Christmas TSV 16/08/21

[Brissles]

I hate to say it but I`ve almost finished my Christmas shopping but I have my reasons for it. I need surgery and with the NHS as it is and how operations are being cancelled daily and list are growing ever longer because of covid I know it will possibly be months before I`m dealt with. It`s an unknown quantity for now and after my op I will be out of action for a while.
If /when it happens turns out to be later in the year then shopping will be out of the question and even thinking about what to buy people will be the last thing on my mind. I`ll even go in for surgery over the Christmas itself if I`m offered a date and will jump at any cancellation slot offered to me.
Anyway I struck lucky with many website sales, good discounts and special offers. The job is almost done and that`ll be me stress free when everybody else is just starting to think about it.

Great forward planning V ! 4 years ago I did the same. I was scheduled for a hip replacement for the end of November, and knowing I would be out of action at home for a good 3 weeks, I did all my Xmas shopping, got it wrapped and my xmas cards written and stamped before I went into hospital. Living on my own I also did the washing and ironing/cleaning, filled the freezer, beforehand, so that I could recover without worry. It made a huge difference to be sure.

 

[SUPERCOOLWILLOW]

Alison Cork Set of 3 Candle Holders with LED Candles Collection
Item Number: 813478
QVC Price £25.00
Todays Special Value Price £17.98
P&P £4.95

This set of three candle holders from Alison Cork come in three different sizes and feature a filigree metal leaf design with flameless LED candles inside. Set off your home with an elegant touch and a real candle-like flicker with these gorgeous nature-inspired candle holders.

Alison Cork says... "Exquisitely pretty and extremely versatile, these botanical tea light holder sets will bring a touch of elegance wherever you put them - and they also make delightful gifts!"

A terrific trio - with three different sizes in the set, you can arrange these candle holders in any way you wish, whether you place them together as a sophisticated focal point or in different rooms to tie your home decor together.

Go flameless - the flameless LED candles can be switched on in an instant for a realistic flicker without the risk of it fizzling out, plus they have a chic ombre finish that matches your chosen shade of holder.

Find your nature - there are two filigree leaf designs to choose from, so if you like an intricate, organic look, go for the Fretwork Leaf option, or if you prefer a streamlined, modern look, go for Magnolia Leaf.

Choose your colour - available in Gold, Silver or Rose Gold, these candle holders will match any style of decor, whether you love the cool, elegant finish of Silver, the warmth of classic Gold or stylish and feminine Rose Gold.

• Wipe clean with a soft dry cloth

Colour options:

• Gold
• Silver
• Rose Gold

Make your choice:
Fretwork Leaf option contains:

• 1 x large leaf candle holder (h x w x d): 18.5cm x 14.5cm x 14.5cm (7.3" x 5.7" x 5.7")
• 1 x medium leaf candle holder (h x w x d): 14cm x 11.5cm x 11.5cm (5.5" x 4.5" x 4.5")
• 1 x small leaf candle holder (h x w x d): 13.5cm x 11cm x 11cm (5.3" x 4.3" x 4.3")
• 1 x large flameless LED candle (h x w x d): 15cm x 7.5cm x 7.5cm (5.9" x 3" x 3")
• 2 x small flameless LED candles (h x w x d): 10cm x 7.5cm x 7.5cm (3.9" x 3" x 3")

Or
Magnolia Leaf option contains:

• 1 x large leaf candle holder (h x w x d): 18.5cm x 14cm x 14cm (7.3" x 5.5" x 5.5")
• 1 x medium leaf candle holder (h x w x d): 14cm x 10.5cm x 10.5cm (5.5" x 4.1" x 4.1")
• 1 x small leaf candle holder (h x w x d): 13.5cm x 10cm x 10cm (5.3" x 3.9" x 3.9")
• 1 x large flameless LED candle (h x w x d): 15cm x 7.5cm x 7.5cm (5.9" x 3" x 3")
• 2 x small flameless LED candles (h x w x d): 10cm x 7.5cm x 7.5cm (3.9" x 3" x 3")

