HOLIDAY SHOPPING: All of the Must-Have Info

It’s crunch time! It’s the part of the year when everyone is scrambling to find the perfect gift for everyone who was well-behaved enough to make it onto your own personal “Good List.” Have no fear, GantDaily is here to help you make the holiday bright.

On this page, you’ll find all of the information you need to pick up must-have gifts.

You’ll also find great tips to keep yourself sane during the holiday shopping period and after.

(GantDaily has been informed by one of Santa’s top elves that he found some great gift choices and shopping tips on this page!)

So, grab a nice big cup of hot chocolate with some whipped cream and a few sugar cookies and take a look at GantDaily’s HOLIDAY SHOPPING: All of the Must-Haves.

                               

We’ve polled our visitors and local retailers, surfed the Net and sent our reporters out in search of the most wanted gifts this holiday season. With a focus on consumer electronics (which will account for more than one-quarter of all holiday gifts this year) and toys, from gender neutral to gender and age specific, you’re sure to get an idea or two, or three from this list. Please note, all of these gifts are available at local retailers.

LG White Chocolate

The White Chocolate (along with the regular Chocolate, the Cherry Chocolate and the Mint Chocolate) offers a rich array of features that include V CAST Music, a glowing touch-sensitive navigation keys, superlative music/video player, luxurious 1.3 megapixel camera/camcorder, Bluetooth® capabilities, and a microSD memory port for extra storage.

Cuisinart — Coffee on Demand, Coffee Maker/Dispenser

This coffee maker has a simple press to serve lever that delivers up to 12 cups-o-java. It also has an exclusive coffee gauge on the front of the unit that counts down the remaining cups. It’s cool and precise, but make sure you’re pouring into a clear mug!

Nikon Coolpix S7C Digital Camera

If you don’t have a digital camera yet, here’s your best bet –great gift for the entire family. It features 7.1 megapixels, it’s Wi-Fi capable (instant print, instant e-mailing using Coolpix Connect service), vibration reduction and 3x optical zoon/4x digital zoom.

                      

Pioneer INNO Portable XM radio player

For the car no more! Carry this portable player from the car to the office to the home office –just not to the boardroom!

Shark 3-speed sweeper/vacuum

Forget the Roomba and get her or him a Shark. Great for quick cleanups on tile, carpet … lightweight and sleek and rechargeable — no chords. This cordless electronic sweeper cleans a 13-inch path and has a side brush to get into corners. Works for up to 60 minutes on a full charge. Can be used as a handheld.

Norton Confidential software

Connect to the Internet on your own terms. For those on our list who do a lot of online shopping, banking, or venture anywhere online that requires access to a bank account, credit cards, etc. –- just an extra ounce of confidence to protect against identity theft. The software keeps passwords protected, authenticates popular banking and shopping web sites. Compatible with Windows XP Home, XP Pro and XP Media Center.The software scans for threats and provides that extra ounce of confidence in protecting your personal information against identity-stealing Web sites. An extra ounce of authentication and a good one.

                      

Fisher Price Kid-tough Digial Camera

Preschoolers can learn the art of photography with this digital camera designed especially for them. With a 1.3-inch color LCD preview screen, easy navigation menu and wrist strap, it’s meant to stand up to typical rough preschooler use. Kids can instantly see the picture they’ve taken on the LCD screen, or they can delete previous shots. It features 640 x 480 resolution for quality 4-by-6-inch prints, 8 MB built-in memory for up to 50 pictures.

Blue Man Group Percussion Tubes

The percussion tubes feature proximity sensor technology, which allows kids to mix and layer music with a simple wave of their hands, pre-programmed songs, interchangeable instrument sounds, and iPod or MP3 compatibility. The percussion tubes are suitable for children 8 and older.

V-Tech V.Smile TV Learning System

Turns game time into brain time. This learning system combines a video game platform and educational content into a system that connects directly to the television. Specially made for children ages 3-7 years old, the V.Smile allows early school-age learners to play a variety of exciting and imaginative games. 

                      

Panasonic HD Upconverting DVD Recorder/VCR

This DVD recorder with built-in VCR is versatile and-format friendly, recording up to four hours in a single DVD-R/DVD-RAM disc. An SD card slot supports upto 2 GB so you can burn your photos and videos to DVDs. When you connect this recorder to an HDMI-compatible TV via an HDMI cable you can upconvert your DVD content to 720p or 1080i resolution depending on your TV’s display capabilities.

The PS3

Years in the making, this next generation video game player is tops on the list of every gamer this season. The system features the world’s move advanced cell processor, a reality synthesizer graphic processor allowing for realistic movement of gaming objects. It plays thousands of Playstation and Playstation game titles.

                      

It seems as though everyone has a list of hot holiday toys. We couldn’t be left out of the loop here at Gant!

Below you’ll find a list of most-wanted kid stuff as compiled by KB Toys.

Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses

Barbie’s most recent starring role is as Princess Genevieve, the seventh of 12 sisters in this new Barbie DVD movie. This doll features a light-up spinning skirt and even her kitten is included.

Bratz Forever Diamondz Dolls 

These dolls’ funky styles will be fashionable forever. Each doll features long hair and posable arms and legs that rotate. The dolls include a bracelet with a real diamond for girls to wear.

Fly Wheels XPV Radio Control Vehicle 

Taking radio control to new heights, the XPV can drive on the ground like a car and then take off and fly like an airplane. 

