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AIBU?

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Original poster

I can’t be the only one that hates online clothes shopping?

112 replies

Karmachameleons · 08/02/2021 22:31

I am so gytted that high street clothes shops are shutting.

I need to try clothes on to know if they fit me or flatter my shape.

I need to see and feel the fabric - this is really crucial!

I need to see colours in real life, not rely on a rubbish computer monitor.

I also like to see what’s displayed tigether for inspiration, and I like to see what other people in the shop are wearing and trying on! (Yes, it’s nosy, but it helps give me ideas!)

I HATE online shopping and 95% of the stuff I have bought online has been a disappointment.

100% of my most favourite clothes were tried on in a shop.

SURELY I can’t be alone in this? I had so much been looking forward to post pandemic clothes shopping but it’s looking increasingly likely there will be no clothes shops left and I will be wasting my money on shitty crap cunningly displayed on a beautiful online model for the forseeable Sad .

OP posts:
NotFabulousDarling · 08/02/2021 22:39

YANBU to want to try stuff on but many good shops are still going and if the Arcadia ones had actually bothered to move with the times and have even a quarter-decent online shopping experience, their shops would be going now, too.
What I'm interested in is what happens to business rates on the high street now half of it will be vacant. Will councils drop rates to encourage new and up-and-coming brands to open brick-and-mortar stores or international brands to move into the UK market? Or will they try to milk large-chain rates out of small businesses and decimate the high street further? That could dictate whether this is the end of the retail apocalypse or not.

Chimeraforce · 08/02/2021 22:41

Yanbu. On the plus side, I'm saving alot of money.

OwlinaTree · 08/02/2021 22:44

I totally agree, I love clothes shopping, it's my hobby. I've not been bothering because what's the point of going to the shops if you can't try anything on?

lightand · 08/02/2021 22:47

I agree op.
The occasional clothes item I have needed since last year, I bought from a supermarket.
I refuse to buy online clothes, for reasons you listed. And I will add another. Returning an item. I wont do it.
Thankfully, pre covid, I was pretty much ok for clothes, so I am managing ok so far.

MiaowMiaow99 · 08/02/2021 22:48

I used to spend £200 a month on clothes. I hate on line shopping so now only buy essentials. Christ knows what I'll buy now as my tiny town only had a Debs, Wallis, DP and a top shop!

DeltaAlphaDelta · 08/02/2021 22:48

I hate clothes shopping with a passion. I always buy online with somewhere that has a good returns policy. I choose things in a couple of sizes because im usually in between two, and I find it much less stressful.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 08/02/2021 22:49

Its great when it works and it fits. Otherwise its a bit of a ball ache.

Movedtothedge · 08/02/2021 22:49

I agree - I’ll shop online for other things but never for clothes if I can help it.

I also hate paying for postage. Once I bought some £65 shoes online and had to pay £3.95 postage (brand is not often found in shops). They didn’t fit so I had to send them back and pay the return postage, then I had to order another two times, paying postage to/from, before the shoes finally fit. They turned out to be odd sizing and the reviews didn’t match my experience of the fit. I was so cross that now I look at their website to see what I want and then see if Amazon Prime have them so I don’t have to pay, plus risk returns postage.

DahliaMacNamara · 08/02/2021 22:50

Same, OP. Even if I know 100% something will fit and suit me, there's always the risk you get sent something duff with a fault you'd have spotted yourself in the shop, and then have the faff of sending back. I don't even especially like clothes shopping, but parting with cash for stuff I haven't even seen? No.

Oysterbabe · 08/02/2021 22:51

I bought a couple of tops online the other day and they were both hideous. One had awful fabric that felt horrible. The other had such a weird cut and looked like a sack. Neither of these issues were apparent from the pictures online. Returning stuff is such a faff too, the queue at the post office is always huuuuge.

Ginfordinner · 08/02/2021 22:53

I agree. I'm not a standard shape and size, and often take 2 or 3 sizes into the changing room with me. There is absolutely no way I would ever buy jeans or footwear online as the correct fit is crucial.

I don't want to wear slippers and baggy clothes for the rest of my life, and I don't want to spend half of my life queuing in the post office to return ill fitting clothes.

