Ask MetaFilter questions in the shopping category

Help me use my Sur La Table gift certificate?

creepygirl — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 08:54:21 -0800

I received a $100 Sur La Table gift certificate. How do I make the best use of it? Basically I'm looking for items at Sur La Table that are particularly useful and/or attractive. They don't have to be unique to Sur La Table, but I'd prefer not to buy something that's widely available for less money elsewhere. I have a lot of kitchen items already (Food processor, KitchenAid mixer, pressure cooker, a great set of knives, a couple of nice LeCreuset dutch ovens).

I'm hoping to find some little useful things that I might like. I really love my microplane grater, and a set of measuring bowls like these.

I'd also be open to more decorative stuff like placemats, if they're particularly attractive.

Pimp my office

AV — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 04:39:07 -0800

Where might I find classy desk accessories that are not the typical Office Depot/Staples/etc. thing? There must be a website or store out there somewhere but so far my searches have been coming up dry. I'm a new-ish lawyer who will be starting to see clients with quite a bit of regularity soon, and my office needs to look more put together. What I'm looking for in particular is perhaps a nice blotter, business card holder, and possibly a couple other things along those lines.

So far I've been unimpressed with the things at the local office supply stores, and I've been given permission to find what I want elsewhere and expense it. Any ideas where I might look? I'm in Canada but have a US address that things can be shipped to quite easily.

Digital camera advice

piratebowling — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:38:14 -0800

It's time for a new digital camera. Please help guide me, as I feel overwhelmed by the research process. I am looking for suggestions of specific cameras OR features I should be searching for in a camera. Specific requirements inside. Budget: ~ $250.

Needs: I am getting this to take photos for a new etsy store, featuring my video-game embroideries. I need something that can take clear, sharp pictures, in both regular and macro mode, in natural light. I want to be able to show both how the pieces look in a natural-looking setting (i.e. on a wall, in a room) and details of the piece. My current digital camera is about 6 years old and take either horrible, blurry, orange-y shots in natural light, or washed out, ugly pictures with a flash.

The pieces range from 4"x4" to 11"x13" in size. There are also occasional smaller pieces (hairclips, etc) that I need to shoot as well.

Tell me about your tiny GSM phone

0xFCAF — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 09:18:50 -0800

What's a great small GSM phone? My trusty old T-219 is pretty beat up and needs a new battery, so I figure it's time for a new phone. I mostly make short calls and send simple text messages, so I'm really just looking for something that's comfortable in my pocket.

My requirements (in approximate priority order):

GSM (T-Mobile prepaid in the USA if it matters)
Small (thickness is the most important dimension)
T9 text messaging
Under $200, but let's aim for less?

If it has a camera or video recording or bluetooth or MP3 playback or a jetpack that's fine, I just don't care. A qwerty keyboard is a dealbreaker, though - anything big enough to type on is too big for my pocket.

I need new jeans

TrialByMedia — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:46:53 -0800

What jeans have a similar fit as APC petit standards? I am looking for new jeans, as my current size 28 APC petit standards are beginning to fall apart. I want a little variety, but I also want my new jeans to fit similarly to these guys. I like dark denim and a slim (but not tapered) leg. What would you recommend?

Unofficial Mont Blanc notebook refill?

TrashyRambo — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:45:11 -0800

Where can I find a 6.1" x 3.2" refill for my Mont Blanc notebook? I can only find official Mont Blanc refills and they cost $35 each! It's really just a thick, lined, soft backed exercise book...

Max Price At CarMax

chrisalbon — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 08:39:13 -0800

How Much Will CarMax Offer For My 1999 Toyota Camry? On January 19th I am moving to South Africa! This is great and I am happy to get going. However, I must do one major thing before I leave: sell my 1999 Toyota Camry with 120,000 miles on it. The car is in good working condition with no major accidents (only one fender-bender).

