I came up with this idea when I started to get depressed that Online Christmas shopping is pretty much over. I do almost all my Christmas shopping online and I love it, but every Christmas Eve I get an itch and I need to head out to Wal-Mart and buy a bunch of toys and odds and ends for my son and wife. It’s a sickness, I’m in treatment. I have an elf beat me with a sack of candy canes while I skin a reindeer with a knife made of coal. It’s a process. What? Where am I? How’d I get here…?

Doesn’t matter. What I’m trying to say is that I love shopping online, but when it comes to last minute shopping, it kind of stinks. At this point in the year you can’t get it delivered for a reasonable price unless you find some sort of deal offering free expedited shipping. So what’s an online shopper to do? How do you get a present without paying “bricks and mortar” prices or insane shipping costs.

Buy online gift cards, of course! Online gift cards is kind of a confusing term because you can use most physical gift cards online, but I am referring specifically to gift cards that you can send and receive online. So where do you get these online gift cards? Well, I thought you could get them everywhere but, as it turns out, you can’t. There are a bunch of stores that don’t offer these or at least don’t have them anywhere that I can find them easily.

So, I’m going to list some of the stores that offer online gift cards. This list isn’t by any means complete and it only encompass electronics, video games, audio books and other things that interest me personally. I want you, the public, to tell me where you are getting your online gift cards this year. Let’s create an awesome resource right here in the comments of this article.

Here is my small list:

• FutureShop.ca
• BestBuy.ca
• Audible.com
• Amazon.ca
• GameStop.ca
• NewEgg.ca
• Staples.ca

Again, these are just a few of the stores that I like so please leave us your favorite(s).

(Expires: Never)

Get $20 off select ‘Move’ bundles for the Sony PS3. Each bundle is regularly priced at $99.99 and is on sale for $79.99.

• Get the Tiger Woods Move Software Bundle

• Order the PlayStation Move Bundle

As you may see in the image (right) in the banner, they are advertising a Playstation Move Sharpshooter for $10 off. Unfortunately, that has not translated on their website: as the discount is not showing and it is still regular price. You might be able to buy it and then get a price adjustment, but up to you.

If you were waiting for a price drop on the Nintendo 3DS, it just happened. Gamestop Canada, EB Games, Future Shop, Best Buy and The Source all have dropped the price of the 3DS to $169.99 (originally $249.99).

So really after that, just pick your favourite store. Best Buy and Future Shop both offer free shipping on orders of $20+ so they might be the best choices.

On the ‘good to know’ news: Future Shop is taking pre-orders for the Nintendo 3DS in red – which should be released around September 9th.

• To pre-order the nintendo 3DS in red from Future Shop – click here

I haven’t found the red at any other store, not ever Best Buy.

FYI: The price has not dropped on Amazon.ca as of yet.

Gamestop Canada is now offering the Nintendo Wii Bundle of a Nintendo Wii, Wii Sports, Wii Remote and Wii Nunchuk Controller for only $99.99 (save $80). Also they are having a Power Sale, which great discounts on a load of games for the Wii, xbox and PS3.

• Check out the Power Sale

There are no Wii bundles as mentioned for $99.99 available online that I can find, so I am guessing this is an in store offer, I suggest you check out a store near you and get one fast if you want it.

• Check out the Gamestop Canada store locator

The game deals are not bad: anywhere from $14.99 – $49.99. They have some good trade in deals as well for extra credit, and extra discounts on buying used consoles. The Power Sale goes through July 24th, 2011.

Trade 2 games in at Gamestop Canada, or EB Games and receive your choice of a used game ($64.99 or less) for free. The games need to have a minimum trade in value of $8. That is a pretty stellar deal: trade in two games worth $8 each – in total $16.. and get a $64.99 game for free.

• Check out the Gamestop Store Locator

Make sure to check out the fine print below, as it is very important and will prevent misguided trips to the game store!

Fine Print:

Valid on titles priced $64.99 and lower.  Applies to titles with a minimum $8 trade value only. Valid trade titles include PS3, PSP, Wii, DS, 3DS and XB360 games. While supplies last. Offer may be discontinued at any time. May not be combined with any other offer. No dealers please. Promotion valid from May 1-28, 2011. See sales associate for complete details. Valid only in Canada.

When you trade in your old PS3 and get $200 off a new one. For those of you who want to upgrade to bigger, better or slimmer. Also: Trade in your old Xbox 360 and SAVE $100 on a new one! Offer applicable towards a new Xbox 360 4 Gb Kinect Bundle OR a new Xbox 360 250GB.

• Check out the offer details here

The XBOX 360 4GB is currently on sale for $129.99 currently so you would only end up paying $29.99 after trade-in.

So I was checking out Gamestop.ca and found out some interesting deal they had on. Evidently they are offering 50% off used accessories! The discount comes off in your cart.

• Shop Gamestop Used Accessories

The real value I see in this is perhaps in the purchase of items like a used controller (which is guaranteed to work, btw). Instead of dishing out $40 for a new XBOX 360 controller you can get a used one for only $14.99 after that $50% discount. A great price. Check out their other used accessories.

Online only deal.

Trade in your old Xbox 360 and SAVE $100 on a new one! Offer applicable towards a new Xbox 360 4 Gb Kinect Bundle or a new Xbox 360 250GB.

• Check out the offer on the Gamestop Website

I have never had an Xbox, but I saw the Kinect being played at Best Buy a while ago, and it was really sweet. Suddenly I wanted one!

This offer goes through April 30th, 2011.

