In-Store or Online?

[Mang0TarD]

The past few years, I've found myself shopping online for clothes a lot more than going into actual physical shops. I haven't completely abandoned going out and shopping, but I tend to prefer online buys because of the variety of sizes and kinds of clothes you typically don't find outside... Also, no fighting in lines. ^^v And you can find a lot better deals on college books online too! hehe

But what about you guys? Have your purchasing habits changed? Are you more an online shopper now than you were before? Or do you still like going somewhere, flipping through a book and trying something on before buying it?

 

[Kivat]

I do both, but I go out a lot more. As far as clothes I can't wait. lol

The only downside is that you can't physically try them on, you know? So even when you have the right size on point, you'll always be nervous during the wait hoping it'll fit you as you imagined. I've been through a failed size delivery once and it kinda sucks. lol You have to go through the hassle of mailing it back, getting your money back then trying again. So Instead I just gave the shirt to my little brother.

Asian styles run small unfortunately.

 

[Jacky392000]

I prefer shopping for clothes at the store itself, because like what Kivat said, I might end up buying something that doesn't fit on me. though for my case, I know my size but I just dunno if the outfit looks good on me or not. I always come across a nice looking piece of clothing, but most of the time it looks better on the mannequin more than myself. :laugh:

as for other type of items, I used to import stuffs from Japan, but after coming here, I only use Amazon Japan occasionally. I prefer renting DVDs now because they're so much cheaper and it's also faster/better than painfully streaming the eps one by one online.

online shopping is convenient, but I enjoy going to the physical store itself. however it all comes down to the item's availibility. if I can't find it anywhere, I'll just resort to online stores.

 

[The_Emperor]

I very much prefer to shop in a physical store but would not hesitate to buy online if it means I can get something for much cheaper or if it's the only place I can find a certain something. Only thing I ever buy online are toys, less popular DVDs that don't get good distribution (only rarely), and books/graphic novels. Books, I almost always buy them online since I can get them much cheaper online from a physical store's website compared to going to the physical store itself where they charge full price.

Clothes are the only exception. I will always prefer to buy them in-store unless it's something I can't get anywhere else. Only example of this I can think of is Bandai Japan's clothing and certain graphic t-shirts (toku-related, etc.).

 

[Storm Eagle]

I mostly buy DVD box sets and season sets online since they tend to be cheaper that way, than in the stores.

 

[SamuraiEchidna]

I try to do as much shopping in-store as I possibly can. You know, support local business, help your town or city thrive, that kind of thing. If I am looking for something in particular, like a DVD of an extended cut of a movie with the most bonus material and what not, then I'll do my research online to find out what that DVD looks like before I search for it in stores.

But I am growing increasingly aware that you can get everything and then some online for better prices. It's not that I don't like shopping online, I just like to get out and enjoy life. You never know, you might experience something new at the mall or local shop, might find a new hobby to take up in your life or something. Variety is the spice of life. I never would have read some of the manga titles I have picked up if it weren't for browsing my local book store, for example. For all you know, there might even be a comic book shop or something that sells some of the rare Japanese imports that you like.

But yes, if anything, clothing is the one thing I just HAVE to buy in-store. I don't feel comfortable ordering clothes you can't try on first. Different companies have different standards for Small, Medium, Large, etc. Plus, different sellers don't always make it clear on how they measure the fit of their clothes. Unless you are completely sure of what you are buying, it's just easier not to risk it.

 

[Khaiden]

When it comes to ''regular'' clothes, I just go to a store. The problems are the amounts of time it takes and that all the mirrors in every single store are cruel, heartless bastards.

For ''special'' clothes, I always go online. And lately I've been only buying these...

 

[Bigdog]

Here's my breakdown. Since I rarely buy ANYTHING unless I try it out or use it first, this is what I do:

-DVDs for shows or anything disc media- Online. The music I usually buy is from iTunes . Once in a while I buy them at a store, but why bother when most of it is crap and it has nothing that I'm looking for?

I tend to go for used and or discounted.

-Books. Amazon, Target, CVS and Barnes and Noble, either online or at store. Well prior to borders' collapse, I went there with my sis and I stayed either in the Comics, Manga or Magazine section, and I loved the History section at the one in Ann Arbor and the one in Chicago. I love the feel of a bookstore because I never had a good library until High School aka I had a very small one so it was not only a library of sorts, but I could preview the things I wanted to read prior to buying it. Nowadays it's online because I know what I want to look for , but it is not as frequent as I used to do at Borders. Case in short: while I love ebooks, holding a real one is far less distracting than on my tablet, though it has gone away mostly.

Since I love used books ( if a semi decent quality) , I'll go for those online because if I can buy a book series for really cheap, I'll do it that route. I use coupons to buy mags for that once in while approach.

-Clothes or other Apparel: Stores Period. I won't and never will buy clothes online because frankly, I ain't gonna waste my hard earned cash on shipping it back and I'd rather be able to change in it and get a feel of said clothing. Shoes? Well, that's a different story as you can wear them once and it won't be soiled by your sweat and anything else,though I prefer offline as well.

-Imported stuff: Online easy.

-Food (nonperishable/perishable ): Offline unless its rare foods or something of the sort, but I have never bought anything tangible like that off the internet. I would, but unless there's free shipping, screw it.

-Electronics: Online after I preview them in stores. At Apple and many dealers, always check the refurbs if any and for my picks , I just went into the store, looked at it and smiled. Would I trust to buy a Macbook Pro or x Apple device of that nature online? Not only would I be very uneasy on such prospects shelling out that much money, but for anything , the atmosphere of the store itself is enough for me to buy it there. I'd do it online, but its hard to say really.

It all depends on availability of said item whether its online or not , but at places like Best Buy I really love the fact that I can call over the phone and have it reserved or online.