Shopping: in person vs. online

In person, definitely! I can try on everything, check the texture, check if a garment is well made. I buy accessories, esp bags, online, but never clothes.

9 years ago

Anonymous

Online. I get seriously overwhelmed and tired in stores, and there's always that nagging thought ... "I wonder if I can find it cheaper online somewhere?" I love being able to search multiple stores and compare prices (I don't have a cell phone with internet access). My time is limited, too.

9 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

In person, definitely. Online my batting average is more like 1 or 2 out of 10 working. But that's about what I would try on in person until I got to a keeper, so it makes sense. It's just online the process including returns is more laborious and time-consuming.

There are things I can't find in person though, especially when hunting for specific colors.

9 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Both. But I enjoy in person a LOT more.

9 years ago

El Cee

Veteran

I am tall so my options are limited in brick and mortar stores. So many more possibilities online.

9 years ago

Anonymous

I do more than 90 percent of my shopping online. I love it. I hate actually going to the mall.

9 years ago

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Primarily in person, because I have such a big problem with fit. However, if I want tor replace something, or try another size, I will order online if there is a brick and mortar store close by that I can return it to.

9 years ago

Keix

Veteran

I love shopping in-person, but I do most of it online due to time constraints (easy to browse from my laptop, harder to get to the mall). I also want/need the broadest retail assortment--want for some clothing categories, need for others (e.g. shoes, where my size is rarely stocked in stores besides Nordstrom).

9 years ago

MsMaven

Veteran

Yesterday I went to the nearest mall where I usually shop to check out spring clothes. I have a list of things to look for. Although I wore myself out going from one end to the other, I didn't see a single thing that looked interesting. It was the same old stuff in a lighter version. This was Valley Fair, and usually I do much better at Stanford.

I came home and went online and found all kinds of interesting items that weren't in the stores.

As I wandered through the acres of stuff at Macy's I reminisced about all thing clothing and shoes I once bought there. They've changed quite a bit and clearly aren't interested in my business.

Right now I'm at 50-50. I do buy most of my shoes online because stores seldom have my size 10 1/2 in stock. I do a lot of returning, mostly shoes.

Now I'm off to have a look at NM Last Call new stuff.

9 years ago

Ginger

Veteran

I do both pretty well. I make bigger purchases online, because the nicer things I like (good shoes and coats, plus eShakti dresses) aren't really in stores (or not ones I can get to). I can also find significant price breaks there. Other things I order online if my size is elusive in-store, or not stocked (anything Tall). My online orders are mostly for things that I'm reasonably sure will fit, like items with flared skirts. I'm pretty easy to fit in shoes and blouses and skirts/dresses/coats that flare at the waist.

But I definitely buy more quantity in store. Actually, I really have to be careful not to overspend. I take a lot more chances in the dressing room, and occasionally find terrific things that way. I almost never go shopping without some goal in mind, but I often find other things along the way.

9 years ago

Sal

Veteran

Mostly in store.

I do not like buying online but will do so if I have to.

There are some terrific local retailers here with a range of labels - this is where I have my best successes. I am finding that some of the chain/mall stores do not send their best merchandise to our city - and online the range is more to my liking.

My issue is with fabric and fit mostly online. I am not a standard size, and I am tallish. Often dresses and skirts and even pants are too short, not by much, but enough to be annoying. And I have had lots of disappointing fabrics arrive with online purchases - they frustrate me because it is hard to pick through descriptions and pictures.

9 years ago

Anonymous

I think generally in-person shopping is quite a lot better for me, except in places like Nordstrom, where I've never bought anything, even though I like to browse. I find it too confusing. IMaybe I just need to get to know what brands I like.

I find BR, CM, and JCrew kind of fun in person, but I wouldn't buy anything from them online due to the discrepancies in quality from one thing to another.

I really like boutiques in person. The owners are more mature, invested, and less busy (and the shops themselves have better lighting, now that I think about it). And of course, the products are more interesting. I just enjoy the whole experience so much more, and have had 100% success.

For online, I find the little videos of the person walking in the garment REALLY helpful.

ETA: It's funny because I never really think I'm getting gypped in person, even though I'm a bit of a bargain hunter.

9 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I like them both for different reasons. In person is great for a break and a way to get out and see people. And it's really helpful to see garments in person and be able to touch fabrics etc. Downsides are it can be really tiring, the overwhelm of lots of people, and they don't always have your size.

Having to buy some things online is a fact of life for most of us - I have to get most of my pants online since I need a longer inseam. And plus sizes are much more available online. Of course online shopping is open day or night and on your schedule. You can plan purchases more carefully that way - I find that I have sales goggles a lot more in person than online. Online I can put it in my cart and then take a breather for a few minutes/hours/days before checking out.

(MsMaven, we should get together for a shopping date sometime. I've always found Valley Fair a little perplexing - they have one of everything (two of everything if you count Santana Row!) but it's never been that successful a venue for me. When I was on the peninsula I used to drive up to Hillsdale because it was so much more manageable than VF or Stanford. Now that I'm in the SB I go to places like Oakridge a lot more than VF; only downside is there's no Nordstrom.)

