Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with shopping

How to buy Office 2003 online ?

southof40 — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:57:59 -0800

Buying Office 2007 Small Business Edition online - new, sealed, licensed and legit. Where from ? I want to buy a copy of Office 2003 SBE online and am looking for a supplier. Because this is the previous version of Office it's not commonly available from the big retailers.

Must be fully legitimate copy (which I think more or less precludes second hand copies). Extra points if they ship to New Zealand but OK if they are able to ship to either USA or UK.

Would welcome suggestions of businesses that might sell this.

Amazon has a number of people offering this but they are all 'newly registered' and I'd prefer a slightly more established outfit with a fully comprehensive description of what's being offered.

Where to buy a roadtrip bag in L.A.?

drjimmy11 — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 21:26:14 -0800

Where can I buy a cool piece of luggage in Los Angeles tomorrow (Sunday)? Looking for more of a bag than a solid suitcase. Big enough to throw a few days clothes and other junk in for the roadtrip I'm leaving on Monday morning.

Lame terms though they may be, "indie" and "hipster" kind of sum up my style. I'd prefer something more vintage/cool and less corporate/plain black or brown looking.

Would be nice if it would last a while. Eastside is better than westside, but I'm willing to drive. Price is not an object, within reason. Prompt responses are appreciated. Thanks!

I need some clothes that fit.

Plug Dub In — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:45:43 -0800

Where in Chicago might skinny young fellows find properly-fitting casual pants and jeans? I'm a skinny skinny dude, and I'm freakin' terrible at shopping. Just about every pair of pants I own is crazy wide in the legs and baggy in the ass and crotch. Like genie pants. I look all hip-y, like, I've got big hips or something, but it's really just pockets and air. Bah.

I'm not lookin' for high-fashion pre-torn hipster threads or anything. Just some jeans, khakis, cords, whatever.

What's a good gift from Prague?

23skidoo — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:19:53 -0800

My sister's going to Prague. She said as part of a belated birthday gift, she'll pick me up something. What should I ask her to get for me? I am a guy. I'd like something inexpensive (less than $30, ish), not particularly flashy, not particularly big, not a touristy tchotchke thing, yet something that I couldn't really get in Austin, TX. Bonus points for something that is Prague specific.

Recommend a laptop store in / around Brooklyn?

jjleonard — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 02:58:27 -0800

I'm going to the states for the first time in October this year (08) and would like to take advantage of the GBP / Dollar ratio at the moment to pick up a laptop whilst I'm there - something around the £500 / $1000 dollar mark. I'm staying in the Marriott in Brooklyn, so am planning to travel around by public transport - can anyone recommend a decent laptop store in the area where I can pick one up? Wintel, not Mac - I work with too many other wintel devices to make the switch just yet.

Buying online from the US in Canada

pravit — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 12:35:51 -0800

How does buying things online from the US work, now that I live in Canada? What's the catch? I just moved to Toronto and I need to buy some things online (textbooks, mainly, but also contact lenses). Can I still order from my usual US websites or should I be buying from Canadian sites instead? For example, the price for some of the books I want is significantly lower at amazon.com, but I guess there must be some reason that amazon.ca exists if it's that simple to buy stuff from the US website. The prices at US-based contact lens sites are also a lot lower than the Canadian ones. Will I have to pay customs duties or extra fees? And how does that work, will they be charged when I purchase it online, or when they deliver it?

Help me find a very simple maple or oak bar stool.

valannc — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:04:48 -0800

Shopping filter: Seeking a very simple maple or oak bar stool, about 30" high, with a square or rectangular top. Preferably solid wood, but good quality composite material is ok. Must have flat top... we plan to use it as a bedside table. This stool at target.com is the perfect shape and size, but the wrong color. I need a warm-toned maple, oak, ash. I've already looked at many retail sites... ikea, overstock, pottery bran, west elm. Any suggestions? We would prefer to order within the U.S. to save on shipping.

Tortugan Hussy = Not Me (I am just a regular hussy, I promise)!

