Would you mail-order bread? (Also, Zingerman's summer sale)

With the abundance of good bread options, I was wondering who would order bread and why? After all, freshness is key, particularly with Artisan bread so in the 2-3 days it would take to arrive, would it be any good?

I ask because last time through Ann Arbor, stopped at the Zingerman's Roadhouse. Their Roadhouse bread was pretty awesome. So, they're having a sale and I'm thinking I'd give the mail order bread thing a try.

Thoughts?

Zingerman's sale
http://www.zingermans.com/Category.aspx ... cial_tease

(Don't buy all the canned tuna, haven't ordered mine yet because I posted here first.)

-Jay

Because you can get specialty breads that way – and they often hold their freshness or toast well.

Green Chile Cheese Bread -- http://www.goldencrown.biz/shoppingcart/

Jalapeno Sausage & Cheese Bread -- http://www.bourquespecialties.com/index.html

I've never ordered from Zingerman's, but my BIL and his wife have sent us gift boxes from there, and the bread was fine.

I can't get good "real" rye bread here in rural GA, so I often buy it via mail order. It keeps very well, and in fact when I lived in Germany the unsliced loaf was left on the kitchen counter to be sliced when needed...no bread bag, no refrigeration, no nuthin'. I usually get it from Stiglmeier, a European sausage maker in the Chicago suburbs. BTW, they make genuine German sausages like bratwurst (several varieties, try the Nuremberger).

I would not order most other types of bread, however.

Didn't wind up doing it because they require 2 day shipping for $20 for bread. I did order a bunch of other stuff using their $7.99 flat rate shipping option.

I'm no locavore, but when it comes to bread, if I can't find it in Chicago, it's not worth eating (and certainly not worth shipping). We have lots of wonderful neighborhood bakeries in town. Blow a couple of bucks in gas exploring them. As just one example, run up to Convito Italiano in Wilmette sometime for their wonderful Parmesan sourdough bread with different items baked inside. You can thank me later.

If you're South, give Marconi bread from Chicago Heights a try. It's been years since I had it but was great.