Good deals at Goodwill

As the last hours of 2006 tick down, many of us will be dashing off to the nearest Goodwill Store, our SUVs piled high with serviceable stuff we no longer need -- mismatched wine goblets, sheets for the full-size bed we replaced with a queen, that pricy belt, still with the hang tag, that my husband confesses really is (and ever will be) a tad small.

Today, we're thinking about doing good and getting a tax donation.

But next week and throughout the year, think of Goodwill as a great place to shop. In addition to great bargains on gently used items, you'll find new merchandise, organized show rooms and dressing rooms. You can charge your purchases on a credit card.

The goods range from fur coats to mixing bowls to bridal gowns, all at low-low prices. So why not browse? You might find just what you're looking for -- and at the same time you'll be helping disabled and disadvantaged people to support themselves and enjoy a healthy, happy New Year.

We didn't shop 'til we dropped

Santa's sleigh was lighter this year, retail watchers say.

As the talleys roll in, it looks like winter holiday sales might rise less than expected -- increasing only 2.5 percent to 3 percent, rather than the 5 percent initially forecast.

So who's the Grinch? Analysts point to warm weather in the east, which melted coat sales, plus a blizzard in Denver, which froze out shoppers who left the bulk of their buying until the last few days before Christmas. Other factors include higher prices for gas and home heating, plus a sagging housing market in which homeowners no longer feel flush.

I blame gift cards, which aren't tabulated until they are redeemed.

Personally, I'd rather tear into a gaily wrapped package than a slim envelope. But I have to confess that lots of folks welcome gift cards -- which is why I zipped to Aeropostale to buy cards for my daughter and four of my nephews, who I felt certain would rather choose their own clothes than leave it up to a middle-age woman who still believes Audrey Hepburn was the best dresser ever.

Pay no attention to that sign

As you make your post-Christmas returns, you will likely run into a few discouraging signs at the customer service center which say: "No return without receipt."

Hopefully, you will have the appropriate paperwork in your hot little hand. But if you do not, you need not slink home with merchandise you no longer want.

Pay no attention to that sign. Start negotiating.

This year, my returns included a pair of $200 silk draperies I realized were all wrong for my study. Sadly, I could not find the receipt.

But I hauled the curtains back to the store, which was plastered with those unfortunate "No return without receipt" signs. Careful to avoid eye contact with the posters, I strode to the counter wearing my best smile.

"I've looked high and low for my receipt and can't find it," I said warmly. "But I have a lot of shopping I'd like to do here today. I wonder if you could give me a store credit?"

The sales lady looked at the drapes, neatly folded in their original packaging, and looked at me, a regular and unfailing polite customer.

"Sure, hon," she said.

The sales lady discretely worked her magic with the computer. I gratefully accepted my store credit and started snapping up bargains. I'd like to think we were both happy.

So, what shopping lessons can we learn from this?

First, don't assume a store policy is etched in stone. You won't succeed at Forever 21, which is taking a hard line on undocumented returns, but you might get lucky at more flexible stores. (I'm not disclosing the identity of the store where I managed to bypass the policy in order to protect the helpful saleswoman.)

Second, don't expect something for nothing. Am important part of my negotiations was letting the sales associate know that revenue was not going out of the store. I did not request cash, simply the right to buy other items.

Finally, ask rather than demand. As in most situations in life, people who work in stores are far more likely to go the extra mile to help customers who treat them nicely. It pays to be pleasant.

The last shopping day before Christmas

It's here, the day retailers pull out all the stops -- and my husband pulls out his hair.
Dale is out shopping, joining a force of what I suspect are mainly male procrastinators.
As a supportive wife, I've supplied him with a multi-size box of gift bags so he can pop his treasures directly into festive packaging.
That way I won't have to wrap my own presents.
Yesterday, we shopped for seven fishes for our Christmas Eve open house. We're serving mini crab cakes, shrimp cocktail, lobster salad, asparagus wrapped with smoked salmon, pierogis with sour cream and caviar (for my Polish mother-in-law), pan-fried smelts and a smoked tuna spread (we substituted for the smoked trout we couldn't find).
I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas Eve. God bless us, every one!
And if you see my husband at the mall, please remind him I'm a size 8.

