Holiday shopping without the crowds
The Byte Files
by Paula Moser
You may want to sit down before reading the next sentence. There are only six weeks left until the holidays. (This year Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanzaa all fall on the same day.) Now take a deep breath and don’t panic! I’ve got your shopping problems solved. Use the internet. Not only can you do this at 2 am, when all the insomniacs are shuffling around in bathrobes, but most of these stores will even wrap your presents. In fact, if the gift is going to another city, you can have the store ship it directly to the lucky person and include a card with a personalized message, albeit not in your own handwriting. It doesn’t get any simpler.
Many people are worried that shopping over the Internet leaves you vulnerable to fraud. While this may be true, I’m not convinced it’s any more dangerous than losing your wallet in the mall, having your pin number observed over your shoulder at the bank machine.
There are, however, a few precautions you can take. Shop at big name stores, make sure the site is encrypted when you enter your credit card number (there should be a closed lock in the bottom right corner of the window), use a credit card with a lower limit if that makes you more comfortable, or use companies that support the new “Verified by Visa” password check www.visa.ca/verified. To use this feature, go to the Visa site and sign up, giving a password that must be confirmed by you every time you use your Visa at one of these online stores. This service is free. While you are on the Visa web site, visit www.visaperks.ca to see which stores are currently offering promotions.
So, whatever reason you have for not hitting the malls – agoraphobia, claustrophobia (I find Canadian Tire so stuffed with merchandise I feel dizzy just trying to maneuver around the aisles), lack of handicapped access-aphobia or just plain shopaphobia – here are some of my favorite Canadian sites. If a web site address ends in .ca, it is based in Canada.
Books, Music, Movies. There are two major sites to use for these items: Indigo Chapters (www.chapters. indigo.ca) and Amazon (www.amazon.ca). The online stores carry a much larger inventory than the actual stores so you are sure to find any book you have in mind. Both these sites usually offer free shipping for orders over $39. On the Indigo site enter your loyalty card number and you’ll still get the 10% discount. If you are using Amazon, make sure you are on the Canadian site! If you go to the American site by mistake you will be paying in American dollars and will also have to pay the duty when the package arrives.
Toys. Mastermind toys (www.mastermindtoys. com) is a chain of stores located in Toronto. They even have an outlet in the Ontario Science Centre. Their site is organized by age and interest, so it should be easy to find something for everyone.
Outdoor adventure clothing and equipment. Mountain Equipment Co-Op (www.mec.ca) has everything from long underwear and ski mitts to tents and sleeping bags. You need to buy a membership, but a lifetime membership is only $5. The membership can be purchased online.
Everything else. Although their site is not the easiest to navigate, Sears (www.sears.ca) does have just about anything you would want, from clothing and toys to small and large appliances.
Once all the presents are bought, you will have oodles of free time to plan your holiday parties, which the internet can also help you with. Buy your wine online at the Quebec Liquor Commission site (www.saq.com) and avoid lugging those heavy bottles home. Stock up on groceries at the IGA site (www.iga.ca) or buy gourmet food at Le Maitre D’ & Sommelier in Montreal (www.lemaitre-d.com).
