22 December 1999
Dear Survivor of .com Mania:
Unless you have been in a Tibetan Monastery for the last year, you know the age of
e commerce has arrived. No longer will you need to schlep around the mall trying to find that perfect gift. Now with the click of a mouse, you can not only select, purchase and ship that package, but also send that “perfect greeting card”. No need to even worry about knowing the correct zip code; your e shipper will figure it out for you.
Still, I have to admit I will miss the serendipitous encounters one can only experience in the aisles of Wal-Mart. After all, where else can you hear the vox populi.
I am also concerned about what the future holds. It seems to me we have only walked the first step on the road to efficiency and profit. I envision a future which will include the option for the receiver of the gift to “super-size” their gift. I can see it now: you receive an e message that your brother James is sending you a sweater from Lands End. For an additional $24.95 they will throw in a matching scarf and gloves. The possibilities boggle the mind!
With some trepidation, we have joined the .com world. You can now e-mail any of our associates using the initial of their first name followed by their last name followed by @tld-inc.com. No, we will not be advertising on television.
I hope you have enjoyed the holidays. May the coming year find you and your loved ones grateful for all the blessings we are fortunate enough to take for granted.
This letter comes with our best wishes for peace and joy in the coming year. *
Best regards,
Timothy F. Terry
TFT/lsn