Wednesday TeaDay 12/23/09 Online shopping?

[Chip]

Greetings everyone and welcome to TeaDay. Please drop in throughout the day and share what is in your cup.

Yesterday we discussed the past TeaYear. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

the subject of tea, or maybe not. What percentage of your holiday shopping was done online this year, and was this higher than last year? Are you done shopping? Answer all three questions on the poll, you have 3 votes!!!

I am looking forward to sharing this TeaDay with everyone. Bottoms up.

[Seeker]

Been so busy wrapping, and now tired.
Did some online shopping, definitely, about the same as last year.
And gratefully, I'm done shopping! Yay. (been done for a few
days now).
Haven't had any tea since much earlier today.
Last cuppa was a mix of puerhs - an interesting pair from
Zen and Tea in SF, one he calls trinity brick, and the other zen brick.
This guy's a master of chinese medicine, and involved with the Puerh institute, an interesting chap. Met him when he came and did a talk and tasting at Teance about a year and a half ago. I must say - he's selling some very tasty tea (IMHO).
The zen brick is somewhat floral - a little reminiscent of oolong to me, and the trinity, a leathery/earthy solid puerh. Together, very nice.
Cheers.

[artmom]

Do 90% or more of all my shopping online. Husband Ed does the grocery shopping now I'm not ambulatory for any distance at all.

Well, as much as I enjoyed it, I won't be drinking anymore Mariage Freres Marco Polo as my last cup of the day anymore. I don't know if I steeped it too long, or used too much tea or what, but I got the jitters and couldn't go to sleep! Delicious, but did me in on getting to sleep AND for staying asleep.

I received my ingenuiTea and made the Marco Polo in it for its maiden infusion. A handy little item. Will still enjoy using my kettles and teapots when I want a more leisurely experience.

My painting muse has been in hiding a long time, but I think I'll be painting some teacups or teabowls as soon as the holidays are over. I'm intrigued by them.

[dooble]

Actually I've done less shopping online this year...
It's because I found the only good (but it's great) physical tea shop in Finland, and I prefer to shop in an actual shop, the customer service is great. Buy tea, do some chit chatting.
I still hope they would sell online too, because I live so far away in another city.

2010 I hope to buy more tea abroad .

[Scarlet Glow]

I did about 80% of my shopping on-line. I did more on-line shopping this year than last year. Actually, I did more shopping in general this year because I finally found a job in September (after looking since March) so I had more money to spend on everyone. I am done with my shopping, as well. I bought my last items last night for the "company" Christmas party... the "company" being a total of five people, including myself.

My cup is empty this morning, again. I was going to make some tea to take to work, but I discovered that my car had accumulated a thick layer of ice over night which took me almost 10 minutes to scrape off.

[Victoria]

I have done 100% of my shopping on line, as I always do every year. Probably close to 10 years now, maybe more. I don't go to the mall at Christmas time. And yes, I'm done. Not with the wrapping though.

In my cup this morning - Sungma Estate FF Darjeeling from
Camellia Sinensis.

[olivierco]

All of my Holiday shopping was made online and has been done for about three weeks. I don't like crowded shops and prefer to spend my winter vacations resting, visiting relatives, cooking and drinking tea!

Ippodo shincha this evening. One session left for 2009 shincha!

[Proinsias]

A fair bit of Christmas sopping was done online, my other half starts in about July.

Still to pick up some cigars and wine but that shouldn't be a problem, no need to go into town anyway.

Drinking some of Nada's 90s tuo I started last night.

[Cinnamon Kitty]

I did most of my Christmas shopping online this year, probably about 80% of it. It was definitely more than last year, but it was much easier in the long run. Surprisingly, I finished off the present shopping last weekend. I have a few that need to be wrapped, but the majority of that is completed. The main things that I have left to do are baking and cooking stuff for the various family gatherings in the next few days. The current list includes a pan of chocolate brownies, two coconut custard pies and a batch of macaroni cheese. It should keep me busy during the little time I will be home.

No tea in my cup at the moment. I am waiting for the water to boil so I can make a cup of some sort of Darjeeling.

[RachelC]

This is an Adagio/L.L. Bean/Amazon Christmas for us.

[Victoria]

We had our work holiday lunch today, very fancy at a really nice place and spent 3 hours talking about non-work. It was nice. No tea though and now I'm craving.

[geeber1]

I ended up ordering only one present online this year, compared to last year, when I did about 90% online. And I think I am finished with shopping, but still have to wrap.

Teawise, I had Nilgiri Glendale and Keemun Rhapsody throughout the day today.

Victoria, your luncheon sounds very nice. It's always fun to get together with work people in a non-work environment.

[brad4419]

more than 80% this year and hopefully will do 100% online next year. This is much more than last year. Unfortunatly I still need a few last minute gifts tomorrow.

sow mei today

[Chip]

I am guessing around 60%, down from last year. If I can buy local, I generally will. If not, I will not buy inferior products locally.

Began the TD with Yutaka Midori from O-Cha followed by a Jasmine Green from Yao at the sushi bar, next matcha in a "LittlePig" Hedge Apple bowl, and finally Den's Kukicha at my parents with DW. Quite a good and diverse TD!!!

[brad4419]

The only downfall to online shopping can be unpredictable shipping, which Im experiencing this year

I ordered a winemakeing book for my dad and even used expedite shipping about a month ago and still have not recieved it. I ordered several other books from amazon that came in weeks ago even though I ordered them later. To say the least the seller can expect a very bad review if it doesn't come today.