HolidayShopping
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eBay's toy catalog includes a $100,000 'Magic: The Gathering' card
eBay is following in the footsteps of Amazon (despite an ongoing beef between the two) and attempting to revive the old holiday shopping tradition of the toy catalog. The online retailer is putting together a Toy Book containing the hottest items of this year and all the retro playthings that will make your nostalgia kick in. eBay is sending physical copies of the catalog to millions of homes, but the whole thing can be viewed online. If you're in New York City, eBay is also opening up an interactive storefront called Toytopia where kids can come in and play with the toys.
Amazon sends out toy catalog with no prices ahead of the holidays
Amazon's holiday shopping marketing push is well underway. On Monday, it scrapped the minimum purchase amount for non-Prime customers to qualify for free shipping over the season. In another effort to get consumers to purchase their gifts from Amazon, the company is mailing out millions of copies of its first toy catalog.
Amazon is opening pop-up stores in Whole Foods for the holidays
This holiday season, you could step into a Whole Foods for some organic bananas and step out with a couple of Echo speakers instead. Amazon is already selling "farm fresh" Kindles, Echos, Fire TVs and tablets in 100 Whole Foods locations, but it's taking things a step further for holidays this year. It's opening pop-up shops in five Whole Foods stores across the US, which will do more than just peddle the e-retail giant's devices.
PayPal makes it easy to pool money for gifts
These days, you have a lot of ways to choose from when splitting bills with friends. You can send money through Facebook Messenger, chip in for dinner mid-Skype chat or even pay your debt as an email attachment on Gmail. PayPal has launched another new feature that caters to group of friends and family, but this one focuses on making things easier when pooling money for group gifts or holiday trips. "Money Pools" is PayPal's answer to its 2017 Holiday Money Habits Study finding that most Americans get stressed out when holiday shopping. You can use it to keep track of everyone's contributions and ensure that, say, all your siblings have sent in their share for mom's Christmas gift.
Apple's AirPods won't be ready for the holidays
Apple announced the AirPods during September's "See You" event with a scheduled launch at the end of October. But late that month, the company delayed shipments without setting a release date in the future. Well, the tech titan's wireless headphones still haven't come out and it's unclear when they'll finally be ready for the public. For a company that places enormous emphasis on the pageantry of dramatically unveiling and releasing its products to a ravenous public, this is an unusual and humbling letdown.
Black Friday foot traffic doesn't peak when you think it does
The day that practically every retail worker loathes with a passion is almost upon us: Black Friday. To get an idea of just how much of a nightmare shopping is on the day after Thanksgiving, Google turned to foot traffic data based on aggregated, anonymized mobile location history info gathered last year. Perhaps most surprising is that stores apparently aren't at their busiest during doorbuster deals in the wee hours, but between 2PM and 4PM -- the early-bird deals are actually when store traffic is at its lowest across the board. What's more, only certain types of stores see their traffic at their highest on that first shopping day of the holiday season: consumer electronics and cellphone stores. Malls, department stores and "superstores/discount stores" (likely places akin to Costco and Sam's Club)? They're typically busiest the last Saturday before Christmas.
Amazon shows off the robots handling your holiday orders
Amazon gets a lot of orders during the holidays -- enough that shipping companies sometimes buckle under the load. How's it supposed to cope this year? With robots, apparently. The online shopping giant has revealed that its newest wave of US fulfillment centers make heavy use of automatons to ship your order on time. Kiva robots (the little machines you see above) are around to shuttle smaller goods around the warehouse, while Robo-Stow arms move the larger volumes. There are also shiny new vision-based systems that help workers unload a trailer's worth of stock in 30 minutes, rather than hours. While humans will still play an important role (Amazon will need 80,000 of them this season), they'll hopefully have an easier time dealing with the crushing demand.
Looking for tech gift ideas this season? Gazelle's latest survey can give you some hints.
