Do You Prefer to Shop Online — or In-Store? Which Are Your Favorite Shopping Experiences?
Here's a question we haven't discussed in a while — do you prefer to shop online, or in-store? Which experiences and stores are your favorites, and why? We've talked a lot about shopping advice in the past, such as our favorite online stores and the best online shopping apps, but it's been a while…
To help direct the discussion, here are the questions:
1) Do you prefer to shop in store or online?
2) What shopping experiences do you LOVE?
3) Have you had any particularly bad shopping experiences, online or in person?
4) Have you had any surprisingly good shopping experiences, online or in person?
For me, I hugely prefer shopping online to in store, but that has more to do with sizing issues for me — I may be in petite sizes or regular sizes, and for bras most US stores don't even sell my size, so shopping online tends to offer more options for me for a lot of that stuff. I always used to prefer shopping for shoes in person, but I just did some massive shopping through Zappos (trying to find a comfortable, heeled sandal for a wedding I attended in August), and doing it in person it would have taken the patience of saint to wait on me and help me with all the different sizes and requests. (For example, one shoe I got in two colors and three sizes. Whee!) The Zappos returns process was easy, I could mix my returns, and half of the returned money is already back on my credit card.
The biggest downside for me for my top shopping locations (Nordstrom and Amazon for sure, with a ton of returns to Zappos recently) is making sure that all of the money is back on my credit card — it can be really, really difficult. I started a new system where I keep a spreadsheet of what I'm returning, the amount of money expected back on my card, and then I download the mailing label to my computer with a unique identifier (so, say it's September 15 return to Nordstrom, my return label would be called n915.1) — just so if I ever need to check on a package's tracking (or what was inside) I have a record of it. Anyway, I just got my credit card statement and not a single number matches the amount I was expecting to be returned, which makes me wonder if they scanned items individually or in odd orders. (So I'm wondering, if I returned 3 items from Order X and expected, say $100 back, if they scanned item by itself for $25 and 2 items together for $75, so instead of seeing $100 on my credit card statement I'm seeing two line items for $25 and $75.) To make matters even more complicated (because why not) I've been trying to use my Nordstrom card for more purchases instead of my credit card, so money may be going to different places. Sigh. (Any tips on making sure money for returns goes back on your account, ladies?)
It's funny how a negative shopping experience, even a few years ago, will still taint my view of things now. For example, the last time I went to Macy's in person, the 34th street location (in NYC) was undergoing renovations, a heavy construction smell hung in the air, everything had moved around entirely from the last time I was there. To make matters worse, there was a heavy thumpa-thumpa music playing even outside of the teenage sections, which really bugged me the day I was there. I haven't been back since, and every time I go to their website for blog-related purposes it seems poorly organized and overwhelming. Similarly, I once spent an hour or two on Lord & Taylor's website picking out a ton of nice tops for my mother to try for her birthday — there is no L&T where she lives so I thought it would be a different variety of things than she had seen. I attempted to check out and… it cleared my cart of the 10 or so tops I had put in. I tried to get it back, but to no avail. (Fun fact: before I started this blog, I hated shopping at Nordstrom in person — all of those different lifestyle-based sections did not make sense to me.)
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I did have two surprisingly great shopping experiences lately. The first was with eShakti, which again was part of my crazy buying spree hunting for nice wedding guest attire — I probably ordered 10 dresses. (I didn't do custom sizing, just picked the best off the rack size I could based on some quick measurements.) I kept two dresses plus a top — so I returned a bunch — but everything was better made than I expected, and I loved being able to customize the necklines and pockets and still return things. (For every dress I told them I was 5'4, but many of them seemed a smidge too long — so I would probably do custom sizing next time just to correct what may be a short/long torso issue.) The returns were easy, and I already got a message saying they'd been received and to expect money back on my card. (You pay $10 for each “customized style” that is nonrefundable, but I liked the experience enough to not mind.)
The other nice shopping experience was with Glossier — I had ordered two colors of Cloud Paint to try, and then completely forgotten about that when only one arrived. Then when I decided I didn't like that one, I found myself one day over the return policy's limit — and realized I had never received the second color. Customer service was really helpful and told me they'd send the second one out right away, would credit me for the first one I didn't like, and I could do what I wanted with the old tube. (Verdict: wish I'd gone with a lighter shade, but I didn't want to duplicate my favorite Guerlain cheek tint.)
Readers, how about you — where do you like to shop best, online or in stores? Have you had any bad shopping experiences? What recent shopping experiences have surprised you, hopefully in a positive way?
Stock photo via Shutterstock / haveseen.
