# No shopping malls for this kid **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 24, 2000, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-shopping-malls-for-this-kid/42581 "2000-11-24T21:44:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2000, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-shopping-malls-for-this-kid/42581/1 "2000-11-24T21:44:19Z")
I am still in my jammies, well technically they aren’t my jammies it’s just what I wear when I am in the house. A sweatshirt and my flannel pants from Target. Anyhow, I would absolutely hate it if I were one of the Mall Rats fighting for a parking space, pushing through crowds looking for the perfect gift I can’t afford and risking life and limb in the traffic surrounding our retail centers. I am home, safe and sound hanging out on the internet while watching a made for TV movie. From here on through January you will not see me enter a mall. I do have to pick up three laptops for my client at CompUSA (in a strip center close to the mall) so I will have to face that scene but other than that I refuse to go to the mall. All of my shopping will be done via the internet. Luckily we adults picked names this year so I only have to purchase one adult gift and four gifts for my nieces and nephews. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2000, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-shopping-malls-for-this-kid/42581/2 "2000-11-24T22:10:27Z")
I’m with you, techchick! Ugh. I cannot imagine spending time in a mall when I can just as easily shop at home. Before the Internet, there was the _mail order catalog,_ which works just as well during the holidays! Anyway, I am making most of my gifts this year. Pottery. Whether anyone wants it or not! 😃 (They usually don’t mind it, pottery is useful - you know, bowls and coffee mugs and such.) ---
**Author:** ![Poto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ab992/32.png) [@Poto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poto)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2000, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-shopping-malls-for-this-kid/42581/3 "2000-11-24T22:29:28Z")
I shop places like Best Buy…and for clothing, the mall.I try to get there about 4 30 weekdays, never weekends. I wouldn’t know how to order clothes from a catalog… ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2000, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-shopping-malls-for-this-kid/42581/4 "2000-11-24T22:38:22Z")
The Better Half says that on the way to work this morning at 6:55, he drove past Toy R’ Us, which had exactly two (2) parking places left in the parking lot, and Circuit City, which he says must have had 200 people standing in line waiting to get in. Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2000, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-shopping-malls-for-this-kid/42581/5 "2000-11-24T22:45:03Z")
Well, I have knocked off two of the gifts. I purchased a cute little jewelry box (not the dancing ballerina kind) for one of my nieces from Lillian Vernon’s website and a Brio Footbridge and Family from [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) (clicked through Fathom). I already know what I am going to get for my step-brother, he’s my pick this year, I am just waiting on confirmation from my sis-in-law to see if the watch I am looking at is his style. All of this while enjoying the boards, TV and a beer. Oh how I love the internet!!! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2000, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-shopping-malls-for-this-kid/42581/6 "2000-11-24T22:55:51Z")
Someday, maybe, I will shop online, but not yet. I don’t have a credit card, and I don’t want to start with my debit card…(I’d go broke!) Really, my theory is to go the mall EARLY…get what I want, and LEAVE. (And I won’t buy clothes without trying them on…) ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2000, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-shopping-malls-for-this-kid/42581/7 "2000-11-24T23:01:55Z")
Guinastasia, There’s nothing wrong with using your debit card, I don’t own a credit card, I don’t want one really. It would be nice in the case of a major car breakdown or something but I have used my debit card on the internet for three years now and haven’t run into problems. I just restrain myself. I know what I have in the account, what bills are coming up and work with it that way. In fact almost all of the software on my system has been purchased via the internet. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-shopping-malls-for-this-kid/42581/8 "2000-11-25T00:31:08Z")
The thing is, it’s not a debit card, I just have a MAC card right now…I have to upgrade to a debit card. And even then, right now…I can’t AFFORD to be spending much money! LOL ---
