Is it just me or has on-line holiday shopping become way too complicated?
Is it just me or has on-line holiday shopping become way too complicated?
I consider on-line shopping to be one of the great innovations that makes working moms' lives possible, right up there with the microwave oven and flushable toilet brushes. When I venture into the mall, admittedly infrequently now that I have three children ages 6 and under, I am overwhelmed by the sights and sounds. Well, that's if I can see and hear. Becasue when I venture accidentally into one of those stores without the lights on and the music at a near deafening, migraine-inducing level, I am reminded just how very old I am.
So on-line shopping is traditionally my safe haven. Armed with my wish list, I log on, hit "Confirm" and wait for packages to arrive. It's usually so civilized. Not so, this year.
As an initial matter, the virtual deals and specials are so confusing as to render them virtually useless. Buy one get two half off next week between the hours of 12 and 3 on Tuesday only. Hunh? Buy two of "these", and get one of "those" for free, but "these" and "those" are often completely unrelated items, making you wonder who's fooling who here.
Which brings me to the real problem this year. Many websites seem simply unable to handle the traffic. Perhaps "Cyber Monday" and "Cyber Week" and various on-line coupon sites have proven too much for some smaller catalog sites. Yesterday, I spent an hour navigating through a painfully slow catalog site for "brainy" gifts for my 6 year old, only to have the site crash, at which time I had to call in to a very friendly Customer Service Representative who assured me that this had been happening all day. She helped me re-create my order and even threw in a "bonus" gift. It was a little like old-fashioned shopping with real live customer service. I have to admit, I kind of liked it. It made me feel a little like heading out to a store. You know, a real one, with live people and all.
Um, maybe next year. . . .
Amy Impellizzeri
NY Working Moms Examiner
http://www.examiner.com/x-9243-NY-Working-Moms-Examiner
I consider on-line shopping to be one of the great innovations that makes working moms' lives possible, right up there with the microwave oven and flushable toilet brushes. When I venture into the mall, admittedly infrequently now that I have three children ages 6 and under, I am overwhelmed by the sights and sounds. Well, that's if I can see and hear. Becasue when I venture accidentally into one of those stores without the lights on and the music at a near deafening, migraine-inducing level, I am reminded just how very old I am.
So on-line shopping is traditionally my safe haven. Armed with my wish list, I log on, hit "Confirm" and wait for packages to arrive. It's usually so civilized. Not so, this year.
As an initial matter, the virtual deals and specials are so confusing as to render them virtually useless. Buy one get two half off next week between the hours of 12 and 3 on Tuesday only. Hunh? Buy two of "these", and get one of "those" for free, but "these" and "those" are often completely unrelated items, making you wonder who's fooling who here.
Which brings me to the real problem this year. Many websites seem simply unable to handle the traffic. Perhaps "Cyber Monday" and "Cyber Week" and various on-line coupon sites have proven too much for some smaller catalog sites. Yesterday, I spent an hour navigating through a painfully slow catalog site for "brainy" gifts for my 6 year old, only to have the site crash, at which time I had to call in to a very friendly Customer Service Representative who assured me that this had been happening all day. She helped me re-create my order and even threw in a "bonus" gift. It was a little like old-fashioned shopping with real live customer service. I have to admit, I kind of liked it. It made me feel a little like heading out to a store. You know, a real one, with live people and all.
Um, maybe next year. . . .
Amy Impellizzeri
NY Working Moms Examiner
http://www.examiner.com/x-9243-NY-Working-Moms-Examiner
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