I find myself more and more not bothering to make trips to stores unless I really need something right now. I buy items constantly on Amazon. Sitting in Singapore thinking about things I need to do when I get back like flush coolant and rather than drive out of my way to the auto store I'm pressing buy now and have it delivered a couple days before I get home. I need some 4mm wide masking tape also. Rather than drive across town to the hobby lobby and spend 15 minutes wandering around, Amazon.
I use it often for work, as it's easier and less time consuming than running around for things.
At home, not so much. I only use it if I need something that I can't find at a brick and mortar store within my usual range of travel.
I use Amazon to search for hard-to-find things like casement window operators, windsocks for a discontinued Shure gooseneck micophone, folding hand truck etc. Then I watch for local sales to see about a better price.
Once/twice a month on avg.
For me, 2 things.......price (sometimes Amazon is more though, so be careful)
and
availability (selection).
Where I live, 30mins NW of Fredericton, NB, Canada selection on certain things can be very poor. It's not a big city and I have 1hr of driving + shopping times to consider. If I don't need it "today", I'll buy it on Amazon, even if the price is a LITTLE more.
But it's mostly about selection for me.
I bet in most of the USA or larger places in Canada it's less about selection.
Thoughts?
I have a large selection here. It's almost hard to not find what I need. And usually it's next day delivery. Sometimes same day.