All measurements are approximate

http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx/app.detail/params.item.813478

 

[merryone]

TSV a bit cheaper than I thought it would be, if they lost the extra £5 in postage it would be a fairly decent deal. I've said this time and time again, but unless Q get rid of p&p for their TSV's nobody's really getting much of a deal. In this case , if they did this then the saving would represent around £12, which at least is a fairly decent deal (not amazing still ) but something I'm sure they could do -but again, whilst people are prepared to fall for these "deals" - nothing will change!
When I think of a deal, I'm thinking half price not the measly 2 or 3 quid they take off.
Back to the candles - I'm not a great lover of fake candles, but I can see that perhaps people with young kids might prefer them, at least the kid might only poke themselves in the eye on the sharp edges and not burn their fingers!
The "fretwork" ones are awful imo in the black and white options - they look really cheap and nasty, the others are much nicer (Rose gold is already on waitlist only). I haven't seen the whole presentation but heard suggestions that they'd be good in a caravan or a boat..gonna listen out for how you can split them up and gift them separately, or give them as a teacher's present, oh and the kids are of to uni soon, hope they don't forget that old chestnut!

Got it on in the background - The splitting up and sifting and gifting has been suggested!

 

[loveallthingsitalian]

Why the heck would you need this “Christmas” item so much you would buy it 19 weeks in advance.

it looks like you had candles but they are too big but you just shoved them in anyway.

 

[ohnonotshoppingagain]

I will not buy any tat this woman sells. No wonder she is so wealthy!

 

[Toril]

I’m usually well under way with my Christmas shopping by now, but I haven’t started. The main problem is that all the people I buy for are male and they’re notoriously difficult to get gifts for. I always ask for some suggestions and either get an answer of “I don’t know what to suggest” or I get their list a couple of days before Christmas. I’ll have to get my thinking cap on.

 

[merryone]

I usually get done and dusted quite early on in the year, but I'm fed up about having extra stuff knocking around the flat for months on end, I've got precious little room as it is, so this time I'm gonna resist the temptation until at least mid November. It'll give me longer to save and as I buy a lot of things on buy now pay later from my catalogue, the longer I'll have to get the money to pay it all off.

 

[stratobuddy]

I’m usually well under way with my Christmas shopping by now, but I haven’t started. The main problem is that all the people I buy for are male and they’re notoriously difficult to get gifts for. I always ask for some suggestions and either get an answer of “I don’t know what to suggest” or I get their list a couple of days before Christmas. I’ll have to get my thinking cap on.

I'd like an Echo Show 10 please.

It has a 10 inch screen which rotates 360 degrees and watches your every move

 

[merryone]

Just popped the telly on whilst I'm cleaning in the kitchen and it's a xmas decoration hour - I seriously don't think I've ever seen so much tat! Don't get me wrong I'm not averse to a bit of xmas tat...but I'd expect to pay "tat" prices! Nobody needs to part with nearly £20 for a light up christmas hat, or the same for a couple of plastic baubles with light up red noses - That's what B&M, Poundstretcher etc is for!!!

 

[loveallthingsitalian]

I dont mind paying if it’s something unusual that you will bring out year after year but the postage is more than those are worth.

 

[Brissles]

I will not buy any tat this woman sells. No wonder she is so wealthy!

Its not "her" stuff anyway ! Its tat that comes in a huge cardboard box from China, and instead of getting put on a lorry to The Range or Poundstretcher, its routed to the QVC Warehouse instead. Any one of us on here could do the same with a bit of an outlay.

I've been to the Gift Fair at the NEC at Birmingham, and seeing the stuff you could pick up, mostly from the far East, I've no doubt that's where she goes - she doesn't have to leave the country !

 

[Brissles]

I’m usually well under way with my Christmas shopping by now, but I haven’t started. The main problem is that all the people I buy for are male and they’re notoriously difficult to get gifts for. I always ask for some suggestions and either get an answer of “I don’t know what to suggest” or I get their list a couple of days before Christmas. I’ll have to get my thinking cap on.