Due to a wedding in SoCal, I will only have 10 days to sell my car before I leave. Someone suggested that CarMax would be a good place to sell it because they give you an offer in 45 minutes. But, while I must get rid of the car, I don't want to get hosed on the selling price. Reading online, some people love CarMax, but other people talk about getting ridiculously low offers.

1. How much would CarMax offer for my 1999 Toyota Camry with 120,000 miles? Guesstimates are happily expected.

2. Does CarMax make offers significantly below the bluebook trade-in value?

3. What can I do to maximize the price CarMax offers me?

Thanks in advance!

I needs a suitcase ...

the luke parker fiasco — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 08:53:23 -0800

Where can I buy a good, not-outrageously-expensive suitcase in Vienna (the European one)? I've had enough of my fingers going numb from carrying bags and getting back spasms from my backpack; looking for a good, hard-shell, wheeled suitcase, smallish-to-medium size (reasonable size for a checked airline bag). I'm in Vienna for the next two days. Where should I look for a good-quality, workhorse piece of luggage that won't break the bank? Hardshell really preferred.

Bed Linen Nirvana

otherwordlyglow — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:22:14 -0800

Is it possible to replace my Royal Velvet by Fieldcrest 100% Pima Cotton sheets? I have a set of sheets that I ADORE. They are soft and light and snuggly and warm all at the same time.They are perfect but my set is getting threadbare and I can't figure out how to get more.

The tag says they are Royal Velvet by Fieldcrest 100% Pima Cotton and has the number 275 (thread count?) on it. They were probably bought about 10 years ago but I can't be sure where or when. I can't quite follow all of the mergers and takeovers, but it seems that the parent company no longer exists. There's a post here that suggests that Kohl's bought the RV brand but I can't find the sheets on their website. This article is slightly contradictory saying that Kohl's bought RV but only plans to sell towels while Target bought Fieldcrest but I don't think that includes the RV line.This company appears to have taken over some of their brands but not the RV line?

There are a couple of sets of the King size sheets on eBay (those of you with King size beds should buy them!) but I need Full size or maybe Queen.

So if I can't have the real deal, what should I look for? Is the "pima" part of the cotton significant? How can I best figure out what kind of sheets will approximate the perfection of the Royal Velvet line apart from buying lots of sheets and sleeping on them?

Buying tires

notned — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 11:20:38 -0800

Buying tires. I'm not really a bargain hunter but I'd like to be. I've compared Costco to my local guy and they're about the same. Both about $130 each. Goodyear Wrangler HP 23565R17. Teach me about shopping for tires. Thank You.

looking for discontinued candle scent

rudy26 — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:30:18 -0800

I've been searching for a candle from the old williamsburgh candle company thats apparently been discontinued. E-mails to their corporate office have not been answered. The candle is called an apothecary candle and the smell, (odor? aroma?), is cucumber melon. We had purchased it at AC Moore for the longest time, but alas nothing is forever. I'd buy quantities if I could. Any help would be appreciated.

Style Julia Stiles look-alike.

semacd — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:04:02 -0800

I need a cute, warm, women's winter hat. I look kind of like Julia Stiles*, but with an even rounder face. Which makes it hard to find hats that look flattering at all. Also, I have limp, long, straight hair that tends to get flyaways in the winter, so I'm adverse to polyester materials in hats. Something wool on the outside with silk on the inside would be a dream come true. Also, my ears tend to get cold, so I'd love a hat that covered them. Any ideas? I have tried on tons of hats and have never liked any of them.

*If you like how Julia Stiles you might think I'm bragging, but I favor the exotic brunette look, so I'm really not. She's just the celebrity I'm always told I look like, for better or worse.

Shopping in Aspen

pyrom — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:16:40 -0800

I'm on a ski trip in Aspen for the week, a vacation that my mom helped fund. What's a gift within the $50 range that I can bring home to show my appreciation? I'm planning a jaunt around the towns in the valley sometime within the next week.

Thanks!