The fur is flying

First, Burlington Coat Factory was taken to task by the Humane Society of America for stocking Baby Phat coats advertised as having faux fur trim when it was actually animal fur. The discounter yanked the goods even before DNA tests came back, which confirmed the fur came from Chinese raccoons, a species of dog.

Now Diddy acknowledges he did it, too. Sean "Puff Diddy" Combs says Chinese raccoon was used on Sean John hooded snorkel jackets sold in Macy's -- but he didn't know it.

"I was completely unaware of the nature of this material, but as soon as we were alerted, the garments were pulled off the Macy's floor and Web site," he says. "I have instructed our outwear licensee to cease the production of any garments using this material immediately. I appreciate the tireless work that the Humane Society does and would like to thank them for bringing attention to this issue."

This reminds me of the flap years ago after news reports that Kathie Lee Gifford's line of clothing was produced in sweatshops. Gifford, too, used the "I didn't know" defense.

The rub is celebrities who lend their names to products have an obligation to make themselves aware of the materials and labor that go into their products. If they don't want to do their homework, let them go back to rapping.

Retail rage

Don't shop after you've eaten Twinkies.

The latest twist on the shopping front is an examination of the phenomenon of retail rage -- that is, folks who pop their corks on hapless sales associates over such stressful situations as standing in line. A study by ComPsych Corp. says 13 percent of the retail workers in its Employee Assistance Program have sought acute-stress counseling because customers are nasty. That's a 65-percent increase over last year.

Consider what Ernest Speranza, chief marketing offer of KB Toys, told the Associated Press.
"I know I've lost my temper and everyone else has probably done it," he said.

This comes from a guy whose job is to sell playthings to children?

Well, shame on you, Ernie. And that goes for all the folks who think it's OK to blow off steam by yelling at a sales clerk, likely hauling in all of $8 an hour, and who will lose his job if he responds in kind.

If you're upset because the DVD you want is out of stock or the person in front of you in line is the last shopper on earth who pays with a check don't take it out on the hired help. Reach deep into your self and draw a cup of human kindness, a cure for the world's ills.

Offer a soft word, a bit of encouragement to help a fellow traveler through life slog through a stressful situation. Say thank you -- and "have a happy holiday!"

I promise you'll both feel better.

Deck the halls and trim the prices

In Christmases past, we've had to wait until after Santa's visit to snap up deep discounts on decorations.
This season, retailers are slashing prices before the holiday. At Eckerd pharmacies, the entire stock of trees, ornaments and light sets is half price. Ditto for Rite Aid, which also offers 50-percent markdowns on boxed Christmas cards, garlands and outdoor decorations. Marshall's has trimmed 25 percent off the price of decorations.
So if you're planning a Christmas Eve get-together, holiday brunch or are hosting Christmas dinner, here's a chance to put on the dog while the goose is roasting. No one will know you spent less!

Shopping online -- and in person

Want to avoid long lines? Click before you hit the bricks.

Customers shopping online at sears.com can opt to pick up their items at the nearest store, where Sears says they won't have to wait any longer than five minutes. Yup, five minutes.

And if the wait time exceeds five minutes, Sears will give the customer a $5 coupon.

Countdown to Christmas

Tick tock! As we get closer to the big day, the squeeze is on!
This year, I thought I had my holiday shopping well in hand. Early on, I bought gifts for friends who celebrate Hanukkah, which began last Friday. I crossed 10 more gifts off the list for friends we exchange presents with at an annual party, typically held the third Saturday in December. I braved the post office to send packages off to relatives in California in plenty of time.
I'm organized. I don't procrastinate. And I'm still feeling the pinch!
The truth is even the most agile shopper is challenged during the holidays.
When the going gets tough, the tough get multitasking. Tonight, during the finale of Survivor, I will wrap packages as I watch to see who wins the $1 million prize. From now until Dec. 25, I will save time by bundling trips, routing myself from the office, to the dry cleaners, to the market. And I won't feel guilty if I order out for pizza!

