Infinite Ink

The Shopper's Psyche

The online shopping bug has bit me and it bit hard. Let me remember the first thing I ordered online. Umm. I think it was a book. Or a dress. Or a keychain. I can't seem to recall. The "I CAN order something with a single click" button has been flipped on with such force that it has left a permanent mark on my psychological make-up and pushed memories of going all the way to the market under the rug. Which rug, you ask? The psychological rug in my mind, of course. I told you I was going to discuss psychology. What better angle to approach it from? (What, did you think this was a psychology textbook or something? You need to take a break from Wattpad. Come back after you've finished studying for your next quiz, or have read a few articles from a newspaper, and yes, The Onion or Maniac Muslim doesn't count.) 

I have had an unbroken buying streak of ending up with items that look as good as or better than the way they were presented in their online ads. (Mama may disagree with this, but this is my Wattpad, so I get to get away with saying that.) I think the main reason for this is that every item I purchase goes through the filter of being approved by one of my parents first. (Well, almost every item. More on that later.) I don't have the heart to order a pay-on-delivery item and then have to explain it to Mama or Baba. Therefore, every time something calls out to me (hey, don't give me that look, I'm not the Online Product Whisperer) I present my presentation in my head, then I present it to the target parent, upon which court is called and the case is discussed. Many times the case is delayed until further notice, in which case I frequently open the item in my "online shopping cart" and gazing longingly at it. (It's an addiction and I'm working on it, OK?)  

When the product finally gets approved, it is ordered and then I end up in "every doorbell is potentially the announcement of the arrival of my package" phase. It's a difficult time, I tell you, when you have to trudge back inside after answering the doorbell and hand the electricity bill to your mother, who is just as excited as you and had jumped up squealing, "It's your package! It's your package!" along with you when the doorbell rang. Still, there's always Happy Package Arrival Day, which is celebrated by the tearing of brown paper and the gender reveal. Oops, sorry, I've had Pinterest open in the adjacent tab too long. The product reveal, I mean. (Don't get me started on what else has been cropping up on my Pinterest lately. In fact, I think I might just address that next time...) 

Do you indulge in online shopping? If you do, what do you buy? I promise I won't ask you for the gender reveal.