$50 Shopping Spree for MEEEE!

TooFewShoes — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:46:13 -0800

Help me spend my Christmas money! I want to know what item or gadget has changed your life for the better. What am I missing that once I have I won't want to live without. For around $50. Along the same lines as this question and this question. I have $70 in Christmas money and I want to get something for myself. I want something that once I have it I will wonder how I ever lived without it. I am thinking something around $50 so that I can afford shipping costs. I don't want a service I want an actual item, so please don't tell me to go get a massage.

I like to cook, but I have a lot of kitchen gadgets and I have Celiac Disease. I don't drink, so nothing alcohol related. Coffee stuff is out, but I do enjoy herbal teas. I am a self taught artist so art related stuff is helpful. I'm not into music, but I love watching movies. I don't get to travel much, so something I can enjoy at home is what I'm looking for. I live in Northern Utah, it is cold right now but we are pretty outdoorsy in the summertime. I am sensitive to smells, and I don't wear perfume so bath and body stuff won't be helpful either. Plus, I'd really rather not have something consumable since I probably won't be able to replace it.

I have depression and anxiety issues and three kids, so anything that can help me relax would be good too.

I love a lot of the stuff from Manufactum, but I can't order from them since I'm in the U.S. I also like Etsy, but I haven't found just the right thing.

I know there is a ton of really great things out there that I just don't know about. Please enlighten me!

Help a 22 year old guy buy a suit.

chris p — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:35:22 -0800

What should I be looking for when buying a men's suit? I'm a 22 year old guy. Right now I have a cheap-ish polyester suit. I'd like to buy a nice new one. I don't really know what I should be looking for. This will be my primary suit, so it should be flexible. My strategy is usually just to go to a store that I know sells suits and just grab what might look good. This can be overwhelming, as I don't know what to look for. I'll probably bring a female friend along to help me once I've narrowed it down, but I need a starting point.

So, I know there are choices in material, style, and color. What are they? What other things should I be considering. Are there differences in stitching? Do I need to have it tailored?

Any help on where to buy would be helpful too. I'm going to be in the Northwest Indiana and Chicago areas for the next couple of weeks. I'm fine buying online too if that is a good option.

GPS and webcam suggestions

mwhybark — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:08:50 -0800

Suggestions and thoughts regarding a webcam and a GPS for my elderly father-in-law? more inside. Buying my father-in-law a couple of toys: a GPS, and a webcam. He's got a reasonably contemporary Vista PC, well maintained. I have noticed GPS units on clearance at under $100 and figure the market is mature enough to ensure feature parity and reasonable build quality across anything available new in box. My assumption is similar with regard to webcams - I'm thinking any USB2 model will do as long as it has an onboard mic. My plan is to just swing by RadioShack and pick from what's in stock. I come here seeking caveats, warnings, or specific model suggestions for both a webcam and an in-car navigation-assistant style GPS unit. Have at it!

Credit for a store I could steal anything from.

Bobby Bittman — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:15:04 -0800

iTunesFilter: I got an iTunes gift card for Christmas - $15. What could I possibly buy on iTunes that I couldn't just download somewhere else?

Gifts for the expecting couple?

Ambrosia Voyeur — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:37:24 -0800

I need gift ideas for a couple expecting their first child. I'd prefer that it be something pregnancy-related (they averred that this is what they'd like) that they can enjoy together. They're still in their first trimester, and very excited. What are some creative or not-often-thought-of handy items to have while gestating?

Poor little banjo on the doorstep

tmcw — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:04:08 -0800

How do I receive a USPS Parcel Post package that is (probably) getting delivered to my (closed) office this week? So, I mistakenly thought that everyone uses tracking numbers these days and the guy I bought a banjo from didn't get one[1]. And then I mistakenly thought it would be delivered quickly, which it hasn't been. So, the office is closed (although the store downstairs is open, and I'm not there, and neither is anyone else, to receive the package.

