When buying things do you normally use the internet or local stores?

I am 50 so its a habit to default to the store.

I feel like its not the best habit because not only is shopping online easier and often cheaper you can often find products that dont exist in stores anymore

It really depends on what I'm buying. Some online retailers are specifically and ideally suited towards specific products. Monoprice is great for cabling at close to cost, but at the price of a long wait for US-based customers (although some of their products are also resold through Amazon Prime). Amazon, NewEgg, and TigerDirect are my main sources for pretty much all hardware, in that order of preference. However, I'm willing to go to retail stores for larger pieces of hardware that aren't marked up like crazy. Retail stores like Best Buy make very little margin on items like laptops or desktops. They make all their money on all of the "consumables" that go along with those sales such as service contracts, ink/toner cartridges, paper, and cabling. A lot of these items are marked up as much as 1000% from their cost in brick and mortar stores, so I avoid these items like the plague locally unless I absolutely can't wait.

-Byshop

I price things on the internet, and ask the local store if they could match it. Most times they do, sometimes only if there's a physical store, and sometimes no. If the difference isn't too big, I'll pay a little more and buy locally....so much easier to take it back if there's a problem....

I'm a store shopper. I like the shopping experience. I like browsing and hitting bargain bins. It also gives me a reason to stop for a beer while I'm out. As sealionact above me has pointed out, exchanging is a lot easier in store as well. As a store shopper, I've never had to worry about my packages being stolen.

Mostly local stores and malls I find malls relaxing when there not to busy and I need all the exercise I can get these days.

Depends on the item. Household items I get on my local stores but everything else I find myself drifting more and more in the direction of purchasing online.

Typically online unless I need it immediately.

I still enjoy going out shopping every now and then. I go to a lot of thrift stores just for the heck of it

I will say that I typically call the stores I need something from before I go to avoid going somewhere that doesn't have what I'm looking for.

Used to be into supporting local small business, and still do to some extant. But I hate fighting the traffic and idiots in the stores around here, so I go online VERY often now.

I buy everything online except food and medication...at least most of the time.

Items that require hands-on examination such as clothes, DSLRs and TVs? Local stores.

Software, PC components such as video cards? Online. If it's an emergency? Local stores.

Nornally stores unless its not availible or a lot more expensive.

Im inpatient once I decide I want something and especailly once Ive paid I want it right away.

Mostly internet these days as its easier for me. Ive only bought one thing in store in the last couple of years and that was my monitor as it was in stock and my dad was going into town any way. Funny thing is I cant remember the last time I bought a game in store but have bought a couple of steam vouchers in store. Does that count as buying game in sore. :P

the internet

Mostly store. Unless it's not available or the price discrepancy is big.

Ive only got a food store, hardware and a shop that sells cheap odd bits, in my town so 90% of the time i shop online. I never really thought id miss a shopping center

For me it depends on products , I mean cloths nothing beats actually trying them on and being able to see them especially shoes cause they run different in size .

I pretty much always buy from local stores. I much prefer the tactile feedback that I get from physically interacting with whatever I’m purchasing. I really on shop online if I can’t find whatever it is locally.

Up until about 5yrs ago, I was mainly a store shopper, now I'm a big Amazon shopper. Clothes are the only Items I actually buy from retail nowadays.

Local Stores by default. I'm a deal hound, and I like window shopping for ideas.

Internet. I live in germany and here, services in retail are misserable, because people working there are misserable. They hate their job and everyone who are trying to buy something.

I normally go to the store because I am impulsive and impatient when it comes to getting things. I only go online if it's a really good deal or I can't find it in store locally.

I personally was cheated couple of time after purchasing from internet.

But I did not stop purchasing from internet. I mostly prefer local store as I have chance to check and test the product which I will buy. :)

Yeah same here.

The Internet. No driving, no waiting in line, no traffic, etc. It is much more convenient.

Yes I do I always use it for the subscription services for my energy drinks.

Internet for my auto part needs, local stores for my food and clothes (For the most part) necessities...

Online mostly. A lot of the stores that sell the stuff I buy have closed up, and the deals online are just too good to go to the ones that haven't. I still buy clothes in person and usually go to a music store if I need anything from them (even though Amazon usually has slightly better prices on strings), but other than that it's mostly online.

I mainly use Amazon or music magpie online but occasionally pick up a game if I'm in town. 80% online 20% local stores. It's a shame how it's gone for the high street so many game stores have closed.

I like to get out of the house, make it an adventure

I see we have a large amount of home bodies here

Clothing: Stores, I've had bad experiences buying from the internet. Basically no way to tell how something will look.

Everything else: internet

I'm an amazon whore.

I'm with you on that. It's almost always cheaper to buy online because you can check so many different places for prices. Plus i get alerts all the time for whatever sale or discount. Clothes, however, are tougher because sizes are not universal and you really need to try the stuff on.

I even think twice about buying strings in person. I can get three sets online for the same price as two in store. Still, shipping costs, plus I do like having actual people to talk to for some things. But buying electronics and other things, I get better advice online than I do in a store.

Its a pretty heavy mix for me, not a lot of choices in my current home city and that is quite the bummer.

Most of the time I just go to a location that will have or might have what I want then I weigh the price difference and how long shipping would take and if it seams I would rather have the item that day even if its 10-15$ more then I buy local, if its a well I can wait for this item then I'll likely wait on a sale or just buy it online.

Recently I bought a 50$ action cam online because why not I didn't bother even looking local for one, that's when I buy online the most, when its late and I'm not really paying attention.

Internet but yesterday found a good deal on halo MCC which was cheaper than buying online.