Is It Any Wonder I Shop Online?
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
March 7, 2011 11:05am CST
I had my day all mapped out. Firstly, I had my hair cut (I love going to the hairdressers for a chat lol), then my plan was to visit Town as I've actually got some of my ebay money to spend.
Could I find what I wanted?
NOPE!
Don't get me wrong, I wasn't visiting shops for the sake of it, buying everything in sight. Oh, no! I actually wanted to buy stuff I needed like a pair of those bootie slipper cowies. Mum bought me some for Christmas and they're falling to bits so I really need another pair (honest) and I just couldn't find any. In Marks they had a nice pink pair but not in my size. There was another style I liked but none of them had the sizes on. I thought, "One size fits all is it?" but I couldn't be bothered asking anybody.
I actually like going in electrical shops as I know what I'm doing in them (not that there's any in Town, they're all a car ride away and I don't drive lol). I never know what I'm doing in a clothes shop although I know for a fact that if I DIDN'T have any money to spend there would be racks and racks of stuff I liked.
Is it any wonder I ordered a Microsoft cordless keyboard and mouse from Amazon the other day? Is it any wonder I ordered the slippers I saw in M&S but online because the size was clearly marked on the site and NOT on the "real life" versions?
From Town all I came home with was a bottle of shampoo from Boots and Duracell batteries that are only £1 for two in er, Poundland.
That was it!
God help me if I ever become rich. Where on earth would I buy my yacht?
Haha!
Could I find what I wanted?
NOPE!
Don't get me wrong, I wasn't visiting shops for the sake of it, buying everything in sight. Oh, no! I actually wanted to buy stuff I needed like a pair of those bootie slipper cowies. Mum bought me some for Christmas and they're falling to bits so I really need another pair (honest) and I just couldn't find any. In Marks they had a nice pink pair but not in my size. There was another style I liked but none of them had the sizes on. I thought, "One size fits all is it?" but I couldn't be bothered asking anybody.
I actually like going in electrical shops as I know what I'm doing in them (not that there's any in Town, they're all a car ride away and I don't drive lol). I never know what I'm doing in a clothes shop although I know for a fact that if I DIDN'T have any money to spend there would be racks and racks of stuff I liked.
Is it any wonder I ordered a Microsoft cordless keyboard and mouse from Amazon the other day? Is it any wonder I ordered the slippers I saw in M&S but online because the size was clearly marked on the site and NOT on the "real life" versions?
From Town all I came home with was a bottle of shampoo from Boots and Duracell batteries that are only £1 for two in er, Poundland.
That was it!
God help me if I ever become rich. Where on earth would I buy my yacht?
Haha!5 people like this
16 responses
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
7 Mar 11
I do enjoy frequenting the electrical shops because I eye the beautiful chandeliers and light fixtures. Something about them that fascinate me, I guess I continue to dream of owning a great many of them.
I refrain from any shopping anymore because can't shop when I have no money to splurge with. But it sure is nice to compare online when I am ready to shop somedays.
Yacht janey? nice dream. 
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
7 Mar 11
I love lighting fixtures, I really do. I love the way the many are so creative and I dream about having several in my home. 
I am more then a Lotter, helpful too. 
I am more then a Lotter, helpful too. @Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
7 Mar 11
You are helpful hardworkinggurl. One of the nicer Lotters on here.
As for lighting I LOVE it! The lighting in this house is very poor and I would love to upgrade with some fabulous, posh lights. I have noticed, however, that it's has become very expensive (probably due to the VAT going up here in the UK in January) and it does make a difference to the prices. Here is one of the sites I frequent and I can spend ages on it if I let myself lol.
http://www.thelightingsuperstore.co.uk/category.asp?catcode=12
http://www.thelightingsuperstore.co.uk/category.asp?catcode=12
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
8 Mar 11
Well, that's true! Definitely a shortage of taxis in this city..but there again if I had money I wouldn't live here anyway!
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
27 Mar 11
pft..i almost never buy much more than food local anymore.
if they did have what i'm looking for (which is rare)it's usually hideously marked up,because this town has delusions of it's worth.add into that rude clerks who are either snobby or follow you around the whole time with a barely concealed "are we stealing today"..
online.cheaper,no hassle,many choices.yea!
online.cheaper,no hassle,many choices.yea!@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
27 Mar 11
I know what you mean. I really can't be bothered going shopping. It's Mother's Day a week from now and I've just spent a pleasant few minutes trawling the internet for some perfume Mum likes. Ordered it too and it shall be with her in 3 days. If I'd bought it in a local store I'd be ripped off for sure, plus the fact I'd have to wrap it up and post it seperately. In comparison, the internet is hassle free...and I've just discovered a perfume site other than Amazon that's cheap..in fact the p & p was around £4 cheaper which is A LOT!
