Shopping in person only - a good idea in theory…

[Newmeagain]

Earlier this month I saw an article in the Guardian written by a woman who said she had decided to only ever buy things if she happened to see them while shopping in person because she realised how much time she spent scrolling for items, ordering them online and then often forgetting to return items.

This really resonated with me (other than forgetting to return - as I always do).

I thought how lovely it would be to shop the way I used to 20 years ago.

BUT - despite living in London and in theory having all these shopping options available to me, it just never works out - I usually come home empty handed and go back online. Why?

• extremely limited range and sizes in shops;
• unwillingness by shops to order in out of stock items (they just tell you to look online);
• I also like to buy some items second hand but charity shops are now stupidly expensive so have to look online.

So yes, I do spend too much time trying to find stuff and then posting it back… or am I doing it all wrong?

I agree, the shops aren't what they were. I used to love a browse.

I haven't read the article in question but I do think there's a lot to be said for happening upon something I love and buying it. To be honest I have a policy now of only buying things I absolutely love. If it's "ok" it goes back.

I do order and return things quite often. I'd rather try on in a real shop though. The lack of sizes is frustrating.

I definitely buy fewer clothes than before as I get older. Things have to earn their keep and I'm more willing to pay more and keep items longer (for environmental reasons as much as anything).

I enjoy browsing online. It's a pleasure, not a chore. I rarely have to return anything and it's always because I've been unrealistically vain about sizes so it's an exchange not a return.

Re real shops there's 3 or 4 independent shops I buy from in person because I want to support them and they sell interesting stuff. In those cases, it's definitely happening upon it and loving it. I found a perfect Aquascutum tweed coat last week in a second shop which would have been a crime not to buy.

and then often forgetting to return items.

Absent an unavoidable personal disaster this is ridiculous. So for that reason I wouldn't be looking to the writer for advice.

I hate online shopping. I hate the trend for mega-shops online so it's not just next it's 100 stores on the next website. Want a dress used to mean looking at 30 dresses, now it's 3000 dresses.

But shopping in person is frustrating as my size (10 so hardly outlandish ) is never in stock.

I sometimes see something I like instore but I don't want to impulse buy so I'll take a photo , wait 24-48 hours and buy online .

Online shopping gives the buyer more rights to return .but I'm not a fan of browsing online .

I hate the trend for mega-shops online so it's not just next it's 100 stores on the next website. Want a dress used to mean looking at 30 dresses, now it's 3000 dresses.

Depends where you look. There's no fun in that sort of browsing . I don't buy from mega shops.

Fine if you live in London I suppose but where I am literally all the shops I would shop at have closed apart from Next.
There are supermarkets but wouldn't want to get all my clothes from a supermarket!
For my teen DD there is literally nowhere she would shop in our local town so shopping in person means a drive to the nearest large town which is probably less environmentally friendly than ordering online.
We also both usually need a short length or petite range which isn't usually available in physical stores anyway.

I tend to find I keep just-ok items that fit if ordered, but if I was in-shop I would probably put them back on the rack.

I do like a visit to shops, but then it can be hard to focus on what you need. So both on line and in person have their advantages.