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Online retailers and gift wrapping

One of my favorite bloggers is Michelle Malkin (well...she's more than that; she's a FoxNews contributor and author).  Last week she mentioned how she ordered her daughter a Christmas gift from Amazon and selected the “gift wrap” option.  Instead of showing up nicely wrapped (like we would all expect a gift to be), it came in a blue burlap bag with an ugly ribbon.  Did I mention that this option cost her $5.00?

So...a box shows up at my house today full of Christmas gifts from my mother-in-law.  It appears that she ordered from http://www.walmart.com and selected the gift wrap option as well.  Guess what?  Yep...the gifts were in nasty blue burlap bags.  There is no way in hell that these are going under my tree.  My wife and I will be re-wrapping them and letting my mother-in-law know that she should NEVER select this option again.

Buyer beware!

Edit: Oh yea...grrr...walmart also packed everything in foam peanuts!

Print | posted on Friday, December 17, 2004 9:43 AM

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# re: Online retailers and gift wrapping

left by Ed at 12/17/2004 1:53 PM Gravatar
As an online retailer, we don't offer gift wrapping but plan to in the near future. This story along with Michelle Malkin's is good to hear. Just goes to prove that the big guys can't be bothered to give personal attention anymore and only go for the most expedient.

We were using peanuts, but haven't used styrofoam peanuts in years. Corn starch peanuts have been around for more than eight years and cost no more than the styro ones - and they disappear when soaked in a pail of water!

This year we made use of the inflatable bags in most of our orders. The stuff is completely recycleable and costs about the same as peanuts - and it's so much easier and cleaner to use.

# re: Online retailers and gift wrapping

left by Michael Eaton at 12/17/2004 6:31 PM Gravatar
Ed, it would be nice if the big places like Amazon and Wal*Mart would let people know exactly what they were buying. I would be horribly embarrassed if I had selected "gift wrap" and the blue burlap bag had shown up at a friends door. :-\

BTW, how would I know if the peanuts were corn starch or not? Just drop some in some water and see what happens?

# re: Online retailers and gift wrapping

left by Ed at 6/23/2005 11:38 AM Gravatar
Styro or plastic peanuts make a distinctive squeak when rubbed between two fingers. They usually have a shiny appearance as well. Cornstarch peanuts tend to break when rubbed between the fingers and have a non-shiny surface.
Or, as you suggest, just wet one with some tap water and see what happens.
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