Prices for Sample Internet Gifts No Laughing Matter

* For a long time now, my wife and I have had a good laugh most Sundays at the prices for clothes in your Sunday magazine. We figured it was your little continuing joke about the vagaries of fashion and the enslavement by it of certain levels of society. After all, what minuscule fraction of 1% of your readers would buy a $1,500 skirt or a $5,000 dress?

But now we see that we were sadly mistaken: The article by Abigail Goldman (“Making a List, Clicking It Twice,” Sept. 30) on Internet shopping appears to be meant to be taken seriously. After all, this is the Business section--no fun and games here. An average price of about $81! And this on the Internet, which, while not exactly a bargain basement, doesn’t have Neiman’s as its typical outlet.

I realize these were meant to be serious and meaningful gifts to people of importance to your writer--but still.

Does anyone there look at these articles and ask about their worth to your readers? We are no longer amused.

SIDNEY F. KAHN

La Mirada