In an age when anyone with an Internet connection can order just about every item they can think of from one online retailer, such as Amazon, getting holiday gifts means going through digital pages instead of aisles. Especially with the stress of finals and, for students without cars, the difficulty of getting around, holiday shopping has moved from the brick-and-mortar world to the World Wide Web.
“Amazon is just really convenient, since they have two-day shipping and I don’t even need to leave my home,” said junior management major Clara Huang. “And their prices are usually cheaper than most retail stores, too.”
However, while Amazon may be at the forefront of online shopping, there are still plenty of other websites lowering their prices and gearing up for the holiday season. Here are some overlooked alternatives to the online giant:
Newegg.com: This technology-focused website provides laptops, televisions, cell phones, computer software and more for the tech-savvy consumer. For those looking to save money, Newegg also provides free shipping on select items, dozens of daily deals and “combo deals,” which let you save money when buying certain items together.
Woot.com: Complete with amusing product descriptions, Woot introduces one new product for sale each day, lasting only 24 hours. The variety is huge, offering items as diverse as mattresses, wine, sunglasses and kids toys — perfect for the hard-to-please on everyone’s list.
Woot is divided into 10 categories, each containing a different daily deal, such as a sale on sports equipment or home and gardening items. For those who prefer more time to think about their shopping, Woot also hosts sales that last up to a week. While technically owned by Amazon, Woot runs independently and sells items unrelated to the massive retailer.
Alibris.com: For those tired of Barnes & Noble or Kindle products, Alibris may serve as a welcome alternative. The book-centered website sells a wide selection of new and used books from its own warehouse in addition to small, independent bookstores across the globe.
Alibris makes finding rare editions of certain books or out of print novels easy, thanks to the large amount of marketplaces. The site also sells textbooks, CDs and DVDs.
Bidz.com: Bidz is a jewelry-based online auction house that replicates all the fun of auctions without the screaming or inability to understand the auctioneer. Instead of holding up a numbered sign, all you need to do is click to bid on the website’s wide range of necklaces, bracelets, earrings and watches that cover all price ranges. Auctions last up to a few weeks each and end every minute, but those who are more impatient can buy the items instantly at buyz.com.
Uncommongoods.com: True to its name, this online seller provides an endless scroll of cool things you don’t actually need. The website contains multiple pages of quirky items like portable ping-pong sets, glasses with funny phrases on them and clocks shaped like fishbowls.
With more than 100 items on sale, the website offers plenty of options sure to surprise your gift-receiver, too. While these items may not add to your quality of life, they surely won’t take away from it.
Thinkgeek.com: A celebration of geek culture, Think Geek is a culmination of tech-related gizmos and T-shirts that reference popular TV shows and video games. Its Holiday Gift Center makes shopping easy by allowing you to browse based on specific interests or price limits to find the perfect yet affordable gift.
Luxurylanesoap.com: Forget about what gifting someone soap can imply — Luxury Lane Soap offers exclusive bars only offered through its website. Made of organic ingredients like natural oils and berries, the website sells bars in fun shapes like hearts, castles and mustaches at about $6.50. The site also features candles, shampoo, incense and bath salts.
