I am dreaming of a digital Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Here are some Mirchandani family on-line shopping stats for this holiday period (starting November 20)

On-line purchases $ 1918. Net $ 1208 adjusted for:

- Instant rebates from GoogleCheckout $ 310

- Mail in Rebates due back $ 400

Average price after removing one large ticket $ 39

Shipping $ 47 on 6 items, rest free.  Taxes -$ 5 on 1 item

Returns and cancellations so far $ 178

Items bought - software, GPS,  bunch of USB, iPod and Bluetooth accessories. Stores patronized - Buy, CompUSA, ebay, amazon, Handango

Overall impression. Google Checkout discount was a major reason for many of the on-line purchases. With that in many instances retail stores could not come within 25% of the on-line price. Returns so far have been much easier than in previous years. In one CompUsa purchase, I just took it in to a retail store. Buy.com cancelled an order and issued on-line credit on same day. On another, Buy.com issued on-line a return tracking number. Hopefully mail-in rebates will be easier than in the past.

But ...in three major ways the Mirchandanis regressed to the brick and mortar world. We decided to buy several coffee table books as gifts for family and friends.  We gave several teenager friends and family cash gifts - a complaint from previous years was they lost the electronic gift cards or did not particularly like the store. Finally,  I mailed out more paper holiday cards than in past 3 years to  clients, friends around the world - and to a whole slew of new electronic friends - fellow bloggers.

So, Forrester have fun pyscho-analyzing  our holiday digital tendencies, especially whether we are "price-insensitive" and whether we have earned the high-tech moniker Microchandani. I am off to open our paper wrapped, physical presents.

Cheers -)