What would you do in this strange situation? How would you react?….A couple of months ago, I arrived in mid morning to a conference where I had to attend a dressed up event at 1PM in the afternoon. Colleague I have known for many years texts me while I am in Uber to hotel to tell me that hotel will not let us check in early and would I like to meet up for lunch and head to event together. My response – “yes, great! see you in a few minutes” I arrive at hotel and my colleague is with another person recently hired to our team. I do not know this new person well at all. Since we are not able to check into hotel early, new person offers to allow us to change into dress clothes and leave our stuff in new person’s room while we attend the event. I thank new person as this is a kind offer. Unbeknownst to me and before I arrived at hotel, new person had told my colleague how much they cannot stand me and made threatening comments about what they have done to people they don’t like, mentioned firearms etc. (an account was reassigned from new person to me and this has caused new person to get very angry). Colleague and I change in hotel room (separately) and head to lunch with new person. We also travel to the conference (1 mile away) together. My colleague does not tell me about the disparaging and threatening remarks until we arrive at the conference center. I was shocked and stated “why didn’t you tell me right away so I could protect myself and get away from this person?” response from colleague – “I was very tired”. I proceed to attend the event and take an Uber back to hotel afterward. I retrieve my belongings from the hotel room and check into my own room. I see colleague the next day and mentioned my concern about this individual and that I had discussed with my husband night before (who cautioned me to keep my distance from new person). Colleague then reports situation to management. New person was terminated about 6 weeks later (for various reasons). I am extremely disappointed in my colleague for not letting me know right away that this person was a threat – feels like colleague put me in a risky situation. This has made me think so much about how vulnerable we are and how careful one must be…..how we need to look out for one another.
So sorry that you had something like that happen to you. It sounds like colleague was shocked by the situation and unsure of how to react. My DH once had a lunchroom situation where a colleague made inappropriate comments about firearms, although nothing threatening but not appropriate for the workplace based on this individual’s work discipline record, and DH said he felt like he was so surprised that he just froze. We talked about different ways to deal with it that evening and made a plan but DH was frustrated with himself for a long time that he hadn’t reacted better in the moment. Colleague did take the initiative in reporting the situation to management so there may have been an element of them being shocked in the moment and unsure of what to do.
OP here…thanks I think colleague was shocked and may have frozen up like your husband. I remember feeling so exposed – I was sitting in car next to the jerk. Still haunts me that something very bad could have happened. Colleague said next day that the comments were violent and needed to be reported. Why didn’t colleague stop it while it was happening? Be alert, listen and take appropriate action!!
Honestly though, what would have happened? You were in a car and then a public place. Stating something like “I shoot people I don’t like” is not criminally actionable. How, truly, was this person a threat?
Actually it is….it’s called a terroristic threat and in today’s world this should be taken very, very seriously.
Anon at 3:35, I’m well aware of what does and does not constitute a terroristic threat, as I’m a prosecutor. There is a reasonability and specificity requirement that, based on what the OP wrote, is not met.
You are learning that there are a lot of nut cases out there, but I would not fault your collegue. What and how was she to tell you, and when? That she was dealing with a head case in front of the head case? I think that the worst that could have happened is that you came back to her room and found your stuff had been rifled through, or that she put Nair in your underwear. But she didn’t and if you hadn’t heard about it from your friend, you would have just not even known about it. Yes, it’s true you would have been better off never crossing paths with this woman, but since you independently got one of her accounts assigned to you, that was unavoidable. Remember that this is a busness, and we often have to deal with unsavory situeations in our own firm. I personally have to deal with a CFO who ooogles me, rubs against me, says all kinds of $exueal things that he wants to do with and to me (p.s. he is MARRIED), and a lot more. I say FOOEY on him and move on. That is what you should do. Just keep an eye open for this woman in the futre so that you can head the other way if she is coming your way. DOUBEL FOOEY on HER!
Honestly I would not trust colleague’s judgment after this. Your safety and avoiding violence to anyone should trump your colleague being “very tired.” Honestly, after everything is settled I’d go to my own manager and explain what happened and ask for advice, maybe your manager would want to bring colleague or colleague’s manager in. This is a red flag in terms of judgment.
OP here….thank you – that is exactly where I am. I was very disappointed in how my colleague handled this…keep putting myself in colleague’s shoes and I know I would have handled much differently. I don’t trust my colleague anymore and have completely distanced myself. Thanks for stating this….wasn’t sure if I was over or underreacting.
You get to decide who to trust, don’t second guess yourself when it comes to personal safety and violence. Obviously very different situation but as a survivor of a 5+ year relationship with my ex exhibited zero signs of violence EVER and then threw a drill at my head when he was moving out/breaking up with me, I totally understand your reaction regarding risk, vulnerability, and disappointment.
OP here….so sorry to hear of your experience. Thank you, thank you, thank you for confirming my reactions are normal. I really struggled with this since this is a colleague/friend I had known for many years….so very disappointed in colleague and how this was handled. Take care of yourself and always look at for your good friends – they come first.
Sorry about the bad situation with the new person. I would never leave my belongings or change with some unknown “new person” that I cannot trust, whether or not they worked for the same company. The hotel should allow you to check your luggage and you could change in the restroom or the gym if your room is not available. The front desk staff should offer a plan when you ask. Hopefully this keeps you feeling safer, since you remain in public spaces.
OP here….thank you for this advice. I’m an experienced traveler yet this is s good reminder I needed about looking out for my own safety. Yes, this does make me feel safer….many thanks.
Ladies, what kind of cardigan goes best with a sheath dress? I love the look but all of my cardigans just don’t seem to look good with a sheath dress. Any thoughts? TIA!
