How Much Do You Buy Online?

[SanFranciscan]

I keep hearing that retail stores are having such a tough time and closing stores all of the time. I don't believe that the lack "consumer confidence" that the media keeps refering to is the problem. I believe that the problem is the lack of consumer money and the house of cards built by credit too often backed up with nothing but more credit.

However, I am still wondering how much of retail's woe is just a change in how the consumers buy. How much of your shopping is now done on line? The mass production of cars took away a lot of delivery jobs. Maybe delivery jobs are about to be the major growth industry.

I have ordered groceries on line for delivery a few times, even though I have a push cart and a Safeway within a mile or two of my house. I have ordered a few books for delivery that I probably could have ordered at a book store and then gone to pick them up as well as a few available only by order for delivery.

 

[Uncle Remus]

I keep hearing that retail stores are having such a tough time and closing stores all of the time. I don't believe that the lack "consumer confidence" that the media keeps refering to is the problem. I believe that the problem is the lack of consumer money and the house of cards built by credit too often backed up with nothing but more credit.

However, I am still wondering how much of retail's woe is just a change in how the consumers buy. How much of your shopping is now done on line? The mass production of cars took away a lot of delivery jobs. Maybe delivery jobs are about to be the major growth industry.

I have ordered groceries on line for delivery a few times, even though I have a push cart and a Safeway within a mile or two of my house. I have ordered a few books for delivery that I probably could have ordered at a book store and then gone to pick them up as well as a few available only by order for delivery.

I live way out in the boonies, I order most everythin' on line 'n let someone deliver it to me.
I wish I could order groceries on line, course, I wish I could get someone to deliver cooked meals to me too.

 

[Anewman]

If stores still offered that "customer first" type of service I would not mind spending a bit more.

But they dont anymore, and then the knowledgeable reps try the high pressure up sell.

I used to buy all my photography equipment at local photo stores, but now I get more info and better prices online.

 

[C.Ann]

I do more shopping online than off - for a number of reasons.. Most everything I buy online offers free shipping and handling - which comes in really handy when I'm at the lake where there are basically "no" stores..

I also buy all of my books "used" - as well as DVD's and VHS tapes - so I purchase those on Amazon.com..

In the long run - between the running around to find the things I need/want -and the difference in pricing - it's definitely more cost effective to shop online..

 

[Judy from Boise]

basically everything except groceries, and even then I buy my toiletries and beef online.

 

[Piecey]

A bundle.

 

[richmond282]

I buy things online frequently. We don't have a large selection of stores in our area, so sometime there is a better selection online. However, I would not say that I buy a majority of items online. I have never bought groceries online and I rarely buy clothing online unless it's something I can return locally if it doesn't fit.

 

[Keira1387]

I shop online alot. You can't go into a store these days without them trying to sell you a CC.

 

[Planogirl]

I buy very little on line. I'm one of those who prefers to look at and touch what I'm interested in buying but I do like Amazon occasionally.

 

[DISUNC]

Pretty much just about everything other then groceries is bought online. Cant beat the prices, cant beat the INFO & Pics that Amazon gives each product.

I HATE going into stores, and it's been years since I went into any retail store and the Salesperson knew anything about what they were selling.

Unfortunately, these days Retail sales people are just glorified Cash register operators.

 

[browneyes106]

I buy DVDs, video games, and CDs that I can find in stories online. I also buy sports team merchandise online.

 

[laurie31]

I love to shop online. I get off work at 1am - not much is open then (although I do find it's the best time to go to Wal Mart - the place is DESERTED! Just me and a bunch of people restocking the shelves - lol)

Also, if I'm shopping for gifts for my kids, it's really hard to come up with a reason to leave them with a sitter, drive to a store, endure the parking, endure the check-out lines (provided they even have what you were looking for in stock) and then get home and hide the stuff - or if I'm NOT shopping for my kids and take them with me, listening to them beg me to buy them something. Why go through all that, when I can pop into a website at any hour, spend five minutes, and a few days later the boxes show up at my door. No long drive, no parking nightmare, no rude/indifferent clerks and other customers, just click click click

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

We buy a ton of stuff online. Nothing makes me happy like seeing that brown truck in front of my house.

 

[texasthumper]

I bought every single Christmas gift on-line or from catalogs--never went physically Christmas shopping at all. I live in a small town so there is little selection, and we don't do trips to the big city so much anymore.

I do buy these things locally:
food
clothing
household supplies

I buy these online:
fragrances
skin care/cosmetics
jewelry
books and cds
electronics

 

[Colleen27]

I really don't care for shopping online for most things. I like to browse, and I like to be able to put my hands on things (particularly when it comes to decor items, clothes, etc.). I do order books online fairly often because the closest bookstore to me is about 40 miles away but I'd much rather be wandering the aisles of Barnes & Noble. Ordering online is just a way of getting my book fix between trips into town. Toys (if the kids want something specific) and electronics I don't mind buying online, but that's about it.

 

[SanFranciscan]

I shop online alot. You can't go into a store these days without them trying to sell you a CC.

What is a CC? I am drawing a blank.

I do know what some of the posters here mean though about sales people not knowing anything about the merchandise, at least not anything beyond how much they want me to pay for it.

A lot of what passes for sales training is just mindless bullying: "Just get out there and make it happen. No excuses!" Then I come in as a customer and am trying to reach a decision about which item I want to buy. If I am approached by an employee, who wants to be a "good closer," I have got someone who just keeps asking for money because management has told me that that is how to sell. I want to tell management that their employees are not selling when they do that to me. They are panhandling!

 

[N&B'smom]

CC = credit card

I buy everything online as well. It's just easier with free shipping, you can't beat it!

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Although DH and I buy groceries and most of our clothes in person, we buy most everything else online.

Books

Computers

Computer parts (DH is a self-employed computer tech)

Shoes

Fragrance (got my favorite scent on Ebay for less than $70-retail is 100)

Flat screen TV

Furniture (wouldn't buy upholstered furniture on line, but bought a beautiful entertainment center and media cabinet online)

Magazine subscriptions

Jewelry

Vitamins/supplements-can't find certain items locally and I spend probably $100 a month on supplements

Linens (bought our cool comforter from The Company Store)

Christmas decorations (The Company Store again!)

Clothes that I can't buy locally (I went to the J.Jill at Millenium Mall in Orlando while we were visiting WDW, figured out what size I wear, and have ordered several clothing items online!)

Swimsuits (can NEVER find anything locally)

Even when we bought our last car, we did ALL the preliminary shopping via email--got a bunch of quotes on the car we wanted, and chose a dealership 2 hours away (in one of our favorite vacation spots),who gave us the best price.

 

[Charade]

Maybe 10/90. 10 online, 90 not.

I wonder if my wife (since she haaaaaates the grocery store) would shop online for groceries because she really doesn't like to shop online.