The screen flickered, casting a pale glow on his tired face. Dozens of options flooded the screen. He scrolled past the sponsored ads and ignored the overly technical jargon of horsepower and flow rates. He needed something reliable, and he needed it delivered fast.
He pulled his phone from his pocket and typed a quick search into the browser: buy sump pump online.
Water rose steadily in the dark corner of the basement. Elias sat on the bottom step of the stairs, staring at the growing puddle near his furnace. The outside storm showed no signs of stopping. He had just checked the old cast-iron sump pump in the pit. It was dead.
The new pump was sleek and surprisingly heavy. He lowered it into the water, connected the PVC discharge pipe, and tightened the clamps. He held his breath as he plugged the power cord into the wall outlet.
Elias did not hesitate. He clicked the buy button, entered his card details, and watched the loading circle spin. The confirmation screen appeared. His order was placed.