Jenny is Crafty — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:48:25 -0800

I need ONE Pirate Weepul...not 250! I am willing to pay say, 10$ for this fine fluffy fellow. Do any of you, my fellow MeFi swashbucklers have one or know where I can get ONE? My google-fu has failed me! I would feel like a shameless Tortugan Hussy panhandling for a "sample" when I have no intention...ever...of shelling out me galleons for 249 more Weepuls.

Random act of kindness

HotPatatta — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:51:41 -0800

What item do you use all the time and wonder how you ever lived with without it? I want to show someone special how much I care with a killer gift. Inspired by this essay, I'm in the mood to spend a bit of money on myself (aren't I thoughtful?) but I don't know what to buy. It should be something practical that I can use often, but it can be a luxury item or something cheap. I live in NYC, so I don't have a yard or much space to put something large.

Cool clothing stores in Seattle/Bellingham?

knolan — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 15:42:22 -0800

Can anyone suggest cool clothing stores in the Seattle - Bellingham area for a cool/funky teen? Looking for something to buy teen back-to-school clothes aside from the same old chain stores (Ross-Gap-Hot Topic - etc etc etc.) We will be visiting the North Wa area and are hoping to find some cool-funky-creative places.

We currently live in Idaho with limited shopping auctions. My daughter is 16 years old. We rarely take trips together so any cool places you can suggest will be greatly appreciated!

what is this? where can I find one?

rudy26 — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:31:32 -0800

help me put a name to this utensil so I may be able to replace it. I have tried all local sources, and the I haven't the time to go from site to site trolling. We generally use it to melt butter, warm sauces etc., and I find it extremely useful, but everywhere I look, I am referred to butter warmers, and they are much too big. the measurements are 2 1/2 inches across the bottom, narrowing to 2 1/4 inches across the top with a flare and a spout. It is 2 and 3/4 inches high, and the handle is 6 inches long. It is some sort of ceramic covered metal, and It feels heavy for its size. It holds one cup precisely.

My wife has had it since before we were married, and as you can see, the handle has rusted off.

If you can name it, thats great. If you can tell me where to get it, I'd truly appreciate it.

Sorry for the picture quality, but you get the idea.

Where to shop for wallet-emptying denim?

missuswayne — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 07:38:32 -0800

What's the best place to find premium denim near Bucks County, Pennsylvania? I'm in southeastern Bucks County, PA and in the market for my first pair of ridiculously expensive jeans - I'm thinking 7 for All Mankind, Citizens, and the like. Where will I find the widest selection and best service (I'll need some help with getting the right fit) within an hour of here? I am midway between King of Prussia and Menlo Park Malls - they're both about an hour away. Bonus points for something closer!

Where in Japan (or online) can I get this Japanese cable for my MacBook power adapter?

teem — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 05:02:14 -0800

I want to buy a 2-pronged figure-8 cable (IEC 320 type c7) with a Japanese plug to work in Japan with my MacBook power adapter. Where should I look for this in Japan, or even better is there somewhere online where I can buy it and have it shipped to Japan? Just to be as clear as possible, I want to buy a version of this cable, with the same IEC 320 c7 plug shown on the left (this end goes into my MacBook's power adapter) but with a Japanese plug on the the other end instead of the North American plug pictured. This product from the Japanese Apple store is almost exactly what I need, except that I want a long cord rather than just a little plug, and I don't care if it fits stylishly flush with my Apple adapter.

Can this type of cord be found in Japan? If so, where should I start looking (I'm in Namie, Fukushima prefecture)?

Even better, is there somewhere online that I can buy this cord and have it shipped to Japan?

As a side question, if I find and use this cord will it blow up my computer? I don't think it will, as the MacBook power adapter says "100-240V" on it, and even has a little Icon with "Apple Japan" written on it (despite buying it in Australia), but it's worth asking.

Duty-free or savings-free?

smackfu — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:53:28 -0800

What's the truth behind duty-free shops? Are they always a bad deal? Or is there some stuff that's good to buy, and other stuff you should always avoid?

