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Buyer's Guide to the Best Gift Baskets
Searching for the Best Gift Baskets
In today's world, family and friends can be spread out across the country making it difficult to send gifts to those you really care about. Of all the options available, gift baskets may be the best solution, offering a wide variety of options to suit a myriad of tastes. Clearly, you wan't to choose from the best gift baskets available.
With the rising popularity of the Internet, mail order gift giving has never been more popular, and there is a lot of competition for your business. Want to send unique gifts? Christmas gifts or other holidays? Birthday gifts? Is it for family or do you need corporate gifts to promote your business? Or are you simply looking for great gift ideas? It can be a time consuming job to navigate through all the companies and keep track of all the information.
This article is designed to cut through all the fancy ribbon and guide you to the best gift baskets available. Included you will find links to the individual companies, what they offer, approximate cost for the items plus shipping charges, and which credit cards are accepted for payment. In short, a large part of your work has been done. Peruse the listings below and you are sure to find a business offering exactly what you want (and many ideas you didn't even know you had). Happy gift basket shopping!
Zabar's
Founded in 1934, Zabar's is a New York institution. Featuring coffees, teas, fresh spices, roasted goose, rack of lamb, foie gras, smoked salmon, deli meats, cheeses, housewares, caviar, and a wide variety of other items. They also have an "on sale"section, plus a "down-loadable" corporate gifts catalog. You can also create a custom gift basket with a basket and items you choose.
Least expensive item: Under $10.00
Most expensive item: $3299.00 - (Jura Capresso IMPRESSA Z5 automatic coffee and espresso center).
Shipping based on total order: $7.50 (on orders less than $25.00) and up.
Usually ships within two business days.
Accepts Amex / MC / Visa
Dean and Deluca
Founded in 1977 in SoHo, NYC., Dean and Deluca specializes in meats, cheeses, bakery goods, pantry items, herbs and spices, coffee and tea, wines, side dishes, foie gras, caviar, truffles and truffle products. Many gift baskets to choose from, or buy ala carte.
Prices: $10 and up.
Shipping: About $13.50 and up.
Accepts Amex / MC / Visa
How to Make a Fruit Basket
Earthy Delights
Offering specialty foods to American Chefs and adventurous home cooks, Earthy Delights offers fresh produce from the farm straight to the kitchen in the shortest time possible. They offer wild mushrooms and other wild-harvested items, including specialty produce, hand-crafted cheeses, balsamic vinegar, exotic spices and hard to find ingredients.
Least expensive item: $5.00
Most expensive item: $178.00
Baskets from $24.99 and up.
Shipping: About $13.50 and up.
Accepts Amex / Discover / MC / Visa
Omaha Steaks
Offering a large variety of lean meats from grain-fed Omaha Beef, Omaha Steaks offers the most popular cuts of steaks, ribs, roasts, special cuts, as well as seafoods, poultry, pork, veal, lamb, appetizers, side dishes and desserts. Items arrive fresh-frozen in a Styrofoam cooler
Prices: $14.99 (12 - 4 oz. Omaha Steak burgers) and up.
Shipping: $13.99 to $21.99 (Depending on product cost)
Accepts: Amex / MC / Visa
Exotic Meats USA
Offering a large selection of Game and Specialty Meats, Exotic Meats features over 38 varieties, including: Alligator, Antelope, Bison/Buffalo, Caribou/Reindeer, Crocodile, Elk, Frog, Kangaroo, Kobe Beef. Lamb, Llama, Rabbit, Rattlesnake, Snapping Turtle, Venison, Wild Boar, Yak, Duck, Goose, Guinea Fowl, Ostrich, Pheasant, Quail, Squab, and Wild Turkey (at the time of this writing, they are out of Lion and Black Bear). Select from Steaks, Burgers, Ribs, Roasts, Sausages and more.
All of their products are farm raised and free of growth hormones and antibiotics. Recipes and nutritional information is available for each products.
