Why I’m no fan of online shopping during the coronavirus pandemic

Shopping online has boomed since lockdown, but it takes hours and is proving frustrating and fruitless.

How do you source a pair of black sweat pants, size medium or large? Once I would wait till midnight to click onto H&M or Uniqlo and snap up the latest designer collection. Now, any time not spent working in lockdown is spent trawling through sportswear sites, looking for the most elusive item in retail.

I don’t want slippers, overpriced pyjamas that will require ironing after laundry, or even a pretentious new desk lamp to vibe up my workspace. I need my sweat pants to write in, to walk the dog in (away from public view). My sweat pants are my best friends, I’ve owned some longer than some relationships have lasted.

And what about buying a bra online? Aware of all the furore about packaging and damage to the planet, I carefully chose two companies that specialised in sustainable cotton. One had the cheek to automatically charge me €9 (£7.88) for delivery, for an item that must fit into a tiny envelope. The other has failed to deliver on the day paid for – so that’s another polluting van journey.

As we’re forced to shop online, many retailers are cashing in by overcharging for postage and then spending ages to reimburse for returns. At the end of December, I ordered a Moleskine diary as a birthday present directly from the company, paying £8.99 for express delivery. It arrived two weeks late, and was damaged. They can’t send a replacement because it’s out of stock, and I haven’t had the refund.

The eco-friendly rucksack made of recycled materials I was given for Christmas contained a hot drink container which has scalded my hand twice because it leaks. In spite of emailed complaints, we have yet to receive any reply.

I can’t wait for old-style shops to reopen.