Gazelle is one of the leading consumer electronic trade-in sites on the internet. If you've got electronics to get rid of and need cash, it will often offer you more than the Apple Store or Best Buy or even your local pawn shop. It's got a vested interest in knowing what technology is going to be in demand this season, and thanks to the results of its latest consumer electronics survey, you can get a peek into the mind of your shopping list. The survey asked more than 900 respondents, ages 18 and older, what devices they were looking for under the tree this holiday season. The results will probably not surprise you: 32 percent of respondents are hoping to receive a new laptop or desktop computer. 15 percent of respondents hope to get new smartphones, like the iPhone 5s and 5c. 14 percent of respondents are crossing their fingers for a new e-reader. As for what gifts respondents were thinking about giving, it looks like the tech-savvy respondents of the survey are aiming to spread screens and e-readers around to their friends and family. 27 percent of consumers say they'll be giving their loved ones a new computer this year. 22 percent plan to give a smartphone as a gift. 18 percent reported they'd be giving an e-reader. Once you've given everyone you love a brand-new iPhone or MacBook, your friends and family are going to have a surplus of old gadgets laying around. Obviously Gazelle would like to buy those old gadgets, so as an added incentive for using its site, the company is offering a special holiday coupon that gives users an extra US$10 when they trade in their stuff at Gazelle. Simply go to http://www.gazelle.com/holiday and print out the coupon. The company would like you to include the coupon with your gift, but if that feels tacky, just print it out and give it to the recipients after they open their package. You can also email them this story so they can download the coupon themselves and do it on their own time.
Target adds QR codes to hot holiday toys for secret shopping
Well, this one should give parents with ever-present ankle-biters reason to celebrate. Starting Sunday, October 14th, Target will make a special in-store area available highlighting 20 of the most sought-after toys -- all tagged with QR codes for one-stop, secret mobile shopping. The initiative is being targeted at consumers (read: frazzled Moms and Dads) who need to conduct their frenzied gift-buying without the prying eyes of curious children. You'll have to install the company's app to scan the codes and opt-in for the free shipping, but it's really no more complicated than that. All told, it's an added bit of convenience that should relieve some of that mad holiday stress, but it's definitely bad news for the impulse buyer. You can check out the PR after the break for the full list of included products.
Best Buy rewards your procrastination with buy-one-get-one iPhone 4 deal
Sure it's Christmas Eve and we're more than halfway through Hanukkah, but it's never too late to score some last minute deals -- and heck, why not get a little something for yourself, while you're at it? Best Buy wants to give you a free iPhone 4 for your impressive ability to hold out on holiday shopping for this long. Pick up a 32GB version of the last-gen handset with a two-year AT&T or Verizon plan, and the big box retailer will toss in a second (plus carrier fees, naturally). This is an in-store only sort of deal, and it's only good through close at 5PM tonight -- those folks in the blue polo shirts have families too, you know. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Nintendo to release streamlined Wii in the UK, at reduced, holiday season price
It may be a while before we see the Wii U hit the market, but it looks like a refreshed version of its predecessor will be hitting the UK market just in time for the holiday shopping rush. According to the UK's Official Nintendo Magazine, the refreshed console will sport a streamlined look and adjusted configuration, designed for horizontal orientation, rather than vertical. It will also be included in a "Family Edition" bundle scheduled for a holiday release, alongside a Wii Remote Plus, Nunchuk controller, and editions of Wii Party and Wii Sports. The downside, however, is that the slimmed-down Wii won't be compatible with GameCube games or controllers, though it will reportedly be sold at a reduced, unspecified price. No word yet on whether Nintendo has a similar update in store for markets outside of the UK, but we'll let you know as soon as we find out.
