I’m really liked the comfy, unpretentious, warm atmosphere and I’ll be back.
What’s your favourite cupcake shop? Have you tried Short & Sweet Cupcakes? If so, what did you think? Which flavour(s) did you try?
You may remember last fall when I wrote about my new winter boots. Well the good news is, they got me through most of the winter - and I wore them almost every day. The bad news is they leaked a bit, I couldn’t remove all of the salt stains and two weeks ago, the zipper on one boot broke.
The other bit of good news is La Canadienne guaranteed them for six months. So, I called Davids. The sales associate told me to bring them in and they’d fix the zippers (the other one was on the verge of breaking too) or I could contact La Canadienne directly to complain and ask them to honour the guarantee.
I thought it was a bit strange Davids wasn’t going to act as intermediary between the customer and the supplier. I wanted my boots back asap so I opted for the zipper repair.
On Monday, the sales associate called to say her supervisor said the cost of repairing the zippers was too high so they’d gladly offer me a refund or a credit note. Of course I opted for a refund. I was delighted and assumed I could show up at any time and get my refund.
This morning I went back to Davids with my receipt and repair tag. The sales associate who had been helping me was there. When I asked for my refund, she promptly said “Oh, you mean your store credit.” I don’t think so. I’m not a regular Davids’ customer but I’ve learned their Yorkdale location has some stuff in my price range. (You may remember I bought the boots their because of the inferior service at their sister store.)
She went on to say she may have made a mistake. She’d to check with her manager first and would I come back when the manager’s here in a half an hour.
Me: "Sorry, no. I’m here now. I have to pick up my son in a half-hour and you need to honour your word. If you made a mistake, you'll need to take responsibility.”
We had a brief discussion ending with me saying, “I don’t want to escalate this but I will if I’m left with no choice.”
She was a bit dumbfounded, picked up the phone and unsuccessfully tried reaching her manager. I told her I’d be back in five minutes for my refund.
When I came back, I got my refund. She and the other sales associate were a bit patronizing but said they wanted to make me happy.
What am I missing here? • I bought a pair of boots with a six-month guarantee. • The boots didn’t live up to that guarantee. • I took them back to the store. • The store offered to repair the zippers or gave me the option to contact the manufacturer directly. • A day later, the store called to say the repair would be too expensive and they’d be happy to give me a full refund or an exchange for something else (they didn’t have any more of the boots in stock.) • I opted for the refund – they’d be getting a refund from La Canadienne wouldn’t they – so what’s the big fuss?
Why did they give me a hassle? I wasn’t asking for anything unreasonable. I went to the store this morning expecting them to deliver on their promise. All this would have been prevented had the sales associate confirmed all the details with her supervisor before calling me. Even better if she would have sent me an email confirming the details.
At the end of the day, Davids’ reputation for stellar service is a bit tarnished and I’m SOL for winter boots. We’re probably still in for more snow before the season is over so, I’m expecting a couple days with cold wet feet.
Today while I stopped into Home Outfitters for a few minutes, I found an iPod Nano on a shelf inside a charging station valet. There were small, messy fingerprints all over but no other identifiable information. Obviously it was misplaced by a child who was probably crying somewhere in the mall. Maybe her parents were busy trying to retrace their steps.
I couldn’t just leave it there. I asked a couple salespeople if they knew of anyone looking for a lost iPod. They didn’t. I was on my way to the checkout. So, while paying, I gave the cashier the iPod and asked her to take my name and number. I left clear instructions asking her to call me if the owner didn’t come back to claim it within a week or so. Why? I wanted to make sure someone working at the store didn’t take it home. There had to be some way to find the owner even if she didn’t come forward.
After I had made my decision and returned the Nano, I put the question out to my friends on Twitter. Here’s what they had to say.
As you’ll see, most of them would have done the same thing. One person suggested doing nothing. Daniele Rossi and Dave Jones suggested taking it back to Apple since they could probably trace it back to the owner. Great tip, I hadn’t thought of that.
This list will be updated continuously so check it often. You may also want to click through to Bargainista’s comprehensive list on Twitter.
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.
Online
What: Bath & Body Works, Yorkdale
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.
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.
Sony Reader Pocket Edition™ (Silver), Zipper Case Pocket Edition (online) and Premium Cover for the Pocket Edition (in-store)
In Store
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.
How you can help make a difference? 
Since winning tickets to The Clothing Show last spring, Jean Yee and I have been having a lot of email conversations. Well what do you know, she won them again this fall. Rather than ask her for a recap of the show, I asked if she’d share her preparation process with you. As you’ll see, it’s quite intricate. 
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We have our winners for free pairs of tickets to The Clothing Show Fall 2010 Edition – offering a weekend of shopping, art, photography and runway shows.
Winners: please email me with your real first and last name and the name of your guest by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 22, for details on how get your tickets to the show.
