|
Hassle-free Shopping Just a Few Mouse Clicks Away |
I bought three towels, two CDs and a pair of shoes today. And I wore my pajamas the entire time.
No, I’m not some “What Not To Wear” victim. (Well, maybe I am, but that’s a whole other column.) Actually, I’m just your average consumer — with a slight addiction to online shopping.
I’m totally behind the curve on this one. It’s not that I’ve been totally oblivious to the wonders of Internet commerce. In fact, I’ve been an online book club member for years. And I’ve been known, on more than one occasion, to browse the racks of eBay, just for the heck of it.
But it was just recently when I discovered the full value of shopping online. Perhaps it’s because sites are starting to get a bit more competitive (read: better prices and free shipping). Or maybe it’s because I moved to a house out in the country, and the nearest shop is a full 15 minutes away.
If you have yet to succumb to Internet shopping, give me just a few moments to convince you:
Reason 1: No annoying salespeople. They’re either not around when you need them or they’re peppering you with details about their sales when you’ve just read the perfectly understandable “Buy one, get one free” sign. The Internet is gleefully free of them.
Reason 2: No long lines. If your computer just happens to be taking a bit too long to process your credit-card information, simply jump over to another screen. You can catch up on world news — or better yet, shop even more — while waiting for your receipt.
Reason 3: You always pay with a credit card. It’s refreshing to buy something and not have to pay for it right away. And it seems even less like you’re paying when you do it online: There’s no cash register, you don’t get shocked by the total, and you don’t feel like you’re signing your paycheck away. Of course, the fun pretty much ends when the credit-card bill arrives.
Reason 4: Product reviews. It was great to find out that an aerobics instructor in Washington loved the shoes I was about to buy. It was equally great to know that someone in Atlanta thought the book I was planning to read wasn’t worth my time. Consumer reviews, often posted right on the site, are generally helpful.
Reason 5: Shipping equals surprise! Yes, you have to wait a few days for your new purchase. But it’s just enough time to forget that you ordered something. And then the nice UPS man drops a package on your porch. It feels just like a birthday present!
Reason 6: They almost always have your size. There’s nothing more annoying than going from store to store in search of those perfect shoes, just to find that no one carries that model or that your size is out of stock. Online merchants typically have more options available. And on those cold winter days, who wants to traipse in and out of 10 stores?
Reason 7: All of the fun, none of the disappointment. When was the last time you fell in love with a dynamite shirt, only to get borderline depressed when you checked out the price tag? Plenty of online merchants let you browse by price these days — so you will never have to know about those $200 sweaters that would look perfect on you.
I could probably keep listing even more reasons why Internet shopping rocks. But frankly, all of this shopping talk is sending me deep into a J. Crew withdrawal.
And besides, my credit card — which sits conveniently beside my keyboard these days — is looking a little lonely.
Sounds like it’s time for a little Windows shopping.
Elizabeth Davies |
Shopping Blog