Worst Gifts for the 2008 Holidays

Run, don’t walk, to take these back to the mall

Over the past few weeks, we’ve brought you our thoughts on this year’s best holiday gift ideas. Now that that’s out of the way, we thought we’d turn our attention to the worst gifts for 2008. If you happen to spot something on our list that you’ve purchased for a loved one, now’s the time to drag out that receipt and see if you can get your money back!

Off Brand Electronics
You see them on the shelves now and then — products that slightly resemble your favorite electronics, with names like “ePod” and the “Pretendo Vii.” While these products are cheaper than the ones they’re modeled after, keep in mind that the real ones rarely burst into flames or cause your ears to start bleeding. Most consumers are too savvy to grab a rip-off product, but beware, grandparents love to save a few bucks and “Vii” looks an awful lot like “Wii” when you don’t have your bifocals on.

iGarbage
If you own an iPod, you probably have some accessories that you really need: a case, speakers, and so on. Then there are the accessories that no one needs and yet somehow exist anyhow. There’s the iPod musical toilet paper holder, the iPod razor attachment, the iPod breathalyzer attachment and even a few attachments that are slightly more, ahem, adult in nature. Basically if it’s stupid and it can be attached to an iPod – chances are someone out there is hoping you’ll buy it.

Novelty Holiday Items
Hey, do you want a little Santa Claus that dances to the Macarena or plays a 35-second loop of “Who Let the Dogs Out?” No? Well neither will the poor chump you’re planning on giving that to. In fact if you give someone such a thing, you can pretty much expect to get it back next year, probably unopened and possibly smashed into a thousand tiny pieces.

Something Practical
While everyone appreciates and needs practical items, not too many want to see them under the tree on Christmas morning. Even if it’s the nicest vacuum cleaner on the market — a dual bag, for instance — or that toaster that all the celebrities own, practical items you would have bought anyhow don’t usually make the greatest gifts.

Limited Edition Darth Vader Bronze Statue
Is there a Star Wars fan in your life? Well forget the figures and ditch the DVDs, because what they really need is a 4-foot-tall bronze statue of everyone’s favorite dark lord. Weighing in at a mere 150 pounds, Lord Vader is the perfect addition to any sci fi fan’s Fortress of Solitude (i.e., Mom’s basement). And the best part is, it’ll only set you back $18,000! Oh come on, what else were you going to use that money for? A new car, or a few mortgage payments?

Honorable Mention
The good news is that someone finally made a two-person toilet. The great news is that it costs $1400 and is only available in orders of 12 or more. The really great news is that the deluxe version includes a 7-inch LCD television and iPod docking station. Sign me up!

— Noah Belson, Content Quality Analyst/Regifter

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Lola Geek.

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17 Comments Add your own

1. charles palma | December 23rd, 2008 at 4:27 pm

Some rip-off actually works better than the original and contains more features and capabilities than the original product.
2. Jessica | December 24th, 2008 at 10:14 am

I would like to add to the list a refurbished electronics!
3. Jack Browsfield | December 25th, 2008 at 6:01 pm

I like “iGarbage”

Anything and everything

Especially when it’s a gift / for free.

Regards,
Jack

http://www.ispqueens.com
4. Coupons | January 4th, 2009 at 8:08 pm

I’ll take that one of those two-person toilets as well.
5. Yahoo Search Marketing Bl&hellip | June 14th, 2009 at 3:35 am

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7. Greyholme | September 10th, 2009 at 12:13 pm

Ok seriously I want to get someone the Hip hop Tabletop Zombie. Think of how much fun that could be. You would have to build it up and then look all devastated when the person doesn’t know what it was.
8. unlimited | October 19th, 2009 at 5:02 am

Lol, the two person toilet with LDC screen and iPod dock seems like a good gift for a couple hahahaha. Actually the worst thing of all these are the off-branded electronics. Some grandparents or unskilled people at electronics will just pick the cheapest thing resembling the product they wanted to buy and then…I also agree with the iGarbage… just for the fact that you own an iPod people buy stuff for it.
9. dsi r4 | November 5th, 2009 at 1:54 am

I just love igarbage. Very interesting Blog. Hope it will always be alive!
10. r4 | November 5th, 2009 at 9:23 pm

I would like to suggest that why this gift is became a worst for 2008 holiday’s.This gift is not so attracting and this toy has so old fashion looking there are so many toy’s of this type is already sold in the market before 2 years.
11. Jayne | February 23rd, 2010 at 12:53 pm

I like igarbage. I find it so cool.
12. Order Buy Now | March 7th, 2010 at 6:12 am

Thanks for sharing that information.
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14. Top Sports Star Fan Mary | June 24th, 2010 at 1:09 am

That’s funny but still helpful. Many of us would still love to try the 2-person toilet. Sadly it costs more than an iPod.
15. Graphic Design Brisbane | July 4th, 2010 at 9:18 pm

OMG that 2 seater toilet is so disgusting….
16. Adriana de Marquee | August 23rd, 2010 at 7:51 pm

hahahahahahah GREAT POST!
I liked specially iGarbage. Anything on an ipod. Besides, there are many models of ipods!
17. Sandy the Podiatrist | August 24th, 2010 at 4:06 am

Do they have a vegetarian model with additional gas extraction unit ? For my money, nothing says romance like uncensored bowel motions. God Love America! Orthotics Brisbane

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