Feature: Shopping for Grads, Dads, and Nomads
June is here again. Time to buy gifts for Father's Day and high school and college graduations. And come to think of it, you--the hard-working, gear-toting nomad--deserve a few goodies, too.
So this week I'm highlighting e-commerce sites where I shop for cool, useful, and sometimes downright eccentric travel accessories and mobile gadgets. The following five retailers should provide plenty of gift ideas for your favorite dad, grad, and nomad.
MobilePlanet
Web Site: http://www.mobileplanet.com/
What's Cool: A one-stop mobile gadget shop, MobilePlanet is a great place to begin your search for PDAs, notebooks and Tablet PCs, wireless and smartphone devices, digital cameras, software, and accessories. The site is nicely organized and easy to browse. The Resource Center, for instance, provides convenient, at-a-glance comparison charts of Palm OS and Pocket PC PDAs, and other devices.
What's Uncool: Prices are reasonable, but are often a bit higher than competitors'. Return policy is so-so (see below).
Returns: In general, MobilePlanet offers a 30-day return policy. However, there's a long list of manufacturers from which MobilePlanet says it can't accept returns, including Acer, Hewlett-Packard/Compaq, NEC, Panasonic, Sharp, Sony, and Toshiba. Returned merchandise that is not defective may be subject to a 15 percent restocking fee. Shipping charges are nonrefundable.
Magellan's Travel Supplies
Web Site: http://www.magellans.com/
What's Cool: When shopping for travel accessories, I always pay a visit to this site. Magellan's has just about everything seasoned travelers might want, including language translators, currency converters, international power adapters and converters, eye shades, travel pillows, insect repellents, jet-lag remedies, luggage, and, yes, even disposable underwear. The site is also packed with practical tips and articles on travel safety, planning, insurance, and more. Prices are reasonable, and the return policy can't be beat.
What's Uncool: Gadget heads will be disappointed by the relative lack of gadgets.
Returns: Magellan's offers a 100-percent, lifetime guarantee on its products--meaning that 10 years from now, you can return that pair of disposable underwear (unused, of course). Luggage returns require a return authorization number.
Levenger
Web Site: http://www.levenger.com/
What's Cool: Newsletter subscriber Te Smith of Santa Cruz, California turned me on to this upscale purveyor of notebook bags and sleeves, PDA cases, and travel organizers. Among my favorite items are the Bomber Jacket Kit ($50), an attractive leather bag designed to hold notebook peripherals; the File Shuttle ($30), an accordion file folder with stick-on Velcro pockets for PDAs, pens, and other items; and the Grab Bag ($20), in which I pack all my AC adapters for my cell phone, PDA, and such.
What's Uncool: Levenger goods aren't for those on a budget, though the site does offer "outlet" items in most categories.
Returns: Nonmonogrammed items can be returned within 30 days for a refund.
Flight 001
Web Site: http://www.flight001.com/
What's Cool: The look of this online/bricks-and-mortar retailer reminds me of the neo-1960s, jet-set cool, animated opening title to the Spielberg film Catch Me if You Can. You'll find lots of fun, retro-hipster stuff for travelers, such as the Pan Am logo bags ($75); neon-colored luggage tags ($10); and the orange Lunch Box ($18), which includes adjustable separators so you won't "mix your peas and carrots," as the site says.
What's Uncool: The luggage selection is limited, and some items are just a tad too trendy for my tastes. And the return policy (see below) is rather unforgiving.
Returns: Returns and exchanges are allowed within 14 days of receiving your order. Items that have been opened or lack the original receipt or packing invoice can't be refunded or exchanged.
The Container Store
Web Site: http://www.containerstore.com/
What's Cool: The Container Store is a bricks-and-mortar chain (and an online retailer) with a terrific variety of organizing products for home, office, and travel. Here's where I load up on accessories such as Eagle Creek Pack-It cubes, Dopp kits, empty leak-proof bottles (for creating travel-sized bottles of my favorite shampoo and lotions), and so on. Prices are competitive, and its return policy is generous.
What's Uncool: The more I browse, the more I want to buy.
Returns: As with Magellan's, there's no time limit for refunds and exchanges. Items can be returned to a store location or by mail.
Your Favorites
Do you have a favorite online retailer for mobile gadgets and travel accessories? If so, drop me a line.
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