Racks line the floor. They go all the way back to the end of the store. Signs hang above indicating what should be below. Should be…. Things get mismatched and moved. The signs are not always reliable.
A pair of size 6 shoes sit next to the 10s. To my disappointment, the cute style of the 6s don't come in 10s. If they had been put back correctly, I may not have seen them, and thus not be disappointed.
Similarly, as I rummage through the shirts I have a good idea of what I am looking for – a long, thin, tank top with 2" straps. Yet, among the thousands of hangers it is quite difficult to find. I missed the ease of searching online.
Benefits are abundant in shopping online. I do it for most things. Groceries are just about the only thing I have yet to conquer online. I can't seem to justify skipping the weekly trip to the market.
(Last week, however, I did conduct a search online at Peapod and other online grocery stores. I was on a mission for egg roll wrappers. I used the search to determine what stores locally had them, and in which section they'd be. In the end, I could only find empanada discs to substitute for my Irish Egg Roll recipie.)
Online I can narrow down my search in record time to find what I need. A quick visual check of the page I know whether the store on which I search has that tank top.
Or if that tank top is as good as it looks in the picture. Previous shoppers on the site review their purchases with stars or dollar signs and have the option to write reviews. I scan through these religiously; and more meticulously when the purchase is more than a tank top.
This doesn't happen in the physical stores unless I really want to do research (online of course) beforehand. In the store, I may get a friend's or the sale associate's opinion; but, that is no substitute for the 50 other people who have purchased it, lived with it, and love or hate it.
However, I am not very good with dimensions and sizes. Thus, I have been known to go into particular stores to spec furniture or brand sizes. As many times as I have done this, I have not returned any of those items purchased online as a result. It is like a visual review for me. I go home, back online, and complete the purchase.
The banner atop the page reminds me too of the latest offers – free shipping, buy one get one free, clearance items. Flashy colors and the idea of discounts are everywhere online. The tank top is $3 cheaper if I buy 2 or more. In turn, it is then cheaper than the ones I found in the store. If I find something else in this portal, I don't have to pay for the shipping.
I feel like I beat the system. Free shipping is worth the gas money to the store and the other miscellaneous things I may pick up en route to the cashier. I purchase one or ten things and get them for the price tag value - nothing more.
Some of the online stores have memberships. For a minimal annual fee, I can buy anything there and never pay shipping. When I order clothes, electronics, and furniture there often, it is well worth it.
Above the banner in the right corner is my virtual shopping cart. What an ease off my arms! – Especially when indecision can hit and I carry loads of items around and around the store till my arms are ready to fall off.
My wallet sits at ease too. The cart keeps a running total of the cost. I can add and subtract purchases to better fit my budget and everything gets put back in its place. When I decide that I really don't want to spend $40 on those shoes, I just hit the button to remove it from my cart. The next person, whom comes along, won't find the wrong size in the wrong spot.
Speaking of my wallet – online I can shop without it. My most frequented shops have my information saved – credit card or bank account info, billing & shipping addresses, most recent purchases. Of course, it is all password protected and I keep a close eye on my bills to be sure the accounts are hacked. So far - so good.
Another great part of the saved info is that it makes it much easier to shop at work. When I realize half way through my work day that my sister's birthday is next week, I just make a few clicks and it's taken care of. I don't have to pull out my wallet and make it obvious what I am doing on company time, nor do have to find time to browse many stores for the perfect gift.
Birthdays, Christmas, Just – Because occasions, whatever the reason the option is always available to gift-wrap the package. In the store fronts, I can only really do this around Christmas time. Who wants Christmas paper on their birthday? And I am not very skilled when it comes to putting paper around boxes. What a great option!
Many people will shop for the sake of shopping. Retail therapy is common among my generation. I fall guilty to this when I can. It is the joy of instant gratification that captivates me into this guilty pleasure.
When I shop online, I get a double gratification – the simple clicks to purchase something, and then the package that arrives on my doorstep a few days later. The brown cardboard packages or bubble-wrapped envelope is always a nice alternative to the bills and impersonal ads that fill my mailbox.
Thus, unless I am outright bored, or need something immediately (like a surprise interview) I prefer the online variety of shopping. The deals are better, the reviews are most accurate, and nothing beats getting things in the mail!
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