December 14, 2007
Wrapped up in the cost of gift wrap
Last month, I considered having a gift wrapped at Macy’s. But after learning the price of about $6 per package for wrapping, I decided that it would be much cheaper to do it myself.
That made me start to think about which retailers offer free gift wrap locally. For years, it seemed that gift wrapping mostly was a free service at most stores. Now it’s difficult to find a place where you don’t have to pay for it. You're lucky if a store associate hands you a free box with a purchase.
But at some locally-owned stores, such as a toy store, Imagination Station in Roanoke, gift wrapping is free. The store also has a Blacksburg location, Imagination Toys & Furniture.
This season, some local gift wrapping is taking a charitable twist. Starting this weekend and through Christmas Eve, Barnes & Noble beside Tanglewood Mall is offering free gift wrap. Most days, volunteers from local nonprofit groups are doing the wrapping and accepting donations for that particular organization. The groups volunteering this year include the Ronald McDonald House, Good Samaritan Hospice and the Wildlife Rescue.
Valley View Mall’s customer service area charges for gift wrap, but some of the proceeds will benefit the Roanoke Ballet Theater. The charge is $5 for small packages, $7 for medium sizes and $9 for larger ones.
Of course, if you’re wrapping a bunch of presents, it could be costly to have each one wrapped at a retailer that charges. Here’s a rough estimate of what you might pay for gift wrapping supplies locally.
--$2.99 to $3.99 for one roll of wrapping paper
--$2 for one package of tape
--$2 to $3 for a spool of ribbon
--$1 to $3 for a gift bag
--$1.99 for a package of tissue paper
Note that many of these items can be found at Dollar Tree stores, where they are only $1 each.
If you have any tips for wrapping gifts inexpensively, share them.
Comments
[December 15, 2007 10:44 AM]
DennisWe are using gift bags more and more. It's easier, (esp. for this particular MAN)and if you shop in one of the dollar stores it's really inexpensive. You can get HUGE gift bags for a buck in the $ store that's in VV Mall. I've also seen some nice gift BOXES in Big Lots that don't cost much.
[December 17, 2007 8:59 AM]
Jenny BooneDennis, You are right, gift bags are a quick and easy way to wrap presents. And paying $1 for them is much better than $4 or $5 elsewhere. I'll have to check out Big Lots' gift boxes. Are they the kind that you don't have to wrap because the boxes are decorated?
[December 20, 2007 12:12 PM]
DennisHey Jenny, sorry to be so long getting back to you! Haven't checked for a couple of days. Yes, they are fairly heavy duty boxes w/ what looks like real wrap on them. They are NOT the little cheap fold up boxes w/ printed decoration. These do not fold and they cost more, a few $$ each, I think. But they are very nice!