Shopping w/ Amazon= 5 Stars!

Maybe I should feel riddled with guilt. Honestly. But I don't.

As I sat here this morning, *clicking* my way through my Christmas shopping list (Yes, even before I took the time to write to you...a girl's gotta have her priorities, after all!) I was lovin' Amazon. I really should buy stock in this company—they're amazing!

Let me tell you why:

First of all, I signed up for Amazon Prime last December. Yes, it costs some $$, but the more I shop with Amazon, the more I save in Free 2-Day shipping. Over the past 10 or 11 months I have easily saved way more than double that original membership fee. Additionally, if I just have to have something ASAP, their next day shipping is only $3.99.

I know this sounds like an advertisement for Amazon (and you're probably beginning to suspect that I HAVE bought stock in the company...) but I can't praise the way they handle their business highly enough.

I love the selection. I love having an opportunity to read the reviews on products written by other shoppers because those reviews can be crucial when trying to decide which brand to buy. I love being able to see a product's rating at a glance—1-5 stars, based on customer reviews.

I love to create shopping "lists." For instance, I created a special Christmas list just for my grandson. Each time I found a toy I thought he'd like, I saved it to his list. I actually started Collin's list a month ago, stopping back to shop now and then, editing the list from time to time if I found an alternate I liked better. I finally placed the orders this morning. His gifts will arrive on Tuesday (did I mention the 2-day shipping is FREE?), and I'll have my wrapping, ribbons and bows all done soon after that.

However, if I'm purchasing a gift and feeling particularly lazy, I love the fact that I can usually have the item gift-wrapped, complete with a personalized greeting, and shipped (FREE 2-day shipping!) directly to the recipient. This perk is particularly appreciated when I've procrastinated on birthday shopping—as usual.

Another reason I love shopping with Amazon is that fact that after I buy, if the price of my purchase goes down during the next 30 days, I only have to contact Amazon. I simply click a button and REAL, LIVE PERSON calls ME instantly! I let them know the item number and the new price, and they'll credit my account for the difference just as quickly.

Case in point:

I actually knocked another $300 off the price a Samsung 46" flat-panel HD-LCD TV we'd ordered by watching the price for 30 days. I must have called Amazon had Amazon call ME 5 or 6 times that month and had another chunk of money credited each time. How fun is that?!

Yes, I know Wal-Mart and K-Mart will do the same thing, but I challenge YOU to stand in their tediously annoying customer service lines each time you find a lower price. Believe me, if you don't have varicose veins now, you will.

Which brings me to the number one reason I love shopping with Amazon:

I HATE SHOPPING!

I hate running from store to store to store trying to find what I want.

I hate trying to navigate crowded aisles crammed with other shoppers who are all feeling just as frustrated and cranky as I am.

Most of all, I hate having to "settle" for what I can find among the limited shopping options available in Northern Michigan.

So, should I really feel riddled with guilt that I haven't spent all my Christmas gift shopping $$$ at our local stores?

Honestly?

Heck, NO! Not when I still spend the lion's share of my paycheck with local merchants on groceries, paper products, cleaning supplies, toiletries, gas, movies, apparel, dining-out and dozens of sundry items—EVERY WEEK, 52 WEEKS A YEAR.

Plus, I have the added satisfaction of (in my own small way) sticking it to Wal-Mart who, in turn, had stuck it to so many of our Mom 'n Pop merchants when they came to town, forcing many of them right out of business years ago because they couldn't compete.

Now, I figure Wal-Mart won't mind a little friendly competition from Amazon. ;)


~ Robin