                      

Happy Feet Tap Dancing Mumble

Watch Mumble dance and speak! This toy dances with flapping wings and tapping feet to any music. Activate his Talk Back mode and listen as he responds when spoken to. 

Hot Wheels Radar Gun

Read the speed of your favorite Hot Wheels racing vehicles with point-and-read real life styling and super cool graphics. 

Monopoly Here & Now

America’s favorite board game with cool tokens that are iconic of life here and now and popular destinations from across the United States.

                      

Speed Stacks Stack Pack

Sport Stacking is a new competitive sport of speed, action and coordination. Speed Stacks allows kids to compete
against the clock to improve their own stacking time and participate in team events. 

T.M.X. Elmo

(If you can find it) The ultimate Elmo with three interactive tickle spots on his chin, tummy or toe that evokes gales of laughter and riotous movements.

TeleStory Plug ‘n Play

This interactive storybook system can help children learn to read, gain story comprehension and build a life-long love of reading. 

                      

So Santa got it wrong … again?

Don’t worry, you can always exchange it. Before you stand in line, though, the National Retail Federation has some hints that will make that wait less stressful.

Washington, D.C. – More people will be finding a gift receipt tucked in with their presents this holiday season, according to the latest National Retail Federation Survey.

“It has become common practice for store employees to automatically ask shoppers if they would like a gift receipt with their purchase,” said NRF President and CEO Tracy Mullin. “Gift receipts not only simplify the return process for the consumer, but they also allow the retailer to verify that the merchandise was purchased in their store.”

According to the survey, slightly more than one in three consumers (37.6 percent) will return at least some portion of their gifts this holiday season. And when it comes to retailers’ policies, consumers understand that they have been implemented for specific reasons, with 88.2 percent of consumers polled stating that they find stores’ return policies to be fair.

“Retailers are constantly doing their best to make sure that the return process is as streamlined as possible,” said Mullin. “While they are working to maximize the shopping experience for their customers, they are also working hard to minimize the possibility of potential fraud.”

Here are a few tips for stress-free returns after the holidays:
• Know the retailer’s return policy before you buy. Most retailers have return policies prominently displayed, especially at this time of year. Gift-givers should read and remember them. If you do not see the policies displayed make sure to ask a sales associate.

• Save and file all receipts! Receipts are still the key to hassle-free returns. Many retailers will allow consumers to exchange merchandise without a receipt. However, without a receipt, a retailer may only provide merchandise credit for the lowest markdown-price at which the item was sold in the past 30 days. Make sure to destroy the receipt once you are sure that you will no longer need it.

• Provide all original packaging and all parts (including all tags) when giving a gift. Some retailers won’t accept returns unless the item is in its original package. If you plan to take back a gift when it is unwrapped, resist the urge to open it or play with it. No one wants to buy someone else’s merchandise.

• Ask for a gift receipt to make gift returns easier. Ask the retailer if they issue gift receipts. These receipts contain all the necessary information to prove the items were purchased, minus the price. 

                       

Many Happy Returns

Make your online returns easy! Returns are a part of shopping, no matter where you choose to shop. In addition to the other common sense rules of returns, here are a few things to find out before you purchase a gift online: 

Know the process –- Who pays for shipping the return, you or the merchant? Some merchants will pick up the delivery charges for exchanges, but not for returns.

Where to make returns -– Does the retailer have a physical store, and can returns or exchanges be made there? Make sure you have the correct address if you need to mail returns back to the company. Some merchants have off-site service centers that handle returns that may be in a different location from where the merchandise is sent.

Don’t delay! Consumers should plan to make returns as soon as possible after the holidays to take advantage of extended hours and extra help, and to get the best selection of merchandise for an alternate gift.

Remember, the week after Christmas is one of the busiest weeks of the retail year. With people’s frustration high and tolerance low, be patient when returning merchandise. 

                      

Just When You Thought Your Job was Bad …

GAP – When was the last time someone pulled your beard or wet on your lap at work? This is what mall Santas cheerfully endure every year. After discovering that 34 percent of mall Santas have been “wet” on by a child, Auntie Anne’s believes that no one has it as bad during the holidays as the mall Santa.

Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, located primarily in malls, conducted a survey to understand just how much abuse old St. Nick withstands. And based on its findings, mall Santas across the nation are finally going to receive some tender loving care with the Santa Survival Kit.

                     

Beyond how many kids have been “naughty or nice,” following are the survey highlights: 

—  More than 60 percent of mall Santas are sneezed or coughed on up to 10 times each day 
— 74 percent have up to 10 children cry while on their lap each day 
— Nearly 90 percent of mall Santas have their beard pulled each day to see if it’s real 
— Nearly half of mall Santas’ black boots are between a size 10 to 11 1/2, and more than 50 percent of Santas have children step on their
boots one to 10 times a day 
— 45 percent of Santas see camera “flash” spots more than 25 times a day 
— Nearly 50 percent have up to 10 children try to take their glasses off each day 
— Nearly 30 percent of mall Santas have more than 100 children sit on their lap every day

In light of these findings, Auntie Anne’s is providing mall Santas nationwide with the “Santa We Got Your Back” Survival Kit to help them through the crying, sneezing, toe-stomping, pant-wetting and beard-pulling this holiday. The Santa Survival Kit includes:

Boot polish kit, hand sanitizer, lip balm, backup red light bulb for Rudolph’s nose, official reindeer pooper-scooper, absorbent Santa tissue pack, Mrs. Claus peppermint foot lotion, and other assorted items including cards for free Auntie Anne’s Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels.