I used to be a slave to malls and to big box stores. Wal-Mart. Target. Best Buy. Barnes and Noble. Visits to these stores were part of my schedule almost every week. However, one thing I disliked about retail was packing the car full of heavy bags and other bulky packages and then, upon arriving home, unpacking and bringing everything into the house. I love my house but the front door is on one side of the property and the driveway is on the other. Not the most ideal setup for transferring big or heavy packages, especially in bad weather.

But all that has all changed. I no longer go to the store to buy large packages of paper towels or cat litter or laundry detergent. I get them shipped right to my front door and often pay less even with shipping. All thanks to…

Technology Influence #7: Online Shopping and Amazon Prime

In the early 2000s I started purchasing online. First it was an experiment as I overcame my fear of providing my credit card information over the Web. For the next few years it was something I would remember to do every now and then. The usual situation for me was to shop on eBay for things I wanted and had a hard time finding in local stores. Typically these were collectible items, not necessities. After a few years I would do less Christmas shopping at the stores and more on line. But I still wasn't really consistent.

Then I discovered Amazon Prime and my online shopping habits really changed. For a flat-rate of $75/year I get free two-day shipping and if there is something I really need overnight, I can upgrade to next day shipping for less than $4.00 per item. An Amazon Prime membership comes with other perks too like instant streaming video and a Kindle lending library but I use those services far less than I take advantage of the shipping service.

If you still think Amazon is an online bookstore, look again. Amazon sells nearly everything. It’s the first place I look when I start online shopping. But, it is certainly not the only place. I have accounts with a number of online retailers, some specialized (e.g., www.1800flowers.com, www.foodnetworkstore.com) and others more general (e.g., www.macys.com, www.bedbathandbeyond.com). I’m more apt to do price-comparison shopping now then I was when I used big box stores. It’s a lot easier and qicker to surf a few websites looking for the best price than it is to drive from store-to-store.

Not only have my preferred retailers changed but I’ve also changed my buying habits. Going to Target, Wal-Mart or the grocery store, I typically purchased a single large jug of laundry detergent or a couple of boxes of tissues at a time. Now, I purchase things like these a case at a time. Why not? It’s not like I have to worry about detergents, paper products or other types of packaged goods going bad. And, you can save by buying in bulk. It also helps to have a basement where I can store things.

On average I get about 2-3 deliveries a week from online shopping. There is one downside. It results in a lot of cardboard. A lot. But, I am very good about recycling and every piece of cardboard and other paper I receive go through my borough’s curbside recycling program.

Online shopping is a time saver and a money saver. If you haven't done it yet, try it. You might just like it.

Update (April 27, 2013: 11:57AM): I forgot to mention the on-going battle between my girlfriend Grace and I. I'm an Amazon Prime guy all the way. She uses QVC online (and sometimes HSN online) like other people drink water. Like they say, opposites attract.

Next: Influence #8 -Blogs and Custom Newsfeeds.