I have to go with a shorter or cropped cardigan when I wear fitted dresses like a sheath. Putting a longer cardigan on that hides my waist or sits too heavily on my hips seems to turn the outfit frumpy.
I agree. A long-hanging cardigan looks granny like, as grannies often try to cover their large tuchuses with sweaters that go to the bottom of their tuchuses, but this actually adds EXTRA bulk where you don’t want it. If you have a big tuchus, make sure to minimize the bulk of extra layers of clothing below the waist b/c that part of your anatomy is already to big.
BTW, in light of the above issue, I want to state that I always prefer INSTORE to ONLINE when it comes to shopping b/c you NEVER know how something fits until you actually try it on. This would ring particularly true with long sweaters and big tuchuses, which do NOT go together, as I already explained hereinabove! YAY!!!
Boden has the *best* cropped cardigans in different materials. I can wear a dress with a bolo sweater and then a couple of days later wear it with a Boden cardigan buttoned up and it looks like a sweater and a skirt. I’ve had several Boden cotton cardigans (black, white and gray) for a few years, machine wash (and dry!), stretch them out before I hang them up and no pilling or fading. They also have cotton cardigans that tie at the waist and they are just as good. (Haven’t invested in cashmere yet.)
Just search cropped cardigan at bodenusa.com.
ugh. doesn’t look like they have the tie-front cardigans right now – but the cotton crop is called Amelia.
Try a jardigan (jacket/cardigan combo). MMLafleur sells one, but I’m sure there are others.
Depends on your bodyshape.
I’m an x-shape hourglass, and look like an Italian grandmother wih a crew neck cardigan on top any dress.
A very fitted (or VERY sheer) v-neck cardigan is fine, however.
A waist, skinny, constrasting belt (over or under cardigan) is fine.
I have a long sheer cardigan from Uniqlo and I had the fantasy that it would skim my body and look floaty – and…
no. So I only wear it when I can belt it.
Online: when I need something from somewhere where parking and/or traffic will be a pain – e.g. in NOVA: Pentagon City mall, Bailey’s Crossroads Target
In person: whenever I don’t have to deal with too many stoplights or hordes of other people – I’ll happily stroll for hours through small town shops or stop in small strip malls like Fairlington Centre or the Bradlee Center
I tried to stop shopping this year and was successful until this last month Lulus has me wanting ALL of their dresses. I like online shopping because I think the deals are pretty consistent (plus it’s so convenient), especially for stuff I don’t need, but could use. This only works because I live really close to a large mall so I can return in person easily, I fit into most things in my size because I’m not very curvy, and because I like skirts & dresses over pants, which I find so difficult to find a great fit.
However, whenever I am at the mall or store, I’ve found deals that are unbelievable because it’s way out of season or something like that. Taking time into consideration, online shopping is my go-to, plus it keeps me from buying just because.
You know, when I was younger, my friends and I basically shopped for entertainment and now we never do – we go for bike rides, walk our dogs, go get drinks/coffee/popsicles, etc. But I only shop now if there is something that I’ve identified that I need. I strongly favor shopping online unless I’m shopping for housewares, visiting my favorite vintage store, or going to the bike shop.
I am really sensitive to how easy returns are. I strongly prefer Nordstrom’s approach, where they preprint a label and you can just box it up and send it back and I don’t need my PC/printer. If you make it cost me anything for returns, or make it logistically not fun, I will not shop there unless I really need something. Amazon aside, because Amazon. . .
As vanity sizing has made the proper fit more of a gamble, I’ve just… stopped shopping at a lot of stores unless I can go in person. I only buy online when it’s something like Antonio Melani – relatively stable sizing, very easy to return in-store, and there is a store near work and near home (long, rural commute).
My preference for online shopping is 100% based on geography. Around here you either shop online, drive three hours to a major city, or pick one of the same five blouses you can find in the two dinky malls here.
I would so prefer to shop in person, but being a size 18-22 and needing professional/court clothing (aside from what can be found at the local LB/Eloquii/Macy’s depressing in-store options), I shop almost exclusively online. Love Nordstrom for the easy returns and wider selection.
I used to LOVE in-person shopping. It was my weekend entertainment. Now I hate it. I buy from the same online sources (Nordstrom, J. Crew, Brooks Brothers, Athleta) almost all the time. I can return to all in person within ten minutes of my house.
I’m a dinosaur who loves going to the mall. In fairness, I live in Dallas, and when it is August and 100+ degrees, walking around my local mall (which also has a lot of incredible art, including pieces by Andy Warhol, Lichtenstein, etc.) is a decent form of exercise on a Sunday afternoon when I cannot walk outside. However, I like to make as many purchases as possible through airline award portals online so I can get airline points on things I have to buy anyway.
I love the idea of online shopping but not the reality. I’ve come to understand that I just need to try clothes on before making any decisions, and I hate returning stuff even when they make it easy. I also hate going to malls, though, which means I pretty much don’t shop for clothes unless I’m in dire need of something specific.
Online, always. I’ve noticed even when I look at a store’s merchandise online and go into a store to see it in person, nothing that I was interested in is ever in stock. I shop online and return what I don’t want. I am veryyyy consistent in sizing though.