Get your giving sorted out with Gift Plan
Keeping track of all the holiday shopping and the various recipients of gifts among family and friends is a chore that's just crying out for an app. There are plenty of gift organizers on the App Store, but one of the newest and slickest is Glasshouse Apps' new release Gift Plan. This US$1.99 app gives you all the tools you'll need to manage your holiday, birthday or other occasion gift-giving. Gift Plan lets you organize by date, shopping list or by recipient/occasion. Once you've added your likely gift recipients (from your contact list, Facebook birthday sync or manually), you can file away ideas for the next gift, likes/dislikes, and clothing sizes. You can also keep track of what you've already gotten for each person, to avoid repeat gifts. You can filter your upcoming occasions by birthday, anniversary or holiday giving, just to keep from being overwhelmed by the prospect of all those presents. All this is wrapped up in a graceful and straightforward interface, which is just what you'd expect from the team that brought us The Early Edition, Barista and Cellar. Happy holidays, and happy shopping! %Gallery-111682%
Great GPS navigation deals for holiday travelers
As the holidays approach we're seeing some very tempting prices on navigation apps for the iPhone. Here are some deals worth considering if you've been waiting for price drops. My favorite app, from Navigon is on sale Black Friday only. The USA version drops to $29.99 from the regular $49.99. The MyRegion versions, giving you a choice of the US East or West Coast, or the central states drops $10.00 to $19.99. I've consistently recommended the Navigon app because of it's many features, excellent voice directions, and easy GUI. I'd also point our readers to the CoPilot Live app which is on sale this week only. The North American version, which contains maps of both the US and Canada is now $9.99. A high resolution version for the iPad is now on sale for $19.99. Those prices are 50% off the regular cost. If you'd like to see what CoPilot Live can do, watch this video demo. We've already reported that the Magellan Roadmate app is also on sale for $34.99 until December 1, so no more excuses and stop getting lost on those road trips.
SNL's Black Friday doorbuster ad promises waxed floors and fire hazards galore
We all know that there's nothing funny about actual injury or death caused by a stampeding crowd rabidly in search of cheap TVs. There is, however, plenty to laugh at in the video below from the most recent Saturday Night Live. The mock Black Friday ad for Mega-Mart includes all the post-Thanksgiving hallmarks of consumerism we've come to love: super cheap electronics, scary-looking shoppers and a sales rep who sounds an announcer at a horse race. Enjoy the full video below.
Report: Apple's inventory woes fixed for holiday shoppers
A number of analysts are expecting inventory shortages to restrict holiday gadget sales. However, Forbes reports that Apple will be able to avoid the pinch. Jason Busch, the founder and Managing Director of advisory firm Azul Partner, expects Apple to keep holiday shoppers happy for three main reasons. Busch says that firstly, Apple has "superior" forecast accuracy than its competitors. Keeping a close eye on where their inventory is at all times, Apple is able to control the particulars accurately, although they don't always get it right. For example, when a new iteration of a product is released -- like the new MacBook Air -- stock of the previous version will dry up in the weeks leading to that release, demonstrating Apple's precision in inventory management. Secondly, Busch says Apple is "at the top of the [inventory management] food chain" because of its sheer weight in the consumer electronics market. "Apple controls so much volume that it has greater influence over its suppliers, at multiple levels," says Busch. Finally, Apple can build strong lead times for its most popular products. For instance, the iPad was released in April allowing for strong supply chains to be established well before the expected holiday demand. Gartner supply chain analyst Mickey North Rizza affirms this by saying, "Because Apple brought out the iPad in April, they have had time to ramp things up. Apple's efforts to build a supply chain for each product will continue to create a distinct advantage in the marketplace." With iPhone 4 and iPad supply shortages having been recently resolved, Apple smoothed the kinks in its related supply chain. Either way, if you're looking to buy a loved one some Apple gear during this festive period, we'd recommend starting early, just to be on the safe side. [via MacDailyNews]
Black Friday ads leaking all over town, we've rounded them up
