Posted on 12/13/2022 8:58:50 AM PST by Responsibility2nd
Here’s another thing about those old days. Most of the presents under the Christmas tree were made in America. That is of course no longer true.
Amazon . . . I don’t like buying the rope they will use to hang me. Amazon is among the bad guys. I will inconvenience myself to avoid doing business with the enemy. There are other sources on-line to shop
Yeah, but....
Consider our primary shopping choices are Amazon, Walmart or Target. Bad, bad or bad.
“There are other sources on-line to shop.”
Yeah? Name one where I can literally choose from millions of items delivered in 2 days at reasonable prices.
Merry Christmas.
I noticed at the local Walmart Supercenter about 3 years ago on a Black Friday that shopper traffic was light and the customers who were exiting were not carrying out loads of items. Most had none or one or two bags.
I sort of understand. If the price is comparable, I occasionally order from Amazon because packages are either delivered to my mail box or to my back door.
I never loved the Christmas crowds at the mall. So far this year I spent about an hour shopping at TJ Maxx and everything else is coming from online.
Way back in the 90’s, I decided that I was no longer going to play the game! From then on, all of my gifts would be certificates to things that created memorable experiences. They were far easier to buy, prior to the internet, and they suited most anyone. ATV rides, Horse Sleigh rides, Helicopter rides, iMax, Jeep Rides, Balloon rides, Go-Carts, concerts, Wild Animal Sanctuaries, Trips... there’s so much and I remember sharing many of them with the recipients. My FIL died last month but I have great memories of sharing many of these trips with him and my in laws. Ironically, we inherited a Nuwave Oven from him that was gifted by someone, never used and still in the box.
Ah yess. Black Friday. In years gone by....
Ah, the thrill of getting up on a freezing Friday morning to be at the Best Buy at 6:00, Target by 6:30 and then to The Gap by 7:00.
Say what you will about Amazon: My local mall looks like a 3rd world hell whole with little English spoken. It’s already 1/2 closed and I suspect will be closed and torn down within the next two years. The next mall is far away. The parking lot is a war zone of aggressive drivers cutting each other off.
Amazon shopping is ridiculously easy, they’ll deliver the gift right to the recipient, wrap it and you can even have a message sent as well. I’ve even sent flowers via Amazon. Their exchange or refund policy is easy as well. My local Whole Food has an Amazon outlet inside - I had to return something and I’d lost the packaging information - no problem, had my refund within minutes, no questions asked.
They’ve made it extremely easy and convenient for people to exchange gifts.
I went to Lowes today to buy 10 wall outlet timers. Inventory said they had 70 in stock. Electric dept manager said they were in the back in pallets but he was short staffed to find them so he price matched the much nicer $12.99 ones for the 6.50 ones I wanted.
Try that happening online.
Amazon prices are not great anymore. Their website is way too busy and has so many intrusive interruptions.
Who would post their personal life info on a site where anybody could see? Probably a bit of lazy exhibitionist traits necessary.
Keep your real friends informed and close. Meet people in person at events you enjoy.
You lucked into a good deal. Nice. Right place at the right time.
You could have also been lucky enough to have found a similar deal on Cyber Monday with Amazon’s Lightning Specials.
You could even find stuff from stores that were not government subsidized.
But that would be too much trouble.
Hope you enjoy your tax payer funded service.
I enjoy the true old days shopping at standalone department stores Downtown
“Amazon prices are not great anymore.”
I agree. Some truth to that. I wanted a mid priced Keurig from my daughter and her husband.
Walmart.com had a better model at a lower price than what I found at Amazon.
Pays to compare.
How does one verify the product you order has the quality you thought it has? How do you know the product was mishandled from the manufacturer to the warehouse to the delivery person to the recipient? These guys are making tons of money selling convenience only. The products are Superfluous to their business model.
I remember the Jimmy Carter recession and Gas "Crisis" when I was just married and lost my job.
I got work pumping gas, and a wise guy Leftist cut in line (with his car) and caused quite a problem.
I took the other tack, I refused him service, the gas station owner backed me up, and banned him for life and called the cops to take him away.
It was the only time in my life when a crowd of strangers cheered me in public.
Boy, those were the good old days when we had Equality in America!
This is true. I hate giving Amazon the business, and try not to as much as possible. When you think about it, however, Amazon, along with Walmart, Target, etc. has successfully put the little guy out of business.
I live near a small town. There are still a couple of small, privately owned businesses in that town. A little jewelry store, the hardware store, the pharmacy (with a great gift section). If I was still giving anything other than money, that’s where I’d be shopping. I would seek out places like that.
It would be lovely to return to the days and ways of Mayberry, or It’s A Wonderful Life. Make your way up and down the main street in town, meet some people you know, enjoy the decorations, and support the small businesses. Sadly, those days are gone. This is not improvement.
I was just telling my grandson about the benefit of gift certificates to the seller. Stats say that about 1/3 of those gift certificates are never cashed in. That’s quite the windfall for these retailers.....plus it says a whole lot about society. We obviously do a lot of giving to a lot of people who don’t need anything.
“Try that happening online.”
That has happened with me online but on a smaller scale. Example: Giving to me 36 extra large eggs for 12 jumbo eggs but charging me for the 12 jumbo eggs. Similar things with milk and other dairy products.
I do not need any wall-outlet-timers. ;-)
However, I have found that Lowe’s products are of higher quality than Home Depot. The downside? Lowe’s donates to the dims. The upside: Home Depot donates to the Repubs.
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