Lazy Daze Owners' Group

Online shopping while traveling

November 16, 2019, 11:38:59 am

We're toward the end of an eight month trip in our LD. On a couple of occasions we've needed a product not readily available from brick and mortar sources along the way. We've found a good way to shop online is via Walmart.com. They are a source for many items you might not associate with Walmart, including RV hardware.

Go to their Web site, find your item and begin the ordering process. Under shipping you often (not always) have the option of in-store pickup. Use Google maps to locate a Walmart Supercenter somewhere along your upcoming travels and enter its zip code in the shipping section of the Walmart site. It will give you that store as your pick-up point and an expected pickup date.

Complete your purchase and when your item arrives at the store you'll get an email or text notice. Most Walmarts now have the in-store pickup point clearly identified. Go there and follow the directions to obtain your item. An added plus is the ease of return if the item is not what you expected. Do it right there.

Not all items have this option available as some are shipped by third parties. But it can be a good option if you need to shop online and don't want to deal with the complications caused by not having an address.

(I know some object to doing business with Walmart. I respect that and hope you can find another option if you need it.)

Re: Online shopping while traveling

Reply #2 – November 16, 2019, 03:24:21 pm

I have tried Amazon lockers a couple of times years ago and decided against using them.  Two things to be aware of:
1) They can be outdoors - here in Phoenix often they are.  That means they get real hot or cold, here in Phoenix even in the wintertime that can mean a lot hotter than you want your items to get (when I first tried them I was surprised they were bright orange and in direct sunlight and nothing was said if you had ordered temperature sensitive items).   There is no indication to say if it is outdoors or not though not having 24 hour access might be a clue.  Calling the store/facility is likely the best way to find out if there is climate control at the lockers.

2) Not all items fit into Amazon lockers - I have gotten that warning at purchase time.

Other places to receive packages:

Most mailbox places, like UPS stores, will allow package deliveries for you for a small fee when you are not a regular customer (e.g. one of their mail box holders). 

I have not tried this in recent years, but you used to be able to stop a shipment in progress and have it held at a Fedex/UPS facility for pickup (showing your ID when you picked it up). 

Many sticks and bricks stores now have online ordering and pickup at a local store/mail to you.

Another plus - Amazon is pushing alternative return locations now - very simple to use.  You don't have to box up your item or print a label, just take the item back to a location (UPS stores and Kohls stores are the big ones in Phoenix), and show them the code on your phone/tablet and voila return is done.  For smaller towns, you can still do the normal return (put in a box and print out the shipping label) again mailbox stores are great to help with this though might charge a fee.

Be aware many places, like Amazon and Walmart, allow 3rd party sellers to sell items.  I always really check out those 3rd party sellers as often they do not have the service of the place you are ordering from - e.g. ship wrong items, delayed shipments, return policies that have no value so you are stuck if there is a problem with the shipment, etc. 

Amazon has historically been horrible (and still not good) about telling you if an item is coming from another country - shipping an item back to China because it was not as described/missing parts/damaged/etc. can cost more than the original item.  Long delivery dates are a clue but if I can't find something that is at a Amazon warehouse I really check out the company before ordering.  Since reviews can be fabricated I check out several review sites including places that review companies and try to determine if they are in the U.S. (though I have seen complaints the company had a  U.S. address and toll free phone number when the company really was located and shipping from another country). 

Jane

Re: Online shopping while traveling

Reply #4 – November 21, 2019, 07:21:11 pm

I am not familiar with Amazon lockers. Is there a location list somewhere?

Re: Online shopping while traveling

Reply #6 – November 21, 2019, 10:20:44 pm

Thanks for your insights, Jane. Years ago, I used to have packages sent care of General Delivery at the post office nearest to wherever I was camping. But as I began to order more and more from Amazon, that didn't work so well. You never can tell what carrier Amazon is going to use, and the Postal Service doesn't like to accept packages from their competitors.

Aside from that, USPS tracking is almost worthless. Most of the time they can't tell you where a package is or when it will arrive. Many times I've received a package while USPS tracking still shows it as not yet delivered. Other times I've gotten bland messages that say something like "The package is somewhere in the USPS system, en route to its destination. We'll deliver it when we feel like it." This is very different from UPS or FedEx, who will tell you exactly where a package has been at every step of the way.

These days I use UPS Stores. They'll take anything--US mail, FedEx, UPS, China Post, truck freight, you name it. I've received everything from postcards to a marine stove and refrigerator to a set of tires. Yes, they'll charge a fee (typically five bucks, unless you have a mailbox there), but it's well worth it to me. Also, they are typically much less busy (meaning short or no lines) than a post office.

To track my packages, I use an app called "Deliveries" (available for macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS). It keeps track of packages from any carrier, notifies me when things arrive, and even shows their travels on a map. I've found it indispensable.