The holiday shopping season is really creeping up on us quickly this year... wasn't it just Halloween the other day? Regardless, Black Friday ads revealing the deals to come are leaking all over the internet, so we thought we'd round up a few of the less monotonous-looking bargains. So what's on offer? It looks like Sam's Club has an Acer Aspire One 10.1-inch netbook going for $197, and an HP G71 17-inch laptop with a Blu-ray player for $499, an Olympus FE-4000 12 megapixel digicam for $98, and a few other odds and ends. Meanwhile, over at Staples you can snag a 500GB Western Digital My Passport portable hard drive for $70 and a 23-inch Acer widescreen LCD for $140. If you're still up to it, you can head over to Target and grab a Nikon Coolpix S203 for $88 or a TomTom XL340S for $97. Finally, it looks like Kmart's going to have a 42-inch Panasonic 720p Plasma HDTV for $550 and a 10.1 megapixel Sony Cyber-shot W180 for $99. While you're there, don't forget to pick up a Jaclyn Smith cashmere sweater set for $30, too! Hit the read links for full ads. Read - Sam's Club Black Friday Ad Leaked Read - Staples Black Friday Ad Read - Target Black Friday Ad Read - Kmart Black Friday Ad
Brenthaven: The best computer backpack I've ever seen
The TUAW gang have been searching for great holiday gift ideas and I think I've found one that's been right under my nose for five years. When I bought my brand new PowerBook G4 17" in 2004, I splurged and bought a Brenthaven backpack for it. Back then it cost a good deal more than the usual backpack -- around $75 -- but I thought it would be worth it since I lugged around my PowerBook nearly every day and it looked like the Brenthaven provided better padding than the competition. Since then, the backpack has housed a succession of three 17" PowerBooks and MacBook Pros under very heavy use. The amazing part is that outside of being a bit dusty, it's in just as good shape as the day I bought it. No frayed stitching, no stuck zippers, no torn dividers. There is no sign of wear and/or tear whatsoever. And if there was, or ever will be, all Brenthaven bags come with a lifetime warranty.
Ask Engadget HD: Where can I find Blu-ray movies for cheap on Black Friday and beyond?
Prices on Blu-ray players continue to plunge, inducing more and more to make the jump, but what about the software? We've asked where you buy your discs before, but this time we're presented with a brand new adopter looking to stock up on titles during the holiday season. That's Sean's situation, where to look for Blu-ray discs over the next month if price is the only consideration. "Instead of camping out for a big ticket purchase on black Friday, I already grabbed a new flat screen and Blu-ray player, but so far I only have a couple of movies to watch on it. I really want to upgrade my library with plenty of reference quality selections, and I figure holiday seasons will be a great time to do it. Any advice on where to look for the deepest discounts / bundles over the next couple of months?" So, we know there's more than a few of you always on the lookout for a BOGO or better offer to come along whether buying for yourself or as gifts, any tips for our tightfisted friend here? Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
GameStop hiring 15,000 temporary employees this holiday
Like other retailers, North America's largest video game brick-and-mortar chain will be gearing up for the holiday sales rush with a flood of new, temporary employees. GameStop is bolstering its "game advisors" numbers by 78% (see: grunts) and the company's total employee population by 46% (see: covenant) -- that's 15,000 people altogether, RTT News reports.While the employees will be considered "seasonal," they will reportedly receive the same benefits to working at the company as any other employee, including game borrowing and an employee discount. No word on whether they'll also get the complimentary demoralization and up-selling technique training.
Walmart, Kmart announce Black Friday-esque deals for days other than Black Friday
Want to get a jump on your holiday shopping or find a couple of insane bargains to keep for yourself? A few retailers are offering what they've dubbed "Black Friday-style" price cuts for tomorrow -- Saturday, November 8th. Walmart's got a sweet 15.4-inch Compaq CQ-139WM (with 2GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive) laptop for $298, in addition to a PlayStation 2 bundled with a $30 WalMart gift card for $129, and a PlayStation 3 with a $100 gift card for $399. Over at Kmart they're offering up a rad 32-inch Sylvania LCD HDTV for $439.99 (they usually go for for $550). They also have several deals for Sunday, November 9th, including the Wii Fit for $89.99. Is it safe to assume that every Friday (not to mention Saturday and Sunday) until Christmas will be "black"? For the full, mind-blowing rundown, hit the read links.[Via CNET, I4U News]Read - KmartRead - Walmart Backs Main Street