If I had a time machine this wouldn't be an issue.

you're a kitty! — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:45:10 -0800

Any idea where I can find this deco lamp? I haven't been able to find much of that type online so far, other than the super-expensive (or really trashy) things on eBay. Does anyone know of a company that makes reasonably priced deco reproductions? This company has exactly what I want, but, well, anything that requires a quote is pretty much sure to be out of my (grad student) price range.

Shelving in NYC?

cestmoi15 — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 17:48:09 -0800

Floating shelves: Where in NYC? I'm looking for 2 floating shelves 2ft long by 6 inches deep, in NYC, and I'm stumped. Ikea's are too long, West Elm doesn't have them, where else to look? The cheaper, the better.

Products that organize your life that you couldn't live without?

mintchip — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:41:45 -0800

Products that organize your life that you couldn't live without? I'm seeking specific product recommendations for things to simplify one's life and things easier and more organized. For example, things like a purse organizer, charging valet or laptop docking station (but I imagine there must be lots of products that I haven't thought of or even heard of). I am alway seeking ways to get more organized.

(In lieu of actual branded products, I'm also interested in interesting "hacks" or ways to use what you already have in a better way...or web sites that list and rate these things)

Electronic Components in NYC?

frieze — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:46:44 -0800

ElectronicsHobbyistFilter: Where can I browse around for and buy small electronic components (microswitches, capacitors, etc.) in New York City? Radio Shack no longer appears to carry this kind of stuff (in New York anyway) Sure I could go with digi-key or Mouser or whoever if all I need is this or that component, but with the prohibitive shipping costs (relative to the product costs) as well as the delay in waiting for shipping this is less useful. I'd really like to just find a time machine to the radio shacks of yore, full of esoteric little subassemblies and packs of mixed switches an knobs. Anyone know a place in Manhattan that stocks this kind of stuff?

To buy or not to buy; apple forces consumer to make decisions

ageispolis — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:39:54 -0800

Looking to buy a MacBook through Apple's education store. I need it for the upcoming school year. I'm stoked on the free iPod-touch but heard an upgrade is coming very soon. Is it worth it to wait for the new line of laptops? Does anyone know when this is expected to happen? The idea of upgraded hardware / appearance is obviously appealing, and if I was certain the update was coming by some time in September, I do not mind waiting whatsoever. But what if it takes them to December to bring out the Macs? It may mean missing out on the iPod-touch deal (I need an iPod badly after mine was stolen). I wouldn't mind skipping the free iPod if it means buying the upgraded MacBook instead - insofar as I get it before the middle of Sept when classes really start to take off. Any chance it'll happen this summer and I could get the best of both worlds, the new build + the iPod touch deal? What would you do in my shoes?

What do I need to know to my high end retail sales site off the ground?

JJ Jenkins — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:46:32 -0800

What are the best books/sites for learning the necessary web design and dev tools for an e-commerce site? I have a decent graphic and web design background, but I haven't used it in nine years or so, which means I never quite grasped CSS.

What books/sites/languages can you recommend so that I can design and build a website for direct sales? I will be selling very few (3-5) products that come in several colors. I want to be able to add to them, but I will hire a firm once the number gets too high, so right now it doesn't need to have a complicated database to accommodate high volume of inventory. This is a fashion product so I want the design to be cute and stylish, but easy for customers to navigate and buy products.

My thoughts are to use something like Dreamweaver for design and then program in the e-commerce parts myself. (Do people still even use the term e-commerce?)

I basically need it to look very high end and have a shopping cart with multiple payment and shipping options. I'm confident I can do this myself and have been thoroughly unimpressed with the web pros I've tried to work with. I think I can figure it out on my own for less money and time. However, I don't want to pore through textbooks and do tutorials on things that are unnecessary to get this site off the ground.

Also, I'd like to design and program regular emailings to alert my customer base of new products and availability.

I hope this is specific enough to make sense. Thanks!

Laid-back camera salesfolk in NYC?

