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With many of us in varying degrees of self-isolation since March, we have all had to change the way we go about obtaining the goods and services we need or want. For the most part, I find things have gone fairly smoothly. But as you might expect, there have been a few glitches along the way too.

First up, book shopping. With libraries closed entirely for the first few months of the pandemic, that made one avenue that was completely closed off to me. That meant that instead of relying on libraries for that book that was out of print or that I was vaguely interested in but not sure if I would really like it or want to own it, I had to take a chance and just buy it - or do without. Opportunities for buying second-hand were eliminated too - no wonderful sprawling book sales at schools, libraries or the Experimental Farm to browse either. On the plus side, it did mean that some of the local independent shops started offering low-cost home delivery options and I supported them when I could. And then of course, there are the big online dealers and conglomerates like Indigo, Amazon and Abebooks. Service from Indigo and Abebooks (which I believe is partially owned by Amazon although it has a very different vibe) has been great. Service from Amazon has been less than Amazing, so I only use them if I can't locate another supplier for the item I want.

I had a bad experience with Amazon over the summer. I ordered an item which they kept saying would be delivered by August 29 - except it wasn't. Some time after that date, I checked on its status and got a note about how they were SOoo sorry my item was late but to hang in there. A few days later there was another note saying "Your package may be lost. It may still arrive but you can get a refund by clicking HERE." And when I clicked there, I got a whole roundabout set of instructions about "Returns" - except I had nothing to return!! They also helpfully suggested I "order it again". No thanks. A few days after that, I heard a news item about what happens to all those Amazon packages that go astray - most of them end up in the landfill or occasionally a parking lot. Yet they have the nerve to boast how generous they're being by offering a FREE 15-day Amazon Prime membership!!

Anyway, my preference when possible is to shop the little local independents. That applies to books but also other products. So I was thrilled in the early days of the pandemic when the Burrowshop was set up, offering a variety of food- and home-related products (their selection is ever-expanding) for local delivery or curb side pickup. I placed one order in May and it went quite smoothly. Then a couple of weeks later, I placed another order. This time, I chose my delivery date and late in the afternoon that day, I got a phone call from someone saying he had just left the parcel on our doorstep. Foolishly, I didn't check the doorstep before ringing off - and when I did go to the door, the package wasn't there!

At least I had a record of the order and knew where to call. It turned out that the item was delivered to an address several doors along from us, and I was able to go to that house and retrieve the item. The homeowner was very good about it even though It wasn't someone I knew. And one of the people from Burrowshop phoned later that evening to apologize for the mixup.

Generally speaking, I'm still a fan of Burrowshop and the whole concept behind them. They phone you if certain items you've ordered are no longer available and suggest possible substitutions or offer a refund. You can also make donations through them to local charities like the Food Bank or the Distress Centre.

For pet supplies, I sometimes shop the grocery store but I've also used PetSmart, both with delivery and curb side pickup. The latter has worked well. Delivery? Let's say mixed. One order I had delivered went fine but a second one gave me an estimated delivery date and kept me hanging for about a week before saying sorry but we can no longer supply these items (Feline Greenies).

The other interesting incident with PetSmart was one Saturday morning when I got an automated e-mail that read: "Thank you for shopping in person at our store at Merivale & Hunt Club at 9:15 AM today." Except that I hadn't! Within that e-mail, there was a link to a survey to rate my experience there today - so I decided to do that, just to say I hadn't shopped there today at all. To their credit, they did phone me back a few days later - just after we got back from shopping at their competitor to stock up on Greenies!

I still shop in person for groceries (a 2-week supply at a time) and for liquor (in Ontario it seems you can order it in to your local LCBO but you can't get it delivered to your door). But our favourite craft beer place, Beyond the Pale, offers free local delivery now. The only thing I miss is being able to try before we buy if they're introducing a new brew.

It will be interesting to see how people's shop-from-home habits change (or not) once this pandemic is a distant memory.