Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

Visaperks Holiday Shopping #Giveaway

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Note: This Giveaway is now CLOSED.

The first time I blogged about Visaperks.ca was back in July 2009 (view the lil’ old post here). Yes, it’s safe to say I’ve had a love affair with the site for some time. Habitual Visa-slinging shoppers such as myself will appreciate the perks that come with being a patron; the discounts are often an unexpected, sweet incentive. For example, did you know that until December 24th 2011, you can receive 25% off your entire purchase at GAP when you use your Visa (or Prepaid Visa) and present this coupon? Insane, I know!

You can make your own sale with Visaperks. (Quite dangerous for shopaholics like me, actually.)

This season, our good friends at Visa Canada commissioned an Ipsos Reid survey monitoring the holiday shopping habits of Canadians.

Canadian Holiday Shopping Trends

• 54% of Canadians have made an online purchase in the last 12 months.
• 51% of Canadians said that they are more likely than last year to shop online this holiday season.
• Crowds (35%), long lineups (22%) and parking lot chaos (11%) irk Canadians about holiday shopping.
• 72% of Canadians between 18-34 years old have made an online purchase in the last 12 months.
• More than half of Canadian males (53%) and females (55%) have made an online purchase in the last 12 months

And, they found out that Canadians expect to spend an average of eight (8) hours in the mall during the holiday season – the equivalent of a full day’s work.

Seriously? EIGHT hours at the mall? I don’t think I’ve spent eight hours at the mall all year.

Two words: ONLINE SHOPPING. The rationale:

1. You can shop in pajamas.
2. You can avoid lineups. (57 per cent of Canadians say it’s the worst part of shopping at the holidays.)
3. You can avoid people. (Seriously, sometimes it’s for the best.)

Of course, you’ll trade fresh air, exercise and social interaction in favour of hovering over your keyboard while sipping your third latte. But I’m not knocking it – fresh air, exercise and social interaction are so 2004. And your fingers will have enviable muscle tone.

On top of the three obvious benefits listed above, you can also take advantage of exclusive online merchant discounts for Visa cardholders. You’ll find offers on everything from fashion, beauty and accessories to electronics, travel and much, much more.

Some of the splendid savings:

– 35 per cent off select ThinkPad, ThinkCentre or Think Accessory products at lenovo online
– 20 per cent off regular-priced Parasuco merchandise online
– 20 per cent off umbra.com regular-priced online merchandise
– 15 per cent off purchases of $100 or more from Birks.com

Click here for more Visaperks.ca savings.

This holiday season, I’ll be doing the majority of my Christmas shopping online (except maybe to take advantage of the GAP deal from Visaperks mentioned above). I like that I can avoid impulse purchases, score a few online-only deals, and most importantly – spend extra time with my little guys instead of elbowing strangers in holiday lineups.

WIN IT!!!

One lucky Listen to Lena reader will win a $50 prepaid Visa card, courtesy of Visaperks! To enter, simply leave a comment on this post telling us about how you plan to shop this holiday season; online, in store, or a combination of the two.

You can also qualify for extra entries! Remember, you must leave a separate comment for each. You can:

(1) Follow my blog, Listen to Lena
(2) “Like” Listen to Lena! on Facebook
(3) Follow Listen to Lena on Twitter
(4) “Like” Visaperks Canada on Facebook
(5) Tweet daily about this giveaway; Please use this Visaperks Giveaway Tweet

I’ll draw for a winner on December 12th. Good luck!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  11. I’ll probably combine a little online shopping with a little local shopping – but haven’t started yet!

  18. Timely giveaway! I enjoying shopping at brick & mortar stores but I will also do some online shopping for the holidays…in fact, I made an online purchase just this morning!

    Best, Lisa

  30. How I wish that I could do ALL my Christmas shopping online! would be so much less stressful. Ahhhh but alas I think I’m bound to be in the malls on my lunch hour with the rest of the population! :)

  37. i’ll probably do a bit of both – online & in person. Being on mat leave we can go to the mall in the daytime when there aren’t as many (crazy) people there. This helps immensely, I find.

  50. I’ll do some in-store shopping, but mostly online. We live in a smaller town with limited shopping, so online is a must! Plus it’s just way too great to miss out on the crowds.

  54. I will be doing a combination of online and instore shopping this holiday season

    bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

  68. We’re not big on gift giving as we would rather spend time and money cookiing an awesome meal and hanging out. If we do buy gifts, I’ll likely go in stores as I usually go last minute.

  74. I plan to do both! I love getting things for my friends and family that they won’t expect and these stuff are usually only available online!

    Jenny
    xx

  100. this year i am doing a combination of the 2, most of it will be in store but i have already ordered some things online
    staceyx at telus dot net

  124. I will be mostly in store shopping, unless there is really good online deals with free shipping
    thanks
    flower_child_23(at)hotmail(dot)com

  153. I will definitely be doing a combination of on-line and in store morning only shopping in a desperate attempt to avoid crowds and line-ups.

  164. I am already started and am doing both! Love deals whether they be online or instore!
    ksceviour at hotmail dot com

  196. I plan to do some online shopping and some instore shopping. I’m also hoping to get some homemade gifts done. Thanks for a chance to win! :)

  232. so far, I have been shopping both online and in store, but in store it has been so incredibly busy, it’s such a pain to drag the kids around a tightly packed store!
    nathania.a at gmail dot com

  240. I still do a lot of shopping instore, but this year I have done more online shopping for far away family members.

  272. I’m doing a combination of online and instore shopping. I will NOT pay for shipping, so some things I run in to the store for – you gotta be smart – I go first thing in the morning!

  276. For the easy to find people on my list I plan on shopping in stores, for the hard to find people, I shop online.

  391. I’ve done most of my shopping already … but, I could shop in my PJs online for me! You gotta buy something for yourself, don’t you? That’s what I would do if I won the $50 VisaPerk Prepaid Visa Card!

  477. I usually do online and instore but I’ve been so distracted this year! Almost December already so I think most will have to be done in store. Good thing I live in a big city!!

  490. I’ve done some in store shopping, I’ve done some online shopping- but I must admit, I like online shopping best!

  524. So far I’ve been searching online with the intent to purchase that way but if I can’t find what I am looking for I will hit the stores. Just had my 4th child so I’d rather not be shopping in stores for hours on end right now ;)

  548. My plan is to shop only online but I will go to a few stores for things like stocking stuffers at the dollar store.
    thanks!

  617. Hi there. I plan to do a bit of both. On line and in person. I am shopping right now.

    Paula
    @inkscrblr

  782. Hi Lena: I hope to do my shopping a mix of online and and instore. I think that as the malls get busier I will shop more online.