Where's the Something Cool Delivery Service?

February 14, 2006 8:44 AM

What's something nice you can get delivered to someone... that isn't flowers? (or chinese food.)

A friend of mine has her birthday tomorrow, and I'm looking to do something for her. She lives too far away to visit on a workday, so I'm trying to think of something in line with the old flower-delivery standby that isn't as trite as flowers themselves. Help me out?

posted by soma lkzx to human relations (29 comments total)

p.s. this will be in charlottesville, va
posted by soma lkzx at 8:44 AM on February 14, 2006

What are your cost considerations?
posted by jerseygirl at 8:49 AM on February 14, 2006

maybe a cookie bouquet?
posted by TheLibrarian at 8:51 AM on February 14, 2006

One thing that makes flowers "not trite" is to compose a message from the heart on the card that goes with them.
posted by SteveInMaine at 8:55 AM on February 14, 2006

i have no idea what my cost considerations are. i'm pretty good at spending money, though, so don't hold any punches.

i'd never heard of a cookie bouquet; i just looked them up and some look like things you'd get someone in the hospital but some are really pretty cute.
posted by soma lkzx at 8:57 AM on February 14, 2006

What does she like to do? I know several (ok, two) women who would be delighted to get car parts or glazing tools rather than, say chocolates. It's surprising what a local auto parts store will do if you give them a call. Amazon overnight also offers a world of possibilities with giftwap and cards even.
posted by bonehead at 9:02 AM on February 14, 2006

Armed with a credit card, you can talk most places into accomodating any sort of order/delivery, even if they don't normally do it.

I had a new oven (yes, oven) delivered with a take-and-bake pizza inside it to a needy relative. From 250 miles away.

If you can dream it, you can bribe it.
posted by unixrat at 9:10 AM on February 14, 2006

A courier service will deliver most anything for you. Say you wanted to send a book -- call the Charlottesville Barnes and Noble, get the book, get it wrapped, and the courier service can pick it up and deliver it.
posted by JanetLand at 9:11 AM on February 14, 2006

You can't go wrong with a man in a gorilla suit delivering chicken wings.
posted by bondcliff at 9:12 AM on February 14, 2006

One word: LobsterGram.
posted by Wild_Eep at 9:13 AM on February 14, 2006

cakes can be delivered! and decorated in the extreme.

otherwise, what about a nice bottle of wine? can't go wrong with that.
posted by anjamu at 9:17 AM on February 14, 2006

unixrat: greatest story i have ever heard

Wild_Eep: she needs to stop being a vegetarian so i can make that dream a reality

it looks like i just need to figure out what i should get her, it sounds like having something delivered is easy in the extreme
posted by soma lkzx at 9:21 AM on February 14, 2006

There are fruit "floral" arrangements and also Vermont Teddy Bears.

With all things "next day delivery" it'll be a little more costly for S&H. Plus, you'd want to place the order ASAP. Good luck!
posted by jerseygirl at 9:22 AM on February 14, 2006

if there were avocado "floral" arrangements the deal would so be sealed.
posted by soma lkzx at 9:28 AM on February 14, 2006

okay, it looks like i'm going to get a store to do something locally and either drop them some cash to deliver it or courier service it over to her. thanks a lot!
posted by soma lkzx at 9:41 AM on February 14, 2006

The cookies from http://www.cookiesbydesign.com are really really good.
posted by tayknight at 9:48 AM on February 14, 2006

Why, oh why has nobody suggested strippers?
posted by nebulawindphone at 10:09 AM on February 14, 2006

I know this has already been answered, but 2 friends of mine had a big bunch of balloons (with a teddy attached to them) delivered to me when I got a new job.
Opening the door to see this guy standing there with a huuuuuge box was just amazing!
Wouldn't make such a great birthday present tho I admit.
posted by ClarissaWAM at 10:25 AM on February 14, 2006

I bet she wants a DVD copy of Airheads, or perhaps a new pair of shoes. I'll talk to her.
posted by cloeburner at 10:34 AM on February 14, 2006

shhh don't tell her cloeburner!!!
posted by soma lkzx at 10:37 AM on February 14, 2006

I won't... this time!
posted by cloeburner at 10:43 AM on February 14, 2006

soma lkzx writes "it looks like i just need to figure out what i should get her, it sounds like having something delivered is easy in the extreme"

In Canada Sears and The Bay will deliver anything they sell. I had the Bay deliver a Steamer trunk once which was what my LDR girlfriend at the time desperately wanted. I imagine the same would be true of many US department stores.
posted by Mitheral at 11:10 AM on February 14, 2006

Pajamagram!
posted by Sara Anne at 11:21 AM on February 14, 2006

Lowes will drop off lumber right at her front door!
posted by Thorzdad at 1:29 PM on February 14, 2006

It looks like they don't do deliveries on specific dates (unless you or the gift-recipient lives somewhere that same day delivery is offered)...but the mention of avocado floral arrangements made me think of fruit & veggie shipments like these.
posted by PY at 2:09 PM on February 14, 2006

I worked for them so I'm a little biased, but I think Bundles of Cookies makes better cookies than Cookies by Design. Since all the cookies are baked and decorated to order, they need two days before they can ship it out, which is the only downside.
posted by princelyfox at 2:22 PM on February 14, 2006

What would I want delivered from Charlottesville? A big bunch of cookies from the Rising Sun bakery, if it's still there. Yum.
posted by eve harrington at 7:31 PM on February 14, 2006

My sister has cheered up a number of out of town friends after a break-up or a break-in by calling a local bakery (their town, not ours) and getting them to deliver.

As you've found out, the delivery probably isn't the hard part, especially if you're not too cost conscious. But enough sweets to share is always a good office present.
posted by sourlime at 9:33 PM on February 14, 2006

It may be a little late, but these are incredibly good. (I'm drooling just thinking about them...)
posted by denimflavored at 10:59 AM on February 15, 2006