Ordering non essentials online?

[CaramelEmporium]

We are staying in (other than necessary food shopping) and thinking about how to get thro the next few months. Family of 3 with a DD6.
We were talking about getting stuff like art and craft and toys stuff, things for the garden, a new tablet etc. So all non essentials but will make the next few months more tolerable hopefully. These shops are all open but it feels wrong to go shop to shop spreading any germs I might so thinking about ordering online. Aibu to do so? They aren’t essential purchases and so it feels wrong somehow. Am I overthinking this?

I’m going to. I know amazon as no intentions of closing as they are hiring, I am about to purchase a new hairdryer amongst other things!

Why on earth is there anything wrong with ordering online??

we've bought quite a few bits online to keep dgd amused, including an indoor trampoline thing. I can't go to the shops because I'm vulnerable so online is (literally) a life saver.

I'll be doing this too wherever I need to - I don't see anything wrong with it, likely Amazon (and others) will do a "non-contact" delivery and drop off at your doorstep or stand a couple of metres back from you when you open your door.

Happy to be corrected on this, but my stance is that it's essentially risk-free and keeps the economy going somewhat!

If these things are going to keep people occupied and help them get through this awful time, then to my mind they are essentials.

YANBU. Its my youngests birthday at the start of May and I'm already looking at getting his birthday presents now. I feel rotten that he's not going to be able to go out for his birthday as it it, so I want to make sure he has decent presents at least.

Going to physical shops is a bad idea. So to keep those businesses going, they'll be relying on online orders.
If you can, use small businesses which can do online (or phone) orders.

we've bought quite a few bits online to keep dgd amused, including an indoor trampoline

I honestly just read this as 'keep dog amused'

We've been using argos it's a same day delivery in most cases. It feels more supportive of the economy than amazon not sure if that's accurate or not

I suppose it just feels frivolous to be thinking about ordering bbq brickets and the like when I’ve friends in the NHS and police doing important stuff.

My DH and DD have ordered some work pout equipment from Amazon so they don't turn into fat sloths while staying at home. I am a fat sloth already so no change there!

If it increases the chances of you staying indoors, then go for it. I've ordered a skipping rope, as I can't go to the gym.

Why wouldn't you? I buy most things from Amazon and don't use supermarkets much at all (just get a box of fruit/veg/meat locally).

Seriously?

@CaramelEmporium you are right. At a time when people are facing no job, no money, no food, no home etc, it does feel very bad taste.

I've had my moments in the past few years of complaining about my life and it's now I realise just how privileged DH and I are in life.

We are stopping indoors apart from food shopping and going for walks. I am guilty of probably not taking this seriously enough until the last day or two but now I am. We will be doing what we can but realistically ‘what we can’ is stop in, not much more than that really.

Why would it be wrong to order online? Surely it's keeping the economy going? Haven't heard Boris and co saying that we shouldn't. Anythinh that could help parents and kids stay sane in a lockdown is essential imo. Let's not forget the progress we've been making on considering mental health as important as physical health over the past few years.

I'm a LP with a 3 & 7 yo to keep occupied. I've ordered a lot of home education stuff - activity books, exercise books, science kits, paint, pencils, art pads, orchard learning games for youngest. I think these things are pretty important for kids after food/cleaning stuff. I wouldn't go ordering luxury perfume etc- I can't afford to anyway.

I have ordered myself exercise clothes...and wine No guilt!

@CaramelEmporium you are right. At a time when people are facing no job, no money, no food, no home etc, it does feel very bad taste.

How is not spending money going to help any of these things?

Amazon is diverting its considerable heft to essentials imminently, they'll certainly reject your order if it becomes necessary.

I’m doing the same thing. Thankfully our income won’t change all that much as it stands but our expenditure will go down a great amount now there’s no days out or coffee shop coffee. So will just spend that on making life at home more bearable.

While it is probably essential that online orders continue to help keep the economy ticking over in some way, it’s not risk free.

Online orders can only be facilitated by staff, so warehouses will be open, with staff processing & packing orders. Same for courier companies - there will be face to face contact for all these employees.

I suppose it just feels frivolous to be thinking about ordering bbq brickets and the like when I’ve friends in the NHS and police doing important stuff

You're overthinking this. As pp said ordering online is helping the economy.. You're also going to be stuck at home with your daughter so buying things to help pass the time etc seems more than reasonable

I work for the Police in a role that means working as usual and I certainly wouldnt think badly of anyone buying non essentials.

Go for it

I’ve ordered DS a load of Lego and an archery set for the garden, all online. Seems safe and sensible to me.

Yes please do - shopping online is what will keep small business going

I've just ordered loads of craft stuff from Baker Ross to help pass the time.

The works, the entertainer & smyth's are still delivering.

The way I see it were indoors as recommended but also keeping people in jobs