5:13am.
Just
remember 5:13am.
Over
the past few months, for a variety of reasons, I have become more
and more familiar with the ways of ordering in the current world.
And, by that, you can most definitely apply thoughts toward the
ideas of online shopping, various apps, smart speakers, sending
gifts and buying groceries.
I
must admit, I have my biases. I want to check the expiration dates
on the milk, and not leave it to chance that some mysteriously
assigned shopper knows I don’t want a half gallon displaying a
best by date that arrives in three days or less. I like making
decisions about my own produce, normally leaning toward slightly
green bananas over a bunch that’s already beyond too ripe for
banana bread.
There’s
just something about fully giving the store the right to pick
which packages head out the door. Maybe I’m too cynical, maybe
too knowledgeable, maybe too aware of stories from friends. I
just feel that’s there’s something to be at least considered when
it comes to a scenario such as a store having orange juice that
won’t be on the shelves in two days, a desire to get that orange
juice sold before it won’t be sold, and a customer placing an
order where they request orange juice and the store representative
picks the container.
Apply
that to any item in any store as you see fit. It applies to milk.
It applies to bananas. It applies to the fragile piece of electronics
in the box with multiple dings and dents that suggest it was dropped
but could still be ok inside the bubble wrap and packing foam.
All
of that understood, I am not saying that having items delivered—even
groceries—isn’t convenient and wonderful and a stunning advancement
toward consumer convenience. On more than one occasion I’ve placed
an order for something, and thanks to an account I have with the
store that features free shipping, had the delivery arrive at
my house less than twenty-four-hours later for no charge.
At
8pm one evening, Karen and I were talking to my parents. Dad had
something he was looking for, and we had a recommendation for
him. Just after the call ended, Karen pulled the item up online,
ordered it, and it arrived at my parents’ house hundreds upon
hundreds of miles away from us by 3pm the next afternoon. We couldn’t
have driven house to house in that time. Yet there was Karen,
who had looked in to check on it, laughing as she stumbled upon
her timing coinciding with an update that was tracking the drop
off at that moment in real time.
As
an added bonus, inventory isn’t nearly the same concern in all
sorts of ways. I can find item after item online that I would
never be able to locate in a physical store without an amazing
amount of research, three wishes and fourteen verified miracles.
That’s
one story and a few thoughts. The examples are already bordering
on unlimited. Shopping with apps and online is a good thing overall.
That does not mean I want anyone bagging some apples for me.
All
of which leads to a bet.
Yup,
a bet.
Karen
and I were joking around about an item she had ordered before
we were setting off on a trip about a month ago. Our departure
time was going to be in the afternoon, but because that time was
set by her work schedule for the day, we could go earlier if she
broke free. I was planning to have the car packed first thing
in the morning, so we could be out the door within minutes of
her signing off from her computer.
She
said a package would arrive before we left. I had seen enough
“arriving tomorrow” announcements turn into “arriving today by
10pm” announcements to believe there was no chance for the package
to beat our departure. Plus, I felt especially confident saying
“no way” since there was a chance we would be on the road hours
before the afternoon arrived, even though I knew the company in
question said on its website that delivery hours might begin as
early as 6am.
The
friendly wager was extended.
I
lost the bet.
The
package arrived before we left on Friday. In fact, it arrived
before sunrise. There, on the records of our home camera system,
is a video of a delivery person taking a picture of the package
left at our front door at 5:13am. Wasn’t food. No worries about
it spoiling or for whatever reason being left outside at that
time. No problem with the essentially overnight drop.
5:13am.
More
than a decade ago, I shared a story about a book I wanted. Cost
was going to fall between $45 and $50. I had a club membership
with some bookstores and knew I could get it for about ten percent
off that price since I had plans to be near one member location.
Stopped in. They didn’t have it. Offered to order it for me, but
as I wouldn’t be in the area again for a few weeks that didn’t
make sense at the time.
I
got home and decided to look it up online. I couldn’t use my membership,
but I found a place where I could order it for $35 with free two
or three day delivery. Even without the member discount, I had
it dropped off at my house for less than I would have paid in
the store.
That
was about fifteen years ago. Delivery options have improved since
then.
You
can kick and scream. You might want to select your own strawberries
and whipping cream. You could be concerned about the cleanliness
of your delivery driver’s car. All potentially, if not legitimately
confirmed, fair concerns.
What
you can’t do is deny that we live in some seriously impressive
days of convenience.