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
7 Mar 11
There's very few things I want...I'm really trying to downsize. When I need something, about 75% of the time I buy it online, because I hate shopping and because they deliver it to the house (and it saves wear and tear on my truck and gas). I do shop for groceries in town, and when I do, I buy batteries and other stuff. But for the most part, it's online shopping for me.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
7 Mar 11
In a way I'm glad Mum doesn't use the internet as I'm sure she'd start buying stuff whenever she's bored! However, I have a lot of self-control (I have to in my circumstances) so I browse around sites rather like browsing around shops. I find the internet much more relaxing, funnily enough plus I don't stress out if I can't find anything...just use another site!! Haha!
The internet is also extremely good for researching..well, anything really but you will know that already of course.
@zralte (4178)
• India
7 Mar 11
Thank God for the Internet and people who sells online.
I love the ability to compare the prices without having to go from shop to shop. I hate shopping mostly because my feet gets so tired.
Funny thing I did in Poundland: there was a ladder (medium height, perfect for round the house), and you can make out that there used to be a price sticker. I asked the assistant there if that ladder was really a pound He looked at me very cross before he said, 'That's our store ladder used for stacking the shelf'
He looked at me very cross before he said, 'That's our store ladder used for stacking the shelf' @Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
7 Mar 11
I compared prices online for the Microsoft wireless keyboard and mouse I ended up buying from Amazon. I also read loads of reviews on different sites. People tend to be honest when reviewing so I trust them as opposed to just picking the first keyboard I set eyes on in a "shop." I couldn't believe the difference in prices for wireless keyboards! We have a store called PC World and it's an absolute RIP-OFF! I would never buy anything from there. John made the mistake of buying my speakers from there (full price) and if he'd bothered to look online he could've got them for less than half price!
That's a funny story about the ladders in Poundland. Mum does stuff like that all the time!
I don't know if you use Firefox as your browser but one of the add-ons is called Invisible Hand and what it does is flag up cheaper prices for (mainly) electricals. I reckon I've saved a lot of money with this add-on.
That's a funny story about the ladders in Poundland. Mum does stuff like that all the time!
I don't know if you use Firefox as your browser but one of the add-ons is called Invisible Hand and what it does is flag up cheaper prices for (mainly) electricals. I reckon I've saved a lot of money with this add-on.@zralte (4178)
• India
8 Mar 11
No....
No Poundland in India. I wish there's one. There used to be a Dollar Store - though I have no idea why they call it a Dollar Store as everything was Rs. 99 (a little over $2), probably better to call it Poundland as it is closer to Pound
Sorry, I belong to a little bit of two countries. I am Indian and my husband's British. My husband and I moved to India to continue the family business of manufacturing. We visit his parents at least once or twice a year - explanation of how I know about Poundland
I do use Firefox, mainly for the Clixsense toolbar, 'Invisible Hand' is indeed a good tip.
No Poundland in India. I wish there's one. There used to be a Dollar Store - though I have no idea why they call it a Dollar Store as everything was Rs. 99 (a little over $2), probably better to call it Poundland as it is closer to Pound
Sorry, I belong to a little bit of two countries. I am Indian and my husband's British. My husband and I moved to India to continue the family business of manufacturing. We visit his parents at least once or twice a year - explanation of how I know about Poundland
I do use Firefox, mainly for the Clixsense toolbar, 'Invisible Hand' is indeed a good tip.@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
7 Mar 11
I do know what you mean about comparison shopping. I would rather spend two hours shopping and comparing online then walking an hour in a store.
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
7 Mar 11
I do not often have much money for shopping, but I do find I am shopping online more and more. It is less tiring, and it saves gas. I guess we should check Amazon and eBay for yachts for you, Janey girl.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
25 Mar 11
I love how that works. It's like when we don't have money we find everything we want and need, and when we do have money it's like the stores don't have anything we want or need, and if they do it's labeled wrong, or the wrong color, size, style...
Shopping online is great, but even then sometimes they don't have the size labeled right for the sale, or they send out the wrong size. Plus, sometimes you're not sure of the size so have to guess and then if it's the wrong size send it back.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
25 Mar 11
I would say that I've been luckier ordering online than anywhere else, if I'm being honest. Perhaps it's due to the fact I do a lot of browsing before making a decision on something...I lose patience in "proper shops" and tend to come home empty-handed!
