For those difficult people to buy for, check out the Playboy Store on line.
Written: Jan 14 '03 (Updated Jan 15 '03)

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| Full Review |
I was looking around for Christmas present ideas when I read a review about the online Playboy store. I thought a playboy T-shirt would be a great idea for my niece. She is the sort of girl that wouldn't be seen dead in Playboy get-up but would enjoy owning a t-shirt just for the absurdity of it. It would come in handy for those Bad Taste parties that the university students get into.
I clicked on the site, gritted my teeth at the scantily clad girl staring back at me and clicked on the For Her icon.
The site itself couldnt be easier to navigate. The HOME PAGE is basically just a photo with the icons at the top of the page. There are various categories to choose from such as FOR HIM, FOR HER, FOR THE HOME, HOT DEALS, etc .
From the FOR HER page I was given a choice of options to choose from ~ Lingerie, apparel, jewellery.
I clicked on Apparel and was given another series of options...
~ Tops, bottoms, swimwear, outerwear, accessories
I clicked on TOPS and a page with a selection of tops to choose from popped up.. Each item was accompanied by it's own photo, all modelled by outrageously buxom females, this is the Playboy website after all.
I decided to go for the baby-tee with the trademark rabbit head emblazoned across the top. At $22 it was a reasonably priced gift but it was just a shame that I was paying in NZ$$$$ because it now became an extremely overpriced gift, especially once I added the International Mailing price of $16 (US)
I just had to grin and bear it as I had made up my mind that this t-shirt was just what I had been looking for for this particular person and nothing else would do. I called my other half in and showed him what I was doing, he thought it was a great laugh as well and encouraged me to buy it. Even when I pointed out the conversion rate and that it was becoming the most overpriced t-shirt in the whole wide world he didnt falter.
I had a quick check through a few more categories and apart from a Playboy key ring that caught my eye (and I now wish I had bought it) there was nothing else that appealed to me. Im sure my hubby could have added plenty to the list but I was only visiting this site for a bit of a joke present, I didnt want to encourage any serious shopping expeditions.
Ordering
I had decided to buy the t-shirt so clicked on the photo. This took me to a page with an enlarged photo and an ordering window. I was given the choice of colour , quantity and size then clicked on the Add To Shopping Cart icon.
From here I was offered an itemised bill and was invited to continue shopping OR to head to Checkout. I tossed up whether to add the key ring but decided not to so off to Checkout we went.
I had to fill out a form with contact and mailing information, from here I was taken to the Postal Charges section and given a few options. Once all this was done it was on the Payment Options page. I filled in the credit card details and soldiered on.
All the way through I was given the opportunity to cancel my order and was asked repeatedly if I would like to bail, even once I thought I had gone beyond the point of no return I was given one last chance to cancel my order.
Once it was completed I was informed that an e-mail confirming the order had been sent out, I printed out the confirmation page just to be on the safe side. This was my first experience at International shopping over the net and I was half expecting it to all go horribly wrong.
The confirmation e-mail was waiting in my Inbox when I checked my mail. It had a copy of my order, my order number, mail address, details , their contact address and phone numbers and I was informed that they would send another e-mail when the package had been dispatched from their warehouse.
This appeased me slightly and I didn't think about it for a while. After a week I was beginning to think it had all gone horribly wrong and I was going to have to start chasing them up. Before I could get myself too worked up the e-mail confirming my order had been despatched arrived. This included details about the order and mailing details just to appease any fears about wrong addresses etc..
About a week - 10 days later the parcel arrived in my mailbox. There was NO huge advertisement for Playboy on it anywhere, it was delivered in a very discreet plain brown paper package for all those that don't want the rest of the world knowing what you are up to.
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~ Christmas Day arrived and I was beginning to worry slightly about my choice of present. Even though I knew it was a bit of a Joke present, would any one else get the joke
Is it really appropriate for a 22 year old?
Will she pretend to like it or just to be polite?
What will her parents think?
I already know what her boyfriend will think but what will her parents think of what her boyfriend is going to think?
I was becoming slightly stressed out when the moment arrived, she slowly unwrapped the paper ~ giving me sideways glances all the while ~ then ... she burst into laughter as she saw the Playboy bunny symbol emblazoned across this impossibly small looking t-shirt.
Once she had gotten over her hysterics she squeezed into it and I must admit, she wore it faithfully for the next few days. Well, truth be known, she was wearing it as a pyjama top.
Her parents did get the joke and even asked why I hadnt ordered two ~ one for my nieces Mum, but lets not go there!
I might just have to go shopping at the Playboy Store next Christmas as well because I now know another person who would like a Playboy t-shirt.I must remember to get that key ring next time.
www.playboystore.com
Recommended:
Yes
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About the Author
Member: Christine
Location: New Zealand
Reviews written: 144
Trusted by: 189 members
About Me: ~ In memory of Barbara ~
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