Hodgepodge

January 20 About Online Shopping

Nowadays, everything can be bought online.

Small things like electronics, things you should try on first such as pants and shoes. There are online shops that sell furniture and even houses.
You can also buy education online. There are online universities and even online public schools.

When you buy something in a brick and mortar store and you don't like it or it stops working, you bring it back, and, if needed, you can bitch out the manager. When you buy something online, you have to hope the sale goes smoothly. You have to hope your stuff ships in a timely manner. If you need help with any part of the transaction, you have to hope somebody either picks up the phone or answers emails.

Now, all of those things that can go wrong with buying tangible items can also go wrong when buying education online, especially when it replaces public education. Since you're not directly paying for it (you pay for it through taxes), the administrators make sport out of finding out just how long they can stretch it until they answer you.

Try calling a phone that never gets picked up.
Try sending an email that never gets answered.

Maddening enough when it's about an iPod. Really messed up when it's your child's education being squandered.

Moral of the story: Don't believe the hype. Ever.