The Nintendo 3DS has just been announced and will be released March 27, 2011. Gamestop Canada is offering people the opportunity to trade in or trade up to help offset the cost of getting the new console. You can receive a $125 trade credit for your DSI XL or any 5 used games (minimum $8.00 trade value) when you trade towards the pre-order of a Nintendo 3DS.

• Click here for the Gamestop store locator

The console will cost $249.99 so you are trading in for 1/2 the value of it, pretty good if you ask me for those who need to have the latest and the greatest. It looks like it will be available in Aqua blue, pictured above, or black.

So apparently the Xbox Kinect is all the rage this Christmas. If you’re desperate to get your hands on one, there are a few places where you  could go to get one now. These are all in stock either online or in-store, so you should be able to grab one somewhere.

Deals @ The Source Canada:

• Kinect motion sensor for Xbox 360 with Kinect Adventures game for $149.99
• Xbox 360 4gb special edition Kinect bundle for $299.99
• Xbox 360 250gb holiday bundle for $299.99

Deals @ Futureshop Canada:

• XBOX 360 Kinect & Adventures game for $149.99
• XBOX 360 4GB Kinect Bundle for $299.99
• XBOX 360 250GB Kinect Bundle for $399.99

Deals @ Best Buy Canada:

• XBOX 360 4GB Kinect Bundle for $299.99
• XBOX 360 Kinect for $149.99 (In-store only)

Deals @ Visions Canada

• Microsoft Xbox 360 250GB – Visions Bundle for $429

Deals @ Amazon (Check Delivery Times)

• Kinect Sensor with Kinect Adventures for $149.83

Deals @ Gamestop Canada (Check shipping)

• Kinect for Xbox 360 with Kinect Adventures by Microsoft for $149.99

Price-wise, they all seem to be similar, there is no one deal that really stands out above the others. But the Visions deal is actually more expensive – though some may be willing to pay that just to get their hands on one for Christmas.

I’ve seen the Kinect in action, but haven’t had the chance to try it out yet. It’s probably not something I would buy myself, as we have a PS3 and a Wii in our house. I think having all 3 consoles would be overkill.

This is for all you Nintendo DS owners who play Dragon Quest. You can get your FREE special event map for The Ultimate Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies Experience on July 31, 2010 ONLY. This is an exclusive map that you can only get in-stores!

• For more info read about it on GameStop’s website

How do you get it you say? Here is how:

Come to these GameStop – EB GameStop locations on Saturday, July 31 from 2pm – 4pm, to download an exclusive map and trade maps with others using Tag Mode. Participants will have the chance to win a Midnight Blue Nintendo DSi XL!

In order to download the exclusive map, customers need to make sure they have unlocked “Quester’s Rest in Stornway.

Participating locations:

• 4700 Kingsway, Unit 1159 – Burnaby, BC
• 6551 No. 3 Road, Unite 1512 – Richmond, BC
• 3147 Douglas Street, Unit 653– Victoria, BC
• 650 West 41st Ave., Cru #403 – Vancouver, BC
• 2929 Barnet Hwy., Space 2432 – Port Coquitlam, BC
• 2965 Guildford Town Centre, Unit 2264 – Surrey, BC
• 110-333 Brooksbank Ave – North Vancouver, BC
• Ro47-3625 Shaganappi Trail Nw, Unit 34-a – Calgary, AB
• 11100 51 Ave Nw – Edmonton, AB
• 2525-36th Street Ne, Space# 122 – Calgary, AB
• 19 Riedel St, Unit 105 – Ft Mcmurray, AB
• 2965 Gordon Road, Space 0060a – Regina, SK
• 86-1225 St. Mary’s Road, Space #129 – Winnipeg, MB
• 66q-1485 Portage Avenue, Unit 161a – Winnipeg, MB
• 25 Peel Centre Drive, Space # 253b – Brampton, ON
• 100 City Centre Drive, Space 2-115 – Mississauga, ON
• 550 King St North – Waterloo, ON
• 3401 Dufferin Street, Unit 121 – North York, ON
• 1800 Sheppard Ave, East, Unit U275 – Willowdale, ON
• 220 Yonge Street, Suite 110 Box 511 – Toronto, ON
• 245-1 Bass Pro Mills Dr – Vaughan, ON
• 50 Rideau Street, Unit 129 – Ottawa, ON
• 435 Stone Road, Unit #l2, Guelph, ON
• 419 King Street West, Unit #2222 – Oshawa, ON
• 6801 Trans-canada Highway, Unit #c024 – Pte Claire, PQ
• 677, St. Catherine Street West, Local M-20 – Montreal, PQ
• 1381 Regent Street, Unit L001 – Fredericton, NB
• 21 Mic Mac Boulevard, Unit 167 – Dartmouth, NS
• 48 Kenmount Road, Unit 2155 – St John’s, NF

I have never touched a DS system so I know nothing about how this works, sorry! If anyone knows, drop us a line!

I’ve posted about these holiday gift guides a few times for various stores. I know that they are just tools to help me spend money, but I do find them very useful. In fact, the Chapters tool helped me find some nice gifts for my sisters.

If you’d like to buy some video games as pressies, Gamestop.ca has a handy gift tool which you can use.

• Click here to use the gift guide @ Gamestop.ca

The gift guide is split up by platform, so you can search exactly what platform you need. Once you select a platform, you can then choose whether to see games for kids, or for adults, which is quite handy.

I didn’t even realize you could buy online at Gamestop.ca, but apparently you can! Not sure how long they have been retailing online.

It’s also a bonus that you get free shipping on a $39 spend, similar to Amazon, Chapters, Future Shop, etc.