I use Target curbside pickup for things that are cheaper than Amazon, like everyday groceries. Haven't set foot inside the store in months.

People in the country need to link up, share some shopping lists, and reduce individual trips into town.
The gas alone would save everyone enough money for extra whatever.

Yes thats the worst part about local chain stores all the games they play with the pricing. Its to trick you out of your money and it works. Theres a class action suit against Walmart for the price discrepancies. Poeple are afraid of buying online and getting scammed but now its happening just as much at the stores.

^^^ That's the part that bothers me the worst of todays trip to Target.
I knew nothing of this 'red circle' club and there were no stickers or shelf signs that declared it.

I'm sure a lot of people would have just paid it without questioning it...not me.

Like some others have said, I buy nothing off of Ebay now. I used to buy lots of Porsche parts and other things from Ebay maybe twenty five years ago. Then it changed to being exclusively oriented toward sellers. The sellers couldn't care less about a buyer's problem with their merchandise and Ebay seemingly couldn't care less either.

Ebay has certainly declined in recent years. I only use it when there's no other option.

I generally shop locally but I also support our host.

There's now an "Amazon Australia" but I haven't used it yet.

Several years ago I met a buddy for lunch in a part of town I don't get to very often. After lunch, I remembered I was almost out of coffee. There was a grocery store right there, so I went in. I saw the coffee and it was marked with a price that I don't remember now. I went to the check out, and she asked if I had their member card. I said no, I have never been here before. She wanted my phone number and address and I said no thanks. She rang it up and I handed her a $20. Then I noticed the price was way higher then advertised on the shelf. I said hold it, the shelf has it listed much cheaper. She said that is only for the people in our buying club. I said give me my money back, I will go somewhere else that wants my business. The manager came over and wanted my name and phone number before I got my cash back. I said I am Mr. Cash. I paid with US $20 and I just want my cash back as I am not paying for your unmarked price. He tried to argue, and I said this is simple give me back the $20 cash I paid and I will leave. He finally relented.

I stopped at a Walgreens, on the route back to the office and got it way cheaper. And Walgreens is hardly a discount place, but they don't try to rip customers off.

I will never darken the door of that grocery store again.

^^^ That sounds exactly what Target was trying to pull off on me yesterday.

A few years back, I was an often user of Ebay. My account was linked to PayPal for purchases.
One day, I couldn't get it to work and they gave me 4 different security questions to answer.
They were all simple facts that I had set and they said I failed all four questions and my account was locked.
I started using Amazon instead and only use Ebay at last resort. I pay with CC at Ebay now.
PayPal is off my list of choices.

I have a PayPal account tied to my CC ONLY!

I can always have my CC company get my money back. I have a silly complex password for the PayPal account.

I do a fair amount of buying on line. I'm also fond of curb side pickup. I hate shopping at grocery stores and Wallmart. I'm not fond of self checkout especially if I'm buying alcohol or if a price is missing. Service at most of the big box retailers is terrible at best. I do hands on shopping for produce, fish and meat but I'm picky where I shop. I'm going to miss farmers markets as we enter into the colder months.

I still prefer to do my buying in a local store whenever possible. Unfortunately nowadays its getting tougher and tougher.

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Been shopping online for 99.9% of everything for exactly 25 years.

Oh yeah! Then there's the whole parking thing. I park out in way back because I don't want a door ding. Never fails, someone parks right next to me even though there are ample spaces around. I hit a Wally world in Michigan a few years ago after I bought my Rav. Parked WAY out on the lot. Sure enough! Someone parks next to me and leaves the store before I do. Yep! Tried to door ding me. Only thing that saved the Rav was the factory installed door protectors that I hated the looks of but now love how they work!! I've discovered I'm happier with less interaction with people who don't give a damn about other people's stuff.

Not sure which parking lot it happened in....but a few weeks back, I discovered a puncture in the middle of my front bumper fascia on the Civic. Exactly at the height of a pick-up hitch.
It's no surprise around here....more trucks than cars on the road.

For the meantime, I put a patch over it and used touch-up paint. It's hard to notice it.

That sucks! They had to know but just didn't care. :mad:
One of the things I like most about Menards is the parking lot spacing. It's a store that knows its customers. The parking spaces are wide enough for trucks to park and still not have to worry about hitting the vehicle next to you... provided you know how to park in the middle of the two lines or even bother to look. If I don't park out in the boonies, I park in the fist spot next to a van accessible handicap spot. Sometimes I feel like I need to hitchhike to get to the store from where I park.

Red Circle is a FREE rewards program. No membership fees....

Yea, just like the grocery store in my post. BUT, they want your name address and phone number so they can track just what you are buying, and how often you shop there. Just more customer tracking. Eff them.

I was meaning the higher price of the fryer...not the rewards program.




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Door dings is one reason I stay away from parking lots. I too park way at the outer edge if I must. I also consider every trip avoided as one less opportunity for some idiot to drive into me. Seems nobody knows how to drive anymore.

Things I never thought about like driveway sealant, or shrubs, mulch, anything at all heavy - I have home depot or whoever deliver it to the house. Not willing to risk my back or shoulder anymore.

Yep. I work in town. I park in a parking garage with fairly narrow spots. Last week some jackhole parked his FS Chevy (blazer/tahoe) right next to the boxster. I think he must have had a backpack over his/her shoulder. I noticed scratches in 2 spots on the passengers side of the car. I have seen the truck again, and the little devil on my shoulder said "you should return the favor" but I'm a civilized person.