Auctions might not be the first place you'd think of to find a holiday gift for someone, but they are a great place to find unique items and vintage collectibles for the collector on your list. You can link directly from your Personal Start Page to eBay auctions for everything from action figures and antiques to toys and trading cards. And, if you're looking for a gift for someone into the truly bizarre, online auctions are definitely the place to go. After visiting a few online merchants, you'll probably find a lot of things you'd like for yourself. Use an online wish list or gift registry.
Online registries work just like in-store registries for weddings, baby showers, and birthdays.
Many online merchants allow you to add items to your wish list while you browse their products, by clicking on a wish-list link right next to the product description. The procedure for setting up a wish list and sharing it with others varies by merchant. Most of us want to know as much as we can about a product before we commit to buying, especially if we can't see it in person. On the Web, it's a snap to track down product ratings and reviews for just about anything. For professional reviews, visit Consumer Reports and Consumer's Digest .