Why some people shop on-line
I read somewhere that holiday spending on-line is 25 percent more than it was at this time last year. Last Monday was called Cyber Monday because holiday sales on the Internet increased by a whopping 26 percent to a record $647 million. It was the single biggest online shopping day in history.
While there is something to be said for the experience of trudging from store to store in search of a Christmas gift for Aunt Jane -- and then being able to hold it in your hands -- I am becoming more and more a convert to on-line shopping in general.
This became more apparent to me when I was looking for a holster for my cell phone. OK, I know cell phone holsters are kind of geeky -- at least thats why my kids tell me -- but I need a new one. Mine broke a few weeks ago when I sat down at a restaurant and it caught the arm of the chair.
I went to the store where I bought my cell phone. Guess what? They didn’t have it in stock. They sent me to another store across town. Guess what? They didn’t have it, either. They no longer carry it.
This irked me because I signed up with this particular cell phone provider. They sold me the phone, locked me into a two-year service agreement without an upgrade, then chose to no longer carry the accessories because newer models have now taken its place.
I did however, find the holster on-line with just a few computer key strokes. And at an unbelievably low price! Yes, I know I will have to pay shipping, but I don’t have to pay sales tax, so it almost evens out.
Plus, they had it. If merchants want to complain about the increase of on-line shopping, they should learn to do a better job of keeping merchandise in stock and available.
While there is something to be said for the experience of trudging from store to store in search of a Christmas gift for Aunt Jane -- and then being able to hold it in your hands -- I am becoming more and more a convert to on-line shopping in general.
This became more apparent to me when I was looking for a holster for my cell phone. OK, I know cell phone holsters are kind of geeky -- at least thats why my kids tell me -- but I need a new one. Mine broke a few weeks ago when I sat down at a restaurant and it caught the arm of the chair.
I went to the store where I bought my cell phone. Guess what? They didn’t have it in stock. They sent me to another store across town. Guess what? They didn’t have it, either. They no longer carry it.
This irked me because I signed up with this particular cell phone provider. They sold me the phone, locked me into a two-year service agreement without an upgrade, then chose to no longer carry the accessories because newer models have now taken its place.
I did however, find the holster on-line with just a few computer key strokes. And at an unbelievably low price! Yes, I know I will have to pay shipping, but I don’t have to pay sales tax, so it almost evens out.
Plus, they had it. If merchants want to complain about the increase of on-line shopping, they should learn to do a better job of keeping merchandise in stock and available.
posted by Ed Grisamore at 5:57 AM
2 Comments:
I love shopping online. I even bought gift cards for major stores (Borders, Macys) online. I always do a search for a coupon code - sometimes it's for free shipping or 10% off the order - every little bit helps! Last week I saved $50 on a $250 order from Plow and Hearth. Google Checkout saves $10 on $30 order and $20 on $50 at places like Buy.com and Sports Authority.
I like online shopping also. I went to get a camera from target the other day that was on sale but they were out of stock. Best buy and circuit city wasn't running the same sale. I found it online for the price I wanted and it was delivered to my house. I began shopping online 4 or 5 years ago.
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