# Speaking of... where can I FIND white elephant-type presents **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 20, 2002, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-where-can-i-find-white-elephant-type-presents/137783 "2002-11-20T19:16:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-where-can-i-find-white-elephant-type-presents/137783/1 "2002-11-20T19:16:50Z")
So I’m officially out of ideas for this holiday season. GonzoGal and I love weird and wacky gifts, but nowadays the malls and shopping centers all have the same stores and the stores all have the same old crap wherever I go. And I think I’ve gotten her absolutely every Powerpuff Girls object that isn’t stupid. So, considering past gifts that have gone over well, from me: [“Kung-fu fighting” Hamster](http://www.stupid.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=store&Product_Code=KUNG&Category_Code=TOYT) Underwear-wearing bear that says “It’s really really, really really pants” and from her: Foam stuffed googly-eyed cookie with “Special cookie for you” written on it. Foam stuffed googly-eyed cookie with “feel my sweet love” written on it. Slinky duck keychain [One of these](http://www.scoozie.com/htdocs/pgbigsrs1.html) Where can I find some suitibly ridiculous gift for this year? I’ve checked [stupid.com](http://stupid.com), and don’t see anything worth getting. She’s specifically asked me _NOT_ to get her one of [these](http://www.toyarchive.com/MacGyverBrazilFigureMOC1.html). So I’m stumped. ---
**Author:** ![SylverOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SylverOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SylverOne)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-where-can-i-find-white-elephant-type-presents/137783/2 "2002-11-20T19:32:54Z")
I got a toilet piggy bank for a white elephant one year. Complete with flushing noise. Taught me that the coolest presents are not always the largest… 😉 I’m wondering if [Spencers Gifts](http://www.spencergifts.com) might have something ridiculously stupid that would fit your requirements. Good Luck… Syl ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-where-can-i-find-white-elephant-type-presents/137783/3 "2002-11-20T19:35:31Z")
Here’s a place full of funky stuff: [Archie McPhee](http://www.mcphee.com/) If it’s not wierd, they don’t have it. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-where-can-i-find-white-elephant-type-presents/137783/4 "2002-11-20T20:17:08Z")
How about the dollar store, or Big Lots? ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-where-can-i-find-white-elephant-type-presents/137783/5 "2002-11-20T22:38:30Z")
You might be able to find something in thrift stores, second hand shops, Goodwill stores and the like. I mean, if somebody thought it was crappy enough to give away, maybe it’s because it’s oddball and different. Who knows what you’ll find? ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2002, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-where-can-i-find-white-elephant-type-presents/137783/6 "2002-11-20T23:06:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gonzoron \* > \*\*So I’m officially out of ideas for this holiday season. GonzoGal and I love weird and wacky gifts, but nowadays the malls and shopping centers all have the same stores and the stores all have the same old crap wherever I go. And I think I’ve gotten her absolutely every Powerpuff Girls object that isn’t stupid. > > So, considering past gifts that have gone over well, from me: > [“Kung-fu fighting” Hamster](http://www.stupid.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=store&Product_Code=KUNG&Category_Code=TOYT) > Underwear-wearing bear that says “It’s really really, really really pants” > > and from her: > Foam stuffed googly-eyed cookie with “Special cookie for you” written on it. > Foam stuffed googly-eyed cookie with “feel my sweet love” written on it. > Slinky duck keychain > [One of these](http://www.scoozie.com/htdocs/pgbigsrs1.html) > > Where can I find some suitibly ridiculous gift for this year? I’ve checked [stupid.com](http://stupid.com), and don’t see anything worth getting. > > She’s specifically asked me _NOT_ to get her one of > [these](http://www.toyarchive.com/MacGyverBrazilFigureMOC1.html). So I’m stumped. \*\* Get her one of these: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=144569](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=144569) ---
**Author:** ![Super\_Gnat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Super\_Gnat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Super_Gnat)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-where-can-i-find-white-elephant-type-presents/137783/7 "2002-11-21T00:04:44Z")
There’s always Billy the Big Mouth Bass. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-where-can-i-find-white-elephant-type-presents/137783/8 "2002-11-21T05:59:16Z")
Garage sales. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-where-can-i-find-white-elephant-type-presents/137783/9 "2002-11-21T06:43:21Z")
[American Science and Surplus](http://www.sciplus.com), you’ll never be disappointed. But be warned…they aren’t kidding when they say that those Russian furry caps they carry are a little small. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-where-can-i-find-white-elephant-type-presents/137783/10 "2002-11-21T07:15:05Z")
Here’s another shot: [http://www.backroomwarehouse.com/](http://www.backroomwarehouse.com/) or > **[Spilsbury Jigsaw Puzzle Store - Buy Puzzles Online Today!](https://www.spilsbury.com/)** > > Browse the Spilsbury puzzle store to find unique gift ideas. We have novelty items, toys, games, and jigsaw puzzles for sale. Shop our exclusive selections! Not sure if you can find fun stuff, but those are a couple more to look through. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-where-can-i-find-white-elephant-type-presents/137783/11 "2002-11-21T15:38:49Z")
Thanks everyone for the ideas… See, Spencer’s and Billy the Bass aren’t quite right. Mass-produced weirdness quickly loses its weirdness. In fact, if I had known that kung-fu hamsters would be sweeping the nation, I might not have gotten it. There’s a bit of a nonconformist streak here. Dollar stores suffer from a similar problem. They all tend to have the same stuff, and we’ve already raided them for the “good” stuff. Archie McPhee was promising, but I couldn’t quite find anything I liked. Thrift stores might be a good idea. I’ll have to look for some around here. **asterion** , thanks but no thanks. As fun as that might be, she does have to open this in front of her family. 🙂 **Ranchoth** and **Techchick68** , those links look promising. I’ll check them out. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-where-can-i-find-white-elephant-type-presents/137783/12 "2002-11-21T16:02:41Z")
There are a lot of really strage and unique antiques out there. Go to one of those giant antique malls, something there will make you laugh. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-where-can-i-find-white-elephant-type-presents/137783/13 "2002-11-21T16:08:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gonzoron \* > \*\* > **asterion** , thanks but no thanks. As fun as that might be, she does have to open this in front of her family. 🙂 > \*\* Well, just make it her _extra-special_ present to be opened later. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![EchoKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@EchoKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EchoKitty)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-where-can-i-find-white-elephant-type-presents/137783/14 "2002-11-21T22:17:44Z")
Try garage sales. There’s a world of bizarre just waiting to be scooped up. Also, estate sales are great for that. Old people have very cool old stuff stashed around their homes. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-where-can-i-find-white-elephant-type-presents/137783/15 "2002-11-22T06:40:30Z")
Flea markets, definitely. We’ve found some truly great gifts at flea markets over the years, including a few things I liked so well I kept them for myself. Dr.J’s favorite find was a guy who had a bucket full of arms, legs, and heads for faux Cabbage Patch dolls.