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where you shop and why?

always trying

Veteran

Do you shop more on line or stores? the shops in the mall or other stores like target, Marshalls, TJMaxx or?

I seldom go to the malls. This may change as they are opening a big mall with regular and outlet stores near me around Halloween. There are supposed to be some great restaurants there so that will draw me, and then of course will have to browse.

But I find myself ordering more on line in the past year or so. So much bigger selection, as I am more and more disappointed in stores. Even stores like Famous footwear has a lot of on line only merchandise that is much better than in the store.

Shopping

27 replies

Latest reply was from Marlene

deb

Veteran

I do more online shopping because I hate shopping on foot. Have been this way since I was a kid. And do not even ask me to grocery shop, lol. Found that Safeway deliver works for that.

Dee

Veteran

I'm not a fan of shopping online if a brick and mortar store is accessible. I like the experience of browsing in a real store and trying on multiple sizes or colors without the hassle of returns. That said, I do order online if I know a specific item isn't in stock (petite items) or the retailer is online only (such as Everlane).

donnat

Veteran

As Angie says leave no stone unturned! I shop everywhere.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Sizing online is too hard, unless it is to get something I have already tried on in another color or size. During NAS I ordered 2 styles of jeans in 3 sizes and all 6 went back. As did every other clothing item. I did order 4? more? pair of booties from Nordstroms as my local store did not have much in my size, and I am thrilled with the one that fit.

On the other hand, I had a pair of sandals I loved from Nordstrom that were no longer around anywhere when I realized I wanted them in another color (the style that replaced it did not fit me well), but Zappos still had them.

I shop at every price point from Nordstrom and below. I do especially well at outlets.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I am probably at 85% online (and I cast a wide net) plus 10% local boutiques and 5% the occasional trip to Boston. I prefer online ... When I'm out walking around I'm just looking at what everyone else is wearing and I don't want the pressure to choose something on the spot.

Deb, I hate grocery shopping too. I spent about three months using Blue Apron, which sends you all the components plus recipes for three meals a week. I loved the convenience but my (spoiled) husband complained that there were too many meals he didn't care for.

kerry

Veteran

Mostly online but I do live near a great mall and not too far from two more really great malls. I like shopping online because I can research. I read reviews, compare the same type of item over different brands, take time to consider. But then sometimes, after I've done all this tire kicking, I'll go to the store to try it out - simpler and faster.

I rarely shop at boutiques. I used to, before I had my DD. I just don't find it very efficient right now.

Gaylene

Veteran

Mainly in boutiques like Eileen Fisher, Judith and Charles, or independents featuring local designers, along with a few mall stores like BR, Danier, and J Crew. I used to shop online, but stopped when I realized the hassles of returning were making me keep items that were just OK. I take my time in the dressing room before deciding to purchase, so returns are getting pretty rare. I now tend to pay more for individual pieces, but my overall clothes budget has gone down.

Cococat

Veteran

I shop everywhere too, online, stores in the mall, ebay, online luxury consignment for bags and accessories and thrift stores, as each have treasures.

I have actually been more open to certain stores that I wouldn't usually enter because of the great finds I see on local YLFers. I'm not sure whether that's a good thing or a bad thing because I don't need any more incentive to shop..lol.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Probably 60% in person, 40% online. I tend to buy more at a time online, because I know a lot of it won't work and wil be returned. I'm also more driven by sales, rewards and free shipping online. In person I'm probably more willing to take chances on wild cards, because I can try them on before I'm out any money, but I buy less all at once. I'm better at budgeting when I'm buying online, since I keep my budget and clothes wish list on the computer, and am more impulsive in person.

Thistle

Veteran

95% online. Finding my size in stored is hard, and with two small children, getting any time to shop by myself happens maybe once a year!

Staysfit

Veteran

I initially misread this question as when do you shop! OK, so I primarily shop online. Why? I haven't had luck in malls locally. I also go to some small local specialty shops for shoes and accessories. Maybe 10% of my shopping budget is in brick and mortar stores.

Anonymous

Since joining YLF I do most shopping online, relying heavily on Angie's picks or those of other Fabbers for quality and fit. I have been disappointed with the poor quality of much of the stuff in stores lately. I do like to shop brick and mortar stores to see what's out there.

Style Fan

Veteran

I never shop online. I bought a bathing suit online about 12 years ago and it was a hassle to have it delivered because both DH and I were working. The delivery company would not leave it at the door and did not have a depot to pick it up. Okay enough of that. Thankfully the bathing suit fit exactly right.
I shop in boutiques and in department stores like Simons (Montreal), The Bay (Toronto, Montreal) and Holt Renfrew (Toronto, Montreal). When I am in Florida I go to Nordstroms and Dillards. Most of my shopping takes place when we go to the "big city" like Montreal or Toronto.
Very occasionally I shop in the town I live. I live in a summer resort town. Selection is very limited.

Anonymous

I am an online shopper. I probably do more than 95 percent of my shopping that way. I love the convenience and the fact that I can shop as my schedule allows. I can search for my size in whatever piques my interest that day. Talls and longs are available. Things I might never have seen in a store can be found by scanning multiple pages. I'll never return to being a B&M shopper. The parking. The crowds. The very limited selection. The lack of talls and longs. Pushy sales people that just have to try and force a store credit card on me. All of this conspires to both tire and bore me.

