Finding "the latest thing" no picnic for older folks

[Rock'n Robin]

My parents have pretty much decided to get DD#1 (13) and my oldest niece (16) Ipod Nanos. I was against it, and I don't think they were going to spend $200, but when they found out my niece also wanted one very badly they rethought it.
My parents are 73 and 75. No way they were going out this morning. They spent the morning calling around for availability. If they found some they would have driven over. No one had them. Of course I told mom that no one wanted to talk to them on the phone today! She said Best Buy wouldn't even answer the phone.
I did a little online looking for them. My mom goes online but doesn't like giving her credit card # there. The Nanos were out of stock at the circuit city closest to us, but online it said the one a few miles further had them. I told dad he could order it online and get store pick-up. He said "so if I call them and give them my cc #..." I said "No dad, not a phone order, you can order it online and they will have one waiting there for you to pick up." He said "well then I guess they don't want my business." ARRRGHHHH! I told him why would they care when 900 people will be waiting behind him to buy the same thing, and unfortunately to get a "hot" item he may just have to come into the 21st century. Last I heard he was going to try to have DH stop by that store (which is close to his work), buy 2 Nanos with his CC charge, and then Dad will pay him back.
It kind of makes me think, though. Older folks who may not want to drive much, or use a computer, or put their CC into a computer, are really at a disadvantage. What 75 year old wants to get trampled at Wal-Mart? My mom doesn't like shopping at all this time of year, and only goes on weekdays during school hours.
Robin M.

 

[bigbabyblues]

It is hard for older people, or anyone who doesn't want to use their cc online really. I have helped DH grandma order things online, she has a cc she got just for this purpose. It has a small limit, I don't know what it is though.

Maybe next year, give them the ideas a little earlier? I thought the Nano was available before today, but I could be wrong. DH wanted a Mini, good luck finding that too. I didn't end up getting it.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

yes the nano was available before today, but until yesterday I was telling them that they should not spend that much $ on my DD. They are very into spending the same $$ on each grandchild, so it made their decision easier when they found out my oldest niece wanted one. My sister and I are both too cheap to get them when both girls have perfectly adequate portable CD players that play MP3s too. The "everyone else has one" mentality has never flown here.
I saw a couple of minis at Meijer last Sunday, if you have a Meijer, maybe they still have them.
Robin M.

 

[floridafam]

Can they just buy them from the Apple Store online?

My DH's ipod arrived only a few days after I ordered it.

We also received a student discount on it.

 

[bigbabyblues]

yes the nano was available before today, but until yesterday I was telling them that they should not spend that much $ on my DD. They are very into spending the same $$ on each grandchild, so it made their decision easier when they found out my oldest niece wanted one. My sister and I are both too cheap to get them when both girls have perfectly adequate portable CD players that play MP3s too. The "everyone else has one" mentality has never flown here.
I saw a couple of minis at Meijer last Sunday, if you have a Meijer, maybe they still have them.
Robin M.

I know the Nano is new, wasn't sure when it became available though, sorry. I didn't go out to shop today, I had no intention of fighting the crowds myself, I definitely see why your parents wouldn't want to regardless of their ages.

We don't have a Meijer here, but I think there's one close to my SIL. Thanks for the tip!

 

[experiment626mom]

If my mom wants something really bad online, I usually buy it for her online with my cc and then she pays me back. She doesn't like giving her cc out on the phone or online, and for that I'm a little thankful.

 

[MinnieM3]

My parents are 85 and do little Christmas shopping. They are also kinda "out of touch" with the cool things, so I usually shop for my kids and then they ( my parents) "shop" at my house (when my kids are out somewhere) and pick out what they'd like to give them. Sometimes I just take it to their house instead! It's no hassle for them, no hassle for me, and my kids get things they would really like.

 

[arminnie]

What 75 year old wants to get trampled at Wal-Mart?

My almost 85 year old father goes to the mall most mornings about 8:30 or 9 to meet up with the mall walkers and have coffee.

I tried to talk him out of going this morning. He did say that it was packed, and that not many of the other walkers came - they had more sense.

I went to Sam's about 2 this afternoon, and it was deserted. They share a parking lot with Walmart and it didn't seem that full at all.

I worked for Visa for years - my last job I was responsible for global acceptance policies which is a fancy name for merchant procedures.

I would rather give my credit card to a secure online site any day than to a live person. People think nothing of giving their card to a clerk or server who disappears with it. There's way more opportunity for fraud in that instance than online.