Schulman: Textbook case on standing your ground

At first, it was easy to stand by my fellow writers boycotting Amazon.com because of its business dispute with publisher Hachette Book Group over e-book pricing.

Then my faucet broke.

My husband and I shopped for a new one the old-fashioned way, in a store where we could touch the handles and see the true sheen of the chrome.

We selected a pricey model. My husband's sport was competitive shopping, and he later spent two hours researching online to see whether we could find a better deal.

He did. The best price was at Amazon.com. Free shipping. Quick delivery.

"I'm boycotting them," I reminded him.

Shrugging, he sent me several links to model numbers and prices. "It's your responsibility then. Tell me when it arrives so we can call the plumber."

Boycotting Amazon was affecting not only my budget but also my marriage. He could fill an Amazon shopping cart without remorse, but my conscience refused to proceed to checkout.

I called a leading national home retailer, asking it to match Amazon's price. The customer service representative put me on hold, and then broke the news: "Since the faucet is sourced through an outside vendor, we can't do a price match."

She apologized. Another day passed without water in our kitchen. Filling my tea kettle in the bathroom, I wasn't being "green" dining on paper plates as long as we couldn't wash dishes in our sink.

Meanwhile, my daughter was about to return to college and grumbled, "Where am I supposed to order my books this year?"

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I named several competitors.

"Don't blame me if it costs more," she warned.

It's never easy taking a stand -- even a small one. It's even harder sticking to it.

I wanted to be a role model to my daughter, to show her that in a capitalistic society it's still important to keep principles even if it costs me a bargain.

We could all give up a daily cappuccino to make up the difference. I felt powerful, believing the future of publishing was in my shopping cart. If we let Amazon bully one publisher now, our free market shopping options would be worse down the road.

Yet I also knew that my one faucet purchase wasn't going to affect Amazon.

Most of us believe our small actions won't matter. I wasn't going to change the world, but I wasn't going to compromise my principle.

Frustrated, I almost let my husband make the purchase his way, but I knew I'd always feel guilt and remorse every time I turned on the hot water.

The next day I called the same retailer who wouldn't match Amazon's price, and a different representative got approval this time.

I was on hold for a half-hour; Amazon's transaction would have taken a couple of minutes.

Even though I'm waiting longer for the delivery, I feel vindicated that I didn't succumb, hoping to preserve my right to have a choice in the future.

Now, I'm on to my next challenge. Anyone have some used college textbooks for sale?

Candy Schulman is an essayist who lives in New York City.