Amazon: wtf
posted by madamjujujive on Aug 22, 2009 - 121 comments

The Internet as Imagined in 1969. A cute video replete with sexist overtones.
posted by KevinSkomsvold on May 14, 2009 - 50 comments

A Crooked Gambling Supplies catalog from 1960, a 1914 Cyclopedia of 5,000 Puzzles, dozens of magic posters from the '20s to the '40s, and more fun ephemera from Old Catalog's flickr sets.
posted by madamjujujive on Mar 11, 2009 - 15 comments

Stylish Gent: Thedaniel provides men with an easy to use shopping blog for fashion with a retroish flair. [via mefi projects]
posted by The Whelk on Feb 22, 2009 - 14 comments

"We're not selling here -- we're hunting!" The young man or woman at the mall kiosk who grabs your shoulder and says "Can I have twenty seconds of your time to show you something amazing?" might be a young Israeli saving up for a pre-army jaunt to Asia or South America. The U.S. kiosk trade has become popular enough in Israel to inspire a folk-rock song by musician and kiosk veteran Rami Feinstein. The Wall Street Journal offers a generally admiring profile of the Israeli "natural-born closers." The Capital Times, in Madison, WI, wishes they'd buzz off.
posted by escabeche on Dec 3, 2008 - 115 comments

"This year, Americans are planning to spend over $400 on Christmas gifts. Instead of buying things we can’t afford, here’s a way to do something more meaningful." Via
posted by jbickers on Nov 26, 2008 - 42 comments

Trader Joe's Fan: Recipes, product reviews and more.
posted by invisible ink on Nov 13, 2008 - 27 comments

Modista [via mefi projects] [more inside]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero on Oct 22, 2008 - 42 comments

Big Lots, the mega-retailer that specializes in really low prices on really odd assortments of stuff - basically, whatever their supplier has too much of - just launched its new website with a Woot-like "Deal of the Day" section. But perhaps most interesting is cartoon spokesmodel Anita Deal, who bears a striking resemblance to a certain vice-presidential candidate.
posted by jbickers on Oct 22, 2008 - 93 comments

Why don't you get yourself a little something? It's only $10!
posted by jonson on May 12, 2008 - 103 comments

Better World Books - Recently recognized by Fast Company as one of the best for-profit social enterprises of 2008, they offer a wide selection of new and used books with free shipping in the US and less than $3 shipping elsewhere. A portion of the profits go to fund literacy organizations such as Room to Read and WorldFund, and their shipping is carbon-neutral. The only thing missing is the ability to import Amazon wishlists.
posted by divabat on Jan 16, 2008 - 18 comments

Living in a big box store: Comedian Mark Malkoff gave the world Li'l Gn'R, he took the Starbucks challenge, and today, he moves into IKEA in Paramus, N.J., for one week. (This is also news in Sweden.) [more inside]
posted by iviken on Jan 7, 2008 - 36 comments

Train runs through bangkok market. (via)
posted by phrontist on Dec 1, 2007 - 35 comments

Need some help with holiday shopping? Me too. Here's a gift guide roundup: NY Mag * TimeOutNY * Wired * Engadget * CNET * Salon * Time * Newsweek * WaPo * Cool Hunting * DesignSponge under $25 and affordable art guide * Etsy * NOTCOT * Lucky * In Style * Style.com * Travel & Leisure * Treehugger * BoardGameGeek * Babes in Toyland (NSFW) * Babble
posted by lalex on Nov 27, 2007 - 23 comments

Time for Black Friday again and people just losing it and going fucking insane.
posted by Foci for Analysis on Nov 25, 2007 - 168 comments

Luxury items, once made by European artisans, fetched a high price due to the craft of making the items by hand in small workshops. But now, although the prices are even more astronomical, the products themselves are really cheaply produced in Chinese factories, similar to those that make Gap socks, or baseball caps. Despite this, they continue to be worn as badges bought on thinning credit.
posted by four panels on Nov 24, 2007 - 65 comments

