Buying things without leaving your home.

[whiplash]

No wonder the High St is dead.

[Ceam]

Does that mean you have never do it?

I still buy quite a bit on the high street, But some things you simply can't get.


Clothes and Electronics, I always buy on the high street if I can.

[Albion102]

I buy nothing online that I can get on my high street ideally from an independent or john lewis. Food is the only exception - Ocado I don't go to big supermarkets,just use Ocado and Tesco Express.

[Hamble]

We use every available option technology allows.

Local shops and local towns particularly if passing and I know that I can buy a certain brand or item guaranteed.

For instance.
Mr Hamble swears 'the ONE' milk.Brought his cholesterol down to ideal.
Not available in many outlets other than the Co Op chain.

[said]

No wonder the High St is dead.

Internet shopping has not been the cause for High Street shops closing. It is a cause and effect situation. Big chain stores took over much of the retailing on the High Streets. These stores are locked into investment loans and stocked a number of lines of items. After the stock market crash in 2008/2009 investors began increasing the value of stocks - this has now reached an all time high. The chain stores supported by the investors - have had to find additional money to repay their loans. This meant cutting out certain lines of stock, reducing variations and cutting back on staff across the board. These main stores operate distance management from one Head Office, as opposed to individual local Managers in each store - who would be able to order in accordance with local need. Shoppers were unable to purchase only the most common of items used, or in clothing - could only find average sizes and despaired of finding anyone on the shop floor who could help them. Consequently, shoppers were forced to look elsewhere for their needs. This is why it is necessary for private shop owners to create a market that will meet current needs - private shop owners are able to change in accordance with an ever changing market, large stores cannot. That is why the High Streets are gradually changing over to smaller outlets, which is not yet evident in the North of England, but it is most definitely in the South.

[toothache]

I buy nothing online that I can get on my high street ideally from an independent or john lewis. Food is the only exception - Ocado I don't go to big supermarkets,just use Ocado and Tesco Express.

Conversely I buy almost nothing in the shops (apart from nearby Farmfoods) that I can buy online. Ocado, Tesco and sometimes Asda deliver and Amazon see to the rest.

My reason is that I cannot leave my dog alone as she gets really unhappy and frets. Wees on the bathroom floor and pants non-stop leaving copious amounts of slimy saliva everywhere.
I am not prepared to add to the cost of my shopping the £10 (or whatever) an hour I’d have to pay for a dog minder.

The only shops I do use in town are those that are dog friendly.
If they are not, we simply take our custom elsewhere e.g. Amazon.
Fortunately now, there are several cafés and bars in town that are very dog friendly and we have probably been to all of them.
She is not the slightest trouble wherever I take her - she just hates it if I leave her behind.
It makes GP and hospital visits more complicated but so far I have managed to get her looked after.
I suppose the shop managers or owners have to decide which side of the equation to embrace.
Custom from dog loverse —> / <— loss of custom from dog haters

[grassroots]

Internet shopping has not been the cause for High Street shops closing. It is a cause and effect situation. Big chain stores took over much of the retailing on the High Streets. These stores are locked into investment loans and stocked a number of lines of items. After the stock market crash in 2008/2009 investors began increasing the value of stocks - this has now reached an all time high. The chain stores supported by the investors - have had to find additional money to repay their loans. This meant cutting out certain lines of stock, reducing variations and cutting back on staff across the board. These main stores operate distance management from one Head Office, as opposed to individual local Managers in each store - who would be able to order in accordance with local need. Shoppers were unable to purchase only the most common of items used, or in clothing - could only find average sizes and despaired of finding anyone on the shop floor who could help them. Consequently, shoppers were forced to look elsewhere for their needs. This is why it is necessary for private shop owners to create a market that will meet current needs - private shop owners are able to change in accordance with an ever changing market, large stores cannot. That is why the High Streets are gradually changing over to smaller outlets, which is not yet evident in the North of England, but it is most definitely in the South.

Spot on again said .

[Kafoozalum]

The only things that I buy online are technology, most of which are now unavailable on the High St. Food and clothes I want to see before I buy. How do all of these people who buy clothes online know that they will fit?
I had a spell of having to go regularly to the post office to get money for my Mum. The amount of parcels being returned was ridiculous. Waiting 10 mins just to get to the counter behind people carrying bin bags full of parcels. If this is to continue then the Post Office will have to devise a more efficient processing system for parcels.

[said]

The only things that I buy online are technology, most of which are now unavailable on the High St. Food and clothes I want to see before I buy. How do all of these people who buy clothes online know that they will fit?
I had a spell of having to go regularly to the post office to get money for my Mum. The amount of parcels being returned was ridiculous. Waiting 10 mins just to get to the counter behind people carrying bin bags full of parcels. If this is to continue then the Post Office will have to devise a more efficient processing system for parcels.

Most people want to see and know what they are buying in clothing - there are catalogue outlets - but again it is a sales and return thing. How about something on the lines of Argos - catalogues showing clothing, you pick out something you like the look of, order it and try it on in the shop, if you like it pay, if not choose something else. The store could operate by purchasing clothing from a number of outlets, with a variety of prices and quality. It would need a large stockroom and several changing rooms - but customers would not be hampered by having to look on every single rack for clothing they like.

[ausard2]

There are still a lot of people living on a budget.
So it makes sense to buy online.

[silver fox]

How many look around the shops to find the item they like? then trawl the internet to get the cheapest deal, when the shops go, what then?

[said]

How many look around the shops to find the item they like? then trawl the internet to get the cheapest deal, when the shops go, what then?

Purchasing cheaper on line goods is a false saving. When taking into consideration the cost of mailing and in several cases paying the cost of return items. Plus the delays in waiting for the item to arrive - which is generally delivered when you are not around, and you either have to wait longer for redelivery or get a neighbour to take it in. It would be far more convenient to purchase from a shop locally, try the item on, being able to try various sizes, and it is often cheaper.

[Kafoozalum]

Most people want to see and know what they are buying in clothing - there are catalogue outlets - but again it is a sales and return thing. How about something on the lines of Argos - catalogues showing clothing, you pick out something you like the look of, order it and try it on in the shop, if you like it pay, if not choose something else. The store could operate by purchasing clothing from a number of outlets, with a variety of prices and quality. It would need a large stockroom and several changing rooms - but customers would not be hampered by having to look on every single rack for clothing they like.

That's a great idea & I've just thought of a name for it, how about calling it a shop.