A shirt and tie? The same old same old. A bottle of bourbon? Maybe, if it’s special. A free vasectomy? Hmm.
There’s precious little time before Father’s Day 2023 (June 18, btw), and if there's anyone who wants to break with tradition and get the old man something special, there are lots of unique gifts that have hit the market, not to mention great prices on traditional items that Dad always appreciates.
Rather than send our readers on a wild goose hunt searching for these things, ConsumerAffairs decided to pull some of the ones that caught our attention all together in one place. Here goes!
Unique gifts
Special versions of whiskeys and other spirits. Pernod Ricard USA is doing an “Aged to Perfection” promotion built around some of its top-shelf liquors: Aberlour 12 Year Scotch Whisky, Jefferson's Reserve small-batch bourbon, Redbreast 12-Year-Old Irish whisky, and Martell Blue Swift: V.S.O.P cognac.
Throughout June, Pernod Ricard is holding daily sweepstakes for prize packs that complement those spirits at GiftLikeDadsFavorite.com. The company is also holding tastings in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami so you can put Dad’s taste buds to the test in real-time, then sneak back to the store and buy what he likes.
Hallmark goes Hollywood. While Hallmark can surely take care of the card side, it’s branching out to find other cool things that make Dad feel he’s worth it.
If he’s a movie buff, there is Hallmark's Star Wars collection – complete with a Darth Vader Chamber Water Globe With Light and Sound, Rebel Pilot Helmet Picture Frame, Star Wars: The Mandalorian Helmet Sculpted Ceramic Caddy, Darth Vader Lightsaber Jumbo Mug With Sound, etc. And, there’s a whole new line of Indiana Jones products, too, like the Headpiece of the Staff of Ra Perpetual Calendar, It's the Mileage Mug, and more.
Does he like candy? If Dad’s got a sweet tooth, Laffy Taffy is trying to put a different spin on its confections. For Father’s Day ‘23, the company is celebrating its new Fruit Combos collections and giving 1,000 families a free package of the new product just for submitting a list of "Dad Things" – those little nuances that make the dads and father figures in our lives extraordinary.
Plus, every participant will be automatically entered for a chance to win a grand prize – the ultimate "dad things starter pack" which includes a year-supply of Fruit Combos and classic Laffy Taffy dad mementos such as a lawn chair, golf towel, duffel bag and socks.
The biggest 'fix' of ‘em all. Shinesty, a leading men's underwear company, home to Ball Hammock pouch underwear, is celebrating dads a bit differently this Father's Day by ending their chance at fatherhood once and for all. The irreverent underwear brand is covering vasectomy costs for five men, giving $1000 cash to each one as a special "severance package."
The bargains
If Dad’s more of a standard fare kind of guy and you’re kind of a penny pincher, then you’re both in luck. DealNews.com told ConsumerAffairs about all that they found that fits those two descriptions from June-only sales at the likes of Adorama, eBay, B&H Photo Video, Lowe's, Dick's Sporting Goods, and others.
The most popular Father's Day sales DealNews saw last year included the following:
Up to 43% off at Home Depot
Up to 70% off plus an extra 10% to 25% off via a coupon code at Macy's
Up to 20% off gift cards at Amazon
“Items that are commonly discounted in these events include tech products, clothing, home improvement supplies, tools, outdoor gear — even LEGO sets!,” DealNews’ consumer analyst Julie Ramhold said.
She also made a note that if Dad doesn’t mind waiting a couple of weeks for his gift, you might save even more.
“One thing to keep in mind is that Father's Day sales don't tend to be particularly noteworthy. That doesn't mean they aren't worth checking out, but if you're looking for the best deals, you'll probably have better luck around July 4,” she said.