Prices: Less than $10.00 and up
Example: 2 - 8 oz. Buffalo sirloin steaks - $19.30. Sampler packs $90.00 to $159.00
Minimum order: $90.00
Shipping $59.81 and up (overnight delivery)
Accepts: Discover / Mastercard/ Visa
Lobster Anywhere
For over three decades, Lobster Anywhere has provided live Maine lobsters and premium seafood to restaurants, hotels, large institutions, and now the home chef. Their live Maine lobsters are taken fresh off the fishing boats of local lobster fisherman to sophisticated live-holding systems, and immediately hand selected and packed for your delivery overnight. Other items include Steamer Clams, Mussels, Baked Shrimp, Steaks and Ribs, Sea Scallops wrapped in bacon, chowders, soups, bisque, and desserts.
Representative prices: Least expensive item $6.00 / Least expensive live lobster (2 lbs) - $28.00 / Steamer Clams 19.00. / Prince Edward Island Mussels - 2 lbs. $16.00
Shipping: Overnight $24.00 and up.
Accepts Amex / MC / Visa
Harry and David
For over 70 years, Harry and David has been sending fruit baskets and fresh fruit, and now features many other items. Offering some of the best gift baskets, choose a fruit basket, wine baskets, bakery baskets, healthy baskets, ham, turkey, truffles and chocolates, sweet treats, breakfast items, cheese cakes, cakes, pies, flowers, and plants.
Basket prices: $39.99 - $299.00.
Shipping: About $10.48 and up.
Accepts Amex / MC / Visa / Discover Card / Diners Club
Wine Country
Offering a wide variety of wine gift baskets, Wine Country also offers a plethora of other gift basket choices. They also sell baskets featuring spa items, candy, chocolate, gourmet food, baked goods, and much, much more. Wines offered are California vintages from several different wineries.
Basket Prices: $22.46 - $150.00
Shipping: $5.95 and up
Many non-wine baskets offer free shipping
Accepts Amex, MC, Visa
Wally's
Called by Zagat's survey the #1 wine shop in Los Angeles, Wally's offers a variety of fine liquor gift baskets. You will also find wine baskets, champagne baskets, and beer baskets, accompanied by gourmet snacks and crackers. They also offer kosher, non-alcoholic, and custom made baskets.
We offered products for the ladies. Here is where you'll find men gifts. All single items are also available individually with several gift wrapping options. Shipping to London, Paris, Canada, Tokyo are also available. Call for details.
Least expensive item: Some single bottles of wine for less than $10.00
Basket prices: $59.00 to $995.00
Shipping: Depending on size of order and location, about $25.00. (A single bottle of wine ships for about $13.00.
Accepts Amex / MC / Visa / Discover
Godiva
Having achieved an iconic status in the word of chocolates, Godiva uses premium cocoa beans and dairy butter and always ships fresh. They don't use artificial flavors or preservatives, which less expensive brands often do to achieve a longer shelf life. Instantly recognizable, Godiva chocolates is always an impressive and appreciated gift idea.
Least expensive item: $4.00
Most expensive item: $325.00
Shipping approx $12.95
Accepts Amex / MC / Visa / Discover
Candy Baskets
Founded in 2003, Candy Baskets offers unique gift candy arrangements and gourmet gift baskets. This family-owned company features gourmet chocolates such as Godiva, Mark Avenue Chocolates, new Ghirardelli boxed chocolates, Koppers chocolates, Lindt truffles, Jelly Belly, Fudgie Wudgie fudge, Buddy Squirrel Nuts and more. Gourmet gift basket arrangements also include gourmet coffees, teas, roasted garlic toasts, Bruschetta snacks, pretzels and gourmet mustards.
Basket prices: $18.99 to $49.99
Shipping: Depending on location and size of order about $6.00 and up
Accepts Amex / Visa / MC / Discover
Cookie Gift Baskets
While the company is incorporated in Minnesota, Cookie Gift Baskets bakeries are distributed across the country and ship to anywhere in the US. Items are baked and shipped on the same day to insure maximum freshness. A large selection of cookie bouquets are available, and offer both crunchy and moist and chewy selections.