The discounts are getting deeper

The closer we get to Christmas, the lower retailers are limboing in marking down merchandise.
At Aeropostale, the popular, youth-oriented clothier, everything except fragrances is already marked down 50 percent -- with more than a week to go before Santa's visit. Cashmere is more embraceable at Ann Taylor, with a 40-percent discount.
So, what's your best buy of the day?

For the woman who has everything

Here's a gift for the woman who has everything -- but lost it in the black hole known as her handbag.
Invented by a Swarthmore woman, the Butler Bag offers a permanently, sectioned off interior that holds a cell phone, wallet, makeup and other items securely in place. (She created it from a dishwasher untensil holder put into a baby's diaper bag.)
Carol Firardi, owner of Verenique Plus Size Boutique in Collinsgwood, says the bags are flying out of her store.
"It's a must for business women. You look so together when you're not digging in your purse to find a pen!" she says.
The price tag: $135 for the large bag and $85 for the small leather bag.

Shopping for the time starved

Parched for presents but starved for time? Head straight to the grocery store and pick up some gifts along with your bread and eggs.
A personal favorite is Wegmans, which offers gift cards for a variety of retailers as well as fruit baskets, candy and well-priced tabletop treats such as Spiegelau glasses, $48 for six.
The produce at Whole Foods is gorgeous. I often buy a selection and build my own baskets, filling in with gourmet tea bags and little candies.
I buy ginger cookies in pretty tins at Trader Joe's. They look festive and are great for mailing. I don't worry about the cookies crumbling!
Gift cards from Acme and ShopRite are always appreciated by nieces and nephews in college, as well as young adults starting out.
I also keep a few bags of premium coffee in the house during the holidays. I can brew something special when friends visit -- and if I have to come up with a gift on the spur of the moment, I slap a bow on a bag. Instant gift!

The best time to shop

Today and tomorrow, Kohl's will be open until midnight. The doors open Wednesday at 7 a.m. That gives folks a lot of time to shop. Yet do you ever feel everyone dashes to a store at precisely the same moment you do?
The trick is to avoid crunch times, the hours just before and after work, the lunch hour and after dinner. I think the best time is about 6 p.m. , when the after-work shoppers are starting to clear out and before the evening buyers rush in.
"All the responsible people are home cooking supper," says my friend Nancy. "I'd rather go spend money."
Her dollars will go a long way during the Kohl's sale. The entire stock of robes and sleepwear, originally $12-$70, is half price, marked down to $6-$35. All sweaters also are 50 percent off. Down comforters and flannel sheets are 60 percent off. And fine jewelry is marked down 65 percent.
Senior citizens can take an extra 15 percent off, which should make my mother very happy.

A wonderful shopping experience

On Saturday, I shopped at Macy's one-day sale. I expected crowds and chaos and found both. What I didn't expect was the high level of customer service and civility I encountered.
In the housewares department, I trudged along, lugging a seven-cup food processor under one arm and a big, cast-iron griddle under the other.
A saleswoman swooped by and said, "Please let me carry one of those for you! They're heavy!"
This on-the-ball pro also arranged for me to pick up the packages later, which kept me shopping -- and spending!
I don't know whether the saleswoman was a stellar individual or Macy's is ratcheting up its game in preparation to take on Nordstrom, a veritable temple of customer service.
I can say this dear lady made my day. Thanks, Vonda!

AAA shopping tips

Did you know you can use AAA member discounts to save money at retail stores like Circuit City, Target and Barnes & Noble?
AAA says only 4 percent of members know that they are eligible for discounts with retailers. Even so, AAA says that amounted to savings of $28 million last year.

Ready, get set, shop!

Merry shopping!

'Tis the season of the deep discount, when paying full price
would be as strange as spotting Santa's sleigh pulled by eight
chihuahuas.

Every day, the mail, e-mail and the newspapers bring more
ways to save, save, save!

I recently received a lure from Bath & Body Works offering a
free … as in no cost … item. up to $12.50 in value with any purchase. Now that's my
idea of a deal.

So, what's your best buy so far this season?