Not to mention you would have saved, let say 25 cents a mile in gas and wear and tear, plus your personal time of driving around. That might have been $10 or much more in savings plus the time.
I didn’t shop a single store for Christmas this year and saved at least $150 in gas and probably 32 hours in time. I had zero frustrations with traffic, everything was in stock online, I had product choices well beyond anything in retail inventory, and I even got some pretty nifty suggestive selling for things I never thought of (sometimes advertising works when it is not invasive and appropriate).
I have a few small items I do need to shop for, but a few hours time and a quick trips ill take care of it all. I could go online, but it just feels more Christmassy if I get out and do some small shopping.
Trust me...my wife and I are internet shoppers! It’s been a development of need over the last decade as stores carry less and less of what we traditionally buy. Plus, why do site-to-store via most retailers when you can do site-to-door cheaper with Amazon. There are reasons Amazon is winning big time right now: ease, selection, quick delivery, and price to name a few.
In my previous story, we went to town to eat at a restaurant with our daughters. The brick store shopping was just us trying to “help” the local people employed by the retail stores. It’s getting harder and harder to justify the time/cost when you’re not sure you’re going to find what you need. Online always has what you need if you can wait a couple of days.