Dave 9 — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:26:50 -0800

Which of the price-competitive camera stores in New York is likely to be the most laid back about letting me hold and try out various combinations of mid-level DSLRs and lenses? The issue is not really whether B&H or Adorama (or whoever) is the "best" store. Probably all of them will have what I'm looking for, but I want time to hold it in my hands. Maybe a Nikon D40 (I like high flash sync) or D80 -- but I'd also like to try the 18-55mm kit lens, the 17-55mm f/2.8G, 18-200VR, 55-200VR, etc. (I know I should get better prime lenses, but that's not what I need at the moment.) So the issue, for me, is whether I can stand at the counter - OK, on a weekday - and play with stuff - get a feel for it - without the sales staff caring how much time I take. Is there such a place? Thanks.

Great Ascot!

Viola — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:29:33 -0800

Lady mefites, what are your favorite online shopping sites for girly vintage wear? I hate shopping in stores, so I've gotten the trick of eyeballing dresses online down to a science. I click through Ebay, but I find it overwheming and time-consuming.

I love a lot of Etsy's vintage selections, and I'm looking for clothing in that retro vein: secretary dresses, ascots, cinched waists, A-line skirts. I'm not into graphic tees or the like.

My upper range for a dress (I exist almost exclusively in dresses) is $80 for a knee-bucklingly awesome piece, but I generaly stay more in the $10-40 range.

Sleeping, shopping, and, err, safety in New York

elisabethjw — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:24:50 -0800

I'm a 19-year-old female going to New York, alone, for a night. I would like to shop, have fun but preferably not get injured/mugged/killed. I'm heading to NYC for a few days at the end of the week. While I will be with friends for most of the trip, on Thursday (the 17th) I'll be staying alone in a hostel. (I'm uncomfortable giving out the exact name, but its very close to the Empire State Building.) Questions I have:

* So I'm 19 and female. The hostel I'm staying in is a co-ed dorm style. Should I be worried? What should I do to keep myself/my possessions safe? I plan to be in the hotel (it has a restaurant and internet access) by dark because I'm not comfortable alone in NYC at night (sorry, small town Midwest girl here). Any other tips?

* Are there any under-21 friendly events, festivals, etc. going on Thursday, either during the day or in that area?

* Shopping-wise: I need a new pair (or two, or three) of jeans. Where can I find quality denim (I'm a fan of Sevens, but anything of that caliber works) for reasonably cheap? At the very least, not full-price. Last time I was there I really enjoyed Strawberry -- anything more like that?

Looking for a large, wall-sized map of the world

jazzybelle — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:03:47 -0800

Does anyone know a place in NYC or online where I can order a wall-sized map of the world. I have an image of something similar here. I want to purchase as a wedding gift for two dear friends. The one in the picture is French, which is fine, it can be in any language. But it would be large enough for a wall, and with a beautiful antique look to it. That said, the less expensive options are preferred. All advice and suggestions welcome and thank you in advance!

Convince me not to get a Thinkpad!

Phire — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:19:38 -0800

What are some reasons NOT to get a Lenovo Thinkpad R61? I'm pretty enarmoured with this laptop and I want to be sure it's a good decision. I've more or less decided to buy a Lenovo Thinkpad R 14.1" -

Core 2 DUO T8100
80 GB 5400 RPM
1 GB PC2-5300 (2 Dimm)
WGAX+ TFT
Intel GMA X2100 GM965
6 cell battery
3 year warranty
14.1", DVD RW, webcam, etc
Vista, unfortunately.

(I have spare parts to upgrade the RAM and the HD)

Primary use for this computer will be 2D graphics editing, occasional video/audio editing, the usual browsing/wordprocessing etc. with a bit more usage volume multi-tasking than the average user. Total cost comes to around $1400 CDN after tax and shipping.

The actual question: I've been burned pretty badly before in the past with a refurb Gateway and their nonexistent customer service. Doing research into Lenovo's customer service generates as many "Lenovo is a world-class first rate company" from most likely paid reviews as "Lenovo SUCKS and I HATE THE WORLD."

Apart from the shipping system issue they ran into around the holiday season of last year (has that been resolved yet?) what is your opinion on Lenovo's quality, service and reputation? Anecdotes welcome.