to ask about your real vs online shopping habits

[manicinsomniac]

and if you feel guilty about them?

I seriously can't remember the last time I went into an actual high street shop and bought something.

I go to a massive Sainsburys or Tesco Extra once a week and buy all the food and most of the other stuff I need there.
I buy all our books, music and DVDs from Amazon or Ebay
I buy all our clothes and toys from ebay or store websites
I buy all applicances etc online

My contribution to the life of high streets over the past 5 or 6 years must be practically non existent. The one exception is that I buy the odd item from my village general store.

I feel really bad about it now the shops all seem to be closing. But online and massive 24/7 shops just seem like the only way of managing nowadays.

Asda for food.

Trafford centre for clothes.

Local town is a bit of a dive tbh, combined with expensive parking and no decent food places, it isn't somewhere I look forward to visiting.

Another local town has been done up so although there's still parking to pay, it's nice and there's plenty choice of places to eat.

Online for 90% of things. If I need new clothes I prefer to go to the high street to try them on but often I can't find things in the style I like anyway. It's OK for jeans and a few tops though. I won't by music from the high street, last time I checked HMV there were hardly any of the bands I like and for the few that were there the CDs cost £13-£15! I can get them for £10 maximum online. There is the same problem with books, there are a larger variety online and they tend to be cheaper.

The Local High Street is useless if you don't have fairly mainstream tastes, and while I can understand why that is it still rules it out for me for the majority of purchases.

A Good side about online shopping.
I went to a farmer's market and found someone selling some lovely sausages/bacon/pork made from an unusual breed of pork. All made at the farm etc, etc.
She has a website. Through that website, I can buy these lovely products. I wouldn't have done it otherwise because only luck brought me in that town center on that day.

So online shop CAN help little businesses to grow and florish. As long as we don't stick to the big names and are happy to look around.

I buy meat from our local butcher, and fruit and veg from the local deli.

I try and go to Waterstones once a month with DD.

But apart from that I buy most of my stuff online.

We (well my DH does the actual shopping) get all our groceries from Tesco, because it's much more convenient to buy everything in one place, at a time that suits us. That trumps the guilty feeling about small family shops going bust.
I prefer clothes shopping in an actual shop, but thinking about it I probably buy most of my clothes online now (my favourite shops don't have a branch in our town). Amazon has good bargains on shoes, but then that's generally for brands that I can't buy from a shop in my town centre.
CDs / DVDs I buy online, because a physical shop like HMV can never have the range available from an internet shop. I definitely don't feel guilty about that - HMV have gone bust because they haven't adapted their business model to maximise what they can offer over Amazon etc.

I knit well like buying wool and try to support local yarn stores over using internet sites.

I buy DVDs mostly from Amazon and some books, but there are some independent bookshops I go to, and a brilliant independent music shop within walking distance. Clothes I mostly buy in person, as I like to try stuff on. I'm in the middle of a big city, so although a lot of my food shopping comes from big supermarkets, I also use local bakeries, green grocer, health food shop, Chinese supermarket etc.

re buying, I

• do 'real' shop for food and clothes for myself, DIY stuff
• do online shop for all the rest. I love a good bookshop but there are far between now (none where I live! you have to travel at least 30min to come close to one).

One of my reason for buying online is simple. There are so few independent shops around that there is no point going in a shop iyswim. Whatever the town, you find the same shops with the same articles or unusual but extremely expensive ones. If you look for something a bit more unusual, you can't find it.
It's a shame because I love shopping in small independent shops (with unusual articles.)

Actually I was talking to a guy in a shop at the start of the January sale. He was saying that boxing day had been quiet, quieter than the following day because people had done all their boxing day sale shopping online instead of shops.

I mostly buy my clothes online, as I need very specific shapes and prefer the quality from past seasons to what's in store now. Can't buy underwear in shops, as it's so rare to find a bra in the right size and colour and almost impossible to get it for a decent price in a department store.

I buy my books online because I'm a lit student and everything I want is too obscure to find on the high street. Plus, I prefer to buy second hand if I can because I need to annotate everything.

I buy DVDs online (usually used) because I couldn't possibly justify paying shop prices for them - if not for ebay and Amazon, I wouldn't buy them at all. Same for boardgames etc - I prefer to buy in "good vintage condition" if I can due to the higher build quality, and I certainly wouldn't buy new at the prices they charge now...

