Steph was the best beloved this week by the random number generator, and wins the giveaway of a bag of Three-Peckered Billy Goat Coffee and Alaska Moka Bar.
Now I need some input from you, readers: What kind of giveaway prizes do you want?
Because this has been such a rough year financially for so many, I plan to do more giveaways in time for holiday giving. In keeping with my recent post about shopping where you live, I would like for some of those giveaways to be local: Alaska jewelry, art, books, calendars and, probably, coffee and chocolate because they’re so popular.
However, this stuff gets expensive and cumbersome to mail if I can’t order it sent directly from the folks who produce it. That, in turn, puts the burden on the entrepreneurs.
So I propose to mix it up: some Alaska stuff and I’ll bite the bullet, postage-wise (seriously: have you checked those flat-rate shipping costs lately?) and also some gift cards.
The question is: What kind(s)?
My go-to has often been Amazon, because you can get so much stuff that way. These are popular with readers. But some people don’t like shopping there.
I could have other types of gift cards sent electronically, or purchase and mail them myself for those who want the physical plastic.
Again, though: What kind(s)?
Input on the giveaways
I want to give things that people want and need — including Amazon cards. But how about some other suggestions?
Target or Walmart? Department stores? Clothing retailers?
Movie theaters? Online gaming? Chain restaurants?
Hobby/craft places like Jo-Ann Fabrics or Michael’s? Pet supply places? (Imagine having someone else pay for the litter or the pinkies or the bully sticks…)
Gas stations? Supermarkets? Convenience stores?
Depending on the number of comments, I’ll get an idea for what people want the most. And if there’s no clear consensus, maybe some weeks it will be “Giveaway: The gift card of your choice.”
Let’s hear it, readers: What would you most like to win?
I would like to win some local coffee ….
Pet store or a retailer like Target. Over the course of the year, I shop Target and Walmart for the clearance toys and put those goodies in our Toys for Tots box to be donated at Christmas.
I love that. Thanks for inspiring us.
I think the local items are going to be wildly popular & I also like the idea to offer type of card to the lucky winner. It is so thoughtful to ask for input from readers. Thank you, Donna.
the local items sound good. I personally am a walmart shopper, gas stations and supermarkets are different all around. Chain restaurants if in the area are always good. Lowe’s and home depot are always good. The one burner in my 13 year old stove just gave out, so that is why I thought of that. My husband is the one who mostly does the sewing in the family, so anyone that sews or does crafts who appreciate the stores like Joann’s, etc. Really any that you mentioned would be great, and who doesn’t like coffee and chocolate.
Amazon and chocolate or coffee are great. No calendars would be my choice as I always seem to end up getting one as a gift or from a merchandizer. I think asking your readers is really a nice gesture. P.S. We did go to Talkeetna after you inspired us by taking a local trip yourselves. Gas was cheaper there than in Fairbanks!! And we did two mystery shops in Healy, so a good portion of the trip was paid for. Found a cabin B&B and never had to see the owner as all was arranged by text. Walked around Northern Exposure, oops, I mean Talkeetna, and had an almost best-ever pizza. If I could send an attachment, it would be of the van with lilac moose antlers attached to the top. So, thanks again for spurring us to take a road trip, which led to us supporting this year’s much under-utilized B&Bs and a locally owned restaurant.
Local Alaskan items and gift cards to chain restaurants would be very nice. Alaskan items because I have always been fascinated with all things Alaska. Gift cards to chain restaurants for a few reasons…so many people I talk to say they are sick of cooking and even if dining inside the restaurant is not a choice for some, take out is always an option. Also, with lay offs and reduced hours many cannot afford a meal out. Lastly, although they are chains, these restaurants are often a franchise and the restaurants have been hit so terribly hard by the pandemic, they can use the business.
Thank you Donna, for your generous offer of eating the postage costs and being so thoughtful as to ask us what we want for giveaways. You may well be my most favorite person I never met. Best always.
Awwww, thanks.
Local products would be great but I like teas, not coffee. Amazon, Target, Walmart, Home Depot are all good. Groceries stores would be a no-all areas don’t have the same ones & the same with some chain restaurants. What you have on the west coast we don’t always have on the east coast. Thanks for your great ideas!
Thank you for doing this. A lot of people are going through difficult times right now. I like your suggestion of “gift card of your choice” so the recipient can choose what they want and need. If I win, I’d want Target or Walmart so I could give it to my daughter who lost her housing in the CZU Lightning Strike fire in California.
Hi Donna,
Off topic, but I wanted your input. My husband and I were going to cruise Alaska last summer, but of course it was cancelled. We are now looking to spend 10 days touring Alaska by land and would love your input on the best way to do that.
Any suggestions?
Hoo boy. Your choices are somewhat limited because the state is so dang BIG and there are so few roads. If you’ll drop me a note at SurvivingAndThriving (at) live (dot) com, I’ll give it some thought.
will do. 🙂
Like the Michael’s gift cards as i am home and doing more crafts
I like the idea of eBay gift cards. I try to always check eBay first and I often find better deals than on Amazon, plus I’m not enriching Bezos.
I love amazon gift cards but I would also like target or Walmart. Those places are easy to use gift cards there and able to have gift cards to an account easily.
I would like Target or Amazon gift cards. I do shop at Amazon a lot as I am a prime member and rapid kindle book reader.
Does Etsy do gift cards across the platform? If so, that would support smaller crafters who can’t do local craft shows. I’d prefer Target to Walmart or Amazon. Michael’s is good, too. Thanks for asking.
I could definitely buy an Etsy card if someone requested it. What a good idea.
Oooh! Etsy is a good answer! Thanks Tina in NJ. I like Target and Amazon, too.
Thanks for asking.
Jenni
I’d like the Amazon card or Taget card. Thank you.
Thanks for asking! I would find Amazon and also gift cards very useful.
I like Amazon and Target, because I get most of my shopping done there between the two of them.
As a previous winner of one of your giveaways, the Amazon gift card allowed me to purchase a much needed item that otherwise I would have waited on. Wal Mart and Target are also great for gift cards because of the variety of items they carry. Thank you for your generosity, it is greatly appreciated!
My best friend who lives out of state sent me some Amazon cards last time and I used them to buy signed best sellers that I normally would not have purchased so it meant a lot. Lowe’s and Home Depot are also great ideas and very practical. Target is good. I might go out on a limb and suggest just some Visa or Mastercard gift cards and maybe a suggestion from you how to use it; i.e. spa treatment, pay a bill, dinner with a friend, treats for your pet, etc. etc.
I am doing my best to reduce Amazon spending and can easily avoid Walmart entirely. I’m shopping Target wherever possible to put my money behind places that are better to their employees.
It’s a shame a more general card like Visa / MC /AmEx would run you a bunch of nonsense fees. Those would be perfect since the readers could then choose where to shop more easily and could potentially support their local biz too.
Love the local coffee idea. Though I don’t drink it, PiC does and I appreciate the smell of his delicious caffeine 😁
I’ve told DF more than once that I’m glad coffee doesn’t taste as good as it smells.
As for the nonsense fees, yeah, that’s why I didn’t suggest Visa et al. Sigh. Pretty much decided that it will be “card of your choice” giveaways when I’m not giving out local stuff.
I like anything but pet stuff bc I have no pets right now. But do love the Starbucks gift cards and Sams…and swag is fun.
I really like receiving Alaska swag, I still use the Marianne Weiland mug you sent 5 or 6 years ago. An Alaska wall calendar would be great!
As for gift cards, Walmart or Kroger is fine with me. A chain restaurant card would be a nice change of pace, too.