Basket prices: $17.00 to $136.00
Shipping and Handling: Depending on location and size of order, about $9.95 and up.
Accepts Amex, MC, Visa
Bath and Body
Offering bath gift baskets and a variety of body and bath items, Bath and Body products come in a variety of fragrances and nourishing ingredients for the lady who likes to pamper her skin and soul. Body lotions, body butter, bath gels, and more are sure to please any female recipient. Gift sets are also available.
Gift baskets: $14.00 to $80.00
Shipping and Handling: Depending on size of order, $5.95 and up.
Accepts / Amex / MC / Visa
Fill-r-up
A customized gift basket service and retail store located on Manhattan's Upper East Side, fill-r-up offers original, high-end gift baskets for every occasion. Searching for a Christmas gift? Almost every imaginable theme is available, including all major holidays, spa and beauty, items for the gourmet cook, and even pet baskets. Many candies, sweets and whimsical items are offered. Choose from one of their pre-designed baskets or build your own.
Least expensive: About $10.00
Most expensive: $306.76
Shipping: About $14.00 and up.
Accepts Amex / MC / Visa
Let's Go Shopping For Gift Baskets!
With this guide to the best gift baskets available on the internet, you are sure to find a basket that suits your needs and budget. Visit your favorites using the links provided to see the wide range of choices each company has available. Hopefully, you will now find your on-line shopping experience satisfying and hassle-free. Happy shopping!
NOTE: The author has no affiliation with any companies listed in this article. No financial considerations have been made. Information is deemed to be accurate as of the time of this writing.
How to Make a Small Gift Basket
Comments
gift basket is the best way to show our warm gestures and its perfect gift for every occasion
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There is a satisfaction from creating your own. It's so much more personal and satisfying. Thanks for the comment.
The gift basket is a great invention! Personally, I love making up my own gourmet food baskets and creating a theme such as Spanish, Italian, Chinese etc. You've given so many choices here, thanks :)
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Pam Brown: I visited your site and your gift baskets are of a similar quality to those listed. I guess marketing is the key, but very expensive. Of course social marketing is free, and you could write articles such as this one and post them on free sites. Offer something for free...a discount perhaps - but you probably know this. It wouldn't be too expensive to
hire a writer to do some social marketing (facebook, twitter) and to write and post those articles. Ahem. Are you signed up on Facebook and Twitter? And of course what you are doing...posting comments on articles such as this. Cheaper if you can do it yourself, but it's time consuming.
Good luck to you in your endeavors.
Thank you for the great post. We are in the gift basket business and hope to achieve the same amount of success as the companies that made your list.
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Hmmm. Me too. I think I have your number.
I adore lots of possibilities!
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LittleWhistle: The problem is not that I don't see something, but that I see many possibilities. It is more a matter of which one you mean.
Thank you, Linda. I see that your links lead to some nice baby shower gift baskets. I'll let the links stay and encourage all to check out Linda's site. Thanks for commenting.
We live in the same time as Harry and David. They do a great job with their gift baskets.
I love your addition of the you tube videos...makes a very interesting hubpage.
just pucker up and blow! look at the last three comments above.. what do you see??
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Hmmm, LittleWhistle. I thought I did, but since you ask me so suggestively, I fear I must have missed the cocoa bean boat.
You know how to whistle, don't ya?
Thank you Chris! Do you see the connection?? Hmmm!!!
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Candie: Hmmmmmm. I can't decide. I guess I'll just have to give you one of each!
Little Whistle: Well, you must get a chocolate one! Thanks for the comment!
I think I'd like the chocolate basket, myself.
Well heck I just found this one. Ok, so I know you're wondering "which one would I give Candie?" You much to polite to actually ask, and you might be hoping I'll pick one to make it easier. Well I do love a good piece of meat. I also do love eating things that melt on my tongue, or are firm and crisp. This is tough and you've chosen the best. I will let you decide.. you are so good at surprises!
