Wondering what to get the grandparents for the holidays?

Start by shopping in the same electronics department that you are in for your children and spouses.

In a recent study conducted by Great Lakes Marketing, Toledo’s 60- and 70-year-olds were found to be using all of the latest gadgets that are found in the cars and backpacks of the younger crowd.

For example, more than 90 percent of the 60- and 70-year-olds in the greater Toledo area have a computer at home and over half are using wireless Internet.

Since more than 70 percent of this senior group is shopping online, the wish list that you give to the grandparents can include items that are found at e-retailers. And, go ahead and email the list to the senior Santas, since over eight of 10 use email.

If you wondering how they might already know what you want for the holidays, be aware that over half of those who you might consider to be too old for Facebook (as in those born about six or seven decades ago), are regular users.

“Be careful,” warned Lori Dixon, principal at Great Lakes Marketing. “If you have not kept pace with gift giving, you may find that the sweater or card game you bought grandma is getting re-sold on eBay.” About one-third of those in their 60s and 70s have eBay accounts. “That means you better be careful about trying to re-gift what you received also. You may get caught!”

When hitting the road, you can bet that about one-third of the travelers will be using a portable GPS and about one-third will be using directions printed from online mapping sites. The only difference you might see is that the older driver is more likely to use a map or atlas (about 20 percent) while the under 40 set is using a smart phone (about 25 percent).

If it is travel by air, between 50 and 60 percent of all travelers of all ages will be buying their plane tickets online.

Great Lakes Marketing conducted the Techno Toledo poll to begin tracking the use of technology among Toledoans of all ages. The data were collected by phone, personal interviews and online so as not to introduce any bias in the sample of over 1,000 respondents.                     

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