Dammit, I have to go to the mall

[spinbaby]

I just picked up an email (from an account I should check more often than I do) inviting me to a party tomorrow. This is a couple I really like and I want to go to the party, but they have a new baby, which means I need to stop to pick up a baby gift today or tomorrow. What's really sad is that I can't think of anyplace except the malls and the big box stores to pick up a baby gift.

[H3Dakota]

1. *shudder*

I'd call the local "Merry Maid" service - get the happy couple one month's worth of maid service instead! A much better gift PLUS you don't have to go the mall!!!! I'd rather have my fingernails pulled out one by one than go to the mall today.

[geekgrrl]

2. I'd rather have my finger nails pulled out than go to the mall any day! nt

[Cerridwen]

3. You could find an online store and get them a gift certificate.

I like the maid idea, too.

Or if you're feeling really generous, you could give them a gift certificate from you offering to babysit at some time in the future.

[fortyfeetunder]

4. No small businesses in your area?

Surely there is one small business or specialty shop in your town, right?

[Phillycat]

6. That's exactly what I was going to post.

There are no little stores in your town?

[spinbaby]

8. Sadly, no

There are very few small businesses that haven't been squelched by the chain stores. Certainly none I can think of where I can buy baby gear.

[Phillycat]

10. That f****ing sucks.

Maybe an independent bookstore, get a baby-raising book?

[spinbaby]

11. Independent bookstore?

Oh yeah, I remember those. We have only a Walden bookstore at the mall. Official slogan: "If everyone doesn't want it, nobody gets it."

[Phillycat]

12. Good god.

:puke: Where do you live??

[spinbaby]

13. Rural PA

It's pretty much live with the chain stores or drive into Pittsburgh. You know, for a country that "supports small business" we sure have damn few of them.

[Phillycat]

14. That really sucks.

We'd love to have you in Philly, come on down! :hug:

[IndyOp]

5. Offer to babysit as a gift!

Whatever you decide to do -- remember that today is "Buy Nothing Day" -- you could just tell your friends that you have committed to observing this holiday from consumerism/materialism. Babies in the US start out with a - sorry - disgusting amount of material possessions compared to babies in the vast majority of the rest of the world. It doesn't seem to be making them/us happy -- many of the students in my college classes have been taking Prozac and Xanax for years.

[demnan]

7. Amazon has a baby shop

you could always shop on-line and send them an email with a gift certificate they could pick up, that way they can get what they want.

[spinbaby]

9. Now there's an idea

Let me go see if I can do an amazon gift certificate.