I wrestled with the decision and ended up going with Zappos.com. I didn’t want to deal with the hassle and cost of driving. Part of the reason, too, is Zappos.com’s customer service, which makes me trust them as a consumer, and I had a store credit. Plus, I buy the same pair of running shoes, so I didn’t need to try anything on. If I’d needed a new style, I would have gone to the store. The bonus: I was worried about not getting the shoes until Monday. Because I used a store credit, I got upgraded shipping. Ordered the sneakers at 5pm last night, they were at my house by 10:30 this morning.

But this is also the time of the year when I usually go to websites and shop the summer sales. I’m not doing it this year given that the price of fuel and food is so high. I’m cutting back everywhere. The only reason I bought new shoes was because running shoes are the only thing I really spend on that isn’t food. I’ll hurt my knees otherwise.

So it seems, like you, that I’m not sold on this whole high gas prices will help ecommerce. Overall, I’m spending less online.