Baby boomers, to retailers' surprise, have discovered online shopping

Early in the pandemic, armed with step-by-step instructions, Joseph Clay committed to buying absolutely everything online.

Texas toast, blueberry waffles and diet root beer are repeat orders, spliced with the occasional addition: skull-shaped bookends, slippers for his partner and one overnight purchase to placate an aching tooth. He gladly shelled out $17.21 for a tube of Anbesol, an over-the-counter pain relieving gel, which Amazon had it to him before dawn...