IMO the biggest fallacy of online shopping is what I discovered way back when eBay first got going. To do a good job of shopping you need to just hold it and see it. Read the instructions. Ask the store clerk questions. We’ve just been screwed too many times. I prefer the “brick and mortar” stores.
Those too lazy to actually get off their rears and go shopping are just as successful as those that fall in love texting without ever meeting the one they think they are in love with.
What a screwed up culture!
People go to Best Buy/Fry’s/Barnes and Noble, etc. to browse and ask questions and then buy online elsewhere.
My wife buys a lot online and ends up returning a lot to the local stores. She would prefer to buy at the local store but they never seem to have a good selection of sizes and colors so the retailers bring its upon themselves. Ultimately they get a sale but end up having to process returns which I guess then just stocks their stores.
The one that gets me is Sears with Land’s End. If you buy something from Land’s End online and return to Sears, they automatically mark it clearance because they have no where to stock it and just want it out of the store fast.
I’ve bought hundreds of items, big and small, including clothing and electronics, from Amazon and Ebay without touching or seeing them first. My only disappointments have been a pair of bluetooth headphones and a pair of reading glasses that weren’t of the quality I expected. There are usually reams of reviews and specs for items available online, so in most cases one isn’t buying blind. I never go to brick and mortar stores unless I need something immediately. Online shopping is a matter of convenience.
You’re exactly right. Sometimes the size of an item is in question, there is no scale reference. A can of pop or something in a photo for comparison would help. Also true of shopping for groceries online. Lots of twee packaging these days all poofed up to make the product look big on the shelf. I’ll think “Hey that’s a pretty good deal on peanut butter” and it turns out it’s a smaller jar, because I forgot to check the weight.
Online shopping - bottom line it’s the way to go, provided one knows exactly what it is they want.
“To do a good job of shopping you need to just hold it and see it. Read the instructions. Ask the store clerk questions. We’ve just been screwed too many times. I prefer the “brick and mortar” stores.”
I’ve discovered the opposite, with few exceptions like talking to an actual plumber in a hardware store, it’s a fool’s errand getting meaningful information from the majority of brain-dead high-school dropouts who are hired as clerks .... I get for more information and far better information by reading online information about a product, including specs, weight, dimensions, PDF manual, and pros and cons of dozens of previous buyers ...