Is it possible to have digital bits delivered to your door?

In Shanghai the answer is resolutely yes.

Customers of Chinese flights-hotels-&-hols website Ctrip have more payment options than the usual western e-Commerce site – as well as the normal credit card or PayPal they can pop to the nearest physical agent or opt to have the tickets delivered to your door. Except that the tickets are not actually delivered – its an e-ticket after all, the agent turns up, completes the cash transaction and hands over a fapiao (official receipt).

Very convenient in a country where credit card adoption is still small and rising.

And the reason for the ticket? Off to Beijing next week to apply for Afghan visa.