Frustration-Free

While throngs of Americans are fighting for their share of the Black Friday bargains, I am happily at home. There is no amount of money that could drag me out shopping today. Well, I might consider standing in line if someone would offer me $1 million.

Any takers? I didn't think so.

I hate the whole idea of Black Friday. Why would I want to wake up at the crack-of-stupid and stand in line for hours so that I can save a few bucks? Honestly, I would rather pay a little more and avoid all of the headaches.

The hubby and I try to purchase Christmas gifts throughout the year. As the big day approaches, we survey the stash and then fill in the gaps with things that we find online or that can be purchased locally with minimal headache. The majority of our shopping is usually completed before Thanksgiving. This approach works well for our family.

As I was digging around online yesterday, I noticed that Amazon.com is offering Frustration-Free Packaging. What might you ask makes their packaging frustration-free?

Imagine yourself on Christmas morning. Your little son or daughter has received a mountain of toys all hermetically sealed in layers of cardboard and plastic. Once you manage to fight your way into the box, you have to wrestle countless twist ties, plastic bindings and rubber bands to release the toy from its snare. Sound familiar?

Well, the geniuses at Amazon have decided to eliminate all the devilish packaging on many of their products, mainly toys and electronics. Your purchases will be delivered to your home packed in a simple cardboard box. Apparently they are working with the manufacturers to box items in this special packaging right off the assembly line to reduce waste.

What a brilliant idea! Now if they would only ship the toys already assembled...