Anyone scale back their online shopping? - YouLookFab Forum

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Anyone scale back their online shopping?

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

Long-time online shopper checking in. What’s not to love about online shopping—delivery to your door, often free or cheap shipping/returns, more opportunities for price adjustments, and greater variety and sizing options. I used to prefer online shopping, but have found the return process to be agonizing slow. It takes weeks for items to be processed using the USPS return label (particularly with Nordstrom), and I’m often anxious that costly orders will get lost in the mail (to say nothing of the credit card balance during this period of flux).

I may end up sitting out holiday clothing shopping or forcing myself to go to stores, just because I don’t want to have to keep track of what items have been refunded. The downside of store shopping, besides potential unavailability, is that you’re often not getting the cheapest price, but the decisiveness and finality may be worth the peace of mind.

Have you ever scaled back online shopping for similar reasons?

Shopping

29 replies

Latest reply was from Stagiaire Fash

Toban

Veteran

For these reasons I generally only online order from stores that I can return the item to in person. Unfortunately, I'm stuck with online ordering to get better selections that aren't available in person.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I do the same as Toban. Last summer I tried several pairs of shoes from 6 pm. The return process was more than I wanted to fuss with.
I prefer trying things on at home, have occasionally bought things in the store to try on at home, planning to return most to the store, just like I do with online purchases, which remain the majority of my buying.

Diana

Veteran

I almost always return my nordstrom orders to the store these days for this reason. The Rack will take regular Nordstrom returns, in case you didn't know. For certain stores I've also started using the "pick up in store" option which is kind of the best of both worlds, although does require (obviously) that you actually go to the store.

My favorite online retailer these days is Amazon. They credit my returns when UPS scans the label (I don't know if this is a prime benefit or whether everyone gets it though), and I've never had a problem with returns.

MsMary

Veteran

Yes, I had a problem recently with an Amazon return that didn't make it back and they re-charged me for the item!

But the main reason I'm doing more brick-and-mortar shopping is so I can really see and feel the pieces before I buy. I have a huge wardrobe and at this point I can afford to sit back and be picky and only buy things I actually see in person and love.

Christina F.

Veteran

This is a problem for me. Three of my favorite stores are online only for me - Boden (though we are supposed to get a store in NYC at some point), J Crew Factory (no store in NYC), and Nordstrom (getting a store in 2019). I still order, but the long wait times for returns to be processed definitely affects my thinking about what I should buy. I don't buy a ton of stuff to try on (multiple sizes etc) because I can't afford to wait for all that money to come back.

It helps that by now, for Boden and JCF, I have a sense of which items will fit me. Ditto for typical Nordstrom brands like Caslon, but obviously it's a bit trickier.

delurked

Veteran

When possible, I prefer to purchase where I can return to a local store. I really like Amazon prime with free returns because as soon as the return is scanned at the return point (UPS) the return in credited that day. Zappos also has fairly quick returns.

But yes, I feel you with not liking the online process, and I have also minimized it for myself.

Jazzy Dance

I feel like I'm burning out on online shopping a bit, too. I don't know if I'm being more picky or what, but I'm returning much more than I'm keeping (which is good) and the return process is slow and annoying. Unfortunately my favorite stores (Title Nine and Patagonia) do not have a location anywhere near me, so for those two, I'm stuck for now. I think for Nordstrom and Macy's and similar, though, I'm going to try to go to the store more often.

Joyce B

Veteran

I like to shop online but always return in the store. I don’t want to worry about items getting lost in the mail or about waiting two additional weeks to get my money back.

Kate

Veteran

I haven’t scaled back my online shopping, since I don’t really enjoy brick & mortar shopping, However I have narrowed my online shopping to just a couple of merchants, COS & Aritzia, whose clothes I really like, and that I know work well for me. Both merchants make returns easy. COS & Aritzia do have a 14-day return window, but I’ve never found it a problem. Their return policy encourages me to make my decision quickly and get any returns in the mail ASAP.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I've scaled back for the same reason but also other reasons such as the weird array of huge shipping boxes for some of the smallest items (and that seems so wasteful I feel bad) - I can't figure out what's up with that - other than maybe they are contracting out some of their shipping services.

