I've decided...online shopping just isn't for me! - YouLookFab Forum

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I've decided...online shopping just isn't for me!

Tara

(website)

Veteran

I may be in the minority here...but I am pretty sure that online shopping is not for me.

I have tried it several times now and have been disappointed most times due to fit, colour, quality or other aspects not being what I expected.

I just bid on a pair of white knee-length pants on eBay, received them in the mail, and the material is of much thinner cotton than it appeared in the eBay pictures. It looked like white denim but is more like a thin cotton. The pockets show through awfully, as well as my undies! Plus, they're too tight.

I ordered a lovely pair of leather Mary Jane wedges via an online sale site, in a beautiful dark red colour. I got them...and they're just too small! Total waste of money.

I find I enjoy strolling through the shops, touching the fabrics, trying the things on much more than browsing things online.

So, I think for now, I shall leave my shopping to times when I can get out there and do it in person! It's the shopping experience I enjoy, not necessarily just the things I come home with.

Anyone else with me?

Shopping

33 replies

Latest reply was from taylor

Mac

Veteran

'Fraid not me. But I'll buy all the online items that you don't... and leave the in-store items for you, okay? : )

Vani

Veteran

In the last few months I've been able to make it to the mall (which is only 10 minute drive from me) about 2 or 3 times. I've been shopping online more and more frequently. But I always mainly target items of brands that I have a good idea of the sizing and that I can easily return in-store or involve free returns. I don't like to deal with the hassle of paying postage for returns.

Lana

Right now online shopping is the only way I can get much shopping done! Toting a toddler and a baby around just isn't conducive to getting much done. I just wait for online sales so I can get free shipping and try to stick to places that either have free returns or a store nearby that I can return items to. Usually I end up getting a better deal with online coupons than I would in the store, so it works for me! I do like browsing, but online I can look for exactly what I need instead of going to tons of stores, combing through racks of stuff I don't want...and then probably spending more money by finding things I didn't come for! Um, anyway...haha. All that said, if I could go by myself for more than 30 minutes, I'd probably enjoy it more! I'm glad you do.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I wish I could do all my shopping in person, but I live in a kind of remote area. Between driving distance, kids, and time- I can't get much shopping done in person. Like Vani- I try to only buy online things that I have some sort of idea about the fit and quality of.

Vix

Veteran

Tara, I am with you and against you, ha.

I totally get what you are saying about enjoying the tactile experience and needing to end up with a certain color, fit, or quality. And it's so disappointing to order online and discover one or more of those things lacking.

However, due to sizing/fit/availability issues I am equally thrilled to have online shopping available!

Like others have mentioned, I look for companies that have decent return shipping policies (preferably FREE) and/or stores nearby. And I often suck it up and put 2 sizes on my credit card to boost the odds of getting the right fit.

I generally avoid final sale/eBay purchases...though the latter has been a decent source of inexpensive estate jewelry for me.

If you want to give online shopping another try, maybe having a list of "must haves" in terms of returns will save you some money and heartache. Otherwise, I know the B&M stores will be happy to have your business!

Queen Mum

Veteran

I hear ya! I only buy online if... I can get free shipping and return in a physical store (or free return shipping like zappos)

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I'm not a big fan of buying clothing via ebay or from discount sites, unless it's a brand that I'm already familiar with. Just like when I buy fabric online, I prefer to shop only from sites that I am familiar with, and that have good return policies. (Gap/BR, or LL Bean, Eddie Bauer, other catalog sites, etc., and Zappos is great of course.) You spend a bit more sometimes, and occasionally have to do an exchange or two, but there are fewer surprises that way.

I agree with you though that it is a lot easier to buy things in person - you can get a better idea of the fabric and the fit, of course, and the general vibe of the thing. I'm in a major metropolitan area, though, so if I want to spend the time I can get to a lot of stores - a lot of people don't have that possibility where they are.

I probably buy 75% of my stuff in person, and the rest online - I wonder what everyone's ratios are?

Taffy

I have to say that 90% of my purchases are done online. I need tall sizes, which are rarely available in store. Also, it helps me avoid impulse purchases...and make smarter choices. I like that I can see details like hem length, rise, and if it has a contoured waistband (best for my pear shape.) That said, I do only buy from places that I can return at the store.

