STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Kitty · Hermes

Online shopping

NCshopper · Hermes

I'd say I do about 80% of my shopping online. I find that the selection is far better than what I could get here, I can usually get a better deal because of coupon codes, and it means I don't have to deal with snotty sales people. We have a lot of great boutiques in this area, but I find that most of the sales people are so awful that it's a total turnoff. Plus, I can shop during my lunch break or (shh!) when I'm supposed to be working and really, what can beat that?

I buy from a bunch of different stores online, even if there's a local one nearby: Nordstrom, JCrew, Sephora. Or from online boutiques or stores that aren't local: bluefly, Active Endeavors, Ravinstyle, etc.

I've never really had a problem (knock on wood).

honey · Gucci

i would say about 30% off my purchases are made online. that's probably a function of where i live, and if i lived somewhere less accessible i would do more online shopping.

the thing is, i like instant gratification, and getting packages can be a pita. the people ih my local bodega are nice enough to sign for them but i don't like to abuse the favor.

most of the time i go online to buy stuff at a discount. with the exception of ebay i don't think i've ever bought something site unseen online.

i don't think i've ever had a really bad experience online. i will say that one of my biggest pet peeves is stores that don't synch their web display with their inventory. i understand if i buy on the weekends, but nothing irks me more than ordering something, thinking i have it, and then 3 days later getting an email saying the item is out of stock. by that point i've already started to build outfits around it, and it's upsetting.

montmarte · Kenneth Cole

I love browsing online--about 20-30% of my purchases are made on-line.

I usually buy on-line from anthro, shopbop, girlshop, ebay

Bad online experience with Karizma Boutique (based in LA) , will never shop from them ever again. Terrible customer service, and they charged me for an item that they didn't even have in stock. It took a month before they gave me a refund.

kittenheels · Coach

I am one of those pathetic people who loves getting packages at work :) It just cheers me up when something comes in the mail. I generally buy from nordstrom or saks b/c of their return policies...and generally only lines that I know how they fit. I am a tremendous dork, but whatever gets you through the day, right?

Kelly · Hermes

I probably only make 10-15% of my purchases online. I buy bras online, because there's a better selection and I can buy them cheaply. If there's something online that I love, and can return if necessary, I'll buy it. But I return about half of the things I buy because I guess my body is really hard to fit or else I'm really picky about fit- I'm notorious for going into a dressing room with armloads and not buying a thing. So buying online is painstaking, and all the savings I get I probably completely undo with all of the return shipping that I pay.

Buying online from f21 is a blessing and a curse. So many things are on the website that aren't in my store, but that's frustrating because I fluctuate between sizes at f21, and so many things look cheap IRL and not necessarily online, so that would be the only place I have to warn about...but being Kitty, I guess you already are quite familiar with f21 orders

-- Edited by ttara123 at 00:02, 2006-08-10

Lilykind · Hermes

I think maybe 5% of my clothes are from online shopping. I do a LOT of browsing online though. It helps me narrow my ideas down.

I usually stalk a certain 'it' item (Grey Ant scarf dress, Mike & Chris Oliver trench hoodie) and then wait for a code from any given boutique to go for it.

I don't shop online at places where I can easily go to the B&M store instead (Nordies, Gap, etc.)

I do really enjoy not having to pay CA sales tax (8.25%) a lot of the time when I shop at out-of-state boutiques.

Elle · Hermes

I do less than 5% of my buying online. I do browse online alot though! I'm a big clearance/sale shopper, so usually I can find whatever it is at a B&M store for much cheaper than I can online. Usually the only things I buy online are things I wouldn't otherwise have access to - catalogs or pricier items that I either really can't find at a B&M or would be as inexpensive as possible with use of a code (ie items that would never see a clearance bin ever).

And, I like the thrill of the hunt, and bringing home an awesome 'find' .

zeitgeist4 · Gucci

It's hard for me to figure out what % I shop online because I return a lot of the stuff I buy. Maybe 20% max? Probably less though.

I browse online a ton, and usually don't buy from a site unless there's free shipping or a cheap flat-rate fee. I don't like the idea of spending over $200 somewhere and not getting free shipping in exchange for the business I'm giving them. And a code always makes me want to spend more money.

I like buying shoes online because it's easier to find size 11 on Zappos than it is in a B&M store. Also, if I'm at a B&M store and they don't have my size/color, I'll buy online if there's free shipping.

I think I will stop buying from Bluefly because every time I buy something there the price drops within two weeks and I get pissed. Not that it's their fault, but still.

Places I've shopped in the last 6 months: Zappos, Target, Bluefly, revolveclothing.com, Old Navy, Aldo.

