www.news.com.au/technology...239,00.html

Messy gift-wrapping service 'Crapwrap' launched by gadget retailer Firebox


December 15, 2008 01:10pm

WHEN it comes to wrapping presents, most men tend to take a utilitarian approach.

The paper is likely to be roughly chopped, the sticky tape applied in industrial quantities and as for bows and ribbons — forget it.

It's perhaps not surprising that presented with an immaculately wrapped gift, many women become suspicious that it may not have received the personal touch.

But one UK retailer is providing a wrapping service so shoddy the recipient will be left in no doubt her partner did it.

Firebox.com is paying 20 of its male forklift truck drivers and warehouse assistants to wrap presents as quickly as possible, using ugly brown duct tape and very little care.

And the $9 service, cheekily called CrapWrap, has attracted more than 500 customers since it launched last week.

Whether it's a book, DVD or something trickier such as a kitchen utensil, the team guarantees to make a mess of it.

Trixie of Lithgow Parcels can even be dispatched in brown paper with a shoddily-tied pink ribbon.

Kevin Smith, 29, is proud to be the worst wrapper at the company's London warehouse.

He said: "I am rubbish. We're not given any instructions. I'm just asked to make a hash of it using lots of brown tape and making sure there are rips and untidy folds.

"It's nice to get away from the normal work: cleaning, packing and moving stuff around. Wrapping is a good distraction."