I may never shop at a department store again!

[Phoenicianknight]

So, my son needed some new shorts for summer school. He is taking advance math classes both summer sessions (his choice not because he failed a class). So he asked if we could get him some new school uiform shorts for the summer (Dickie Shorts). "No problem, I will just run down to the mall and get a couple sets".

So I went down to the mall, and checked out both Sears and JCPennys. Both had the shorts, but not the right size (he needed the length of the shorts not to be longer than 11 inches), and they were kind of expensive. I was told to check on line at their store sites.

I checked on line and found the shorts at the right size, but the on line price was even higher than the in store price. I was going to ordered it anway, but I was told it would be an extra 6.99 for shipping, and 10 to 14 days for delivery.

I decided not to order it, and checked out some medium/lower end stores that might carry these shorts. Well, I found them at Khols, but they were more expensive (even on sale) and at walmart, but still to long in length (13 inchea).

I even went to the "bad part of town", found the shorts, but not at the right length, but even longer, not really sure they are even considered "shorts" at that point.

So, I got on the Dickes web site, and found what I wanted right a way. Ordered two pair of black, and 2 pair of khaki. I told the guy that I had a %15 off coupon from sears, and he stated that he would give me %20 off. So, I paid less money, and no shipping charge, and it would be at my home with 3-4 days.

If this is what it takes to get the right clothes at the right price, I don't know of any reason to actually go shopping at a department store again.

 

[scotpens]

So I went down to the mall, and checke out both Sears and JCPennys. Both had the shorts, but not the right size (he needed the length of the shorts not to be longer than 1 inches) . . .

So your son is the size of a Ken doll?

 

[Alrik]

PK, that looks to be the way of the future. My 19 year old son does the majority of his shopping online. I've even noticed that my wife is doing more of it as well. If you know the correct size, it does almost make more sense anymore. The only real exception that I see is if you physically need to try something on.

 

[auntiehill]

I buy a LOT of things online. I have my favorite store (which I'm sure everyone knows by now), so I know how the clothes generally run. I can find much more in the way of sales & discounts, not to mention sizes & colors, but going online.

I do about 80% of my Christmas shopping online now, and by using sites like Amazon, I hardly ever have to pay for shipping. It saves gas, time, postage and frustration. I can almost always find a good deal online, too.

The only thing I can't buy online is shoes. I have some seriously screwed up feet, so I always have to try shoes on before buying.

 

[Balrog]

Whether on line or not, you have to bargain hunt.

 

[RoJoHen]

I tend not to buy clothes online because I prefer to try them on first, even if it's just a t-shirt. I'm kind of picky about the way things fit, so just because it may come in my size doesn't mean it fits the way I like.

 

[Holdfast]

If this is what it takes to get the right clothes at the right price, I don't know of any reason to actually go shopping at a departmen store again.

Mid-size, mid-market department stores are a joke. Poor value garbage generally and impossible to find what you want, as you found out.

I almost never go to mid-market dept stores. And I only very rarely venture into the better dept stores too. I prefer boutiques where I know my size and their style, or getting things made for me, or for accessories/non-sized things, shopping online. Dept stores generally have a lot of tat, marked up way more than it should be. Coincidentally enough, just the other day I blogged about my different clothes sources.

 

[ngc7293]

I know that everything will be online eventually, for instance I need to get things through big and tall magazines, but pants are a snap (no pun) at places like Kohls.

 

[Miss Chicken]

I don't like to buy clothes online because I like to try things on before I buy. I am rather stingy about spending too much on clothes so I tend to either buy from op shops (thrift shops) or from the Millers Store at my local shopping centre.

Books and DVDs I nearly always buy online. This year I have also bought many other things online

Printer
Ink for my printer
Sheets
Kindle cover
Oil burner
Sooty puppet and Sooty beanie
A cheap camera
A jewellery box
Cookware
Handbag organiser
Laptop desk trolley

because of our small population (only around 510,000 people in the whole state) many things just aren't available in our local stores and often, if they are available, they are overpriced. I am willing to pay around 20% extra for something brought locally compared to the internet but when I was quoted $70 by a local store to get a battery charger for my camera and I found it online (from a online Australian store) for $21 which incuded postage I find it hard to find any enthusiasm for supporting local businesses.

 

[Smellincoffee]

I get most of my books online, as there's no bookstore in town, and I get some clothes from there....but if I just want to browse for shirts, I find going to the store and roaming around is easier. Besides, online I can't evaluate either the texture of the cloth or its fit. I find the internet, particularly Amazon's marketplace, useful for finding older-model merchandise. There's a particular camera from HP I'm keen on, but I'd never find it in stores. On Amazon I can pick it up used for $30-60.

I never buy online what I can purchase from locally-owned stores, though. I want to support merchants in town as much as I can.

 

[propita]

I buy a lot online, but not clothes. I’m short and ... well, heavy, so they have to be tried on first. But we’ve been getting a lot from Amazon and retail sites.

Oh, but sometimes the malls are good. If you want a “name” item, more for quality than bragging, you can find great deals at the mall. We were poking around Macys and Hubby got a couple of button-down Izod shirts for $8.75 each from the clearance rack, regular $50+. The quality of construction was too good to pass up. And Nordstrom Rack usually has quality shoes at good prices, though you may not find exactly what you want that particular visit. Outlets, by comparison, often have prices higher than the clearance prices at the mall, and “outlet lines” of clothes are usually a lower quality in construction or material

 

[iguana_tonante]

I tend not to buy clothes online because I prefer to try them on first, even if it's just a t-shirt. I'm kind of picky about the way things fit, so just because it may come in my size doesn't mean it fits the way I like.

Same here. Also, I'm the size of a hobbit, so I want to make sure my clothes fit me properly and won't make me look even shorter than nature intended me to be.

 

[1001001]

I buy all my clothes used on eBay.

 

[MacLeod]

I loathe clothes shopping. It seems to be unless you are of what is considered the average size it can be tricker to get your size. So if you are of shorter or taller stature it can be a bit of pot luck.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I buy all my shirts online (you can guess which kind). That's easy, 'cause I know my size and there are no shops around here where I can get shirts like that anyway. Pants, OTOH, I buy from actual stores.

 

[Ethros]

I hate clothes shopping stores, but I find I have to do it, as I really like to try things on first.
Basically I'm a "medium" yet the amount of times I've ordered M clothes online that come either way too baggy or too small I just gave up

 

[Holdfast]

Outlets, by comparison, often have prices higher than the clearance prices at the mall, and “outlet lines” of clothes are usually a lower quality in construction or material

Depending on the outlet, they often have some past season retail at significant discount. That's where the real bargains are; you just have to ignore everything else. It's more common in the smaller companies than the bigger ones, and dependent on the location of the outlet and its typical clientele too.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I buy all my clothes used on eBay.

The problem there is, sellers might not be 100% up front about the condition, so you gotta go through all the BS involved with a return.

I'll buy new clothes online, along with almost everything else.

It seems like brick & mortar stores don't "get it" when it comes to online store having much better prices and better selection.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I tend to shop for and try on jackets, shirts and jeans in stores. Once I'm happy with a style, though, if the color selection is basic I'll reorder online. I even buy shoes online now.

 

[Alrik]

^

Years ago, when my dog was still in his "puppy/chewy" phase, he completely destroyed one of my hiking boots. Needless to say, I was less than impressed. But my wife just got online to the site for the store where I had bought them, and I had a new pair in a couple of days.

Because of that, if I'm just getting a new pair of the same shoes, I have no issue with buying them online.