When the dotcom bubble was blooming, there was constant chatter about how the internet was replacing mortar and brick stores, how Amazon was putting the little-guy out of business. It seemed a little overblown hyperbole at the time.

It is some eight years later and Im finally starting to see the hyperbole become reality.

I have had two experiences recently where retail stores have failed me and the internet satisfied my needs -- for a price.

First I wanted to replace my favorite mechanical pencil. I went to several stores only to leave empty handed. "Maybe they dont make it anymore?" was one helpful reply. But it turns out they do indeed make the pencil and it is available from the manufacturer Pentel. (Amazon also sells it but only through 3rd party stores.) After being unable to replace that pencil for months, I finally did replace it and I paid full retail plus a large shipping fee to do so.

This year I started swimming laps again. I got tired of wearing my big surfing shorts but my speedo was a bit tired. (It was quite sad actually.) Try to find a speedo in Seattle. Im sure someone sells swim gear somewhere but after two trips to "the mall", I finally gave speedo.com a try. It cost me 30 minutes, retail price plus big shipping and taxes but a suit is on the way.

Especially for the suit, I would rather have tried on something locally before buying but one only has so much time for driving around and shopping. Returns are a total pain (especially with Amazon) and there are a lot of things you want to see/try before you buy but retail seems to play an ever decreasing role in our lives.

We like to walk for coffee and food and drive for groceries but a huge portion of our other provisioning is now coming by USPS or UPS. Times are changing. My only wish is that manufacturers would improve their websites and cut those ridiculous shipping and handling charges... Im already paying full retail, you know.