Author photo

By Bill Stevenson
Whitman County Gazette 

Why wait 'two-days' when you can have an instant delivery?

 

November 12, 2020



I have learned to shop on Amazon after spending years living in very small rural communities like Omak and Oroville. It beat driving two hours to find what you needed.

Not groceries, hardware or general things for home, but the online giant could find me obscure tools I needed to work on my cars and trucks, professional camera supplies, and the latest computer thingy.

Amazon Prime seemed like a great deal to receive television shows and movies, and have all my packages sent by “free two-day shipping.” Not paying for shipping offset the state sales tax and made the monthly fee almost pay for itself depending on how much you used their service.

Now, I don’t use it. I have grown impatient on waiting for things to arrive between 7 and 9 days using their “two-day shipping.” I understand COVID issues with shipping and how it could delay things, but many Amazon companies are not putting the envelopes or boxes in the mail for a week at a time. Sometimes it’s longer. Then there are the ones who will mail it the next day - for an extra fee.

I found a SOLUTION.

I shop in local stores who let me walk out with my purchase. Instant shipping! No more waiting for Christmas or birthday presents to arrive. I walk in. I talk with wonderful people. I find what I want. I buy it and go home with it.

Colfax stores are holding the annual Holiday Open House event this weekend. Some of the stores and services are opening their doors to meet people, introduce them to their services, and show what they have for sale. They offer instant shipping for things on their shelves.

It’s easy to know a store, but sometimes walking in shows you what they have improved, gives you an example of their customer service, and presents options you might not know existed. It is a great way to familiarize yourself.

When I travel on weekend road trips, I always take time to walk downtowns and see what’s there and talk with strangers. It is an adventure, and here we can do that in Colfax.

On Friday I will be at the new office of the Whitman County Gazette at 418 S. Main Street. Recently, the Gazette went through some big changes. It has new owners, new office, new publisher, and a new editor (me.)

Publisher Roger Harnack and I share a love for newspapers. I am a history fan and look forward to seeing every museum in the county. I am proud to serve as the editor of the oldest continuous newspaper in Washington. We started printing in 1877, about 12 years before the territory became a state.

I will be available to chat and meet new people on Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. I would love to hear your thoughts on pretty much everything, from sports to politics. Every person I have met and talked to has been warm, welcoming, and friendly. Traits in people that make Colfax and Whitman County a great place.

Bill Stevenson,

Gazette Editor

Author Bio

Bill Stevenson, Former Managing Editor

Author photo

Bill Stevenson is the former editor of the Whitman County Gazette, Colfax Daily Bulletin and Franklin Connection. He has nearly 30 years of journalism experience covering news in Eastern Washington.

 

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