Is anyone else fed up with online clothes shopping?

[bellamountain]

I must admit it is convenient sometimes, but it takes ages to find something online because there is so much choice. I actually waste hours online shopping just browsing before I commit to buying. Delivery and now returns cost and it's the endless back and forth to the post office or wherever (often with large queues) to return items. I also hate waiting to be refunded because it takes many online retailers far too long to refund.

Most of us do have a local town centre which, in the old days, would have had some decent clothes shops but now they are full of eateries and hairdressers. There are delivery vans driving at speed (dangerously) everywhere. I honestly believe a return to shopping on a local high street would benefit the environment and economy hugely.

Is anyone lucky enough to have a decent town centre close by? I have to drive to an out of town shopping centre which is a good 40 minutes away to have any decent choice.

I do praise Peacocks though and long may they continue because they seem to be the only clothes shop to invest in local town centres.

Yes! Plus the one ‘tell us about your shopping experience’ I JUST GOT ON THE SITE

in the past you could guarantee quality from certain companies, you can’t now. I can’t stand all the synthetic cheap clothes now.

Evri stalking me for a review really annoys me - look love you left the parcel in full view do you really want a review.

Shops though don't have the sizes/colour options so I end up treating them as show rooms and order online if I'm not 100% sure I'll order online as easier to return too.

Businesses are just adding obstacles to making me want to spend my money

No I love it, I always found it hard shopping in RL, as I am 6ft, so go to was long tall sally...so nowadays the internet is my oyster for tall girl clothes.

I spend too much time at the post office these days.
Also my credit card looks like I've got issues with all the out then back in again transactions , I don't use my debit card because I know most of it will go back. Local high Street is awful, nearest big shopping centre really isn't much better

I agree. When DD got married the local parcel shops all knew me as I bought and returned so many!
I hate it though. I am older and plus size so it's harder to look good in stuff and I would love to go into nice shops and try on - I can guarantee I would spend a lot more too. As it is I mostly don't bother

I prefer what physical stores there are.
I used to get trousers in M&S store but can’t now as extra short (used to be short is online only even in a new store. At least I can feel the material and see the colour on the wrong size before I order and quite easy collection and return. I try same with next.

Used to like a couple of the Debenhams brands but not tried online since they went.

I’m 40s - wondering if any of you younger than me maybe 29s 30s on MN feel differently if it’s just or almost always been like thar?

Yes, I like to try on. Returning is a real pain.
we have ish town centre, and there is an out of town shopping centre that you can get to if you take three buses and walk a bit at the end!

I have no choice. I'm tall and actual shops don't have Tall concessions any more, online is the only option.

Little left here to shop on the high street, yet on recent trips to Europe (Hungary, The Netherlands) the city centres are full of gorgeous shops and high street favourites.

Some really good quality brands, natural fabrics, choice of length.

In fact, with the exchange rate at the time, purchases in Hungary we're cheaper than here too.

What has happened to our standards?

Next has a ridiculous amount of clothing.

yet on recent trips to Europe (Hungary, The Netherlands) the city centres are full of gorgeous shops and high street favourites
Yes I noticed this too on trips to France and Spain - interesting and welcoming stores, lovely clothes, nice fabrics, a very different shopping experience to here

Same here. I use online shops for basics I know will fit and work for me ( M and S knickers, Freya bras, new Seasalt sandals each year etc.) but I am making a conscious effort to shop less and more thoughtfully, and my favourite purchases of the last few years have all been in physical shops.

I don’t shop often and don’t bother with our local high street. My favourite spots are Marylebone High Street (when visiting family), Covent Garden (near work) and Cambridge (our nearest city). I sometimes stop at Stratford Westfield on the way home from work, but I find it exhausting. Whenever I take DD to Camden Market I come back with something for myself. I have also picked up lovely things on trips to Europe, especially in the Netherlands, Denmark and France. I love Loft when I’m in the US, but haven’t been for four years.

Worst i have found for refund or exchange is Roman Originals. I have been waiting since April and they issue you with a ticket. They then have the cheek to say that its been resolved when it hasnt. I would love to buy a dress that i like but wont in case the same thing happens if it doesnt fit.
I dont think they realise the damage they are doing to their businesses.

I used to love going shopping in town it was a lovely day out and coming home with lots of bags and laying my haul out was such a highlight.
Now most of the shops I loved have gone - Topshop, Oasis, Warehouse, Outfit, even Debenhams! The new look has recently closed as well which was the last half decent place. I get well pissed off having to pay for delivery and then delivery again to send back. Basically paying for fuck all except hassle having to send stuff back. Would be better if there was less variety (probably mostly made in child labour sweatshops) and in a physical store.

I much prefer online shopping - I’ve not been physical shopping since 2020. I don’t think I could now, too overwhelming. Mostly I buy from Next as they have lots of choice or M&S.

I'm 9 minutes away from Oxford Circus and I loathe going there. It's always packed and overwhelming. I hate online shopping too. Just tonight I packaged and labelled returns for 9 packages that I need to drop off at various places. Too much choice yet i can't find anything.

Yes! I like to try things on (especially trousers and shoes).

There used to be a lovely Dorothy Perkins and Oasis on Tottenham Court Road which always had a lovely selection of clothes - both have closed down.

John Lewis is still good for a range of clothes.
However I wish fashions weren't quite so extreme.
I'm 70 and don't reallly want puffy sleeves, long floaty tiers (unless some sort of special occasion). Also colours are so rigid - I'm an autumn and there's so much not autumn colours. Maybe some olive greens.

I read a really interrelating article not long ago about how the online algorithms are causing that lack of choice that a PP picked up on, and why we are now being bombarded with identical ditsy midi dresses with milkmaid sleeves. It doesn’t happen in other European countries.

John Lewis is a very good example. Various retailers who should be selling decent quality clothes I’d like to buy but very few good basics or classic lines and lots of high trend stuff that doesn’t suit me. There used to be far more of a mix available.