# What was the first thing you purchased on Amazon? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 8, 2016, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-thing-you-purchased-on-amazon/751600 "2016-04-08T20:56:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-thing-you-purchased-on-amazon/751600/101 "2016-04-14T16:06:58Z")
July 23, 2001; _The Rough Guide to Mandarin Chinese_. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-thing-you-purchased-on-amazon/751600/102 "2016-04-14T18:44:39Z")
2004, Rush’s EP of cover songs, “_Feedback_”. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-thing-you-purchased-on-amazon/751600/103 "2016-04-14T19:01:01Z")
I remember it very well. August of 1998. I wanted a particular novel and my local bookstore (which still exists!) said that it was out of print. I called a used bookstore in the area and the owner told me that he didn’t have it but he would find it for me. He called me back a day later and said that he found a copy with a torn cover that he would sell me for $50. I didn’t want it that bad. Later I remembered about this “Amazon” that people were talking about. I looked and they had a new copy for $16. Sold. I called the used book guy and told him about my experience and that he better find a new line of work. He was not impressed. ---
**Author:** ![ryobserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@ryobserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryobserver)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-thing-you-purchased-on-amazon/751600/104 "2016-04-14T21:37:06Z")
For me it was the autumn of 1998–I don’t know the exact month, but I decided to buy the exhibit catalog from the exhibit “Nicholas and Alexandra: The Last Imperial Family of Tsarist Russia” as a Christmas gift for my mother. I tried the exhibit website; they wanted $20 to ship the $50 catalog, and I thought that was a swindle. So I thought I’d try this new Amazon bookseller I’d heard about. IIRC Amazon wanted $5 or $6, something like that, for shipping (this was long before the free-shipping days); certainly it was a damn sight more reasonable, so I placed the order. Arrived really fast, too. ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-thing-you-purchased-on-amazon/751600/105 "2016-04-14T22:23:38Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > … > Also, sort of surprising how few orders I made in the first few years. I’d make maybe two Amazon orders per year – some tools and four or five books. Then it stabilized at around seven or eight – probably after I got Prime. I’ve placed 22 orders this year so far. I think I’m an Amazon junkie. My first order from August 1999 - The Wind from Hastings Morgan Llywelyn Tales from Watership Down Richard Adams Otherland: Mountain of Black Glass, Vol. III Tad Williams Irish Magic Susan Wiggs, et al Fodor’s 99 Pocket New York City (Fodor’s Pocket Guides) Fodors(Editor) ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-thing-you-purchased-on-amazon/751600/106 "2016-04-14T22:40:14Z")
1. Two books: \*\*Zen in the Art of Archery \*\* Eugen Herrigel, Eugene Herrigel **Fighter Combat : Tactics and Maneuvering** (I was doing a lot of online combat flight sims at the time.) Robert L. Shaw ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-thing-you-purchased-on-amazon/751600/107 "2016-04-14T22:51:42Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > It shows that I first ordered some audiobooks for my father back on December 14th, 1998. But I don’t think that can be right because I know I was using it to order books for myself before that. Mine is the same way. It shows my first order in 2009, but I made a number of purchases years before that. If I’m remembering correctly, you used to be able to order from Amazon without creating an account. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-thing-you-purchased-on-amazon/751600/108 "2016-04-14T23:06:11Z")
March 1998, the book _Tricky Dick and the Pink Lady_ by Greg Mitchell. I just gave that book to the local library a couple of weeks ago. ---
