Online Shopping

Arthur Wedge said:
All seems good to me - certainly saves shuffling around multiple shops looking for what you want , also the range of what you can get now is vast

There are still lots of outlets and shopping centres for those that want to spend hours wandering around
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There wont be though in the future...and the future is sooner than you might think.

With the loss of those shops will also come the loss of the expertise that helps you make the right purchase first time around.

But hey....that doesn't matter, because with online shopping you can just send it straight back.
 
nickjdavis said:
There wont be though in the future...and the future is sooner than you might think.

With the loss of those shops will also come the loss of the expertise that helps you make the right purchase first time around.

But hey....that doesn't matter, because with online shopping you can just send it straight back.
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Wouldn’t be so sure , the likes of M&S are looking to open up multiple new shops

Horses for courses at the end of the day

Not many need or want to go into a main shopping centre if they just need something

Outlets around here are still very busy
 
Sid Rixon IV said:
Eighteen years ago, when I retired, I managed a high street financial services branch with 27 staff.
Today I'm told they have 5/6 staff.
Naturally, I bank with them. Also, with Lloyds.
I've set foot in both just once in all that time.
Everything I need is on my phone and is dealt with speedily and instantly (leaving me more time for exercise and social interaction).
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Bloody Lloyds Bank.
So our Royal British legion is with LLOYDS bank.
We have 2 from 3 folk to sign cheques. One guy has left so I went into the bank to get the paperwork to change the signatories. I went back with it signed. Only to be told it was the wrong paperwork I had been given by them and could I come in with the other two signatories. So after sorting out a date we went in. Only to then be told They could not add us as they want everyone off the old TSB account which was set up 30 odd years ago.
They now want us to change to an online account. One that charges for cheques to be signed, cash to be paid in. And at the same time give us absolutely 0% on our account.
Lloyds Bank, more like LLOYDS *ank.
 
I’m fine with the various tangents but bear in mind the original point wasn’t about shopping online for stuff ppl need, it wasn’t about stuff ppl want but are time starved to go to shops. Not about ppl who’d need to use public transport to visit shops, nor shopping online for essentials or time sensitive purchases. Not about trying to compare (inaccurate) times needed for one activity V’s the other

I was highlighting the innumerable non-essential inexpensive impulse buys bought with next day delivery… just because we can

It is not better for the environment to have that one van V private cars because I would never actually go out to the shops just for a 4pk of neoprene stubby holders, let alone make it an individual shopping trip & separate to my other shopping needs.
Assuming I even bought at all (which is very doubtful) it'd wait until my next scheduled trip to shops, but somehow I’m fine getting a team of ppl to get those stubby’s to me in a matter of hours
(substitute ‘stubby’ for your own last non-essential online shopping item)

Online shopping is fantastic but there really is no need to expect or have every purchase treated the same re the time/resource needed to fulfil it
 
Here’s what prompted my OP

I’m sitting on the couch about 3pm drinking a can of cider and just happened to mention to my wife to keep eyes open for stubby’s when we're next at the shops, no biggie but if it’s there it’s there, if not it really doesn’t matter.
A few mins later and the order for a few pounds in value is placed on smartphone with delivery expect between x times the next day

Sure I’ve got my stubby’s but it did come with a delivery of guilt & I assume the more I do it the less guilty I’ll feel
 
At what point does gridlock and aggro in towns come about due the the volume of vans clogging up residential roads as they battle to get their deliveries to the door. At some point the current rate of growth of home delivery seems unsustainable as retailer delivery timescale promises and so customer expectations cannot be met.
 
Sid Rixon IV said:
Whoah!
First rule of being in an M&S superstore (or in City centre) with my wife: we split up.
Me "Right, have you got your phone?"
Her "Yes"
Me "Have you got it switched on?"
POOF!!
Me, looking around, talking to myself.
"What happened there? Where'd she go??"
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When we go into town (not our own as we’re already in town only ten mins walk from the centre) and I’ve had to go with her for some reason, and she’s buying stuff she doesn’t need me for, my Mrs will tell me to go for a coffee if she’s going to be a while, or go to Waterstones if a shorter time. When she’s done she’ll come and get me 👍

And to the OP point, yes I agree. The amount of small deliveries of non time-critical or non-essential stuff is nonsense and will just exacerbate all the issues associated with home delivery and town centre decline. Stick a local tariff on home deliveries (not just the next-day ones) and see that change?
 
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Lord Tyrion said:
Wow, that's a throwback statement. Men are allowed to enjoy shopping and the social aspect of shopping as well.
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No, he's right, going to the shops 'for fun' is definitely the domain of the women. A bloke will enter the shopping centre, go directly into the two shops he needs, and then leave. 😄
 
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