I have tried very hard to support the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter by going there to find my engagement ring, wedding ring, and special occasion jewellery - I really admire the jewelers there, many of them are such knowledgeable and professional people. Sadly, I never found what I wanted because my taste is very specific and my budget is too limited for bespoke pieces. I do buy from a local store when I can though (and did this morning).

However, I go to my local butcher for most meat and I always try my local pet shops for budgie and parrot supplies, before looking at ebay sellers if I can't find what I want nearby. I buy from my local stationer whenever I can justify doing so, but the value for money varies and their range doesn't include my favourite brand of pens so I don't shop there as often as I would like to. I buy my musical instruments from 2 different traders in one city, both of whom have provided an exceptionally high level of service to my family over the years and have rightfully managed to withstand competition from a big chain that tried to put them out of business with ridiculously low prices (but eventually failed itself). I only buy birds from local breeders because I don't agree with what big chains and importers do, and because I want to help make sure that it's always possible to buy a baby bird from somebody who has raised it ethically and knows a good deal about the breeding stock.

I think I do my best.

Online:

Supermarket main shop every three weeks delivered by Sainsburys
Some clothes (ASOS - though I pick it up from the shop near work that has a collectplus)
Christmas shopping mostly done online to avoid the other headless chickens
An occasional Amazon order

Proper high street shopping:

Some food - bread, veg
Toiletries so Boots or Superdrug
Cosmetics
Everyday boring items like tights
Most clothes - especially bras, jeans, occasionwear
Some music (won't be doing that now, probably just downloading. I tend to have proper CDs for birthday or Christmas pressies)
Some books

I like the convenience of online but like proper shopping so can get it there and then and enjoy a mooch in the shops and having a coffee, meeting people etc. Hate out of town centres though and sadly my city centre is somewhat depleted thanks to a shopping centre. It does get annoying being told 'try the store at...' or 'check online'.

I like proper customer service though with sales assistants who know their stuff.

Shops I would be sad to see go: John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, Oasis, French Connection and Waterstones. I don't shop on the high street quite like I used to but if I think about no high street, then that's bad so ought to make sure I keep on with it.

Unfortunately small business simply cannot compete with these behemoths, I shop on price and if I can get the same product cheaper than my local mom and pop store then it's more money in my pocket, and to be fair, the range of products available is poor at best as nobody wants to carry stock.

I find the idea of supporting small business a bit odd. The purpose of a business is to generate profit, if it can't financially wash its face then it isn't a business. I'm not responsible for business owners lifestyle or incomes as they aren't responsible for mine. I like this arrangement.

The real high street killers are crap pay parking, rental prices and town centres being used as drinking/fighting an vomiting areas opening up on Saturday and Sunday morning with the remains of the previous nights carnage all over the place.

I'll wait for the courier thanks.

Online:

• most books
• kids clothing
• staple groceries
• music and videos
• toys
• toiletries
• craft items (I don't have a good local source)

In Shop:

• my clothes (although sometimes I try on in store and purchase one line if my size was not available in store)
• kitchen gadgets
• wine (I like to get advice from the salesperson)
• shoes (kids and adult)
• bread
• meat
• fish
• cheese
• makeup
• accessories (jewellery, handbags, scarves, etc - only exception is a scarf pattern I know and cannot find in the shops)

Supermarket online
Books online
Music Spotify
Electricals online
Clothes and shoes in shops but sometimes online.

The '90's thread reminded me that we used to go to the shops nearly every Saturday when I was growing up. Rarely go now. Parking is rubbish and expensive, and not much spare money tbh.

Back in the day my parents would go into town maybe buy a book, cd or something without thinking twice. We have a higher income but even if we saw something we liked we'd probably check on our phones to see if we could get cheaper online.

I like to pick my own food so supermarket shop in either tesco or asda and sometime morrisons. I will also pick up most my clothes from the supermarket as well as odd bits of bedding, towels and other household items.

I use the likes of poundland and wilkinsons for cleaning stuff and toiletries.

I buy most of my christmas shopping and large purchases onlines. Games, dvds etc come from ebay, play or game online.

My sons clothing gets bought online from topman or if i am in town and they have a sale on i might pick up something.

i dont often go into town as it is all ncp car parks and they charge a fortune.