**Author:** ![tisiphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tisiphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tisiphone)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-shopping-malls-for-this-kid/42581/9 "2000-11-25T00:48:48Z")
Well, I’ll be dipped. I should probably post this [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=47013). I didn’t know you could use your debit card. Do I hafta turn in my Geek credentials? Or was I just shopping in the wrong places? Tisiphone ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-shopping-malls-for-this-kid/42581/10 "2000-11-25T01:18:05Z")
I do virtually all my shopping online during the rest of the year, and certainly holiday shopping. I’m making some of my gifts, and getting the supplies online. I quite often go weeks on end without leaving the house except to walk the kid to the bus stop. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-shopping-malls-for-this-kid/42581/11 "2000-11-25T01:19:35Z")
i’m hitting the internet as well. 3 things purchased so far. i’m also hitting places people usually don’t think of like gift shops in a museum. i found a great gift for the yearling in the family. the great things about gift stores are there usually aren’t any lines, and they have more unusual things. most museums don’t charge you if you just want to shop. tomorrow i’ll hit a few more museums and i’ll be done for the people who celebrate in dec. ---
**Author:** ![Anti\_Pro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Anti\_Pro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anti_Pro)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-shopping-malls-for-this-kid/42581/12 "2000-11-25T02:13:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by techchick68 \* > \*\* > All of this while enjoying the boards, TV and a beer. Oh how I love the internet!!! \*\* Make mine a ROOT beer, but hey, NOTHING beats going on to CDNow and Amazon, no pushing, no shoving, nice, neat and they bring it to me!! I love the internet AND UPS! ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-shopping-malls-for-this-kid/42581/13 "2000-11-25T02:15:38Z")
> [@](#): > > I love the internet AND UPS! Not to mention that some of the UPS guys are cute to boot! ---
**Author:** ![Anti\_Pro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Anti\_Pro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anti_Pro)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-shopping-malls-for-this-kid/42581/14 "2000-11-25T02:19:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by techchick68 \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > I love the internet AND UPS! > > Not to mention that some of the UPS guys are cute to boot! > \*\* 'Specially in the summer with their cute lil short pants!! Awww, they make ya wanna pick up and hug their lil heads off!! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-shopping-malls-for-this-kid/42581/15 "2000-11-25T03:23:39Z")
Mmm…UPS guys…🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-shopping-malls-for-this-kid/42581/16 "2000-11-25T04:53:24Z")
Now _that’s_ another plus to net shopping: give the gift AND a visit from an adorable UPS guy. Fervent agreement on “mallphobia”. I hate the things even at slack times. I couldn’t believe people lined up at 6 a.m. to storm the mall! Takes all kinds to make a world, but I’d rather be shot. Nice to know there’s another museum store freak around, btw. I already have some great stuff ordered from the Met and Smithsonian. Veb ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-shopping-malls-for-this-kid/42581/17 "2000-11-25T04:59:24Z")
Hell…today was Black Friday. I worked. It sucked. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-shopping-malls-for-this-kid/42581/18 "2000-11-25T05:29:51Z")
Veb, One of our local news stations said that some people got in line at the local stores at 3:30 in the freaking morning! Talk about scary! Shoot, I am usually still up at 3:30 in the morning and I really don’t have any desire to be shopping! I am glad that my shopping gene was corrupted – I hate shopping except via catalogs and the internet. When I was younger I enjoyed it but these days the thought makes me want to kill myself during the holiday season. \< giggle \> ---
**Author:** ![Whammo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Whammo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whammo)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2000, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-shopping-malls-for-this-kid/42581/19 "2000-11-25T05:33:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by techchick68 \* > \*\*I am still in my jammies, A sweatshirt and my flannel pants. > \*\* …Mmmmmmm… flannel… OH BABY I LOVE FLANNEL! Growl! I’m sorry… was that off topic? HeHe ---
**Author:** ![Poto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ab992/32.png) [@Poto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poto)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2000, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-shopping-malls-for-this-kid/42581/20 "2000-11-26T01:30:37Z")
> [@](#): > > quite often go weeks on end without leaving the house except to walk the kid to the bus stop. How do you get milk for the kid? Or does someone else bring it?