**Author:** ![CheshireKat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheshirekat/32/1207_2.png) [@CheshireKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheshireKat)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-thing-you-purchased-on-amazon/751600/109 "2016-04-14T23:51:10Z")
What a fun thread! My first order was in 1998, and it was for the children’s book \*Loretta Mason Potts \*by Mary Chase. I had started collecting all my childhood favorites and was thrilled to find this one on Amazon because at the time it wasn’t available at my local book store. There was a problem loading the old invoice, so I couldn’t tell how much I paid for it. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-thing-you-purchased-on-amazon/751600/110 "2016-04-15T00:14:46Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > November 1995 - this [book](http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Interpreter-Cornplanter-Blacksnake-Allegany/dp/0881431087?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_). I always thought that Amazon started in 1994 but the [wiki](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon.com#History) says it changed name to Amazon in 1995, sold its first book in July 1995 and announced that it was open for business on the web in [October 1995](http://www.urlwire.com/news/100495.html). ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-thing-you-purchased-on-amazon/751600/111 "2016-04-15T07:09:33Z")
Mine only goes to 2001, but I know I bought some CDs in the 90s. It says my first order was Microsoft Publisher 2002 for $117. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-thing-you-purchased-on-amazon/751600/112 "2016-04-16T02:03:18Z")
[This John Coltrane collection purchased in 2001 (no idea on the price.)](http://www.amazon.com/Last-Giant-John-Coltrane-Anthology/dp/B000003310/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460772044&sr=8-1&keywords=john+coltrane+anthology) Bought it mainly because it got played in my college drawing classes. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-thing-you-purchased-on-amazon/751600/113 "2016-04-16T12:12:11Z")
The book _Mason and Dixon_, by Thomas Pynchon, in 1997. I was living in Mérida, Mexico, and was impressed when the package was delivered to my office. I inscribed it thus: “This was purchased in cyberspace, June 1997.” I could tell it was the start of a new era. It’s still one of my favorite books (haven’t had a chance to re-read it yet, though). Parts of it are really funny. You get used to the circa-1790 language style by about page 20. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-thing-you-purchased-on-amazon/751600/114 "2016-04-16T14:18:50Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > November 1995 - this [book](http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Interpreter-Cornplanter-Blacksnake-Allegany/dp/0881431087?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_). Awesome – for both the date of the purchase, and the book itself. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-thing-you-purchased-on-amazon/751600/115 "2016-04-17T02:49:10Z")
November 1998. I was looking for books for skeptical thinking for my 9 & 11-year old kids. Maybe Yes, Maybe No : A Guide for Young Skeptics, Dan Barker, et al How Do You Know It’s True? : Discovering the Difference Between Science and Bizarre Beliefs, Simon Hoggart, Mike Hutchinson The Wreck of the Titanic Foretold?, Martin Gardner(Editor) This is fun to look back at. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-thing-you-purchased-on-amazon/751600/116 "2016-04-17T13:56:21Z")
On Christmas day of 1999 I bought a copy of [The Best of the Kids in The Hall](http://www.amazon.com/Best-Kids-Hall-Dave-Foley/dp/6302786657?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00)on VHS and the book [Ernie: Out of Control](http://www.amazon.com/Ernie-Out-Control-Bud-Grace/dp/0836221230?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01) (which was the first collection of what later became the comic strip _The Pirahna Club_). ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-thing-you-purchased-on-amazon/751600/117 "2016-04-17T14:30:19Z")
Apparently I bought the 2000 Baseball Prospectus, which means I was WAY more of a baseball fan in 2000 than I am now. It’s interesting looking through the purchases over the years as to what stupid thing I thought would make me happy, but I don’t even remember owning today. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-thing-you-purchased-on-amazon/751600/118 "2016-04-17T17:44:30Z")
On March 13, 2000, I bought a copy of the German edition of H.P. Lovecraft’s _The Shadow over Innsmouth_. Good choice, 16 years younger me! ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-thing-you-purchased-on-amazon/751600/119 "2016-04-18T00:55:09Z")
My first Amazon (.ca) order was in September 2002. I bought some comics: > [@](#): > > V for Vendetta > Alan Moore, et al > > Top Ten: Book One > Alan Moore, et al > > Tom Strong: Book One > Alan Moore, et al > > Portraits from Life: The Complete Comic Book Biographies by David Collier > David Collier But my first on-line book purchase was from Chapters.ca in 2001 – an unabridged dictionary that is now gathering dust in my basement. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-thing-you-purchased-on-amazon/751600.md?page=5)