I pledge to buy handmade this holiday season, and request that others do the same for me. Why? Better gifting experience, better ethics, better for the environment.
posted by divabat on Nov 23, 2007 - 95 comments

"Tammy Wynette was quite wrong when she sang 'Sometimes it's hard to be a woman'. It's not. It's always hard to be a woman. Especially if you're a man." Hard-hitting journalism from The Daily Mail. [more inside]
posted by miss lynnster on Sep 20, 2007 - 55 comments

Tired after wandering the aisles all day? Want to get a head start on all those shoppers the next morning? An IKEA near Oslo has opened a free, 30-bed in-store dorm. The company says it's also equipped with "a bridal suite, a luxury suite, as well as family and tourist rooms". A company spokesman claimed that "guests stayed awake to watch the night workers refill the shelves", then went on to point out that many of them also stayed awake through sunrise, unsure whether the sun would come up otherwise.
posted by mkultra on Jul 29, 2007 - 24 comments

True Cost to Own. The Edmunds Inc. True Cost to Own pricing system calculates the additional costs you may not have included when considering your next vehicle purchase. These extra costs include: depreciation, interest on your loan, taxes and fees, insurance premiums, fuel costs, maintenance, and repairs. Search below to view the TCO of any vehicle.
posted by srboisvert on Jul 10, 2007 - 35 comments

There's been much talk about the Supreme's decisions on desegregation and free speech, but another ruling with broad consumer impact has gone relatively unnoticed. In a 5-4 decision [PDF], the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a 96-year-old ban on minimum pricing agreements between manufacturers and retailers. Dissenting opinion believes that this ruling will hurt consumers, raise prices and keep new retailers out of the marketplace. The 1911 ruling that was overturned was Dr. Miles Medical Co. vs. John D. Park & Sons which decided that it is always illegal for a supplier to dictate minimum prices to a retailer.
posted by dejah420 on Jun 29, 2007 - 47 comments

Whole Foods takes London. This South Kensington flagship store is the "quasi-messianic" company's biggest ever, comprising 80,000 square feet spread out over three floors offering 10,000 grocery items. In true American style, shoppers can choose from 1,000 different wines, 425 cheeses, 40 types of sausage, 55 in-store chefs, a pub called The Bramley, a sushi bar, a champagne and oyster bar and a DJ-booth to play music for late-night shoppers. The locals seem overwhelmed by it all.
posted by chuckdarwin on Jun 29, 2007 - 86 comments

Add to Cart, Buy, Buy Now, Add to Brown Bag? 107 clickable shopping cart buttons on one page. Most popular colour: red. I only recognize the Amazon button--clearly I need to hone my online shopping-fu.
posted by dbarefoot on May 15, 2007 - 17 comments

20ltd.com is a new and unique online shop. They have 20 limited edition items for sale at any time, and each item is a limited edition made exclusively for 20ltd.com. And they have a jukebox with some great tunes on to shop by.
posted by allkindsoftime on Apr 30, 2007 - 49 comments

Is the rise of philanthropic fashionistas decked out in Red T-shirts and iPods really the best way to save a child dying of AIDS in Africa? One year into the "save the world by shopping" initiative championed by Bono, Steven Spielberg and Chris Rock, and the bill is right at $100 million - and so far, Red has only raised about $18 million. Nonprofit watchdogs worry about a backlash. Red's CEO replies, "this marketing would have been spent anyway, on other product lines. It never would have been (nor will it ever be) given to the Global Fund."
posted by jbickers on Mar 6, 2007 - 87 comments