T, I'm like you - stumped in knowing what to get for a couple of married nieces/nephews. Then I saw that Whittards (tea and coffee) have a Sale on, so I mixed and matched a few bits in my order, and the box arrived with Whittards name on the inside, and all securely packaged, so I've ordered another one. Its a name brand, and flavoured drinking chocolate and speciality teas always goes down well, so that's them sorted !!!

 

[miaandmum]

I hate to say it but I`ve almost finished my Christmas shopping but I have my reasons for it. I need surgery and with the NHS as it is and how operations are being cancelled daily and list are growing ever longer because of covid I know it will possibly be months before I`m dealt with. It`s an unknown quantity for now and after my op I will be out of action for a while.
If /when it happens turns out to be later in the year then shopping will be out of the question and even thinking about what to buy people will be the last thing on my mind. I`ll even go in for surgery over the Christmas itself if I`m offered a date and will jump at any cancellation slot offered to me.
Anyway I struck lucky with many website sales, good discounts and special offers. The job is almost done and that`ll be me stress free when everybody else is just starting to think about it.

Well done Vienna I agree with you. I had a very bad bout of flu which started mid November many years ago. Had not even thought about presents as would always start beginning of December but I was so ill and by the time I was better it was too late as only rubbish was left. Everyone thinks Im mad but I dont ever want to be in that situation again so I always start in August now. Love doing it and I dont care what people think! All the best with your op.

 

[May]

I hate to say it but I`ve almost finished my Christmas shopping but I have my reasons for it. I need surgery and with the NHS as it is and how operations are being cancelled daily and list are growing ever longer because of covid I know it will possibly be months before I`m dealt with. It`s an unknown quantity for now and after my op I will be out of action for a while.
If /when it happens turns out to be later in the year then shopping will be out of the question and even thinking about what to buy people will be the last thing on my mind. I`ll even go in for surgery over the Christmas itself if I`m offered a date and will jump at any cancellation slot offered to me.
Anyway I struck lucky with many website sales, good discounts and special offers. The job is almost done and that`ll be me stress free when everybody else is just starting to think about it.

Well done Vienna .. all done and dusted and you can just focus on get sorted and recovery

 

[Twilight]

With the exception of my hairdresser I only buy gifts for close family, 6 adults & by then 5 children. Because we haven't been 'allowed' to see our three grandchildren who live in Somerset since last spring I feel totally out of the loop as far as their latest toys & interests, consequently they'll be receiving tokens for Waterstones with some chocolate to sweeten what they'll see as boring presents. That leaves my Mr T, daughter & son in law & my sister - they're all easy to buy to buy for people & our other grandchildren. I've got most of the childrens' gifts already even though the one hasn't arrived at time of writing.

 

[stratobuddy]

With the exception of my hairdresser I only buy gifts for close family, 6 adults & by then 5 children. Because we haven't been 'allowed' to see our three grandchildren who live in Somerset since last spring I feel totally out of the loop as far as their latest toys & interests, consequently they'll be receiving tokens for Waterstones with some chocolate to sweeten what they'll see as boring presents. That leaves my Mr T, daughter & son in law & my sister - they're all easy to buy to buy for people & our other grandchildren. I've got most of the childrens' gifts already even though the one hasn't arrived at time of writing.

Like Martin Lewis of Money Saving Expert and TV fame, I am very much against giving any shop gift vouchers.

I have been caught out myself when the shop went bust (Focus DIY) so the money was wasted.

I was also caught out when a voucher from Sainsbury had an expiry date which was NOT printed on the card. I went in to buy a CD only to be told at the checkout that it had expired, so another £12 lost, even though Sainsburys had been paid the money.

But on top of all these problems, the recipients may lose them, or not use them, or let them get out of date, and YOU WILL NEVER KNOW that they didn't benefit from your gift, yet the shop will still have had your money.

So I always use a cheque. If they lose it, it doesn't matter as I can send them a new one. And when they use it, you will know from your bank statement. And if they never use it, you will not have lost out and a shop will not have had your money for nothing.