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Hillary: Thanks for having a look-see. I appreciate your visit and your comment!
gift boxes are such a nice present. They are especially nice to give someone who has just had a baby.
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RedElf: Thanks for dropping by and commenting. I appreciate it!
Wow - lots of great information here. Thanks Christoph, for a super informative hub...
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I'll bring that in my back pocket! Just to be on the safe side.
Which basket has the whipped cream in it?
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Yeah. Let's just take them straight to be bedroom and not come out for a few days!
I think a basket from them and one from Dean and Deluca would make a nice picnic... the kind that lasts for days.
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It is one of my favorites too!
Wine Country looks like a winner!
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Thank you, Anamika S. Always nice to see you!
I like the Gift Baskets idea.
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Glad you checked this out. Thanks!
I love Harry and David. Haven't heard of a few of the others. Thanks for the info.
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Shades: Thanks. That's why I wrote it. it's doing OK, but not great. I was at the top of the searches last time I checked, but it hasn't really translated into a lot of traffic. I think I'm due for a funny one.
Dude, did you go legit on me? While I think this is an awesome example of a very well researched and informative hub, and it will probably generate adsense revenue for a long time, I didn't laugh until you starting giving Spryte crap about her sister's new lobster business. So, I think, technically, you owe me one of the real lobster baskets for Christmas to make up for expectations of hilarity not being met. Or at the very least, I'll take some steaks or something.
(Seriously, nice work man. This is impressive, you put some time into this. Hope you see returns on this time investement over the course of the next months and years.)
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Sixty: You think I had fun with the sentence, you shoulda seen the....oh, never mind!
Dottie: The Lobster Anywhere would sure be a special gift for your parents! It's expensive, but what an impact you would make!
P.S. Like your new avatar. Very seasonal!
Christoph....I think you really did find the BEST Gift Baskets. I am a big fan of these baskets and also I LOVE to make and put them together. I must say that my mom and dad would just LOVE a gift basket from Lobster Anywhere considering they cannot get a fresh Maine Lobster where they now live. My dad grew up in Maine so once a Maine Lobster fan always a Maine Lobster fan. Hmmmm, now I want one too! Thanks for this great hub.
Now sticking to it I can understand that outcome! You can have some fun with this sentence too! LOL
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Writer Rider: Thanks for the comment! That sounds good to me right now. I wish I had some!
I like Zabar's and Dean and DeLuca's the best. Nothing like wine and cheeses, smoked salmon, coffee, and teas. Right season for it to.
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Sixtyorso: None of the companies - with the exception of Wally's - ships outside of the US, and Wally's only ships to a few big cities.
Did I have any fun writing it? Hmmm. I wasn't trying to have fun (for a change), but rather do it like those "money making" types do: Identify an area, research keywords, etc., ect. My goal was to get the article to place high in search engine results in a very competitive area. Happy to say I placed number 1, albeit in a "back door" kind of way. That part is fun. Now I hope to apply these same principles to the stuff I WANT to write about. You know, I want some traffic. I want people to read what I have written. Think what you will about the gyno table, it was a conversation piece! That's my story and I'm sticking to it. (Someone could have a field day with that last sentence!) DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!
From a sober hub on internet shopping to a gynae table with stirrups as a "conversation piece" ( I dont think) in Christophe's apartment. One approach of the Spryte and chaos reigns supreme as usual.
I guess they would not Ship a lot of that stuff to South Africa, foodstuff laws and all that, or maybe you could get permits? But as the USD is presently about 11 to 1 to our currency, SA Rand, (8 to 1 two weeks ago) US goods just got too expensive for us.
Great, well researched, hub but did you have any fun writing it?
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My school (National Shakespeare Conserv.) had a summer camp. I eventually donated it to them where, as I understand it, it was quite appreciated!
