Today it was useful. I have been wearing (and buying) a particular style of Hush Puppies for the last 10 or 12 years. I get them from a website called Zappos that frequently offers free shipping and carries an enormous variety of brands and styles. Over the weekend I got an e-mail from Zappos that my style of shoe was being discontinued and suggesting that if I was going to order more, now would be a good time as they still had my size in stock. So I just ordered two pair. I don't need them now, but will in the next few months. If Zappos hadn't alerted me I would likely have been SoL.
This is how things should work.
If you want to check them out they are at www.zappos.com
GHR