My office is about 15 minutes walking away, so I'm checking daily, but nervous about this thing sitting outside in the cold and possibly getting stolen. I wrote and attached a Post-It to the door begging USPS to deliver it to my apartment instead, with full knowledge that that probably wouldn't work. Is there anything else I can do? This has taken a long time to ship, but I guess the holidays delayed it severely. For reference, it was shipped on the 11th from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Is there anything else I can do? Talk to a post office? Post a different note? I signed the one I wrote, if that helps at all. Stay at the office all day long? This sucks.

[1] I trust him, and have recourse, please don't derail with 'u got scammed!' answers.

It's a Secret to Everybody.

Eideteker — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 14:29:18 -0800

I'd like a decent ultraviolet ink pen. I've seen the Dr. Who sonic screwdriver pen, and it seems simultaneously bulky and flimsy. My thought was to get a UV ink refill that will fit this pen. I can find UV ink in bottles, but not in a refill. Maybe I'm using the wrong terms?

Lbhe uryc vf nccerpvngrq.

How do you buy furniture for a retail store?

CommonSense — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 11:39:13 -0800

I need to find places to buy cool/offbeat furniture, but with the durability and dimensions/styles needed for a retail store. I've recently taken ownership of a retail store, and among the many things I'd like to do to rebrand and "re-image" it is replace the boring, standard-issue furniture used in the customer-facing portion of the store. I'd like to replace the display tables, get shelving so that I'm more effectively using the wall space, etc.

But in particular, I'm interested in furniture made from reused/repurposed materials and/or used furnishings that come from other retail stores that have either closed or replaced their furnishings. There HAVE to be places where you can find this stuff, but Google is failing me. I realize that to an extent, I can also get stuff from "consumer" furniture stores, but that isn't always going to address the needs of a retail space very well.

I'd be kind of interested in taking some cues from the Apple store (big, long tables, with shelving along the sides), but without duplicating them outright. (Plus, I'm sure I couldn't dream of affording the kind of furniture they use.) I don't want the place to look as cold and sterile as Apple stores do; dark-colored natural woods/metal/stone made from repurposed old construction/building/carpentry materials, for example, would be one direction I'd be interested in going.

Location is Richmond, VA, although I live in Baltimore, so I can also shop around in the Baltimore/DC area. The product line is computers and accessories, so it would be mostly tables and shelving that I'd need --nothing explicitly "retail-only" like clothing racks, etc.

I need suggestions for a money clip

helios410 — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 04:17:25 -0800

I'm looking for a non gaudy or garish looking money clip (think minimal) that I can find in NYC or on the internets. Any suggestions?

Spongeworthiness in the DF

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 13:58:46 -0800

Are contraceptive sponges currently available for purchase in Mexico City, and if so, where? I'll be visiting my long-distance bf in the DF and will stock up on spongy goodness in the US before leaving, but would like to know if sponges are available locally - in case my luggage is lost, I underestimate how many to bring, etc. (I tried looking this up online and it seemed like the answer was no...I'm hoping someone who is currently there or has been recently can tell me if this is actually the case.) I know I can buy them online, but this is a short trip so that wouldn't work in this instance. Thanks!

Where can I buy a Hakapik?

subtle_squid — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:01:52 -0800

Does anyone know where I might be able to buy a hakapik? I'm not actually interested in hunting seals. I'm just interested in unusual hand tools. There is still commercial sealing going on the world so I'd think someone would manufacture the tools of the trade commercially. If they exist, they don't seem to have a website I can find through Google. Any ideas?

Where iSi-t?

xiaolongbao — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 09:29:09 -0800

Where in NYC, besides the home appliance building at J&R's Park row store, can I buy iSi cream whipper chargers? Prefer iSi, but other brands also potentially acceptable - I need whipped cream for my at-home Starbucks creation ASAP! If you know the rough price I can expect to pay (J&R charges roughly $9.99 for 10), that is a bonus. Thanks in advance!