Goldie

I do almost all of my shopping in the store (Zappos being the main exception). I'm still trying to figure out what will look good on me and what I'm supposed to be looking at to evaluate clothes. When I try clothes on in person, I still pick up MANY things that turn out to look worse on me than I expected, so I guess that if I did a lot of online shopping there would be too many returns for it to really be worth it. That said, I think I might try venturing in a little soon (in stores I know with good return policies), since I often need petite sizes that are hard to find in stores.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I'm 50/50 on online shopping versus brick and mortar. I look online for stuff I can't find locally.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I am with you Tara on preferring to shop in person. So many times I take 20 items into the fitting room and end up buying nothing at all. I just cannot imagine to be able to get the right sense of the item from the online picture!
However I would reconsider this if we have such great shipping and return policies in Canada as in US. I would definitely shop for shoes online with free shipping and returns as my size is very hard to find. When you have to pay shipping and return fees and in addition Canadian taxes and custom duties it just does not make sense for me.

Kate

Veteran

I try to be very rational with my shopping, which often is best accomplished through a mix of online and in store shopping. Online allows me to comparison shop, sort by price, sometimes gain info about the item that I can't get in person (ex: styling ideas), think things through, and read reviews! However I also need to feel the fabric and try the fit. So whenever possible I do all of my research online, and then go to the store to try things on, and see if there might be something I missed in my online search. However if I buy something at the store, I usually check up on it online for reviews before I decide to keep it.

MNsara

Veteran

I so prefer to shop in person. I am one of those people who try on multiples of a shoe in my size to see which pair fit best, try on multpiles of my size in jeans because not all size x are created equal, etc.

I have ordered a few things online and am disappointed more than half of the time. So, I make sure I order only when shipping is free and returns can be done (free) in person locally.

I am totally amazed that people can order shoes online -- unless it is another exact pair of something they already have!

Marley

Veteran

I am with you Tara. Nine out of ten times I have a negative experience when I shop on-line - for all of the reasons that others have mentioned already! I also love the experience of going into a store, feeling the garments, talking to the sales staff, trying things on with my friends - perhaps stopping for lunch or a cup of coffee - carrying my purchases around in the cute little store bags, etc. etc. I also love to support our local shop owners - and most of them do not have on-line shopping as an option - so that is another reason for me to shop in person. I try to avoid going shopping during the busy shopping times - my schedule allows me the luxury of hitting the stores during the weekdays so that I can avoid the crowds. I also love getting to know the shop owners and store clerks. They have become my friends. Shopping is so much more to me than just buying things. The non-personal guessing game of on-line shopping just leaves me cold!

Megan

I do a lot of my shopping online.

I wear a petite 00 (which is not made in Australia) so I have no real choice but to shop online! I find reviews from petite bloggers extrememly helpful as I can see how items fit on people who are close to my size.

I've really only had two online shopping fails- a pair of gorgeous black heels that ran REALLY small and jeggings that ran really big.

KristineK

I do almost all of my shopping online, mostly due to fit issues (I wear a size 0, often pretty hard to find in stores in my area). The first year or so I had a lot of misses but my success rate has improved a lot over time -- I hardly have to return anything now. As someone else said, it helps a lot to stick with brands with which you're already familiar (and the online reviews are a godsend).

The online experience has also really improved over the last few years. High shipping costs and the inconvenience of returns used to limit the amount of shopping I did online, but they're hardly factors at all now. So many websites offer free shipping/returns, and it's usually pretty easy to find limited-time coupon codes for those which don't. Returns are also much, much easier than they used to be, now that so many retailers include prepaid return labels with your order.

Kate

Veteran

MNsara, it's been over two years since I bought a shoe in a store! The selection online beats what's available in the local malls, and (again) allows me to read reviews to know if shoes that seem comfy in the store will become uncomfortable once I get home. In my quest for the perfect cognac boots, and earlier quest for the perfect bronze flats (now on hold), online shopping allowed me to order a variety of styles and sizes, try them all on, and ship them all back. One pair of flats seemed perfect! So I wore them around the house, and within 30 minutes my heels were slipping out when I walked :O I never would have known until I wore them, and this way I was able to make one quick stop at the UPS store (which is conveniently 1.5 blocks away from my house!) and drop off all of the boxes with their pre-paid return shipping labels rather than driving to the mall (the closest are 10-15 mins from my house). It's really not that bad. The biggest hassle for me has been charging so many things I'm not keeping to my credit card - I have to remember my recent zappos and endless purchases when I check my bank statement or I get worried!

