Holiday Shopping with Ebay

Sponsored, yes. Big stunner there. But I really do shop on Ebay an AWFUL LOT. And I'm not saying one thing in this post that I really don't believe.

The holidays are upon us! Have you started your holiday shopping yet?

I have to start. I know I do. It's totally apparent to me that I'm going to have to do some super duper shopping - but the fact that I work about 60 hours a week leaves me precious little time to scour the malls and the stores for just the right gift. Not to mention that I'm not a huge fan of hanging out at the mall with a bunch of other people who may or may not be nice to me. 

Enter online shopping. It's my primary means of purchasing lately - the convenience of having it shipped directly to me can't be beat. Plus - I love seeing the mail truck and the UPS truck stop at my house - I keep a little rush. (I know - it's ok - part of having a problem is admitting you actually have one.)

Ebay is one of my favorite websites - any time I want to get something, I check Ebay first. Often, I can find what I am looking for at a fraction of the price. This year, just like last, I'll be looking for gifts for my kids - and I've already started. The fact that, this year, they've partnered with Toys R Us means that I no longer have to stand in line with 50 other irritable, cranky mothers who just want to buy the coveted Lego building set so they can get back to work - intead, I can shop from the comfort of my house, in my pjs (if I want, there's no judging around here!) with a great big cup of coffee - well, this partnership was MADE for me. 

Here are some things that I picked from the Holiday gift guide that I think are great - and the prices are less than those in retail stores, so hmmmm - I may have just completed a significant portion of my shopping just by writing this post.

Even better - download the Mobile App and check prices when you are out shopping - I am ALL about getting the best deal possible.

I SO win at the Internet today.

Lego Friend's Olivia's House - My girls picked this - they love LEGOS, but their brother often doesn't like to share, and this is a PLAYHOUSE. Win on all fronts there. 

Star Wars Limited Edition Hoth Echo Base - My younger boy is a LEGO/Star Wars fanatic, and he's requested a couple of these kits. My only problem? Stepping on the millions of LEGOS that are all over the floor.

Lego Star Wars Millenium Falcon - See above. :)

iHome Clock Radio -  We have a couple of these and they are literally life savers. We can listen to music in the shower, in the kitchen, wherever we are - and they charge the iPhone/iPod while playing.  

iHome Alarm Clock -  This is exactly like the above, but with the addition of an ALARM clock -which means my kids can oversleep in the morning to their favorite bands.

Hot Wheels Walkie-Talkie - My kids have always loved Walkie-Talkies, and the character ones have the added benefit of being just that much more cool, apparently. 

Minnie Mouse Walkie-Talkie -If you get on the right frequency, you can hear Walkie-Talkies over a baby monitor - so make sure you only say nice things about your Mrs. Kravitz neighbor.

Star Wars MP4 Player - For the Star Wars uber fan - there's nothing quite like having each and every item in your room reflect your passion for the movie. This would be a perfect accompaniment to the Darth Vader alarm clock that my son has. "Wake up, wake up - I am your Father!"

AA Batteries - Seriously. I buy batteries in bulk, give them with every gift - and still we never have enough. 

Sony Digital Photo Frame - The perfect gift for the grandparents, or the husband to keep in his office. The gift that they will enjoy, full of photos of your family and a true conversation starter. 

Now. I'm done, but I wonder -

What tricks or tips do you have for shopping during the busiest time of the year? What gifts are the ones that you really MUST HAVE?

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of eBay. I received a product sample to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Comments

[addy]

My daughter just bought a gift for herself off EBAY. A difficult to find item she has wanted for a long time. That is what I use EBAY for these days. Those items I just can't find anywhere else.

[commodity tips]

All the contents you mentioned in post is too good and can be very useful. I will keep it in mind, thanks for sharing the information

[Home Direct reviews]

You bring up a good point about online shopping. It really is a great convenience. As long as you have a good shipping company, everything usually works out great. I rarely shop in stores now and prefer doing so from the comfort of my own home.