 

[Vienna]

With the exception of my hairdresser I only buy gifts for close family, 6 adults & by then 5 children. Because we haven't been 'allowed' to see our three grandchildren who live in Somerset since last spring I feel totally out of the loop as far as their latest toys & interests, consequently they'll be receiving tokens for Waterstones with some chocolate to sweeten what they'll see as boring presents. That leaves my Mr T, daughter & son in law & my sister - they're all easy to buy to buy for people & our other grandchildren. I've got most of the childrens' gifts already even though the one hasn't arrived at time of writing.

I buy for my 3 sons and their partners, my 2 granddaughters, Mr V`s son and his 2 children and that`s it. Mr V and I don`t buy for each other at Christmas but we do buy something for each other when it`s our birthdays. Our grandchildren aren`t really children anymore, the youngest is 13, the oldest is 18 so they`re well past toys.
Mr V`s son lives alone and has recently moved into his own house after a relationship breakup so he`ll probably get something for his home. His children aged 15 and 18 live with his ex wife.
My oldest son has already received his gift (the personalised deckchair) but he`ll get a small something to open.
I always ask my DIL for ideas on what to get for my granddaughters but I always include odd bits I`ve seen along the way, nothing mega expensive, just little things.
Last year I bought the kids next door some advent calendars which had a little book behind every door but obviously they were given them before Christmas. Their parents don`t have much about them and the kids always seem to be short of the most basic things such as books, colouring pencils and colouring books, let alone anything educational. Throughout lockdown she spent no time with those kids and they were simply left to try to occupy themselves. One day I gave them some drawing paper I had but they didn`t even have a felt pen or a crayon to draw with so I guess this year I`ll do a trip to The Works and do them each a bag of bits and pieces to draw and colour with. It breaks my heart.

 

[SusieSue]

I buy for my 3 sons and their partners, my 2 granddaughters, Mr V`s son and his 2 children and that`s it. Mr V and I don`t buy for each other at Christmas but we do buy something for each other when it`s our birthdays. Our grandchildren aren`t really children anymore, the youngest is 13, the oldest is 18 so they`re well past toys.
Mr V`s son lives alone and has recently moved into his own house after a relationship breakup so he`ll probably get something for his home. His children aged 15 and 18 live with his ex wife.
My oldest son has already received his gift (the personalised deckchair) but he`ll get a small something to open.
I always ask my DIL for ideas on what to get for my granddaughters but I always include odd bits I`ve seen along the way, nothing mega expensive, just little things.
Last year I bought the kids next door some advent calendars which had a little book behind every door but obviously they were given them before Christmas. Their parents don`t have much about them and the kids always seem to be short of the most basic things such as books, colouring pencils and colouring books, let alone anything educational. Throughout lockdown she spent no time with those kids and they were simply left to try to occupy themselves. One day I gave them some drawing paper I had but they didn`t even have a felt pen or a crayon to draw with so I guess this year I`ll do a trip to The Works and do them each a bag of bits and pieces to draw and colour with. It breaks my heart.

Keep an eye on The Works, in September we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the launching of the company and between the Friday 3rd and Sunday 12th September there are going to be lots of special offers so you might find a bargain.

If anyone is considering gift vouchers The Works is in a very good position business wise so will not disappear any time soon but our gift cards are only valid for 12 months from the day they are purchased.

 

[Dream Girl]

I'd like an Echo Show 10 please.

It has a 10 inch screen which rotates 360 degrees and watches your every move

Will it help with that key business
Oh and by the way on The Being Mean Thread there‘s reference to making gravy you may find useful

 

[ERICS MUM]

My sister in law had a gift card a few years ago and asked me to check the balance on-line. I was shocked to see that an “admin fee” is applied for any month in which the card hasn’t been used, after a certain number of months (forgotten if 6 or 12).

when she used it she could only spend whole pounds. Annoyingly the deduction of fees resulted in an odd number of pence which she couldn’t spend and lost.