Scarlet

Veteran

I have also given up online shopping for the most part. The biggest reason for me is that I find myself keeping things I probably would not have bought in a store just because of the hassle of returns. Besides that, I am also like you in that I really enjoy wandering through stores, touching the fabrics, etc.

The only exception is, for example, once I needed shoes in a hurry but had no time to shop. I ordered 6 pairs from zappos and sent back 5, but they are kind of an exception because their customer service is so good.

ETA: If I were in the USA I imagine I would have ordered some things through the YLF store, though, or from NAS because in those cases other people or especially Angie have seen the things in person and given a lot of useful information. Also in general I would be less likely to keep not perfect things since I have become an active participant in these parts.

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

Tara, I must very sadly agree (for the most part) with you. My only absolute *hit* was my new pair of navy shorts from Talbots - everything else clothes wise I've purchased online has been either 'ok' or a 'no'. Maybe I'm just no good at it. Also, I must confess that I get mighty turned off by:
*excessive postage costs
*exchange rates
*clothing that just doesn't appear in real life like it does in the online photo and
*waiting, waiting, waiting for my booty to arrive in the mail. (Although it is like opening a present, I must admit!)

Still, I'll probably get suckered in again....

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

I have mixed feelings about online shopping despite being somewhat addicted to it I have had enough hits compared to misses that I encouraged to continue. It's great when you get items you love, but items you are borderline about its easier to talk yourself into keeping since its such a hassle & $$ to return. If online shopping in Australia was more like America though, it'd be a different kettle of fish completely!!!

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I'm 100% with Lana, I love shopping online because of the difficulty I have shopping bricks and mortar stores with two toddlers. On a recent shopping trip my three year old crawled under the curtain of the changing room and I had to chase and fetch her back in my underwear. When dealing with these issues you can see why online shopping becomes very appealing.

ashleyreid

Hey, I agree with you.

Last week I met my friend even she was complaining me the same.

Till date only once I have done online shopping.

I bought small gold earring...I got the exact earring which I ordered.

Thanks to B2C Jewels (b2cjewels.com)....For next time I will surely refer this site.

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

Tara I'm becoming more and more like you!

I've found more and more that online shopping results in clothes that just aren't as perfect as I would hope - I've become a lot more discerning about fit (thanks to YLF!), and most things just don't measure up. And seeing as free return shipping has never been an option from any of the places I've shopped at, its still ended up being an expensive exercise.

Having said that, due to the lack of fab shops here, I do occasionally resort to online shopping for specific things.

But, the past few weeks have seen me getting more and more back into sewing, so I'm hoping I won't need to shop much anymore anyway!!

BlondeAmbition

I only order things online that I already have and I'm just reordering. Mainly bras and undergarments of which I buy the same brand/size. I'll also order something online if I found it at a store and tried it on but didn't find the color I wanted.

I would never order anything online that I didn't know how it fits.

bj1111

Veteran

without online shopping, i'd be practically naked. worse, unshod!

Kim

Veteran

Because of the high expense of returning items I rarely order online. I will occasionally do an EBay purchase, or a purchase from a store where I am already sure of my size and their styles. I'm extremely fussy about fit, etc. and will also take 20 things into a change room and often come out with nothing! LOL

It's probably better for my wallet too!.

CK

I have had bad luck with online shopping as well - however, because I live in a small town, I don't have easy access to a lot of the stores I like, like Ann Taylor, Loft, etc.

As a result, I do shop online, but it has to be a really good deal for me to take the risk that I'll have to return it. I also like to shop at places like the Gap where I can return items to the store and avoid return shipping charges.

lynne

Veteran

I like online shopping for the wider variety of items. I try to only buy from sites that have free shipping. I don't buy much from ebay any more because of the problems Tara described. If I can't return it, I won't buy it unless its something I already have and know fits. I always check a cashback site like ebates, too, before making any online purchase. I'm sad that Bing discontinued their cashback program.

Dianne

I agree.

i worry too much about fit to ever buy clothes online.

Books, cds, yes.
Jewelry, maybe
Clothes no

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