Do you shop in retail stores anymore?

[Capt Caveman]

I can't imagine ordering top soil, lumber, plumbing, electrical, etc online from Home Depot. The only thing I have ordered online from Home Depot were ceiling fans that were sold online only.

A lot of the time we're driving back from something, so going to a HD, Costco, Target, etc is just on the way home.

 

[SKORPI0]

Online only if it's on sale, no tax and free shipping.

 

[biostud]

I buy must stuff online. I buy clothing when I'm traveling, since it's more interesting than the clothing you can buy in Denmark. But then again I really don't buy that much besides computer and photo gear. I've bought my bike in a shop and will probably buy furniture in a shop as well.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Living in SF, we get as much as possible delivered from Amazon prime.

I for expensive non-tech purchases I'll go to a store. Best example is motorcycle equipment. Fit is really important for comfort and safety.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Hmm, I walked into a store and bought a suit. I do not think I would ever buy a suit online. I suppose I could buy an exact copy from the same retailer, but why when it is only around the corner?

BTW, they tailored it three hours and I doubt I could have gotten that level of service 'online'. I then wore it to a wedding two hours later.

 

[angminas]

For certain items like televisions or kitchen appliances I'll check out in store and then order it online because it's cheaper.

Unless you're ordering it from the same company, this is very uncool. It's like eating most of your meal, then sending it back and getting it free.

Don't be that guy. People doing this is why those stores are disappearing.

 

[olds]

If I have to I go to retail stores. I buy anything I can online.

 

[Phoenix86]

Unless you're ordering it from the same company, this is very uncool. It's like eating most of your meal, then sending it back and getting it free.

Don't be that guy. People doing this is why those stores are disappearing.

Window shopping has been around for... centuries?

 

[Leymenaide]

Costco gets a lot of money from me but they are only 7-8 minutes away. I buy a lot with amazon prime for one big reason. Not starting the car saves big bucks. Not going store to store to find something saves lots of time. The microwave part that I need is a half days drive and 20 dollars more then the G.E. web site. It is a no brainer.
Amazon seems to price with major retailers sales. So on discretionary buys like a new GPS I wait for the price I want to pay

 

[DainBramaged]

Yes, I only buy online what I can't get locally.

I mostly believe in this, too. But the other day, I bought a pair of boots at Journeys for $150 and found them on Amazon for $104.

 

[Newell Steamer]

For large items - furniture, planks of wood, etc. - yes.

For clothing, electronics, snacks (in bulk) - no.

 

[Linux23]

I buy things at stores almost always.

TVs .... I want to see what they look like before I buy. Therefore the store is providing a service (sort of) so I support them. Same for running shoes. A real running store has people than know their shit.

last big purchase online was probably my bench and squat rack. Best bang for the buck and quite frankly if you pick a make and model you probably can't find it locally anyway.

what did you get if i might ask? do you have a link to the bench and squat rack?

 

[BUTCH1]

Do I need it today? Is it perishable? I get it locally.

Everything else is online.

Yea, pretty much this for me to, some stuff that you can get online but shipping would be to high, like a new mop say, the odd size would mean shipping would be not worth it (unless you've paid for prime). I smoke mostly E-cigs nowadays and you need to replace the coil heads every 2-3 weeks, I can buy a 5 pack off Ebay for $6.50, shipped, the local E-cig B+M stores want $2 each, (plus tax). There are some things that I will buy local because if it's defective I can bring it back the same day, an example is a "40 RCA LCD I got at BB for $250 (+$15 sales tax), could not find a cheaper price (shipped) online + if it had a dead pixel I could return it for another in an hour, not 2 weeks. BB also offered a 5yr replacement warranty for an additional $50, sounds pricy but cheap TV's sometimes fail quicker and I live in an area that has frequent lightning so for me it was worth the extra $$.

 

[MtnMan]

I don't buy shoes or boots online. I learned long ago that if a shoe or boot doesn't feel absolutely perfect in the store (put both on) do NOT buy them, because you will never be happy with them.

When looking at the same brand, but different styles, that may mean a 1/2 size up or down from your normal or average size, and I'm talking about quality brands like Merrell.

With boots, you also have take into account how they feel on your ankle and calf when you get into 8" or taller boots.

Fortunately there is a huge discount shoe store that has a huge inventory from about every brand, and at good prices. Took me over an hour to find the right pair.

 

[alkemyst]

almost exclusively Amazon. However; for anything but jeans and T-shirts, I still go to Saks and the like.