Discount Stores of the 1960's
posted by anastasiav on Feb 12, 2007 - 49 comments

Grandma's Kitchen (youtube), the Roller Toaster, the water-less washing machine, the sculptures of Gwon Osong, a crucifix-shaped mp3 player... some of the people and things found on CubeMe, a blog about "wonderful stuff".
posted by dobbs on Dec 20, 2006 - 13 comments

iliketotallyloveit is what you get if you apply the digg algorithm to stuff. Users submit their favorite stuff, new or old, and if enough other members agree with its awesomeness their favorite gets posted to the front page (along with where to buy it, of course).
posted by mendel on Dec 19, 2006 - 16 comments

PepsiBlue! PerpetualKid! Get your consumer on! Linked to by some guys, I started digging around the treasure trove that is PerpetualKid. Sure, they've got a lot of that Spencer's Gifts type crap but its more fun than that. Trebuchet? Meat pencil toppers? Chew by numbers? I'm sure you'll have seen some of these products before but others, maybe not so much. Bonus links: gummy steak, strawberry-flavored "bacon" (also gummy), and ring⁸ bananaphone.
posted by Ogre Lawless on Aug 23, 2006 - 7 comments

Crazy Eddie. His prices were in-sane! After a failed attempt to revive the home electronic brand known for wacky commercials, the name is being auctioned off on eBay.
posted by Yakuman on Jul 4, 2006 - 27 comments

Google Checkout is officially unveiled today; the latest service to join the Google arsenal in their race to control the entire www. It has been suggested in the news that the Google payment service was also a big factor in the recent Yahoo and eBay partnership, since eBay's Paypal service might finally have some real competition. More info on the service here.
posted by p3t3 on Jun 29, 2006 - 32 comments

Drag-Queen.com Your one stop drag queen shop. (via)
posted by philcliff on Feb 15, 2006 - 17 comments

Cash, credit, or fingerprint? Biometrics are hot. Since we've already tired of our RFID credit cards, Wal-Mart and Costco are exploring fingerprint scanners as a means of payment in their stores. Pay by Touch, which has already installed its technology in various Cub Foods, bigg's, Piggly Wiggly, and Farm Fresh stores, is proud to change the way we all say "I am me". But didn't we already decide that sometimes fingerprints say "I am someone else"? [via]
posted by youarenothere on Jan 25, 2006 - 18 comments

Order now for next Christmas! We’ve already discussed the fascinating story of Pitcairn Island (home of the Bounty mutineers’ descendents) and its recent troubles.
Now you too can help the struggling community re-find its feet by buying online items hand-crafted on Pitcairn by Fletcher Christian and Co’s descendants. Just be aware that shipping could take 3-8 months. (Or try these guys who have a stash of Pitcairn goods in the US.)
posted by penguin pie on Dec 12, 2005 - 9 comments

So, does anyone have any suggestions on what to get this holiday season?
posted by cleverusername on Dec 9, 2005 - 70 comments

Zombied-out customer-service reps beware: the Consumerist, the newest edition to Nick Denton's Gawker "nanopublishing" empire, is watching you. Gizmodo's Joel Johnson (who recently spent a month in New Orleans) serves up sassy shopping tips and customer-service-tests-from-Hell. More hip-product-pr0n-with-an-attitude, just in time for Christmas the happy holidays^TM.
posted by digaman on Dec 7, 2005 - 18 comments

Upside-Down Christmas Trees - Demand is growing. The media seems to have caught on to the trend...playing right into the hands of the sellers. Get yours today (if they haven't already sold out), for a mere $599.95. On one hand, it seems like a good space-saving idea. On the other, how much more commercial can Christmas get? "Target has three such upside-down trees on its website, touting their best attribute: 'Leaves more room on the floor for gifts!'"
posted by clgregor on Nov 10, 2005 - 67 comments

Shirtpocket.co.uk news item 7 - reviews Someone is asleep at the wheel. Eastender Grant is particularly peeved.
posted by magpie68 on Nov 3, 2005 - 38 comments

Etsy.com A colorful new way to shop. For those of you who don't know what you want, but know exactly what color you want it in.
posted by kindle on Oct 22, 2005 - 14 comments

