There are few things in life as exciting as unwrapping an awesome gift, especially if it’s one that you’ve been wanting for a long time.
But there are also few things in life worse than opening a great gift only to find out that it doesn’t work! And that goes double if the recipient happens to be a child.
Yes, it’s true that you can (almost) always return a defective gift and exchange it for another one, but when you’re a kid on Christmas morning it can still be a huge let-down when you discover that your favorite gift is D.O.A.
This is why I recommend testing all of your electronic gifts before you wrap them up and give them to the recipients.
Yes, that’s right. Open up the packages, insert the batteries and try them out. If everything looks good, simply place them back in their packages and wrap them to your heart’s content.
If you happen to be a person that’s not particularly savvy when it comes to electronics, you can always enlist the help of a knowledgeable assistant. Most any teenager should be able to help you out with the testing.
I do recommend removing the batteries from all of your electronic gifts after you have finished testing them (and before wrapping them up). Also, try to re-package the items as neatly as possible in order to convey that beloved “new” look and feel along with the gifts.
Of course you don’t need to limit your testing to electronic items. It’s also a good idea to test any “low-tech” toys that have movable parts. After all, who wants to receive a “G.I. Joe with the Kung Fu Grip” that has an arm broken off or a “Barbie in her Pink Convertible” with a wheel that won’t roll? Just sayin’…
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Image credit: Valber Cortez