Home Depot and Lowes are inavoidable at times for emergency or something needed quickly.

 

[angminas]

Window shopping has been around for... centuries?

It's not the same thing. With window shopping, you go to another B&M store with a better price. That's healthy competition. Online retailers can win on price, but they can't replace the in-person experience which is so important for many purchases. That experience costs money to provide...to take the experience and not pay for it is lame. I'm not saying that if you try, you must buy...but trying, knowing you're going to buy online? Lame.

 

[alkemyst]

It's not the same thing. With window shopping, you go to another B&M store with a better price. That's healthy competition. Online retailers can win on price, but they can't replace the in-person experience which is so important for many purchases. That experience costs money to provide...to take the experience and not pay for it is lame. I'm not saying that if you try, you must buy...but trying, knowing you're going to buy online? Lame.

In reality with the internet and Google, in-person experience is only important for very few purchases.

If I need a suit made for me I will go to a tailor, for simple shirts I can do my own measurements and order them tailored.

For vehicles the "in-person" experience often costs own hundreds to thousands of dollars.

 

[alkemyst]

I don't buy shoes or boots online. I learned long ago that if a shoe or boot doesn't feel absolutely perfect in the store (put both on) do NOT buy them, because you will never be happy with them.

When looking at the same brand, but different styles, that may mean a 1/2 size up or down from your normal or average size, and I'm talking about quality brands like Merrell.

With boots, you also have take into account how they feel on your ankle and calf when you get into 8" or taller boots.

Fortunately there is a huge discount shoe store that has a huge inventory from about every brand, and at good prices. Took me over an hour to find the right pair.

MtnWoman?

 

[Carson Dyle]

Yes. A lot.

I recently tried ordering some bath towels from Amazon. Didn't like them, so they were returned. Went out the next day and found some I really liked at Macy's.

Bought a couple of artwork prints the other day at a small home furnishings store in town.

Last month I bought a reading lamp at a lamp/lighting store.

Lots of things that I just won't buy online because I can't see and operate them, and it's much less of a hassle to simply get in the car and visit a store than it is to take a chance and deal with potentially returning multiple items trying to find something that's right.

IMO, if you're so busy that you can't leave the house for a couple of hours a month to shop for yourself, then you need to seriously re-evaluate your life. Because you most likely don't have one.

 

[Ruptga]

I've got several stores within a trivial driving distance, and when I go shopping it's more like "I'm out of soap" than it is "I'm running out of soap, better order some more." Between those two factors I don't order much of anything.

 

[alkemyst]

I've got several stores within a trivial driving distance, and when I go shopping it's more like "I'm out of soap" than it is "I'm running out of soap, better order some more." Between those two factors I don't order much of anything.

You probably have more free time than most of use just based on your posting attitude on efficiency and luxury items.

 

[alkemyst]

Yes. A lot.

I recently tried ordering some bath towels from Amazon. Didn't like them, so they were returned. Went out the next day and found some I really liked at Macy's.

Bought a couple of artwork prints the other day at a small home furnishings store in town.

Last month I bought a reading lamp at a lamp/lighting store.

Lots of things that I just won't buy online because I can't see and operate them, and it's much less of a hassle to simply get in the car and visit a store than it is to take a chance and deal with potentially returning multiple items trying to find something that's right.

IMO, if you're so busy that you can't leave the house for a couple of hours a month to shop for yourself, then you need to seriously re-evaluate your life. Because you most likely don't have one.

Or one has enough of a live to not want to waste time on trivial things like towels.

I order the towels I know I like, it's as easy as checking the label and hitting up Amazon or Overstock and ordering them.

Most hotels/spas will provide you with what brands/item # they are using free of charge.

 

[Ruptga]

You probably have more free time than most of use just based on your posting attitude on efficiency and luxury items.

K. I feel like you're implying something, but I'm not giving it a ton of thought and might be wrong. I do have a decent amount of free time though, and I enjoy it. I make sure I have what I need, and fuck all the rest.

 

[alkemyst]

K. I feel like you're implying something, but I'm not giving it a ton of thought and might be wrong. I do have a decent amount of free time though, and I enjoy it. I make sure I have what I need, and fuck all the rest.

Well apparently at DodgeBall you can indeed dodge a wrench.

 

[Fritzo]

I use Amazon and eBay a lot, but only for items that they can beat retail. Otherwise I hit stores all the time. It's relaxing to browse around and see what deals you can find on endcaps while my wife looks at clothes and crap.