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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel I’m in a minority of one?

45 replies

JontyFilks · 28/10/2025 13:10

So many threads on MN (understandably, just an objective observation, not a criticism) about internet shopping sites and the resultant parcels etc -

but to be honest I NEVER buy online so I’ve never used -

Amazon
Evri
Temu
Etsy
Vinted
Yodel
Uber
Uberests
Deliveroo

i did have an internet purchase birthday delivery from colleagues - from Scentsy - which nearly sent me into a tailspin as I’m not used to this 🤣

Still I’m living in 1983, 3 Channels etc, jumpers for goalposts all of that ..

AIBU to think I’m unusual ?

Was going to say not being an internet shopper one of the advantages is not having any of the associated problems!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
BringBackCatsEyes · 28/10/2025 17:56

Amazon - lots, but decreasing as they become more shit
Evri - only if I have to. My bulk loo roll comes from Evri.
Temu - never
Etsy - once or twice
Vinted - in waves. DS does a lot and uses In Post to send and receive.
Yodel - very rarely around these parts.
Uber - even less than rarely around these parts. Have used in the US and India.
Uberests - never
Deliveroo - never

LOL...can you tell I live in the back of beyond?!

OP, I wonder do you have quite a bit of time to shop and do you live near a large town or city? Time and living close to things you need enables people to shop in-person more.

Maray1967 · 28/10/2025 17:34

I must admit that I work four days not five - so I make good use of that non working day. And my youngest DC is 17 …

JontyFilks · 28/10/2025 14:12

Thepeopleversuswork · 28/10/2025 14:00

I think you are a bit of an outlier. What I find slightly odd is that it seems to be based primarily on inertia, rather than out of principle: some people avoid anything digital for political/principle reasons but you just seem to have managed to avoid it, which is unusual.

No judgement at all, in some ways it looks rather a charming life but you should be aware that you're giving yourself far more work than you need to!

you're spot on - I absolutely agree with me it’s pretty close to 100% inertia!

Just to clarify though actually I’m SO reliant on online backing that I’d be TOTALLY lost without it !

OP posts:
JontyFilks · 28/10/2025 14:10

Maray1967 · 28/10/2025 13:54

OP, I’m not as online avoidant as you, but I do try to avoid buying anything online that I can buy in actual shops, because I don’t want to see UK retail end up as one massive Amazon warehouse.

So my Christmas shopping for example is done almost entirely in shops. I take my own bags with me to avoid getting any more, and go early to avoid queues. I usually bump into someone I know and generally enjoy it. Basically my approach is to give a huge minimal tax paying, road destroying organisation as little of my money as possible.

You sound very efficient, ethical and eco friendly !

OP posts:
pumpkinscake · 28/10/2025 14:07

pumpkinscake · 28/10/2025 14:03

I really only use amazon, have never bought clothes online. I'm 61. Also in Ireland if that matters

Oh and deliveroo, just eats and of course Revolut which is big in Ireland among friends for small purchases like splitting meals out, gift collections etc (I think not the UK?)

pumpkinscake · 28/10/2025 14:03

I really only use amazon, have never bought clothes online. I'm 61. Also in Ireland if that matters

Thepeopleversuswork · 28/10/2025 14:00

I think you are a bit of an outlier. What I find slightly odd is that it seems to be based primarily on inertia, rather than out of principle: some people avoid anything digital for political/principle reasons but you just seem to have managed to avoid it, which is unusual.

No judgement at all, in some ways it looks rather a charming life but you should be aware that you're giving yourself far more work than you need to!

Tomorrowtodaywhenever · 28/10/2025 13:58

Thry don't have much of a range in the shops atm. My high atreet has a large ahopping centre and not one shop stocks boys school shoes in my sons size. We trapsed around for half a day.
I like the convenience of buying in bulk on amazon. Just this week ordered 6 months of toilet paper, washing up liquid, washing tabs, bleach and sponges. As well as bulk buying tinned tomoatoes and chickpeas. Now zi dont have to think about any of thosr things for 6 months and they are on subscription so will just renew.
Need a halloween costume, get one by tomorrow.
Argos does same day delivery.
On the Just Eat app you can order groceries, milk and butter delivered in 15 minutes, ran out of gravy granules.. two clicks and they arrive in ten.
It makes my life much easier being able to do this.

Queenchewchew · 28/10/2025 13:56

I much prefer shopping in person than online.
Browsing at round the shops is much more pleasant than staring at a screen, I know exactly what I’m buying and I get it when I buy it rather than having to wait for it.
Buying online is a last resort for me.
I’m in my mid twenties too so not an age thing here either

Maray1967 · 28/10/2025 13:54

JontyFilks · 28/10/2025 13:33

I think it’s more habit and the feeling I can muddle along with existing shops etc rather than deliberate avoidance

OP, I’m not as online avoidant as you, but I do try to avoid buying anything online that I can buy in actual shops, because I don’t want to see UK retail end up as one massive Amazon warehouse.

So my Christmas shopping for example is done almost entirely in shops. I take my own bags with me to avoid getting any more, and go early to avoid queues. I usually bump into someone I know and generally enjoy it. Basically my approach is to give a huge minimal tax paying, road destroying organisation as little of my money as possible.

JontyFilks · 28/10/2025 13:47

Just do add - I practically do ALL banking online

OP posts:
LakieLady · 28/10/2025 13:46

BadgernTheGarden · 28/10/2025 13:30

Is it just that you didn't have anyone to explain or help with the technology or is it a deliberate avoidance of new fangled stuff. Shopping on line is incredibly convenient, you can actually get the size you want in the style you want (mostly). All the years trailing around shops and no one has what you like in the right size!