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Gwendy: Glad you won at poker and got to engage in your favorite activity - shopping. OK...I knew i forgot to explain something about the table. I didn't know what it was (exactly) when I bought it. As I said it was very nice looking; wood, brass, adjustable drop wings on either sides, etc. I was going to shorten the legs and turn it into a chaise (or something like that). Then when I was getting ready to bring it home (on the subway - you should have seen the stares we got) they brought out the stirrups. "What're these?" I said. "They go with the table," said they. "Why?", say I. "They're the stirrups," they said. Imagine my dumb face as it slowly sinks in and dawns on me. I turned several shades of pink, then red, then purple! But I don't remember one gal running out screaming. By the time they got into my apartment (the hussies!), they were in looooovvvee. Besides, I could just tell that story and I went from leche to Gary Cooper in seconds!
Spryte: That's funny. Nope, the "giddyup's" didn't come until later!
ROFLMAO, I can picture it and I might need therapy now.
LOL Gwendy! Maybe Christoph was just confused about the stirrups...you know, being a cowboy and all. Can't you just picture him getting on it, putting his feet in and yelling, "Giddyup!"?
Christoph, I played nickle ante poker friday night and came out about $7.00 ahead, I played Texas hold em saturday and came in fifth the first game and won the second game. I didn'y buy anything at the auction. It was an antique/farm auction and I only had my eye on a couple of things (an Amish baby buggy and an oak table.) The buggy went for $475.00 and I didn't stick around for the table, I ran into some friends and we decided to go shopping while the guys went to the farm and went shooting.
Christoph, if I had went on a date with you and you brought me back to your place and showed me a gynocology table I would have left screaming from your house and changed my phone number, but maybe that's just me.
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Hello Gwendy! Bye Gwendy! We miss you too. Did you win at poker? I love auctions. I worked in an auction house in N.Y. when I was an aspiring actor. I picked up a lot of stuff when it didn't sell (they'd let me have it cheap). I had an antique gynocology table in my apartment made from wood with solid brass stirrups. Talk about a conversation starter when a gal came to my house for the first time! It was...er...fun!
Christoph, this is great, and you included my favorite, Godiva! I buy one or two of the boxes a year and horde them. They are expensive but so very very good. My oldest daughter is addicted too, but we always know what to get each other. This was done very nicely CR, glad you did it.
Sorry I have not been around alot these last few days guys. My husband has returned and I have been to a few poker games and went to some auctions. I will try to get back to you all Monday. I miss you guys :(
LOL! I will!
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Have a hot bowl of bug bisque for me!
Christoph - Too true about the bragging rights. I was NYC once and went out for a lobster dinner. Ouch did that hurt. Word to the wise...unless you have very deep pockets...don't order lobster in a hoity toity restaurant in NYC.
My former father-in-law was a lobsterman...so I can definitely taste the difference between fresh from the ocean, grocery store and *shudder* frozen tail. We called them sea roaches...or sea bugs...because of the fact that they are bottom feeders and look like bugs. For his wedding, he caught about oh...I want to say 50-60 of those suckers and kept them in a cage in the bay until the day of his wedding. Then he steamed them all up and kept them in coolers so they'd stay hot. I never thought it possible to be sick of lobster...but after 4 of them...I couldn't stuff another bite in or look at them for a WHOLE day. :)
Just another reason to be glad I'll be in NH for Christmas...I have a couple of bugs on my list.
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Spryte: And such a little lobster too. I think it's one of those "if you have to ask how much it costs you can't afford it" things. I should probably defend my choices of purveyors a little bit. I think a selling point with "Lobsters Anywhere" is you are guaranteed that the Lobster was in the ocean the day before you get it, and that cannot be said of picking up a "fresh lobster" at your grocery store. Not everyone has a sister who can go down and pluck one out of the bay. and let's face it, some people have more money than Soloman. Plus these lobsters come with bragging rights: "I had these babies overnighted from..." wherever.
Now. If your sister wants to do it for everybody at a lesser price, I will be happy to put her name in this hub. Of course it would have to say something like, "Spryte's Sister has been shipping live lobsters to chefs everywhere for 5 minutes, and..."
Personally, I wouldn't pay for a lobster at any price (well, maybe if it was really cheap.) I think it is a huge rip off. Being from New Hampshire, you are probably aware that at one time lobsters were considered poor peoples food, and household servants had it in their contracts that they could not be served lobster more than twice a week.