Last Tuesday night I attended my first event in ages. Although the invitation arrived in my inbox just the day before, it was hard to pass up and the buzz about the Roots x Douglas Coupland collection has been electric. So, I skipped the visit to the eponymous pop-up store and went directly to Roots’ flagship store on Bloor St. and headed upstairs to see what all the fuss was about.
In this baby bargainista post, Jenny shares tips for buying sundresses for little girls.
pretty summer sundresses for our girls. Our oldest is 5 and is deeply into wearing dresses – the frillier, the better – but they don’t always stand up well to her active, still rough-and-tumble lifestyle.![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_t6xHL9UiFORy-uVxbHI64breVvhXaiUTwrclDHB0K2XNqtSkm43Aa8u_7KB_u8jesPZtGsTddC6_RUUqmMg3KdQ8dkDVuKi4_8Fp0OiS1D_yCJeR-K097b36-QZUD_dqY7e1TNXSy19yF5dyYWiaq9=s0-d)
Since winning tickets to The Clothing Show, Jean Yee and I have been having a lot of email conversations. She was nice enough to share her experience. Hope you’ll enjoy her guest post as much as I did. ![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_v6dHZvcSTljz7YrLAPWwgzo16EsSchxnCvo6P49y5WMgOMLH2LnQfomBHUgSW58H7f77NK65Rg8gcVVupt22gXRseYU1Askf27aLm2zisHdbKeG9UTVmQthmzzz7ljwGEB9l1-8R3x8rh3gj0AIwA=s0-d)
What?
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Ron White is a Toronto-based high-end shoe store named after it‘s owner, with a focus on premium brands that put comfort first yet are equally fashionable.![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sI8JdIqUu6okE19j6CS1GAc5-WJj1vW1oQOpRlYnfLrXvfl9eAbfXANgfRNDe7eUsc-hI5tuwq4MctlTCjMdURc5UBe5enlFwW6uTG6zROhvcYvYRnYr5p3fZi4rlo19hMrTdvFhMYxU9AzMVE6NnG=s0-d)
Patricia Pinkney introduced herself to me on Twitter last winter. We got to know each other on Twitter a bit and I invited her for a Bargainista interview to learn more about Patricia and the work she’s doing with the Pangea Collection – her fair trade jewellery business.![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uxgr2T7TQGt3Hd-xleOtEgbnVYSUqo9gs8qPrbCrtSk1Qbe8sU1hFesmPAy0jIQVQWRdKAcfi0pKC9t2mNByntinXJrca5CXMAfIkTS3K3ajxVRs-9EK5rmzTfDMOLLuJXczDyiI1oCT_fT6oqnjU=s0-d)
What?
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Like many other parents, I was off last week for March break. For us, there was a nice balance of visiting relatives in Montreal and staycation back in Toronto. The staycation part was a great opportunity for us to experience some of the new shops in the neighbourhood – and there are many as a result of vacancies left by casualties of the recession.![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sTcdccuWMLnrMkvi71tkgPSPZiI03_F0MjaFKXvUKZOzplDvBAqZIC2BaHTqY4-9MLOke2mxAebUp4E4APdu1LR492sXeEjJSul23EXPa2v2C6qzuZhguMp5y59qbE2dyF78RZUFAZLnNWT0sggVIq=s0-d)
You may remember last fall when I wrote about my new winter boots. Well the good news is, they got me through most of the winter - and I wore them almost every day. The bad news is they leaked a bit, I couldn’t remove all of the salt stains and two weeks ago, the zipper on one boot broke.![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sWcPj5mUsW4eg6U6Y61Vr9z9KhOsvkmC29mYeBu6aWux-LUQyROFXmuA9vNFmYGXbqHjtTEozOPODJZyT8lH6cML_TAesV8QafwnMJyyTwl4O2FUvVTpdYNsGqbrPSbGkn0Hm3mOD4r7Wm3oaVIzqH=s0-d)
Today while I stopped into Home Outfitters for a few minutes, I found an iPod Nano on a shelf inside a charging station valet. There were small, messy fingerprints all over but no other identifiable information. Obviously it was misplaced by a child who was probably crying somewhere in the mall. Maybe her parents were busy trying to retrace their steps.
As you’ll see, most of them would have done the same thing. One person suggested doing nothing. Daniele Rossi and Dave Jones suggested taking it back to Apple since they could probably trace it back to the owner. Great tip, I hadn’t thought of that.![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sJwj56VBl4y3hv75uQA9T27AO30XHxuSi3-jQFsqUMTg3EtTXSQtbp3gxxPm96xcQgT8Nu0s5Q9NNLK0yl2mf7poJX521G7NYxj-MFfFWASEZVeca_KnvH1xXQ-ibApNWg-Hl1IzcbM8MnKipEBIzN=s0-d)