That may work if you're a fairly standard size/shape, but I end up returning at least 50% of clothes I buy online.

Sometimes it's because I find the quality poor for the money, or the fabric just feels horrible, but usually it's because they don't fit. I sent back an otherwise lovely pair of trousers the other day because the crotch was about 6" lower than my actual crotch, despite the trousers being the right length overall, and bras that fit me can be 36F or G and 38E or F. I really miss Debenhams for bras - their own range bras was very consistent for size!

sleepwouldbenice · 28/10/2025 13:44

childofthe607080s · 28/10/2025 13:15

People in Buxton voted reform - one of their complaints was the lack of normal shops - bet most of them spend online. Bet a lot used to look in the store and then buy cheaper online.

people worry about climate change - look at Jamaica and how storms are getting worse - yet so need the latest piece of fun amusement from Chinese stores based on very dodgy labour practises - and then wonder that there are fewer jobs in the Uk because they are too expensive

and the convienece of having empty calories delivered to you door because you are too busy to cook , and too tired as you are carrying excess weight

modern life is so strange

Agreed. Despite my views on many political issues I really don't think western society in particular thinks about how they are causing their own demise

ThatLadyLadyShesTheMan · 28/10/2025 13:42

I don’t really think refusing to integrate into the modern way of life is a flex, but you do you.

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 28/10/2025 13:41

It seems like you pride yourself on your traditional approach to shopping and home entertainment, so I'm not really sure what the perceived issue is. Of course you're not doing what most people do, you know that and you like it.

I've got to ask about receiving a parcel throwing you. You do know parcel delivery isn't a new fangled thing? You don't need to pretend to be ignorant about that!

BadgernTheGarden · 28/10/2025 13:40

sweetpickle2 · 28/10/2025 13:27

My parents (68 and 73) have never shopped online, they get everything they need from big supermarkets like Sainsburys or Tesco, or somewhere specific like a B&Q if needed. They also spend a lot of time in B&M and The Range type places.

They don't have a huge circle or do very much though so their needs are much smaller!

They aren't old, we shop on line, have cable, Netflix and all modern technology. I'm surprised they didn't get into online grocery shopping during Covid, that did push us in that direction, now maybe 50:50 online or in shop. We do a lot of other shopping online, so much choice and so easy to get all manner of stuff that you would have trouble finding in physical shops particularly in a small town. Online banking, savings accounts, etc, etc.

NoraLuka · 28/10/2025 13:39

I’ve only used Amazon from your list, and I don’t even use that anymore because I prefer to support actual shops. We don’t have Uber eats or grocery deliveries in our area, maybe I would use them if they were an option.

I do spend a lot of time on Teams, Slack etc for work and manage a couple of social media accounts so not a complete technophobe!

Fluckle · 28/10/2025 13:37

Do you live in an affluent town or city though? Having a variety of good shops available within convenient distance would make it easier to live a life without internet shopping.

Many towns just don't have the shops available any more, so internet shopping is a necessity. Well not necessity exactly, but you see what I mean.

Octavia64 · 28/10/2025 13:35

My mum is like this.

however she is increasingly finding that there is stuff she can only get online.

she spent three weeks recently trying to buy a paper shredder before giving in and asking me to
buy it online.

apparently currys, pc world and the like no longer stock them.

ThirdStorm · 28/10/2025 13:34

I've never used Deliveroo.... I just don't do takeaways ever. I'm in my 40s in case it is an age thing!

JontyFilks · 28/10/2025 13:33

BadgernTheGarden · 28/10/2025 13:30

Is it just that you didn't have anyone to explain or help with the technology or is it a deliberate avoidance of new fangled stuff. Shopping on line is incredibly convenient, you can actually get the size you want in the style you want (mostly). All the years trailing around shops and no one has what you like in the right size!

I think it’s more habit and the feeling I can muddle along with existing shops etc rather than deliberate avoidance

OP posts:
LakieLady · 28/10/2025 13:31

Out of your list, OP, the only one of those I've ever used is Amazon, and that only as a last resort when I can't find what I want elsewhere.

I'm finding it more and more difficult to avoid online shopping. We've lost our hardware shop and Homebase has gone, so buying anything DIY related in person involves a minimum 15 mile round trip. The town had 4 shoe shops, now it has one, an expensive independent, and clothes wise there's nothing between New Look and Jigsaw, and nowhere you can get underwear apart from Tesco, which, being small, only has a very limited range.

And when I venture further afield to somewhere with a decent range of shops, I invariably find I can't get what I want in the right size or colour and end up buying it online anyway, so it just turns out to be a waste of petrol and parking charges.

BadgernTheGarden · 28/10/2025 13:30

JontyFilks · 28/10/2025 13:22

In seriousness though -

I don’t use any streaming services like

Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon Prime… it’s all alien territory to me.

I don’t have home broadband

Is it just that you didn't have anyone to explain or help with the technology or is it a deliberate avoidance of new fangled stuff. Shopping on line is incredibly convenient, you can actually get the size you want in the style you want (mostly). All the years trailing around shops and no one has what you like in the right size!

sweetpickle2 · 28/10/2025 13:27

My parents (68 and 73) have never shopped online, they get everything they need from big supermarkets like Sainsburys or Tesco, or somewhere specific like a B&Q if needed. They also spend a lot of time in B&M and The Range type places.

They don't have a huge circle or do very much though so their needs are much smaller!

MsMarch · 28/10/2025 13:27

Yes, you are an outlier. If it works for you, great. But you are behind and that will limit your options in terms of what you can buy, variety, pricing etc.