9 years ago

shedev

Veteran

They don't really sell my style locally, so almost all of my shopping is online.

9 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

Online. I'm a Petite with fussy feet, so more is available online. Plus, like others I get overwhelmed at brick'n'mortar stores. Even with in-person purchases, I end up making returns, often because the item doesn't play as well as I thought it would with the rest of my wardrobe. It is easier to agonize over K/Rs in the privacy of my home as well as to test various combos. Since I live in a metropolitan area, it is easy for me to make returns at a brick'n'mortar store. Returns to a UPS store aren't all that inconvenient either.

9 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

I only shopped in person until a month ago. Then I found some T shirts that I had been looking for online. I ordered them (actually 3 of them) and they arrived 2 days later. These were T shirts I wore for years. I already had 2 and really wanted more. I could never find them. And here they were. I am in the USA for a few months so that helps.
I have now ordered some cropped jeans that Angie recommended and they will arrive tomorrow. Nordstroms in the area does not carry them but I can return them to that store if they don't fit. Easy.
I do enjoy shopping at a store and looking at the clothes but more and more I am frustrated with the stock. Unless I am in a big urban city like Montreal my choices are limited. I am slowly moving into the world of online shopping.

9 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

I also meant to say Angie's finds really help me with online shopping. I have my eye on a few more things that she has suggested.

9 years ago

Anonymous

I shop online most of the time. I can't find what I like in the local stores.

9 years ago

Anonymous

Definitely in store! I truly enjoy rummaging through racks, putting outfits together, and trying things on. To me it is a great stress buster.

9 years ago

April

Veteran

Tim Gunn wrote something that has stayed with me. He said if you're looking for something extremely specific ("dark green satin evening clutch"), then online is where you want to be, because you can't just wander around shops hoping to find that item.

I would also say that as online shopping has grown in popularity, many retailers have decided that their brick and mortar locations will only carry the sizes in the middle of the bell curve, whereas sizes at the far ends of the curve will be available only online.

When retailers make that choice, those of us who aren't in the middle have no choice.

9 years ago

Anonymous

Petites get left out, as do people who need a wide width shoe.

9 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Online, because I don't live in an area with good shopping and I am often sized out with local retailers.

But when I am in the city I always shop in person as well and many of my key pieces are "in person" buys.

9 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

Online, definitely. My size is not sold in most B&M stores, so I don't have much of a choice. I sometimes shop for shoes in person, but I am often looking for something specific and so shop online, like April said.

I have had it happen where I passed over a shoe online but saw it in person later and thought it was worth trying on. In at least one instance, I bought the shoe. So shopping in person definitely has its advantages.

9 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I hate hate shopping online. I find it beyond painful. Waiting waiting, then having to drive into some seedy part of town to get my package, then the returns... But some things I've only been able to get online after a tip off from, like, Annagybe (shout out to Anna ).

9 years ago

Sally

Veteran

I am buying more online as it is convenient once you know what size you are in certain brands. There is also the opportunity to wishlist what you like and wait for it to come down in price.
Some things I find easier to shop instore like jeans and like the inspiration of walKing into shops sometime. I also like to thrift shop so that has to be done in store.

9 years ago

Anonymous

I wanted to add something about shipping costs. As I stated earlier, I do most of my shopping online. I had over $500 in my Talbots cart. When it came time to checkout, Talbots wanted to charge me $8 for shipping. I thought "no way." I called the store to see if they had my items in stock. Since I need "talls" or "navy," the sales person flippantly said no. I was a bit taken aback by both her attitude and the lack of navy. I considered going to the store to place my order online (too much trouble). I seriously considered paying the shipping charge. I just couldn't bring myself to pay the $8. I emptied my cart. No regrets. I view it as Talbots having saved me $500.

I feel the same way about return shipping. When I found out that LLBean and Uniqlo charge for returning an item, I decided not to patronize them because of course there are going to be returns. Why should I pay to try their products.

This does limit me, but I'll work within those limits.

9 years ago

Summer

Veteran

Both work well for me, but, for online shopping, I'm very picky about the stores and brands I buy from. I choose brands that are tried and tested for style and fit, and retailers that have good returns policies - preferably those that allow me to return in store.
I do love to shop in store, to get a general overview of what's around, and to feel the fabrics and so on, but I start to tire and suffer from brain overload after a few hours, so, unless I can find what I'm looking for fairly quickly, I will probably order online.

9 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

I agree with what the above fabbers have said about the shipping and return costs of online shopping. This often held me back from online shopping. I only online shop at places that have free shipping and returns (Nordstroms, Zappos, Anthropolgies) and accept returns at the B & M stores.
I never pay for faster shipping. My package is still delivered within a couple of days.

9 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

Online, more options for me because I'm tall.

9 years ago

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