Find Unique Gifts

By Jennifer Martinez

You can buy just about anything on the Internet -- but you can't always be sure about the sellers.

Auction sites such as eBay feature numerous independent merchants. A search on these sites is a good way to discover unusual items, either new or used. Search engines such as Google or Yahoo! also display merchant sites and classified ads.

Here are some of the more interesting sites for unique gift shopping and a few tips to help you shop safely:

Tip No. 1: Check out unique shops
Shopping for someone who has everything? Numerous sites offer items that no one is likely to have. Here are a few examples:

• Gobaz in the United Kingdom and Archie McPhee in the United States are popular online novelty stores.
• FindGift has a hard-to-buy-for section, and UncommonGoods offers a wide array of unique gifts.
• Get your own photographs, designs, or slogans printed on apparel, mugs, mousepads and tote bags -- and profit when others buy your designs -- at CafePress.
• Find rare or out-of-print books at Alibris or BookSearch.

Tip No. 2: Hit the novelty shops
Whatever the interests of your gift recipient, you can probably find a web site specifically devoted to it. Some fun places to start include:

• The Australia Gift Shop, LittleOddForest, and ThinkGeek cater to people's unusual and quirky sides.
• Daddyos is a treasure trove of '50 fashions and accessories.
• Find a rare or exotic car anywhere in the world at Collectorcarsforsale or Oldcartrader.
• Sports nuts? It's hard to beat Fathead for graphics or Sportsmemorobilia for collectibles

Tip No. 3: Make DIY gifts
One way to assure a unique gift is to make your own. These sites can help:

• Crafts: Etsy
• Vintage knitting patterns: Yesterknits
• Sewing patterns: Sensibility

Tip No. 4: Buyer beware
The Internet offers many advantages for gift shopping, but it presents disadvantages as well. You're dealing with strangers, and if problems arise, you won't have a local merchant to help you. Still, you can enjoy safe, secure online shopping if you take a few simple precautions:

• Take care before giving your personal or financial information online.
• Use common sense when dealing with small or unknown merchants. If a site looks amateurish, if prices are unusually low, or if there is no clear contact information, steer clear.
• Make sure you know the seller's return policy and warranty terms.
• When possible, use an online payment service, such as PayPal, rather than giving credit card information to questionable sellers or merchants. Even an honest merchant may not be adequately protected against data theft.