September 28, 2004

Curious George: Found Money I've been tasked with finding a few options for corporate gifts. If you had $300-$400 that you had to spend on something fun, what would you get for yourself? An iPod? A Tivo w/Lifetime subscription? A digital camera? What?
posted by IgnorantSlut 20 years ago
  • Personally, any of those things would make me happy but I'm a gadget freak. For a gift that you might have to give again I always aim for an experiential or consumable gift. For example, a gift certificate for a weekend retreat, or for an extravagant dinner, wines, season tickets, etc. If they like it, you can give the same or similar things again next year.
  • Cali, that would be my choice, but I've been specifically instructed for actual items - something tangible.
  • I'd vote iPod, but what about an hour-long guided colonoscopy of yours truly, a brilliant behind-the-barricades browse through one brave, batrachivorous boy's bowels - before blowing bucketloads of bucks on a beguiling Belgian breakfast? I change very reasonable rates - email's in the profile.
  • I'm fond of gadgety goodness too. Thinkgeek has some cool stuff.
  • A digital camera, although I'd probably wait until I had a bit more money.
  • I think a lot depends on who is getting the gifts. Are these for employees? For higher income level employees those gifts sound good. But for lower level employees (and I am speaking from experience), those kind of gifts are annoying. If you are barely making ends meet on what the company pays you, then a pricey gadget makes it seems like the company is way out of touch with your needs. In those cases, an AMEX Gift Check is always a good way to go. It's like cash but less obvious, and people can get what they really want or need.
  • If you go for audio player, I'd personally rather have an iRiver than an iPod. More supported audio formats. Not that you're buying it for me. But you should be. Buy me one. I'm nice.
  • Sorry. I'd buy books. Books.
  • i love that you actually used the word "task" as a verb. a passive verb, no less.
  • Huh? "Been" is passive. "Tasked" is plain vanilla perfect participle.
  • I should probably stop the grammar-policing now.
  • Especially when I make a mistake and realise that the whole sentence is in the passive voice, that the verb cannot be.
  • I'm sure the TiVo thing is the best. At least I would if I knew what it was. What age group are we talkin' here? And how many people?
  • Something DVRish might be cool. I like the idea behind this handheld one from thinkgeek, but a machine to add to the stack next to the TV might be cool, too.
  • The latest and greatest Palm pilot.
  • Age ranges from the low/mid 20s the low 40s. The overwhelming majority of people are gadget-y types. We'll likely have to get at least two different products and we're trying to catch the widest interests. No easy task. It looks to be 27 people.
  • If I lived in Vancouver, I know what I'd get.
  • Argh - am I missing a joke?
  • everything i've received for an employee appreciation award has been along these lines. and then they "task" you to choose: hmmm, it's between the swiss army knife and the pen holder... PLEASE do not do that to anyone! i beg you!
  • and don't get me started on retirement clocks
  • Two hours with Moneyjane.
  • I'm with Skrik. I'd buy books. $300 is almost half my monthly books budget! If not books, bookshelves are a good second choice.
  • bernockle beat me to it. Actually, Argh beat him. If only moneyjane could beat all of us. "You've been bad little monkeys!" *whap* "Ooh! The Pain! More! More!"
  • I'm with SideDish. Those kinds of gifts are totally useless and suck.
  • J. Doe & SideDish - no worries. Those gifts do bite. I would never. The closest I came was a magnet toy with tiny little metal cows. I hate budgets.
  • Can a bottle of top shelf Vodka and a night with a high-priced escort be considered tangible? OP: "batrachivorous, Having a diet consisting mainly of frogs." I thought it was just me.
  • You could get some very decent single malt for $400.
  • I might tend to go ipod or camera rather than Tivo. I know that Tivos won't work with my cable system... they want you to use *their* DVR (damn you, Time Warner!). I don't know much about cameras, so you might not be able to get a nice one with that budget, but you can get a good ipod, which is still my favorite toy.
  • can i have the a magnet toy with tiny little metal cows?? pleeeease?
  • SideDish: what are ya trading? ;)
  • Books Books Books ad nauseam