Not buying it

Wicked Uncle is good for older children - always worth a slightly off-beat look.

Thanks. Yes I’d just like to send a little surprise! No problem with 5 year old DGD not so easy for the boy as apparently what he wants is a leaf blower.....a real one

I asked my DGS’s mums what they’d want, Lucca. The two 6 year olds have had a remote controlled car and a solo football trainer respectively, the 5 year old just wanted a pack of multi-coloured paper and Prittsticks, the 3 year old a little wooden train with his name on. Our eldest is 9 and he asked fo an UNO game and a couple of I Spy books, the baby couldn’t be left out so got a couple of books too. Amazon has come in very handy!

It’s a while since they got those, so I’m now ordering magazine subscriptions for them, again asking their mums.

Thank you both for the suggestions

Lucca I have just sent a butterfly kit to mine. They are very excited watching them develop until they change into butterflies when they can release them.

Lucca Mulberry Bush is a good sight for traditional toys and bits and bobs.

What I would like to ask is for ideas for things to send to DGD aged 5 and DGS aged 2. Sorry if a bit off topic

As I said on another thread today, our local friendly Hermes driver is down our street so often that we genuinely thought at first that he’d moved in. It’s not all my doing, I hasten to add, but yes, we’ve thanked him for the good job he’s doing and he’s thanked us for keeping him in one.

I haven’t bought an awful lot, apart from having some presents and comics sent directly to the grandsons. I’ve ordered some clothes from the White Stuff sale today, but doubt whether I’ll have much chance to wear them in the foreseeable future.

Any online stuff I buy usually comes by courier - glad to keep them in a job!
Very occasionally see the odd Parcelforce van in the village.

Our Postman is grateful for the work, although he is concerned about the ‘Christmas rush’ as they usually double up in the post van, that won’t be allowed, but his boss said she will worry about that later in the year .
Most products manufactured in the U.K. use items shipped in from abroad to make the completed article.
I was watching the manufacturer of the Acrylic shields that are being used in supermarkets and pharmacies, on the news this morning, they said that they are working flat out , but they are running out of the materials to make them with as it all comes from abroad.

I agree Glorybee and I will always buy British if at all possible.

I use Amazon a lot, but also other sites, M&S and Sainsbury
Debenhams, Boots etc. As well as supermarket food deliveries.
It’s quick and convenient at the best of times, and as things are it’s a lifeline, especially for birthday presents.
They are delivered by couriers not the postman in most cases.

Bluebelle - in my post I said we ‘try’ to buy British. As we import from all over the world, it’s impossible not to buy imported stuff. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to support your own country’s economy - I can’t imagine people in any other country in the world that wouldn’t!

I don’t like particularly like American TV so I don’t watch it. When I buy items from poorer countries, I also think that it’s difficult with the sweatshop situation but these families need to earn and I would buy on that basis.

Henetha, I have noticed that ticking the UK only box on Ebay doesn't necessarily mean the goods come from the UK. I always check how long the delivery will take to get a better idea of where the goods are coming from. I find that goods that are actually coming from China nearly always state that they are based here, but take an eternity to arrive. So I no longer go to Ebay, because of this.

I don’t like this buy only British business we ve always bought worldwide We have precious little being made here anyway It just makes me feel more isolated and more little Englander than ever
If I ate meat I d buy that from here because I don’t like the thought of animals or meat travelling distances I always buy fresh produce and eggs things like that as local as possible but other goods I don’t see why not
I hate the thought of sweated labour but without it many Families would starve so until there can be some worldwide rules I don’t know what’s the best way to go
If U.K. made an item that was comparable in price and quality of course it makes sense to buy it but we don’t do we ?
Do you all buy British cars and watch British TVs?

No, doing my best to keep the country going!

We’ve bought loads of bits and pieces online and try to buy British but we often do anyway for some staples (eg dog food, coffee). It’s not just the delivery drivers who are kept in work, it’s the order processing, picking and packaging the goods etc.

I agree Gagajo, my concern is, what happens to the workers in said sweatshops if everyone stops buying from those companies.
There are no social security services, dole, or other means of assistance if they lose their jobs and many are supporting large extended families, no NHS either.

It is a double-edged sword, are we helping the very poor by buying it or making it easier for them to be exploited.
The only online shopping I do is Media Markt for electrical goods and Colruyt for toys and garden items.

I have emailed companies asking for more details and have always had a response.

DD2 has been using the Amazon Pantry and seems happy with them.

I don't buy from companies like Shein which are cheap Chinese knock-offs for moral reasons. Those manufacturing them are inevitably working in sweatshops.

Just done a quick recce on M&S. No mention of where the dress I looked at derives from. Also looked at JL. A little more information BUT again, no mention where it was made.

So HOW do I find that info? Out of interest. If I'm going to shop, I'd like to shop responsibly.

Ordering a couple of little treats from Amazon/eBay/QVC has kept me happy throughout this non-shopping period.
I do try to only buy British, and always tick the UK only box.
Surely it's best to keep business and jobs going through this lockdown.
And I've bought plants from nurseries...

Do some research before ordering, only buy from a reputable British Company wherever possible.

In some circumstances goods are more expensive but usually better quality.

(I do admit to buying coffee pods on Amazon that are made in Italy)

How do you know what is British made when shopping online?

It usually tells you where it was manufactured in the product description.

Like others, I'm buying items online, both from shops like John Lewis and M & S and also QVC, Amazon, Next and Laura Ashley. It's keeping jobs viable.

How do you know what is British made when shopping online? I'd assume the places I shop have British made stuff but I don't know for sure.