What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week?

By Rita R. Robison

Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep? 

Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week:

My best: A good price on Christmas gifts from the Gap

I’ve been using guest posts from dealnews.com on my blogs, so when I needed to order some Christmas presents, I decided to check its website to see if I could find some bargains. I found a coupon for the Gap that offered 30 percent off, even on sale items.

I selected a sweatshirt and a sweater for a reduced price. I received free shipping, too.

My worst: Difficulty finding a present for someone on a special diet

I wanted to buy my niece and her husband a coffee basket for a Christmas present. However, I couldn’t find a basket without cookies or crackers. They’re on a special diet that doesn’t include sugar or carbs.

I spent hours looking. Finally, on Amazon.com, I saw that the people who were looking for coffee baskets also shopped for Spanish wine. I decided to order three bottles of the wine from Wine.com.

I was satisfied with the choice. However, it was expensive to ship – $15.65. You couldn’t get free shipping unless your order was $100 or more. So much for freeshipping.com’s listings.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist