As much as I detest shopping, especially for something I am not familiar with, I still have to do it on a regular basis. Since I buy 95% of my stuff online, and usually from Amazon, I’ll skim through dozens of reviews on several different products trying to ascertain which item is functional, decent quality and at an acceptable price point.
If it is something I need immediately for a household repair, I stick to known manufacturers and a decision quickly. But when it is something I want, but don’t have a urgent need, it can make me crazy.
My latest example is a pair of pants. After my 11 rounds of purging, I decided I want one more pair of Prana pants. What I really want is the pants I bought 3 years ago, just in a smaller size. Unfortunately, Prana “upgraded” those pants using recycled materials two years ago and the upgraded pants are simply shit.
So I searched through hiking and climbing forums to see what other people wear. I looked at various options from other known brands. And then, I saw that Prana re-released a “classic” version of the pants I love. Apparently these are in response to the poor customer response to the upgraded recycled ones. As much as I love the Prana pants, I know it can be hit or miss with how they fit. Every new version seems to be sized differently.
I read a bunch of reviews, people seems to love the classics. But I didn’t a new pair right now. I just wanted them.
After 4 days of “researching” and obsessing about it, the other morning I thought, “I am making myself crazy. The pants are $95. Just buy them and try them. If they don’t fit or aren’t what I want, I will return them.”
And so I ordered them from a hiking supply company, who had the only size and color I wanted in stock. They have not arrived yet so it is yet to be determined if I’ll keep them.
The point of this post isn’t the pants. It’s that I was making my nuts over $95. The minute I placed my order, I was able to stop thinking about the pants. I haven’t read another review, looked at another website or even thought about the pants other than reading the shipping updates.
As much as I hate shopping and spending money, sometimes it is better for me simply to do it and move on for my mental health. $95 is a cheap price to pay for peace of mind.
The irony update one week later:
I received the pants and absolutely loved them – except they are too tight and also too short (floods). So I ate the $8 shipping cost and returned them. The size I think I need is not in stock anywhere. It appears the manufacturer has some supply chain issues because they only have a few sizes and colors anywhere and none of them are what I want.
Problem solved. I’ll wait until these are available at Amazon or REI.