Nordstrom has always been good to me for online buying and returns, even if I get a little nervous shipping a costly item back to them. And I don't like returning multiple items in one box unless it's all part of the same order. I think the *work* of unpacking and then repacking items and tracking the returns gets tiresome no matter who I'm buying from.

That said, I don't have access to physical stores close to me so about 95% or more of my shopping is online. I think my closet is in pretty good shape right now and I don't do much buying in winter anyway as I'd prefer to wait and shop for my climate when spring merchandise starts showing up. I don't have a good long term plan going forward.

anchie

Veteran

For me all the positive things about online shopping still outweigh the negative. But I am also very selective from whom I order online and I am very hesitant about ordering from somewhere for the first time.

I am very disappointed with BR lately, they are the worst regarding processing returns. It takes usually more then 4 weeks to receive refund after returning the package. Just this week I got email from them telling me that they will reimburse me out of courtesy even though i was late with my return. But in truth package was with me only one full working day before i returned it. And it took them a month to process my return and then told me that I was late while the delay was on their side??? I was furious. Fortunately I had all the tracking numbers to prove what happened.

LaPed

Veteran

My local, and even regional, brick and mortar options are pretty limited. And I don't enjoy shopping enough anymore to carve out time to "go shopping" when I visit friends/family in metro areas. That definitely leaves me with online orders as my best option in most cases, though I'm trying to push myself back towards local secondhand shopping -- both for general budget reasons, and to avoid the returny-go-round, a d because it's more intellectually stimulation for me. If I can get to a place where the only things I'm buying new/online are shoes and underpinnings,plus a few special wild cards, I'd be quite pleased, I think. I'm in good place with my wardrobe where I can take the time to scavenge secondhand and not feeling need to race around filling major holes. That's my strategy going into 2018, anyway.

Anonymous

It's funny - we pay shipping most of the time in Canada for any retailer - but yet my Nordstrom returns are often processed THE NEXT DAY . Here, we get a return document and prepaid shipping label (we are charged for it though), drop off the box and paperwork at DHL , and I usually see a credit within 48 hours. It's quite amazing. What is not amazing is losing 1/3 of the value of the thing you bought because you had to pay $25 to ship it back (this happened to me this week - and it pissed me off). Anyways - I have increased my on-line shopping this year for two reasons: time, and lack of interesting b&m stores here - and I sit with my fingers crossed every time , hoping nothing has to go back. The longest return wait time I experienced was with Zara - and that was a couple of weeks.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I can’t imagine giving up the efficiency of online shopping for secondhand stores. The mall is a midpoint I can sometimes deal with.

CF, I didn’t think there was anything you didn’t have in NYC, and those are such normal stores!

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

It’s a matter of accessibility and availability. If it takes you an hour or more to reach your store, and the stores are spread out over a few miles, then shopping becomes more of a challenge. Both my bra and shoe size are out of the range that many stories carry. I’ve also found that customers can be more knowledgeable about stock than employees, and have more than once been handed an iPad to look up an item for a sales associate, only to be told that it’s something they only carry online. Sale stock will be dreadfully small or non-existent, probably because of space considerations. It’s definitrly a fun place for tourists when you have entire days and time to budget for shopping, but impractical if you don’t have a car, or are constrained by time. Oh, and no Nordstrom or Neiman Marcus. But if you have money, Net-a-Porter has a same-day courrier service for $25, which could do serious damage to a wallet.

Sal

Veteran

I mostly shop bricks and mortar.... But I did buy boots online this year, and three long sleeve tees from Banana Republic/Gap internationally.

I like shopping when I am away from home, and I also like a browse in my local shops ( a mix of chain/mall stores and independant boutiques and second hand).

Greenjeans

Veteran

I definitely lean toward purchasing from stores that are quick to process returns. If If I really want something from a store that processes returns slowly, I'll order it, but keep the total purchase amount low to minimize risk. I do worry that stores that issue refunds slowly have a cash flow problem and definitely prefer shopping at places that communicate well and issue quick returns.

Another thing that helps me keep track of orders is ordering things in chunks. I'll order from several retailers in a single week and then not order anything for another month or so. This helps me keep my credit card organized and allows me to consolidate returns so I'm only packing and shipping stuff back once in a while instead of feeling like I'm doing it all the time.

Anonymous

I can’t find stylish petite clothing or wide width shoes locally. Nordstrom is too far away from where I live. For me, online shopping is best, but only from a select number of retailers that get my orders to me in a reasonable time frame and have good return policies.

