I am a hunter.
My husband is a gatherer.
There is a difference. I enjoy the thrill of the hunt.
Finding a treasure in an unexpected place. Bargaining with the person selling
the item, seeking out the best deal on whatever I might be buying.
My husband enjoys acquiring things and having things and
having more things. He gathers them around him and keeps them. Lots of them
(whatever they might be). The price doesn’t matter. He sees it, he wants it, he
buys it.
When we got married we had to blend our shopping styles.
The first time he wanted a new pair of jeans and walked into the store and just
bought them, I almost fainted. He didn’t check the sale ads. He didn’t look for
the clearance rack. He didn’t even check the price tag on the jeans he
purchased. He just picked up his size, walked to the cashier and paid for them.
The hunter in me flinched. The gatherer in him went home and took the tags off
the jeans and put them in the closet with his 100 additional pair of jeans.
Really? That’s how you shop?
I introduced him to auctions. At his first auction he
was timid. He wanted a chair he saw, but didn’t understand the bidding process.
I explained to him that he needed to decide how much he was willing to pay for
the chair, and raise his card up until the chair got to that price. Once it
went above the price he had set as what he was willing to pay, he should stop
bidding. As a gatherer accustomed to walking into a store and buying things at
a fixed price, this idea was difficult for him to grasp. He was used to paying
full price for anything he bought without thought to sales or finding a
bargain. Imagine his delight when the auctioneer’s hammer came down and he
bought his chair for one-third the price he was willing to pay for it! The
chair is still in our living room, and I smile every time I see it, remembering
his first auction.
He learned about the thrill of the hunt that evening.
I’ve learned to temper my hunting: considering the cost
of fuel and time involved in making a purchase and finding “the best price”
possible. Sometimes it just isn’t cost effective to drive all over town and
spend three hours to save a dollar. When it is a big purchase and there are
many dollars to be saved, the fuel costs and time involved are worth the
investment.
Online shopping has become an excellent way to
comparison shop for most items, and with Ruby Lane and Ruby Plaza I never have
to leave the comfort of my home to find exactly what I want – whether it’s a
gift, home décor, art, jewelry, clothing or the perfect addition to my
collection of egg-themed items. I can shop at midnight or I can shop at noon. I
don’t have to wear makeup! The “make an offer” option allows me to engage in
conversation with the shop owner and “hunt” for the best price. I can even
Skype with the shop owner if they have that option! I can add the item to my
wish list. I can share it on Facebook (with gentle hints to my kids that I’d
sure love that item for my birthday!). I can Tweet the item so my followers who
collect can find the item easily. The layaway option gives me the opportunity
to purchase an item I really want and stay within my monthly shopping budget. Some
shop owners even offer gift wrapping, perfect for a busy schedule and
last-minute holiday shopping!
Who is ready to join me for an online shopping trip
today? As always, it’s come as you are! All you have to do is fire up your
computer, and join me on Ruby Lane or Ruby Plaza!