Anyway, thanks for reading and commenting!
Sally: I'm sure someone is very depre....someone WILL be very depressed about not getting the Impressa, but too bad. Thanks for letting me serve you!
I can see the word *check* made an impression. I do so sincerely appreciate your meticulous attention to this request. Please remove the IMPRESSA Z5 from anybody's consideration.
I'm all for gift baskets, Christoph. They've saved me from Christmas shopping nightmares more than once. But $ 28.00 for a 2 pound lobster????? Gimme a break!! That's blatant robbery!
But I guess if you have the crave on, then it's worth the price. Me? I just call my sister...send her down to our favorite seafood market and have them wrap up a couple and ship them overnight. Costs a LOT less...but they don't unfortunately offer it online...you have to ask.
Nice informative hub though and I will probably check out a few of them next month :) Thanks for doing all the work for me!
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Oh. Yea. Guess I misread that. By all means! Send me your CHECK and the list. For you, It would be my pleasure to take your CHECK and your list and go through the list item by item. I will CHECK your list to make sure you are including everybody, and not overlooking someone because you forgot to double CHECK. Might I suggest the Jura Capresso IMPRESSA Z5 automatic coffee and espresso from Zabar's at only $3299.00. The last time I CHECKed, this item was not available on eBay. But just you watch, after I have received your CHECK and your list, one will probably turn up there at a discount. But you can't count on that, so please send your CHECK and your list so that I may do your bidding. Sincerely, At your command, CR.
Oh, and thanks for saying nice things!
That would be thumbs.
LOL, Christoph, I was offering to send YOU the list and the check, to do my shopping for me!
So maybe you think your Hub was mundane. However, some people have a hard time making sense of the enormous amounts of information they are bombarded with every day. Your Hub makes sense for them.
Also, you approached this Hub with the organization and technical expertise of a successful business writer, which I know you are. For as much as your wit and charm appeal to me, I also like this more structured and mundanely purposeful aspect of your writing. Ahem. My thunbs are getting tired now.
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Ok. That sounds great. Just remember, when they say "smoked salmon", they don't mean rolling it in paper and lighting it with a match.
Will have a go at fishing for one for you Christoph, can't beat a freshly caught smoked salmon :) :) :)
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Thanks Misty: I love Smoked Salmon (In case you were wondering what to get me.) Thanks for reading and taking the time to leave a comment.
Great Hub Christoph with really good suggestions. One year a lady I knew sent me a side of Scottish Smoked Salmon for Christmas, it was a lovely gift, and was sent direct from the smokery packaged in polystyrene so it stayed cold.
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Sally: You are so amazing! You can find something nice to say about the extremely mundane. I did this one more as an exercise in SEO keyword tactics, researching keywords first, etc., and really trying to write something that would be useful in a highly competitive field. Plus, I have gotten frustrated looking for different places to order from instead of my usuals, which, like you, is usually Harry and David or Omaha Steaks. We'll see how it works.
I like your idea about just sending them the list and a check. Then they'll get exactly what they want. Thanks for writing. You really are too much!
Starscream: Thanks for reading and leaving a comment. I didn't know you were from Romania. I don't know if I would use my hubs as good examples of what life in America is like, but I'm glad you read them. Thank you!
Great hub.... after I read some of your hubs, I realized that life in America is far different from life in Romania. If you would live just a year in my country, you will see what I am talking about... For me, to live in America seems so hard, but I know that you think the same about live in Europe... or Asia! So, thanks again for the hub. Now I know what gift to buy for my friend!
Nice job organizing the product price and shipping cost information. I was glad to see some of my favorites like Harry and David and Omaha Steaks.
In case you don't know this about me, I absolutely hate to shop, especially for gifts. I don't have the genetic material for choosing the right things. So, yours is a helpful, idea-generating list to have on hand. Now, can I just send you my gift list including gender, age, and occupation for each of the recipients and a blank check? :)
Thumbs up!
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