Great Place to Find Gifts
Written: Nov 15, 2007 (Updated Nov 15, 2007)
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I prefer shopping at Bed Bath and Beyond over the traditional brick and mortar stores. I find the brick and mortar isles to be too crowded and unbearable especially on a Saturday when a lot of people are trying to get by with their carts. I do like the option to return merchandise to the brick and mortar stores (shipping charges are not refunded).
Going Beyond
Organization is one of the things that attracts me to this website. I'm usually buying things to simplify or organize. I like shopping online because their selection is modern and updated. I can find more presentable storage solutions and a more unique selection of choices than my local department stores.
I love how that have a themed topic on the front page. For example, in August it featured “Back to School”. In November it features “Tailgate Time.” We all know what December's theme will be. This gives me an opportunity to collect some creative ideas and saves frustration when trying to find things.
When we were doing a makeover in our kid's bedrooms I used the “Shop for College” tab at the top of the front page. That took me to an area that was divided up into each section like bedding, bath, seating and more. There are demo rooms set up and everything in the picture is listed to purchase below. I've leaned more to this type of shopping because it saves hours hunting through the database of things and the items colors and textures go together a lot better then buying them randomly.
The online services goes beyond (so to speak) by adding a personality. There are quick tips, ideas, photos of layouts, suggestions, guidelines, checklist, etc. I think it makes decorating fun.
If you have time, check out the “Cafe Beyond” link. It's like a whole website in itself. You can get advice, see recipes and more.
There's a lot to see on the website. It's like reading a magazine.
Load Time
The photos of items are small snapshots. This benefits the user because it takes a lot less time for the web pages to load and less for the eyes to look at. I find it to be less stressful. The con is that the font is very small and harder to read than other sites.
When you do see what you want the site offers a larger view and a zoom. For instance, I looked at a bedspread which had different patterns. There were 9 different zooms on that one picture. This is ideal for online shopping.
You can also change the page to display items such as ascending or descending prices, all images on one page, by brand, color, or category.
Registry
There is a tab on the home page for a gift registry. I like that it's more than just bridal. You can choose other registries like housewarming, college, retirement or other. I have not used the registry but love the concept because this store has everything a person starting out could need for a reasonable price. As a buyer, I think the Bed Bath and Beyond online registry beats the upscale department stores because there's a larger variety of prices to select from and it offers free gift packaging.
Price
One of the drawbacks of shopping at Bed Bath and Beyond is that some of the items seem overpriced to me. However, I've been pleased with the quality of items that I've received.
Coupons
I know some people wait patiently for their 20% off Bed Bath and Beyond coupon to arrive before they shop. Unfortunately the coupons that are received in the mail or in the newspaper can not be used online.
There is an option on the home page to receive special offers by email. The Internet can also be searched for online coupon codes.
Sale Ad
On the home page there's a colorful box that says “Shop our Circular”. This will take you to the weeks sale ad that you would normally find in the Sunday paper. It think it is faster and put together better than other sites that use this technology.
Shipping
Occasionally you'll find a free shipping deal during peak buying times. I think the shipping prices are reasonable. The shipping price is determined by the total order amount. Standard shipping ranges from $5.95-$30.95. Shipping is explained in detail on their site.
Gift Cards
Living far from relatives usually means either limiting the size of the gift or paying for shipping charges. I compromised by purchasing a gift card online. I could have just as easily went to the store and picked up a gift card but I didn't want to worry about it getting lost in the mail. Shipping for the gift card was free. I received an email when the gift card was mailed and the recipient received it on time. I was concerned that perhaps the recipient would discard the gift card as junk mail but apparently it arrived very presentable.
Gifts
When I'm at a loss for gift ideas, I check out the “gifts” link on the menu. There are a lot of topics to choose from like for him, her, traveler, pets, baker, wine enthusiast, etc.
My Experience
I have ordered a couple times from their website. I have picked some bulky items that were delivered on time without damage.
I haven't had a need to communicate with customer service which means the other departments are doing a fine job. They get kudos from me for pasting their customer service phone number on every page and being available 24 hours a day.
What I didn't find on this site is customer reviews. There are some particularly interesting products on this site. I would be interested in knowing other customer's thought of the items. These items are so bazaar that I'd really like an opinion by someone who's actually seen and touched it.
Overall
I really prefer shopping Bed Bath and Beyond online rather than the storefront. Prices could be better, or coupons more abundant. I think the site is inspirational and is catering to the customers. I've had several positive ordering experiences and favor how organized the site is. Returning online items to the storefront is a huge plus.
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Housewares, Gift Card
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About the Author
Location: Nashville, TN
Reviews written: 778
Trusted by: 195 members
About Me: I <3 Mickey Mouse.
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