04:46:31 am on
Tuesday 19 Mar 2024

Holiday Shopping
Matt Seinberg

I’m not a big believer in shopping at stores on Black Friday. If I can get a good deal on line, I’m all over it. This year Melissa wanted an Apple iTouch just like Michelle and I have. Melissa had a $75 gift card for Amazon. Thus, I was hoping that they would put the 4th generation version on sale, as did Apple, for $228.

I checked in the morning, but the price hadn’t changed from $249. I checked while I was at work, and still no change. When I got home, Amazon finally matched the Apple price. I placed the order: crisis averted.

Melissa was always bugging Michelle to borrow her Apple iTouch; sometimes she wanted to use mine. It was such a pain; it was easier to let her have her own. Now she just stays in her room and plays games on it. That’s one way to keep her quiet, I suppose.

Back in October, I got an email from Groupon, selling a factory refurbished Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Two for $289. At the time, that was $60 less than any other store was offering. Being the deal-minded shopper, I purchased it. Luckily, it showed up on one of my days off. I also ordered a combination leather case and keyboard for it from E-bay, which also showed up on my day off. No one in the house had any clue of what I was doing.

I like to buy one big family gift and present it on the last night of Hanukkah. I did that a few years ago with the Nintendo Wii, and that was a big hit. I thought that this would be an exciting present since everyone wanted an iPad.

I bought the Samsung over the Apple simply because of money. The iPad was twice as much as the Galaxy. I just couldn’t justify spending that much money. Many game apps are free at the Google Play store, but Apple charges for much the same apps. That’s a nice savings right there.

The kids wanted to play with it today and when I got home, I asked how they liked it. They didn’t. I wasn’t surprised because I told them not to download anything. Once there are games and stuff on it, they will have a much better time with it.

If one kid is on the laptop and the other one has to look something up, having the Samsung will make life easier. I know that surfing the internet on the small iTouch is not easy, especially if I have to read something small. Hey, I’ve worn glasses since I was a kid and our eyes only get worse as we get older. A bigger screen is much easier to read.

I see how people get when they shop during the holiday season, and it’s not always pleasant. I do my part and stay out of their way. All I ask is that they stay out of mine, and we’ll all be happy.

If you want to shop from home, get comfortable, put on your sweats, get a cup of coffee and start typing away.

Matt Seinberg lives on Long Island, a few minutes east of New York City. He looks at everything around him and notices much. Somewhat less cynical than dyed in the wool New Yorkers, Seinberg believes those who don't see what he does like reading about what he sees and what it means to him. Seinberg columns revel in the silly little things of life and laughter as well as much well-directed anger at inept, foolish public officials. Mostly, Seinberg writes for those who laugh easily at their own foibles as well as those of others.

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