Groceries - I don't drive so I do all my big groceries online, I also find it saves me money this way because I don't impulse buy and can check the total meets my budget before I check out. I use the local Co-Op for milk etc. and for fresh rolls on a Saturday.

Entertainment - all online in a variety of forms. I have Netflix and Spotify subscriptions so I don't buy anything I can get via those, I buy toys, books (physical for kids, Kindle for me), DVDs and games from Amazon, music and digital copies of TV/films from iTunes. The only exception is when the kids have vouchers and we have to spend them in-store.

Clothes - mostly supermarkets and a split of online/in-store. Sainsburys don't have theirs available online which is frustrating as they often have nice stuff but not in the full range of sizes. Asda often has a wide range online and not so much instore, I do browse when I'm in there (maybe one every month or two) but tend to get stuff online.

The only place that I only shop in-store is Ikea, and that's only because their online delivery isn't available in Scotland [oops]

I hate shopping in-store tbh, it costs a fortune in bus fares to get there, the kids get bored and start playing up, I end up carrying everything including all the coats, it takes forever and we end up having to buy food...it's a PITA. I can shop online when it suits me and have it delivered to the door, it's so much more convenient.

Should be in there, d'oh.

My shopping goes

Tesco
Online for clothes
Ebay for random bits and bobs
Carboot sales

Even another family member rings me and say's I want X, Argos sell it for X can you find it cheaper on eBay..

Depends which country I'm in - here in the UK (where my Dad lives) I do his shopping online from Tescos (no freezer, have to shop little and often), and occasionally venture out to local shops for clothes.

Back in rural Ireland, I do my food shopping in the local butchers, fishmongers and greengrocers (we are so lucky to still have these independent shops, use em or lose em), with basics from Lidl or Supervalu (supermarket chain), but all clothes from eBay.

Books (Kindle) always from Amazon, music mostly from CDBaby 'cos I like to support independent music makers, and then other things (kitchen equipment, drain cleaners, pill boxes etc.) from Amazon because they'll have stock, and also offer a choice of brands.

The last time I went to town was Christmas, but could only get one of the things I wanted to gave it up as a bad job, came home and ordered in online from the comfort of my sofa with a cup of tea.

The time before that was in the summer, although DH nipped in to Trespass for some sleeping bags last week, and then that's only because they were on sale and cheaper than we'd seen them anywhere else

Grocery shopping - Sainsbury's or Morrisons, mostly instore, occasionally get a delivery
B&Q for paint/DiY stuff (we do have an independant hardware shop which I'd love to use, but it's at least 3 times the price of B&Q
Clothes - in store mostly, occasionally ebay or via the store's website
Pretty much everything else online

95% is online. Like Jamnan our town centre is a nightmare for parking / traffic wardens, so I don't go there anymore unless DD wants to go to Claire's Accessories

Food is from Ocado, gifts / clothes / toys etc from ebay, John Lewis, M&S, Matalan, Next etc

I prefer trying clothes on at home in front of my own mirror and to see if stuff goes with things I already have, so online works for me.

I do shop daily in our village Co-op though as I am disorganised and forget stuff.

I live in a small town and try to buy as much as possible locally but we're fortunate to have lots of interesting, quirky little shops. However I do also buy a lot online as, being such a small place, I frequently can't get what I need. Click and collect is fab for me, I can choose from a full online range and have it delivered for free to a small, local branch where I can collect when it's convenient for me.

I hardly ever buy online I bought at christmas t shirts for dds because you couldnt get them in a shop and I sometimes buy from amazon , if I want something i go out and get it , I hate online shopping i hate waiting in for it and I hate that I always forget my cards security password EVRYTIME

I buy nearly everything online apart from clothes.

I would go into the town centre more if car parks were less expensive or buses cheaper and more reliable. I should make more of an effort to use the independent shops. We have an excellent local butchers and farmers market but I can't remember the last time I used them.

God I'd never buy clothes online, would have no idea if their sizes fit me without trying it on and don't fancy spending a fortune on delivery only to spend it again to send it back! Not that I buy that many clothes anyway, but if I do we buy from a physical shop in town.

I stopped shopping at HMV a few years ago because I didn't like their returns policy; I'd rather shop somewhere that I can return a product if I change my mind. DVD's were always bought from Play, but even they've gone now.

We do most of our shopping in physical shops, although not always on the high street.