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Is there any reason to go to the store anymore?

I always compare prices online and with a little luck the best price is available in my city. Then I ride my bike there and, possibly, try the thing out (if it's not something like a movie/video game) and so on. I really like the feeling of going home with my purchase right away and not being forced to wait several weeks for a package that 20% of the time doesn't even show up (stuff from the UK usually get lost).

If I lived in the US I would buy online much more I think, since it often offers free shipping. I have wanted to buy from there, but the shipping is outrageous. I can find games, clothes, electronics and so on for less than half the price online but to ship it to europe makes it, as someone said, not worth it anymore. Especially if it gets caught by customs, which it always does. Then it costs me much much more in the end than buying from a local store.
 
The local fry's electronics here price matches, so actually for me, there is no need to go online. I just use the Amazon app on my iPhone, walk into Fry's, scan a barcode, they sell it to me for the lower online advertised price, bada-bing-bada-boom, done, got it at the online price, no shipping charges to mess with, and instant gratification of not waiting for it in the mail!
 
I definitely prefer online ordering. There is usually more options available and it's easier to shop around. Chances are you can find it cheaper too even with next day delivery.

I'll only go out shopping if I need something specific quickly or I want to see it first (like clothes).
 
For most things, I go to a store - pants, lettuce, gasoline, eyeglasses, tires, shoes, shampoo, fire ant killer - it all makes sense to go to a store for those.

There are some things I will buy online, typically things where I know exactly what I want - like right down to the model number - and even then it has to be cheaper, and it isn't always.
 
Some things you can't find at the store that you can search for online. That being said I like to ogle the merchandise before purchasing a big ticket item. So while I might not buy in store I like to get hands on with what I am purchasing.

Plus it is fun to test the employees to see if they know what they are talking about, then correct them when they are wrong.:p
 
Depends on the items.

Things like clothes and food, I always shop locally for convenience and being able to see the products first. Things like electronic stuff and household items (e.g. HDMI cable, adapters, cookware, glasses) as well as whisky I shop online for - usually cheaper and a wider selection to choose from than trekking across town at various stores.
 
I like holding something in my hands. I like being able to talk with sales rep. I like being able to just bring it back and get new one. If I do order on-line, I can wait before actually using the product... but once I've started using it, if it needs replacing I need the new one now. I can't wait for a new one to be shipped... assuming that they will ship before they receive the old/broken one.

I also like supporting jobs in my community. I support them, and they support me.

Just to flit with PRSI... I find it ironic how many people have no issues with taking jobs away from their communities, and avoiding taxes (legally or otherwise) - and yet so many people will then complain that services are being cut back and that they can't find a job.

So... I keep my $$ in my community, as much as I can. Though I am not stupid about it either. If it means a lot of money saved I will go on-line.
 
I buy whatever I can online, most of it through Amazon. But for groceries I still have to start the car up and head to either my local Trader Joe's or Costco.
 
I don't understand this "no tax" thing Americans get when shopping online. Supposedly it is only for some states. How is that fair?

Surely the Government should introduce a law that says that sales tax must be charged on purchases online?
 
swingerofbirch said:
The one retailer I wish I had and would use: Whole Foods.
Click to expand...

Bet you'd change your mind in a month or two. We call it "Whole Paycheck" around here - cuz that's what you'll spend. You can find better food elsewhere for less.

As for mattresses, I have no idea. We have an abundance of them too. I stopped by one on a Sunday in the winter and they were dead. The salesmen attack you - I hate that. But honestly there are so many choices and I'll bet what you find at Costco is not as good. You almost have to talk to someone at least once to make sure you are not getting scammed as we almost did at the first place we went to.

I actually hate shopping too.
 
I go to the store so I can get help with some products. I interact with the camera salesmen at my local camera store and the level of support/help I receive means I prefer to spend a little more and buy from them and be loyal then save a couple of bucks and buy online
 
I shop online whenever possible.

It's less about saving money (though that is nice) and more about saving time for me. I just don't like going from store to store to find the more obscure items, being forced to deal with employees and increasingly nonsensical store layouts. It's maddening. With an Amazon Prime subscription, I have everything I want in 48 hours or less if I need it. I do still suffer through the B&M experience if I need something immediately, but that's rare; I've set foot in a Best Buy once in five years, for example.
 
Sometimes I don't want to wait days, or even know that something new is out.