BargainQueen · Marc Jacobs

I do also do about 80% of my *fashion* purchases online. I don't remember the last time I bought a pair of shoes in a store.

I also really hate crowds, especially in the kids section, I don't know if it's just me, but I approach the lonely sale rack and 2 seconds later, there's at least 2 mom's breathing over me!

For one, I'm not limited to where I shop as to shopping at our local mall. I find unique and stylish items I wouldnt find as easily or quickly in a store. I have a bigger shoe selection online than our mall as well.

Gas is so expensive I rather purchase online, 90% of the time w/free shipping, I save myself the 20-45 min. drive to a better mall and the risk of not even finding what I'm looking for... And L.A. traffic sucks!

I also like receiving a package in the mail with something nice inside besides the usual bills.

I have a 2 year old that loves to throw temper tantrums in the middle of the store floor. Need I say more?

-- Edited by BargainQueen at 13:06, 2006-08-10

BeauteJilly · BCBG

I don't buy online. I only buy in person. I browse everything online. If there is a particular thing I want, I would search if i can find it in person but if I cannot find it anywhere then I just let it go. Stupid, I know. I have little fear of buying online because I am hard to fit in many things and I am terrible on returning things via mail, ha.

TheLovelyLady71 · Hermes

I shop on-line quite a bit, mostly from my home shopping channels, so I'd say about 70% of the time. I like to shop at local stores, so I can try things on, etc. I really hate having to send things back, but hey, sometimes I like the convenience of shopping in the privacy of my own home. Now on-line browsing - do that about 90% of the time, getting ideas...... LOL

erin · Chanel

i never used to do much online shopping, but now it seems so much easier than trudging around with the stroller.

so for now, i'd say i do about 25% of my shopping online.

twinkle · Coach

oh my goodness, i shop online way too much. maybe 70% of the time? i'm horrible because i'm constantly browsing sites while i'm at work and it's way to easy to click and purchase. it's very dangerous for me because i'm such an impulsive shopper. i get packages embarrassingly often, even the UPS guy likes to comment.

oh, and i pretty much buy shoes exclusively online now too, because most b&m stores don't carry my shoe size (5/5.5)... grrr.

Hedvig · Coach

I've been shopping online more and more, and my hubby has actually been a bit annoyed with the amount of packages I get.

In fact, I've just made the decision to cut down on online shopping, and the main reason is that lately I've had to return most of the stuff I've ordered because of issues with fit. I've been to the post office three times this week, just to return stuff - and I had to pay for return shipping for all of it.

From now on, I'll only buy online if I'm already familiar with the sizing and fit.

atlgirl · Gucci

I browse a lot online, but don't order much. It's hard for me to find a good fit, esp. in tops, so I hate the idea of having to order two sizes and send one back all the time. I have bought shoes online and handbags with no problem, but for clothing - unless I've actually tried on IRL and know exactly how something fits, it's not worth it to me.

ILoveChoo · Hermes

When I lived in DC, I did maybe 20% of my shopping online. I'm so picky about fit and can't stand paying shiping. Plus, I like the whole instant gratification thing and can't stand with parting with my $ before I have them item.

But, now that I moved to the land of crappy stores, I'll probaby be doing 80% online and the other 20% while I'm travelling. DH is already perfectly aware that we will be having biannual shopping trips to NYC and Woodbury.

uesgirl · BCBG

I do probably about 60% of my shopping online. It is sometimes so much easier than shopping in person, and if returns are free or can be brought back to the store, there isn't much risk. I hate trying things on in store anyway, so even if I'm shopping in stores, I end up returning a lot of stuff.

I also think I get good deals-- stores like revolveclothing or activeendeavors always have great codes and free shipping and returns, and I save 8% on sales tax on items more than $110.

shopgirl82 · Chanel

i do a lot because i can usually only shop at random hours, plus, gas, sales tax can all add to the cost. usually if i want something from a common B&M i'll buy it there, but if it might be sold out, or it's a less common item, i'll try to buy it with a coupon code.

luckylily · Gucci

I buy almost all of my shoes online. I feel like there are a lot more unique styles online than in stores. Boots I usually buy at B&M because I have calf fitting issues.

As for clothes, I probably buy about 15-20% online. I hate returning things, so I usually only buy brands that I'm pretty sure will fit.

I definitely think good deals can be found online with codes, sales, free shipping, etc. I really like to stalk things online too, and I find that super easy. For example, I can check my Anthro wishlist every few days to see if any of the items I want have been marked down. Whereas I can't realistically go to the B&M store everyday to check on an item (although, I have done that before).