Summer

Veteran

It depends on what I'm looking for. I tend to use my bricks and mortar shopping trips as a leisure experience, just noticing what is about and perhaps making small purchases such a accessories. For me, it's a fairly infrequent, relaxing day out.
When I'm looking for something specific, I tend to browse all the options online. This way I can see everything in one place, and can zone in on sizes and colour options. It also allows me to have several pieces from different retailers to try in the comfort of my own home, and with pieces from my existing wardrobe.
Last year, I was looking for a wedding guest outfit, and ordered several dresses over a few months, keeping back the best contenders until the last possible return date (I ended up buying the very first one!). This all took time, but without the exhaustion and possible frustration of a "real life" shopping marathon.

kkards

Veteran

1st, i love shopping, any kind of shopping, yup, i'm the one who loves going to the grocery store...always have....so i shop everywhere, my local boutique stores, target, the mall, online, and thrift stores....i used to shop outlets and off price stores frequently, but now i only shop them a couple times a year, and rarely buy anything.

Colette

Veteran

My shopping has changed over the years. Currently I much prefer online shopping but I do a bit of both. I'll browse online to identify things I like and, if available, I might go to the store and try them on. It does help me to stay focused on my needs because I'm very easily distracted in the stores.

I don't necessarily enjoy the malls but that is where the stores happen to be so that's where I have to go. And I do shop everywhere, I joke that I shop from the "ritz to the pits". Since I'm more focused on fit and quality now my tendencies lately are skewing less to discount stores for my needs. I will always pop in for fun though.

Aziraphale

Veteran

I'm with Gaylene on this one. Returning items is just too much of a hassle, and I've kept mediocre things because of it. Mind you, I'm in Canada, and most online retailers are American. I imagine it's easier to return things if you're in America.

Plus, I quite like shopping in real stores. Of course, living in a major urban centre allows me to do that. If I lived in a small town in the middle of nowhere, online shopping would be pretty much the only option!

Anonymous

I find I get overwhelmed in big stores, surrounded by all those choices. I feel more focused when I shop on-line from the major retailers. We also have some great locally-owned boutiques in my city that I enjoy because they're smaller and I don't have that drowning feeling.

Meow

Veteran

I'm probably 80 to 90 % online. I hate the hassle of trying things on in a dressing room. I also get side tracked with all the pretty shiny things!

kerlyn

Veteran

Both! I like to sneak away by myself for a couple hours here and there to see what's new. I mainly hit Kohls, Target, sometimes the mall. I'm somewhat limited in my mid-size town, but when I go to the "big city" I like to check out Macy's, Nordstrom, etc.

I need to expand my online shopping choices, as right now it's just limited to a few that offer easy in-store returns if something doesn't work out. That said, I have been doing quite a bit of online shopping in the last few years, and I really enjoy the expanded selection.

shedev

Veteran

I shop more online for my statement pieces because my persona is not well represented in Cleveland and shop more in store for basics because I will get to try them on.

Anonymous

I'm in agreement with Gaylene and Aziraphale here. I get frustrated with the entire online process--not knowing how an item will fit or look IRL and then the hassle of shipping returns. And don't talk to me about companies that charge to return ship: I feel it's a way of manipulating me into keeping something.

Ankita

(website)

I'd say I'm a 70% online shopper and a 30% store shopper.
To be honest, I'm surprised because even though my house is sandwiched between 2 of the best malls in Mumbai, I still end up shopping more online - purely because it's so much more hassle-free... an at your door delivery service, the option of trying out stuff before you pay for it plus a 30 day return/exchange...what more can you ask for!
I end up curled up on the couch or in bed in the middle of the night hunting for unbelievable sales in my pj's!

Gigi

Veteran

I shop probably 85% online, and that is because of better selection and also because I have to wear petite sizes, which often aren't in-store. I do, however, often go into B&M stores to see a misses' size of something I've spotted online.

I also like the larger selection that is present online. And, as Ankita says, I like to shop in my PJs, just for fun. Shopping online helps me keep track of what is in the stores so that I make better purchases.

vickyweb

Member

I honestly prefer to shop online because there is usually a much bigger selection of product and it is super easy to compare prices to get the best deal on the item I want. The one issue i find with online shopping is that you don't always know how the piece will fit or the quality of. The best solution for me is to try and visit the actual store of the site to get a feel for how the company sizes and the quality of their clothes. My favorite site to shop for is a great boutique called Bohme that has great boho, romantic, and contemporary styles to fit my taste. They have several store locations near me so I have seen their quality and sizing in person. The name of the site is called Bohme.com

Marlene

Veteran

I am still a mainly B&M shopper since I like to see and feel the fabrics and I prefer to see an item on my own body before I purchase. I have a really hard time translating website photos into how they would look on me IRL. But that being said, reliable online stores (Nordstrom, Zappos etc) with easy return policies are the exception. I have stopped shopping online at GAP since their sizing is so random that the chance of something fitting is pretty low. I am not opposed to shopping in person and then scouting online for the best deal/size/color afterwards. I may window-shop online before heading into a B&M store to get a feel for what's new and pricing. But in the end, I am seduced by the real life experience.