My choice of shops for clothes shopping just gets smaller and smaller Sad

And, I actually enjoy having a browse round the shops.

TheUnquestionedAnswer · 08/02/2021 23:00

I hate it too. Bought some tops from New Look and they went straight back, so cheaply made and the shape was nothing like in the photos. Just had a delivery of tops from TU, which are ok-ish but not fabulous in fact I look like a whale in them

OllysArmy · 08/02/2021 23:01

I am size 16+ with large feet, most high street stores stopped catering for me a few years ago even if I dragged myself to London, I used to love browsing, trying on and spending far too much on clothes.
I adapted to online finding brands that were generally at hit and was still able to get my retail fix by going to the USA.
Now I live in yoga pants and cashmere jumpers, haven’t worn proper trousers and shoes since forever or so it seems.

TheUnquestionedAnswer · 08/02/2021 23:02

Actually, this would be the right time for M&S to up their game. If most of the popular shops are closing, they could have the monopoly. But only if they improved on the styles.

DahliaMacNamara · 08/02/2021 23:03

@Oysterbabe

I bought a couple of tops online the other day and they were both hideous. One had awful fabric that felt horrible. The other had such a weird cut and looked like a sack. Neither of these issues were apparent from the pictures online. Returning stuff is such a faff too, the queue at the post office is always huuuuge.
Well, that's it, isn't it? You can't even always tell in the shop what the cut will look like on you. I think item x will turn me into a sex kitten, but once it's on it becomes apparent I look like a fucking pillow. Too, too demoralising to have the thing hanging about the place until you have a spare afternoon to queue up at the post office.
CheshireCats · 08/02/2021 23:06

I hate online clothes shopping too! And don't get me started on bra shopping- I hate it so much I haven't bought any since pre covid and mine are literally falling to pieces 😟

Ginfordinner · 08/02/2021 23:08

@TheUnquestionedAnswer

Actually, this would be the right time for M&S to up their game. If most of the popular shops are closing, they could have the monopoly. But only if they improved on the styles.
I agree
BackforGood · 08/02/2021 23:22

YANBU at all.
I hate on-line shopping.

However, I'm not a big fan of shopping generally, so I don't think the loss of me is going to impact in the figures.

purpleme12 · 08/02/2021 23:26

Totally 100 per

purpleme12 · 08/02/2021 23:28

100 per cent agree
Honestly worried here cos Dorothy Perkins was my shop. There are no jeans anywhere that fit me like them
I don't want to go back to baggy horrible looking jeans that fall down my waist and I need a belt to keep up which I don't have
Dorothy Perkins had dresses and tops that fit... Like no other shop
I'm actually worried
I want to look nice still!

ZenNudist · 08/02/2021 23:39

I agree. I didn't used to mind an online shop because I find it difficult to find time to shop. But as you say the queue at the post office means I'm not interested any more. I always buy options and send stuff back. I absolutely resent going to a shop and not being able to try stuff on. My best clothes shopping is when I'm in the mood and I can try something new. Online shopping is ok for long sleeved t-shirts or repurchase of things you know will fit.

I bought a bunch of tracksuit for the ds tonight and found it impossible to know what would be best sizing. If I'd been in the shop I'd have thrown in a matching t shirt and remembered to buy underpants too.

DianaT1969 · 08/02/2021 23:43

The stores which are likely to survive are H&M, Zara, Cos, Arket, &Other Stories, Massimo Ditto (hopefully), M&S Clothes, John Lewis, Primark, Uniqglo (although their online presence is poor). That's enough for me. After Covid and the decimation of the local high streets, I think many will go to a city centre for shopping trips once a season.
Any other clothes stores that will survive?

newyearnewname123 · 08/02/2021 23:49

Yanbu. I hope that a smaller number of better quality shops will survive. I never buy clothes online, I am small and find it hard to find clothes that fit, I need to try clothes in before buying.

malificent7 · 08/02/2021 23:49

There's no where to wear this stuff anyway.

Magicpaintbrush · 08/02/2021 23:50

I despise shopping for clothes online - totally agree OP. You need to try it on, feel the fabric etc online clothes shopping has at least a 75% failure rate in our house. Who can be arsed dealing with returns forms etc, what a pain in the arse it all is.