By Eric W. Schoen
Normally in December I present you with a list of gifts you can get for your friends and loved ones at bargain or reduced prices for the holidays. Like everything else in our lives, the list has been upended by COVID-19, the pandemic before us.
First and most important. We see the stores, malls and other shopping venues without shoppers rushing home with their treasures. A lot of people are staying home this holiday season and ordering from catalogs and online. This will likely overburden the United States Postal Service, United Parcel Service and FEDEX.
Bottom line: to get guaranteed delivery for December 25 Christmas Day your online order should be placed by December 18 or a week before the holidays. We are dealing in unchartered territory here in terms of above normal packages for delivery in the system, and you don’t want anyone to be disappointed.
Many people feel that packages being delivered should be cleaned off outside of the house before they are brought in to spread germs and Covid-19. If that is your situation, through signage on your door alert your carriers as to where packages should be dropped off and set up a location, protected from rain and snow that can be easily accessed. The area should also afford you space where you can put disposable gloves on and use the product of your choice for disinfect your packages.
It goes without saying that if you see packages at your neighbors house that you should take a Napkin or tissue and ring his or her bell. If the package fits into a plastic bang and your neighbor is not going to me home for several days put the plastic bag over the package, scoop it up and put a twist tie around it to keep it closed and bring it in your house.
Covid-19 or no Covid-19, package thieves are on the lookout so be safe with your packages. The Amazon drop boxes are another safe way for delivery. Believe it or not many of the drop boxes have been named by Amazon. The one at the 7-11 on McClean Ave in Yonkers has been named ‘ Amour.’ Enough said.
One of the best bargains if you are near a Panera store is their unlimited iced or hot coffee packages. $25 for 3 months of unlimited coffee is a steal. If you have one $3 iced coffee with tax for 8 days you are already ahead of the game with over 80 days of free coffee to enjoy. It sounds crazy but it’s the greatest deal for coffee lovers out there. And Panera unlike Starbucks allows you for the time being to sit and enjoy your beverage in their cafes.
Starbucks also has their unlimited brewed coffee or tea mug for $40 but it is for one month, January and most seating at Starbucks locations has been closed off. So if you are one of those people who enjoy their coffee in the cafe this deal might not work for you. If you take away your beverage to drink and you must have your Starbucks the unlimited mug is a good deal for you!
Many shoppers link their credit cards to companies like Rakuten where every time you use your card you get cash back in a periodic check on the purchases you buy. The amounts vary but if you shop at the merchants affiliated with Rakuten your checks can be up to 10% of your purchase. There are other companies that offer a similar service. Just make sure you check them out before you give them your card numbers.
Hopefully by the 2nd quarter of 2021 we will be able to dine in restaurants without any percentage of seats open restrictions. When buying restaurant gift card most restaurants give you a bonus $10 gift card with a $50 purchase. Cheesecake Factory was recently offering 2 slices of their famous, high in calories cheesecake with a $25-$50 gift card purchase. With the cost of cheesecake $8 plus per slice your were almost getting the gift card for free. restaurant.com gift cards which usually required dine in now offers many restaurants that allow you to use the certificates on take away purchases.
Bed, Bath and Beyond customers on their email and mailing lists all of a sudden are getting new coupons almost daily. Remember, the coupons can also be used at Harmon stores. My individual Think high protein bars, $2.59 at CVS but in bulk can cost less than a $1 at Harmon when I use coupons. The $5 off $15 and $10 off $30 coupons are the best unless you are buying an expensive item where the 20% off works best. Remember that the coupons never expire. In the spirit of the holidays if you see someone without a coupon and have an extra one share it!
With people spending so much time at home, old fashioned games like Monopoly and playing cards and even mini crossword puzzles are making a comeback. They allow the family to play together and offer hours of enjoyment. Discounters like TJMAXX and Marshall’s offer good prices on these games. Quality toys like educational Melissa and Doug and old fashioned F.A.O. Schwarz train sets and toys can also be found at the discount retailers.
Cold weather will always bring discounts on temperature appropriate clothing and when combined with Macy’s or JC Penney coupons can be a steal. Monday, December 14 is free shipping day when retailers waive the shipping charges for your purchase. That is going to be a busy day this year with people ordering online and not going to department stores. Always try to meet the minimum required for free shipping as those shipping charges can be quite hefty.
Food preparation items like FROZEN pancake makers and character waffle makers are always fun. The kids stir the batter and the adults handle the hot machines. Many of you enjoy the egg bites at Starbucks which are 2 for $4. One small appliance for $20 (less the 20% Bed Bath Coupon bringing it to $16) allows you to make the egg bites at home. Make 5 sets of 2 egg bites and you are already saving money.
Local merchants have been hit particularly hard during the pandemic so try to patronize them as much as you can. They offer quality, often unique gifts tastefully gift wrapped at no charge for you. Some of these merchants are on the brink of closing due lackluster sales and desperately need your support.
Our beautiful Century 21 store in Yonkers is now a memory, but Lord and Taylor at Ridge Hill and Eastchester remain open. They are not just selling stock on hand but have brought new merchandise into the stores. Watch out for the new merchandise. It might not be the same quality you would always expect from Lord and Taylor and there are no returns or exchanges.
Sears in White Plains is going out of business. I visited the other day and didn’t find any drastic bargains so early in the closing sale process. What I did notice is the lack of fitting rooms coupled with a no return or exchange policy. This is simply not fair to consumers. How can you buy an item with no returns without trying it on. They gave the old ‘the fitting rooms are closed due to COVID-19’ which is a lot of baloney. There are no rules, laws or regulations on the books that prohibit fitting rooms from being open during the pandemic. Same goes for bathrooms. Find a quiet area in the store and discreetly attempt to try on your items.
As Black Friday sales were lackluster, merchants will be offering specials and deals throughout the remainder of the holiday season and right up til New Years Eve. We won’t have a lot to do between now and then so bargain shopping should be on your agenda. Lottery tickets always a good gift. Play the big games and if you win the big prize you can become a millionaire any day of the week.
The nicest gift this holiday season. Pick up the phone and call a friend or loved one you have not been in touch with. There’s no greater gift then that!
Reach Eric Schoen at thistooisyonkers@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @ericyonkers. Listen to Eric Schoen and Dan Murphy on the Westchester Rising Radio Show Thursday’s from 10-11 a.m. On WVOX 1460 AM, go to WVOX.com and click the arrow to listen to the live stream or download the WVOX app from the App Store free of charge.