Anonymous

I am an online shopper. I love the convenience and the fact that I can usually find more sizes/colors available to me. Like other Forum Members, I rely on merchants that have good shipping policies as well as good return policies. It is common for me to order two different sizes or multiple colors.

I have an advantage over you in that usually I can return the item to the store rather than shipping it back. This does take more time, but the mall is half way between work and my house so it is a quick trip in and out. If I am feeling lazy/tired/stressed (and it happens), I'll just ship the item back. In this case, it can take about two weeks to get my refund. I have never had an item get lost.

I track everything using ibank. I know what I ordered. I also know when I anticipate the return to clear my account.

On a side note, I avoid the mall all together during November and December. It is crazy there and parking is nearly impossible. You literally have to "follow" someone leaving the store as they walk to their car.

Greenjeans

Veteran

And . . .

I want to echo what tex-style said, packing material waste bothers me! But I do end up reusing much of it so it doesn't go to waste.

And anchie, thanks for sharing your BR story. Yes! That would bug me, too, and makes me wary . . .

binkle

Veteran

scaling back online shopping because it is too easy to click and buy, too much "ooh, I didn't know THAT existed" temptations! Not a productive use of my time to idly scan websites if I don't need something specific. I am trying to cut back on shopping in general anyway.

cindysmith

Veteran

I've actually turned to MORE online shopping lately. I've moved to a very rural area that has no decent shopping, and most days I'm just toone tired to make the 3 hour round trip into Dallas. I have gotten Pickler with what I order, though, and only order from sites that give good (accurate) size charts so I don't have to worry much about returns from ordering multiple sizes. I wish it didn't have to be this way, but I really don't feel like a 3 hour round trip for some casual shopping at decent stores.

I do understand the appeal in shopping bricks and mortar instead of online. Getting to feel the fabric, try on and make sure it fits and I like it on my body, and not having to wait on the ups guy.

Meredith

Veteran

Still shop Amazon. Anthropologie and Jcrew only when I really want to try something.

Aquamarine

Veteran

Nope, I order almost everything online. The hassle of getting to the stores I like is not worth it to me. I’ve become very efficient at shipping items back and have had zero problems (knock on wood!).

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

My online shopping options are limited, but I would be all over it if I were living in the USA. I have been known to go crazy during my visits and have not had any trouble with returns, but also not that much experience. Truthfully, I enjoy shopping in person much more, but that is because thrift stores are my favorite shopping destination!

anne

Veteran

Yes, but in a different country and for different reasons.

When I lived in a regional town I shopped online. Since moving back to the metropolitan area, I have deliberately done much less of it because I can go the shops (I still don't enjoy shopping that much) AND because I don't want to pay for shipping and return postage, which one mostly has to in Australia.

karen13

Veteran

Like many, I am forced to buy online due to limited local retail selection and my fit issues (petite and wide width shoes) which few local retailers carry in B&M stores. But I recently had to order 3different pairs of Levi’s from Zappos in 3 separate purchases. to get one that fit due to inconsistency in manufacturing. I read size charts and online reviews religiously to pick the best option, but still have a maybe 50% hit rate.

I got to the “big” city last month and tried on a few items in a Loft that carried a few petites and bought several items that I never would have purchased online (my subtle bling button trim pants and striped sailor pant). The size variation between the same labeled size was significant.

I hate the churn of mail order purchase and return from an environmental and time & effort perspective. But it seems the only way to find clothes tha fit. I see myself doing more rather than less online shopping in the future, despite these frustrations, because of the access.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I think they wrote the response about returns in store vs mailing backwards, but this has some info related to this discussion http://partners.wsj.com/ups/we.....id=7452789

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I want to add some blush pink items to my wardrobe. I looked online and found two puffer vests and quite a few cardis that might work for me. I ordered the vests, expect to keep one and return the other, and planned to go look at the cardis in the physical stores (they’re all in the same mall near us) the next day.

What happened? I’ve felt impatient and wanted to wear one of the vests the last two mornings, but they aren’t here yet (and the one I think I’ll like better will get here later) and I still have not gotten my butt out the door and over to the mall yet. If I go in the next couple days, that will still be sooner than the mail order stuff. What does that say about me and shopping online vs in store? I’m not sure.