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For the past several years, Amazon has been the first place that I look for anything. In what once started out as a means to purchase books and DVDs that were difficult to find, I now use Amazon to price and buy everything from vitamins to towels to books and music.

There are several added conveniences available through Amazon. One that is popular in out household is the wish list. We have encouraged everyone in our family to use the Amazon wish list to give us an idea of what gifts they would like to receive. During Christmas, birthdays, and other occasions, we just go to their Amazon wish list and directly order. We can have the items gift wrapped and shipped directly from the site. The unbelievable selection does not limit the list to books and movies, so just about anyone can find what they want on Amazon and add it to their wish list.

Another convenience is the ability to purchase items from sellers other then Amazon through the Amazon site. These items can be new or used, and are typically less expensive then the new Amazon items. This also gives anyone the ability to sell items through Amazon. The seller site is easy to use and set up, and is an excellent way to make some money while thinning book and movie collections.

Amazon also offers the option to purchase and down load movies, music, and television shows from their web site, a service similar to iTunes. Unfortunately, the service is only available if your computer is in the United States.

Finally, for anyone who does a lot of shopping on Amazon should consider the Amazon Prime program, where an annual fee replaces the shipping fee charged by Amazon. The Prime program is limited when purchasing from sellers other then Amazon, but can be a cost savings if Amazon is your primary source for gifts or for heavy readers.

While Amazon is one of the best on line retailers, there are problems. Electronics, household items, and groceries can only be shipped in the US, and can not be shipped to APOs or FPOs. This can be a problem if trying to send these items to anyone in the military or living overseas, and in some instances it is nonsensical. There are reasons why computers and software have limited shipping areas, but the same restrictions exist for pillows and sheets in Amazon. The shipping prices can also outweigh the ease of shopping on some items if the Prime option is not used or not available. Typically, we price items through Amazon, other on-line retailers, and local stores to find the best prices. Despite these problems, Amazon has become a staple in our family.