I don't know if it's just me but I never browse online. I only go to an online shop if I know exactly what I'm after. Whenever I'm in town I'll always visit HMV and impulse buy some cheap DVD, Bluray or game.
 
First thing I'll do is compare prices between a proper local shop, and online.

If it's a bit cheaper online, I'll buy it at the shop.

If it's a lot cheaper online, I may buy it online. However, since I work, it'll get delivered to my house when I'm not home, so I'll get a slip that says I need to walk over to the post office and pick up my parcel. This means I need to leave work 2 hours early just to pick up a parcel. :rolleyes: Sometimes, it's not worth it.

If I'm buying a smaller item, I'll have it shipped to work. :)


And if I were buying a larger item like a laundry machine, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase online. It's not like I walk into a shop with some dirty underpants and test out its cleaning ability. :confused:
 
Things I already know / trust I go online. Amazon Prime whore that I am, most return / exchange and shipping issues are null.

However, there are items that I must cup, squeeze, stare at, stroke and sniff before purchasing, those are always a B&M thing. Always.
 
neiltc13 said:
I don't understand this "no tax" thing Americans get when shopping online. Supposedly it is only for some states. How is that fair?

Surely the Government should introduce a law that says that sales tax must be charged on purchases online?
Click to expand...

The laws are there, but it's quite difficult to enforce them - specifically, I live in Texas. If I buy something online from a retailer in another state, Texas can try to enforce the tax, but there's very little the state can do to levy a tax in another state. So they largely go uncollected. If I buy online from a retailer in Texas, then the tax gets charged and I have to pay it.

Sales taxes are only at the state and local levels, so the Federal government can't do much about it, either.
 
I go to stores mostly to try the item out and see if I actually want to buy it. Especially if it's something expensive. Then I'll often go back and buy the item online unless the price is close or I need it quickly.
 
I try to avoid paying taxes any way I can so the government can't get more money. Amazon doesn't currently collect sales tax for my state, so i will buy items there if they have the item I want at a competitive price. Most of the time, though, Costco has a lower unit cost even after taxes are added, so I buy from them unless the price difference is minimal, otherwise i will buy it from amazon.
 
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Tomorrow said:
The laws are there, but it's quite difficult to enforce them - specifically, I live in Texas. If I buy something online from a retailer in another state, Texas can try to enforce the tax, but there's very little the state can do to levy a tax in another state. So they largely go uncollected. If I buy online from a retailer in Texas, then the tax gets charged and I have to pay it.

Sales taxes are only at the state and local levels, so the Federal government can't do much about it, either.
Click to expand...

Why not change the law so that sales tax is the responsibility of the Federal government then?

Also, surely it is unfair that the sales tax is different between states. There should be a standard U.S. rate of sales tax.

Like here in the UK sales tax is 20% across the whole country.
 
neiltc13 said:
Why not change the law so that sales tax is the responsibility of the Federal government then?
Click to expand...
I think it's a Constitution thing... (speaking as someone from just north of the USA)... and if it's in the Constitution then this is exactly the way the Founding Fathers meant it to be. Forever. ;)
neiltc13 said:
Also, surely it is unfair that the sales tax is different between states. There should be a standard U.S. rate of sales tax.
....
Click to expand...

It's worse than that.... there can be different sales tax rates for each city and for each county within a state. The administrative overhead for a national retail store to manage sales taxes is enormous, as it may need to deal with literally thousands of tax codes. And that's just sales tax...
 
neiltc13 said:
Why not change the law so that sales tax is the responsibility of the Federal government then?

Also, surely it is unfair that the sales tax is different between states. There should be a standard U.S. rate of sales tax.

Like here in the UK sales tax is 20% across the whole country.
Click to expand...

That's because you have a VAT tax. I'd be astonished if such a law could ever be passed here, since sales taxes are strictly up to the states, counties, and municipalities - which is how voters seem to want it. Some states don't even have sales tax, others have it but only for certain purchases. There's nothing unfair about it, since each state passes their own other laws, as well.

snberk103 said:
It's worse than that.... there can be different sales tax rates for each city and for each county within a state. The administrative overhead for a national retail store to manage sales taxes is enormous, as it may need to deal with literally thousands of tax codes. And that's just sales tax...
Click to expand...

Yes, and different cities and counties also have different property tax rates as well. Typically you know this when you buy your property, so there are no surprises.
 
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