Present panic

Christmas Eve is a frenzied countdown for shoppers who’ve procrastinated their way into jammed shopping malls and are hunting for a quick fix.

While putting things off is an annual tradition for some, occasionally the best planners find themselves hurled into the retail abyss when a random bout of the flu interrupts their usual shopping schedule or out-of-town relatives unexpectedly announce they’re coming for the holidays.

But when shopping malls close their doors, and discounters like Kmart bid customers goodnight, last-minute shoppers find the search for an acceptable gift becomes a scavenger hunt. For the weary bunch that lands on the mean streets as time is ticking away, there is still hope: Convenience stores are showing potential for the gift-challenged.

While past recipients of questionable mini-mart purchases found themselves opening patriotic-themed cigarette lighters or cheesy travel mugs, procrastinators can now pick up gift cards and even nice a nice bottle of cabernet or merlot.

Zip Trips carry gift cards for popular restaurants and stores, such as Hollywood Video, while 7-Elevens are selling fine wines.

Kris Bill, a field coordinator for 7-Eleven, said most people swinging in on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day are looking for film, batteries or something to take to a gathering.

“What we get is, ‘I’m on my way to a party or need a last-minute gift or (wine),’” Bill explained.

Teenagers might eagerly embrace a convenience-store Christmas if they knew that a bit of parental procrastination could lead to a new cell phone under the tree. A variety of phones and cell phone plans by providers such as T-Mobile, Verizon, Cingular and other providers are available on-site at 7-Eleven stores.

“You can buy a phone and be out in the parking lot talking in five minutes,” Bill explained.

Truckers have a handle on convenient shopping at Flying J Travel Plaza in Post Falls, where they can fill-up their tanks, grab a quick meal and shop for anything from clothing to CB radios and televisions.

“We get a number of people who come in at the last minute. We’ve got all kinds of stuff,” said Kim Johnson, manager of the Flying J.

Looking for popular kids toys? How about an electronic dinosaur? Shopping for a football fan? Why not give him (or her) a blanket embellished with Dallas Cowboys or Denver Broncos? Flying J even gets shipments of recently released films.

“We don’t usually get mass quantities like Wal-Mart, but we usually get like 24 (of each movie),” Johnson said.

Times have changed over the years as grocers and general merchandise retailers have opted to open their doors 365 days a year, including Christmas.

This year, a half-dozen Safeway and Albertsons stores are open on Christmas Day. The twist is they’re being staffed by volunteers who offer to work shifts in exchange for overtime pay.

On the big day, with minutes to go— and major gift-exchanges at stake — there are no guarantees as to what might be lingering on store shelves.

Still, Samantha Carter of Safeway said the stores typically have holiday baskets, floral arrangements and gift cards to places like Toys ‘R’ Us.

“They can run in and look like they planned it all out,” Carter said.

Remember, it’s the thought that counts.