Buying online?

***Earniel*** · 10-17-2011, 02:41 PM

I'm curious to find out if people buy things over the internet. Pretty much no one I know does so, apart from my sister.

I find it really useful to track (usually older) books I can't find anywhere else. Sure, I still tend to sweep all the bookstores in the vicinity. But now, when that search has left me empty-handed and sore-feeted, I actually still have a good chance to still get that wanted book online.

So I wonder what other people buy online?

***Tessar*** · 10-17-2011, 02:47 PM

I do!

I go to Amazon if I know exactly what I'm looking for, and usually find a good deal. Ebay is another resource I've used frequently in the past (it's how I got my CDs recordings of the Hobbit and LOTR from Mindware that we had on cassette tape when I was a kid).

Other than that, I ~~like~~ LOVE ThinkGeek.

But I also really enjoy browsing bookstores and other "physical" stores... although I suspect many of them will be facing major decline in the upcoming years. Online shopping is stealing a lot of business from the physical locations, and with less overhead to run the online stores I can't imagine that 20 years from now there will be as many physical locations as there are today.

***Varnafindë*** · 10-17-2011, 06:11 PM

I've done some shopping from Amazon.
But what we mostly shop from netshops, are technical gadgets - computer cables, memory sticks, computer screens, occasionally even computers.
Sometimes items for synthesizers as well - my significant other makes a hobby of programming them. He learnt programming during the 1970s, when compiling your program (from holes in paper) was done overnight - what now takes seconds ...

***Earniel*** · 10-18-2011, 07:30 AM

I try to stay away from Amazon myself. As a child from self-employed shop owners, I tend to dislike to shop at big market-controlling companies with bully-characteristics. I'm happy I've been finding what I want to have elsewhere sofar. Although I do like the review function they have, even if I am weary of it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tessar

Other than that, I ~~like~~ LOVE ThinkGeek.

Had to look it up.

So going into the favourites.

Quote:

But I also really enjoy browsing bookstores and other "physical" stores... although I suspect many of them will be facing major decline in the upcoming years. Online shopping is stealing a lot of business from the physical locations, and with less overhead to run the online stores I can't imagine that 20 years from now there will be as many physical locations as there are today.

True, I bet there will be some decline, but I'm not sure whether it'll be a major one. My guess is that a lot more companies and businesses are going to have an online branch to complement, rather than replace their physical stores. Even in 20 years still not everybody is going to be online or have credit cards.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Varnafindë

But what we mostly shop from netshops, are technical gadgets - computer cables, memory sticks, computer screens, occasionally even computers.

I have bought the odd computer part online. It's great for things like memory cards for older, no-longer made computers or systems that most shops won't carry anymore. But I doubt I'd risk buying whole computers since that's more money than I dare to spend on the internet. if the computer's busted, it's easier to complain in the physical store, rather than getting a nebulous entity on the internet to fix things. So how do you deal with that uncertainty?

***Rían*** · 10-18-2011, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tessar

Other than that, I ~~like~~ LOVE ThinkGeek.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eärniel

Had to look it up.

So going into the favourites.

I so want their Tardis usb port for Christmas!!!!!

**Mari** · 10-19-2011, 06:43 AM

I tend to buy my schoolbooks online and for the rest I use online shops mostly for research and salehunting. I bought my steamcooker online and I bought my laptop vian an online shop in a real shop. I wouldn't have done that latter thing if I hadn't been able to also go to the shop though.

cee2lee2 · 10-20-2011, 11:50 PM

I do my best to find what I want locally, but if I can't find it, I buy online (mostly books, toys for nephews) or do without. Occasionally I buy clothes, but it's such a risk with women's clothing sizes not being standardized. Once I bought a lamp online from the Chicago Institute of Art. We're still using it.

10-17-2011, 02:41 PM	#1
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	Buying online? I'm curious to find out if people buy things over the internet. Pretty much no one I know does so, apart from my sister. I find it really useful to track (usually older) books I can't find anywhere else. Sure, I still tend to sweep all the bookstores in the vicinity. But now, when that search has left me empty-handed and sore-feeted, I actually still have a good chance to still get that wanted book online. So I wonder what other people buy online? __________________ We are not things.

10-17-2011, 06:11 PM	#3
*Varnafindë* Princess of the Noldor (and Administrative Empress of the Lone Islands) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Imladris (and sometimes Norway) Posts: 3,304	I've done some shopping from Amazon. But what we mostly shop from netshops, are technical gadgets - computer cables, memory sticks, computer screens, occasionally even computers. Sometimes items for synthesizers as well - my significant other makes a hobby of programming them. He learnt programming during the 1970s, when compiling your program (from holes in paper) was done overnight - what now takes seconds ... __________________ Signature picture art - Bard the Bowman - by vigshane Avatar art - Footsteps of Spring (a young Luthien) - by Henning Janssen

10-19-2011, 06:43 AM	#6
Mari Elf Lady Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In the lands where mountains are but a fairytale Posts: 8,588	I tend to buy my schoolbooks online and for the rest I use online shops mostly for research and salehunting. I bought my steamcooker online and I bought my laptop vian an online shop in a real shop. I wouldn't have done that latter thing if I hadn't been able to also go to the shop though. __________________ Love always, deeply and true ★ Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer. ★ Friendship is sharing openly, laughing often, trusting always, caring deeply. ...The Earth laughs in flowers ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Hamatreya"...

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10-17-2011, 02:47 PM	#2
*Tessar* Master and Wielder of the Cardboard Harp of Gondor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: IM IN UR POSTZ, EDITIN' UR WURDZ Posts: 6,433	I do! I go to Amazon if I know exactly what I'm looking for, and usually find a good deal. Ebay is another resource I've used frequently in the past (it's how I got my CDs recordings of the Hobbit and LOTR from Mindware that we had on cassette tape when I was a kid). Other than that, I ~~like~~ LOVE ThinkGeek. But I also really enjoy browsing bookstores and other "physical" stores... although I suspect many of them will be facing major decline in the upcoming years. Online shopping is stealing a lot of business from the physical locations, and with less overhead to run the online stores I can't imagine that 20 years from now there will be as many physical locations as there are today.

10-20-2011, 11:50 PM	#7
cee2lee2 Elf Lord Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: 2nd star to the left..... Posts: 566	I do my best to find what I want locally, but if I can't find it, I buy online (mostly books, toys for nephews) or do without. Occasionally I buy clothes, but it's such a risk with women's clothing sizes not being standardized. Once I bought a lamp online from the Chicago Institute of Art. We're still using it.