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
8 Mar 11
Its amazing what you can find to buy on line. Sometimes I wish food shopping could be done the same way.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
8 Mar 11
Can you not buy food online? We could if we wanted to but food is something we really like to see close-up before buying it. Our neighbours don't have transport so they buy food online a fair bit. The other day an Iceland van turned up with food for them. It's an ideal way of shopping if you have no transport or if you're confined to the house for whatever reason. Technology is a wonderful thing in that respect.
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
7 Mar 11
Hiya Janey,
The opposite with me this time round I have waited so long to buy new Clothes that I went straight into a Shop and I actually liked a Coat I saw in the Sales it still was not cheap either but it will last me much much longer than the cheaper Coats going so I bought it almost right away. I eyed it up and down looked at the price and almost fell through the Floor and then thought about all the other Coats that were not nice and looked very dowdy on me. So all in all I have made very good buy.
I won´t tell anyone how long I have had to wait to be able to buy this new coat I really needed it honest.
But I do know what you mean about going to the Shops and you cannot find anything that you want so many times too. I can´t shop online for things as I have given my Credit Card a break right down the middle of it so to speak so I wait till I have enough and do offline Shopping I have more fun that way. I enjoy it at least.
By the way there must be loads of yachts in Plymouth and Portsmouth that you could eye up and down at least. It´s nice to dream I do when I see them on the Television. Hope you get rich one Day too.xxx
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
8 Mar 11
Awww, thanks. My Dad loves boats in general so I suppose if I ever DID become rich I could buy him one as well.
It's great that you found your coat in a proper shop lol. It does happen to me now and again but, alas, not today.
Tomorrow I shall visit B&Q for 5 bulbs (lights) and leather wipes. Exciting, eh?
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
8 Mar 11
I bought my boots online as the ones I bought in a high street store let water in. I was so incensed by this that I thought "Sod it!" and bought online from the rather wonderful Hotter site. They're British too, which, believe me is extremely rare. I've not regretted it as there are loads of reviews on everything they sell, which I find very useful. Amazon is excellent for that as well. I have kept the boots that let water in because they are very comfortable BUT I don't go out in them if it's raining!
@changjiangzhibin89 (16763)
• China
8 Mar 11
It took you a day to map out ,at last you just had s bottle of shampoo and batteries with you when you got from town.You are real a lady who is careful calculation and strict budgeting and far from buying everything in sight.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
8 Mar 11
Yes, I am much more self-controlled than I used to be in the shopping department! I certainly won't pay full price for clothing anymore. I always buy clothes that have been greatly reduced.
@LaLaNoShade (45)
• United States
8 Mar 11
Hello Janey1966,
I experience the same things! Every time I go out to shop and actually NEED to buy things I never find a single item. But when I'm window shopping everything looks so shiny and perfect. I could never understand it. So now I'm trying a new method. I just hold off on buy things and wait for one of those glorious moments when I find everything I'm looking for. I have done very little shopping online. But I might start looking into it more often. Great post...
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
8 Mar 11
Thanks very much..and welcome to MyLot. You're exactly like me. I have a theory about yesterday's disastrous shopping trip, however. I've come to the conclusion that - maybe, Monday is a stock date day for lots of stores? It does seem a coincidence that all the shops I went in were quiet but staff were milling around in groups - possibly discussing stock?
I will be off out again on Thursday as I need to pick my slippers up from M&S that I'd ordered online. It will be interesting to see if there is any difference, stock-wise.
Wow, I feel like a Mystery Shopper!
Haha!
@housechaos7 (609)
•
7 Mar 11
I know how you feel i am the same i go to town knowing what i want and the shopnever have size or colour in stock if not they may have some next week but you cant reserve them grrr and thats if i actually manage to find the item yet online its all visable in colour size etc and how long it will take to be delivered.It is so much less hassle to type in exactly what you need online within a few minutes so many results and alot less hassle.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
7 Mar 11
It is a lot less hassle, you're right! I found the slippers I wanted in a few short minutes and ordered them there and then as I had actually seen them in the store, but like I said, none of them had the sizes, but they do online, of course. Why the staff can't label the slippers in the store is anyone's guess!
@crimsonladybug (3112)
• United States
7 Mar 11
I have that same problem! Every week we go out to buy the next week's groceries and any other things that have come up that we need and it seems like every week I leave the store still needing a handful of the things off the list because they were out of stock when I was there. It took me two weeks and four stores to finally find my contact lens solution!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
7 Mar 11
I know, it's frustrating isn't it? I often think there are is actually MORE to choose from online as shops can't stock everything, so the online version of the same shop can stock as much as they like..if that makes sense! At least I have the option to pick up my slippers from the store, thus saving on postage which I hate paying as it's such a darn rip-off!