"A generation ago, adult children visiting their parents' homes might have left with a Tupperware container of lasagna. Today, many of them stealthily make off with toiletries, groceries, sometimes clothing and even furniture. It is an apparently widespread practice, born of a sense of entitlement among young adults - and usually amusedly tolerated by parents - that gives new meaning to the phrase 'home shopping.'" Guilty as charged.
posted by JPowers on Jul 29, 2005 - 55 comments

Gel.TV A bunch of crazy japanese guys keep howling and screaming and throwing jelly around and then there are sneakers and then... I really have no idea what this is all about, but it's really funny. Warning: This site seems to load pretty slow sometimes. And: Try the knobs of the tv-set and these little Icons below. *Really* weird.
posted by heimkonsole on Jun 22, 2005 - 23 comments

That "liberal bastion" PBS and that "wacky" Christian Right AGREEING on something? Does the "Sith Lord of unbridaled capitalism" really deserve to be hated? Does it bear watching? A new movie will take a look: (Registration -free link). Why are growing numbers "ready to join the ranks of all right-thinking people the world over in declaring Wal-Mart an outpost of hell on earth"??? The full 60 minute Frontline program video is available online.
posted by spock on Jun 6, 2005 - 28 comments

Lifestyle centers are open-air malls designed to look like an urban street or a contemporary residential area. But don't be fooled. Among the activities not allowed in the center are: excessive staring or taking photos, video or audio recording of any store, product, employee, customer or officer. Oh, and "non-commercial expressive activity" is not allowed either. Hopefully, that doesn't include talking.
posted by Tlahtolli on Apr 6, 2005 - 37 comments

Online outlets for gourmet goods : Chef's Warehouse | iGourmet | ChefShop | Earthy Delights | L'Epicerie (french) | Ethnic Grocer| La Tienda (spanish) | French Feast (french) | Gustiamo.com (italian) | Pacific East West (japanese/chinese) | Import Food (thai) . . . (via NYT)
posted by crunchland on Apr 6, 2005 - 40 comments

Where do you hide your nasty-ass toilet plunger so the house guests won't see it? Under an attention-getting, gawdy as hell fake plant - duh.
posted by shoppingforsanity on Mar 29, 2005 - 20 comments

Poor little Daisy Moshammer... After a life of leisure, immortalized on the arm of her famous, eccentric papa, the little dog's troubles began on the tragic evening of January 13th in Grünwald. Alas, poor little Daisy was fast asleep in bed when strange man strangled her beloved fashion icon daddy to death with a telephone cord. As he was a huge celebrity in Germany, the country mourned.

"What will become of me without Daddy?" Daisy whimpered. "I've been carried around so long, I don't even know how to walk anymore..."

When the will was read, Daddy proved he loved her! But without him to carry her, Daisy's world began to spiral out of control. Suddenly wealthy and thrust into the spotlight alone without her beloved big-haired father... how will she ever fill the void? Sex? Drugs? Are you kidding? Daddy would've much prefer shopping!
posted by miss lynnster on Feb 9, 2005 - 15 comments

Idiotarod. The Iditarod is the famous long-distance race in which yelping dogs tow a sled across Alaska. Our Idiotarod is pretty much the same thing, except that instead of dogs, it's people, instead of sleds, it's shopping carts, and instead of Alaska it's New York City.
posted by thanatogenous on Jan 20, 2005 - 12 comments

They have ways of making you spend A guided tour of the tricks stores use to make you spend more.
posted by Mwongozi on Jan 4, 2005 - 19 comments

The perfect Christmas gift for the geek in your life. Or maybe you need something for your new niece or nephew? Then again, this site may have all the stuff on your gift shopping list.
posted by Doohickie on Dec 11, 2004 - 24 comments

Need some help with your Christmas shopping? How about a nice Penis cravat? That special lady in your life will be sure to love her Possum Fur G-string. And finally, something to stuff that stocking: The Bulge.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy on Nov 25, 2004 - 15 comments