eBay Mobile Challenge: Using the eBay App to Complete a Christmas Shopping List in 30 Minutes

By Reena Jana
December 23, 2010

eBay App

During the holidays, New York City turns into one huge, elegant shopping mall. Beyond the glorious street decorations (the tree at Rockefeller Center, the Tiffany star on Fifth Avenue, the decked-out windows at Bergdorf Goodman and Barneys), you’ll see countless New Yorkers and tourists alike carrying huge shopping bags that rival Santa’s sack, full of presents.

I’ve been furiously shopping locally, shopping online and on my mobile phone (as I’ve documented in earlier posts), but I’m still somehow behind. So, what’s a girl to do? I gave myself what seems like an impossible shopping challenge: in half an hour on a Saturday morning, while sipping my coffee, the goal was to track down and purchase the final ten presents I’d been looking for. Yes, in a mere 30 minutes. Santa’s little helper: the eBay mobile app for the iPhone and iPod Touch. (Take a look at my eBay app screenshots if you want proof that I stayed within the half-hour time limit.)

Now, let me also tell you that I live within walking distance of about seven toy stores (seriously) and even highly specific boutiques that sell some of the grown-up items I'm look for (like a winter wool Kangol golfer’s cap my husband wants). The beauty of this shopping challenge was that I didn’t have to even trudge around my neighborhood or even boot up my MacBook Air. What’s really helpful is that the eBay mobile app is hooked up to my main eBay account, via secure log-in, so anything I do on my laptop is also reflected on my phone. And an extra bonus: when you open the Smartphone app, a list of daily eBay deals streams across the first screen, alerting you to great holiday gift ideas that you might otherwise not have thought of, or thought you could afford (I spotted a 32-inch LG flatscreen that was 33% off its list price, for instance.) Using the eBay mobile app, I searched and found my ten remaining Christmas gifts, many of them below retail prices.

Here, take a look at what I found. I hope this quest inspires you during these final days before Christmas Eve. All of these presents were purchased before I took the last sip of my Saturday morning latte while standing in our kitchen wearing my pajamas (and with my seven-month-old son in a baby carrier). Not only was I ready to begin my weekend, but I was also finished with my holiday shopping after an easy—and fun—sprint to the Christmas finish line.

A 30 Minute Shopping Spree with the eBay App

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Tumi T-Tech 22-inch Expandable Carry-on Suitcase (buy It now price, $259.99) A stylish and durable Tumi carry-on suitcase is a thoughtful gift for anyone.
Sassy Baby Bath Snap n Squirt Sea Creatures Toys (buy it now price, $9.99) Babies of any age will love these adorable playthings for making bathtime more fun.
Melissa & Doug Bake and Decorate Cupcake Set (buy It now price, $10.80) Who doesn't adore cupcakes? Little girls and boys will spend hours "baking" these realistic wood versions, which also come with faux birthday candles and icing tubes. Best of all, there's no mess and no sugar rushes to contend with.
Leapfrog Preschool Medley Microphone (buy it now price, $15.32) Leapfrog makes educational toys that turn learning into play. This microphone features recorded songs for preschoolers to sing a long to, sung in both English and Spanish. Kids get a language lesson and don't even know it.
Bamboo Eco E-Racer (buy it now price, $22.60) This planet-friendly wooden car (made from sustainable bamboo) is so sleek; it's not just a great toy, but a cool decorative object for a desk or coffee table.
Ugly Doll (buy it now price, $24.95) Sure, Ugly Dolls have been popular for some time now-but there's a reason why: they're irresistibly cute and make fun gifts for children, teens, and adults alike. They also make chic (and cheeky) living room pillows. This one would look terrific on an Eames rocking chair!
Remote Control Toy Backhoe Truck (buy it now price, $24.99) My nearly three-year-old little boy-and all of his friends-are obsessed with big trucks. This year he (and some of his best buddies) will get this remote-control version of the construction-site classic, the backhoe.
Men's Winter Kangol Golf Cap (buy it now price, $35) This Kangol cap is a classic that's loved by elegant dads and hipsters alike. My husband's a little bit of both, and this Kangol cap will be an upgrade to the Yankees baseball hat he currently dons with his overcoat.
Thomas & Friends Take Along Harold Toy Helicopter (buy it now price, $7.99) The first toy my toddler son ever requested from "Santa" is this wooden toy helicopter-Harold from the Thomas and Friends franchise. It was hard for me to find it in nearby stores, and an eBay seller had it available new for about 30% off the retail price.
Yellow Bridges for Standard Train Sets (buy it now price, $15.99) Model trains and related accessories are always popular on eBay during the holidays. What's great about eBay is you can track down unusual items, like this lovely set of yellow bridges that fit most train sets. It's a colorful style of toy bridge that I haven't seen in the, oh, dozen or so Manhattan toy stores I've been haunting frequently since Thanksgiving, looking for gifts!