Now that the cold weather has arrived, and I can put away the summer clothes for another year, I am officially in holiday mode. This week I’ll be pulling out the decorations and getting the condo feeling festive for Julio, Canela & I. That also means that it’s time to start thinking about holiday shopping. It should come as no surprise that I love using PayPal Canada on a regular basis for purchases ranging from The Chic Canuck must haves to movie tickets on date night. Recently I got a chance to celebrate the upcoming holiday season with fellow media members for a special #PayPalHolidays dinner and gift exchange. Today, I want you to know why using PayPal this holiday season will allow you to shop confidently AND I’m sharing my tricks to being a good gift giver!
So what exactly do I mean when I say shop confidently with PayPal?
“Shopping online with PayPal makes it easy to prepare for the holidays thanks to its e effortless online and mobile checkout experience, Return Shipping on Us, Purchase Protection and of course the sheer breadth of merchants that accept PayPal.”
PayPal’s One Touch
- One Touch checkout allows you to check out faster as you shop across millions of online retailers without having to type usernames, passwords, or 16-digit credit card numbers over and over, making it super simple to shop from your mobile phone or any connected device. I usually can be found doing online shopping on the couch with Julio after a busy day, on the streetcar en route to a meeting, or when I get a spur of the moment rush of inspiration for that perfect gift. One Touch allows me to get the gifts I need on time and without worrying about my personal information or searching for that poor credit card of mine!
Return Shipping on Us
- The newest addition to the PayPal Canada shopping experience – including covering return shipping costs on eligible items
- You are covered for up to 10 returns on eligible online purchases, and up to $30 per claim.
- Registration is required: www.paypal.ca/returns
- 86% of Canadians said free return shipping services would make them more likely to shop online
- 27% of Canadians have had to pay for shipping back items in the past year with the majority saying it cost more than $10 each time.
- 40% of Canadians worry about ordering the wrong item online and not being able to return it.
Shop everywhere from anywhere
- It helps that businesses use online payment processing like PayPal, as it connects you to more than 13 million online retailers and sellers, from local artisans to big retailers all around the world so you can find one-of-a-kind gifts from around the world. Some of my favourites include::
- Luxury Brands
- Neiman Marcus
- Nordstrom
- Holiday Staples
- Iconic Canadian Brands
So now that we all are on the same page for holiday shopping let’s talk about the exciting dinner I attended. I hadn’t had the chance to check out Pray Tell in Toronto before the event, but am so happy I did! Now my new favourite spot, the menu was customized to offer holiday favourites with a twist. From the Turkey Dinner Pocket (think of a pizza pocket but with an entire turkey dinner inside!) to roasted cornish hen and everything in between, we ate to our heart’s content. Which if you think about it, is also just as important while shopping for the season. Here are a few of my favourite moments and meal items from the night:
SO, what is my trick to being a good gift giver? I’ve always been a generous person but I like to think that I put a lot of thought into the gifts that I give. A special secret santa was set up for the attendees of the #PayPalHolidays dinner thanks to PayPal Canada. We had to find a gift for one other media member, chosen at random, and purchase it using PayPal. I was lucky enough to get Alyssa from Random Acts of Pastel (check out her amazing blog and Instagram account if you haven’t already!)
Being that I am just getting to know her, I took some time to read through her amazing blog and check our her social media channels. If the person you are buying for isn’t an amazing blogger, your first step should be to ask their friends and family. A thoughtful gift should reflect their personality and their passion. So what did I get in the end? I went hunting on eBay Canada for a NEW Cuisinart Canada ice cream maker. Alyssa posts beautiful pastel themed photos and sweets, so it just made sense to get her a gift that would reflect both of those things. Using PayPal’s One Touch checkout, I knew that payment would be processed securely and even got regular email updates about the status of where the gift was. There is something amazing about watching someone you care for open a gift that you put a lot of thought into – so this year, instead of getting gift cards (which are great, don’t get me wrong) why not use PayPal to get them something they will love all year long?
And of course, a huge heartfelt thank you to my dear friend Catriona of Coco & Cowe (you’ll remember why we love her so much here, here & here) for her incredibly thoughtful gifts that the purchased for me. I adore her and find inspiration in surrounding myself with each and every guest who attended the special dinner thanks to PayPal Canada.
If you haven’t experienced the ease and convenience of PayPal, I encourage you to create a PayPal account and see what I mean for yourself. Knowing that not only is my checkout secure but that eligible purchases can now be sent back if it’s not to my standards is just another reason why PayPal is the best way for me to shop online for the holidays. Let’s not forget that there is also an amazing app to keep all your purchases and payments organized. Ready to give the PaylPal App a try? Download your PayPal App here!
To get inspired by all the ways PayPal can help to make your life easier, make sure to follow @PayPalCA on Twitter and ‘Like’ their Facebook Page. Share with us your shopping experience, gift ideas, and what makes you a good gift giver using the #PayPalHolidays hashtag. We can’t wait to be a part of your special holiday moments!
For more behind the scenes of this and other amazing brands we are working with around the world, make sure to follow along with the #DoTheDaniel Instagram account. We would love to have you join on our adventures! AND yes. we’re on Snapchat too! – click here to follow us!
Photos: PayPal Canada, all social media accounts listed above & Daniel Reyes
Cheers!
*Please note that this is a sponsored post – our disclosure can be found at all times by clicking here.