I’m in the process of buying Christmas presents. About a month ago I decided that I was going to get my presents really early thereby alleviating some of the stress of December. I don’t want to boast or anything but I’ve already bought about three presents. And that includes two presents I bought for myself as a reward for getting the first present already.
I’ve been looking around for inspiration and discovered that in my flat there are a couple of Christmassy looking mini-catalogues which, from first glance, you’d assume would be filled with gift ideas. Never assume, because it make you look like a dick. There’s an Argos one which is mostly filled with vacuum cleaners and bookcases. Are people buying vacuum cleaners and bookcases for each other? Are those some of the must haves this year like Furbies were at one point? Some of them are really expensive. I’m not really willing to spend upwards of £200 on anyone, especially just to get a vacuum cleaner which most people I know already have. How much money are other people spending on their presents that a catalogue of vacuum cleaners and bookcases can seem like a tempting Christmas deal? Perhaps Argos are trying to capitalise on the idea that whilst buying gifts for other people, most consumers suddenly realise a horrifying absence of bookcases in their surrounding area and impulsively begin buying them.
I found another mini-catalogue with gadgety things in. Some of them look like they might raise a laugh. People would open them and say “I don’t need an ipod speaker shaped like a gramophone but it I can’t deny that it does look a lot of fun”. However that’s when I notice the price tag is about £1000.
£1000!
Don’t put that in a Christmas catalogue. Put in things that are about £15 and might make someone go “haha” and then use it twice and forget about it. I’m willing to pay £15 to make someone go “haha” and then use something twice, that seems like a fair Christmas deal. But £1000, that shouldn’t be in there unless the rest of the catalogue is dedicated to things like yachts and thrones.
On TV there’s an advert where some guy is washing up whilst chatting to his mum about what to get his sister for Christmas. As he looks out the window some squirrels spell out ‘X-box 360′ on the washing line. The advert says ‘don’t wait for inspiration’ or something, and he then goes and buys an X-box 360 for about £250.
I don’t like the fact that my sister may be watching this advert and mistakenly begin to believe that £250 is the average amount of money spent by brothers on sisters. Not to mention the fact that it looks like the guy in the advert lives at home. If he’s got £250 knocking about to spend on one present for his sister maybe it’s time he got his own place. Or spent it on something more useful, like a vacuum cleaner or a bookcase.
Personally, I’m hoping this is finally the year I get that Furby.
