But this morning, I didn't see an e-mail confirmation from Amazon saying my gift was on its way. There could be a hundred reasons why that happened, and everything may turn out fine. But I popped into Blockbuster on my way home today and bought a Sesame Street video. Just in case. Selection online is getting better and better.
Prices are good.
Convenience can't be beat. But whether or not that box is going to get to your door on time and in the shape you expect is still an open question. And in the waning days of the holiday shopping season, consumer confidence in the brave new medium is a little shaky. No one wants to risk being empty-handed on the big day. It all depends on how much consumers trust their online brands.