Each holiday season is marked by hoards of anxious and unruly individuals going to all extremes to obtain the perfect gifts for friends and family.

After reading reports online about retailers being disappointed with sales thus far I was astonished, at the mall yesterday I could barely walk through the stores. Although shopping at the mall has it's advantages (no shipping, being sociable, nice environment, etc.) is it really worth the hassle and your time?

Shopping on the internet however, is a different story. No long lines or crowded stores, access to any product in the world at the click of a button, no tax, auctions, online deals, etc. It really made me sit down and think, is the retail business dwindling? Is the internet going to completely take over retail?

It is hard to find a non-crowded store/shop in recent days, but for those individuals who would rather be hassle-free the internet is always available. This season I have done my shopping about half and half, what is your opinion, is the mall worth the rustle and bustle or is online shopping the future?