When Shopping Online vs. A Local Store...

Contributor: js250 js250
Which one do you take a bigger risk as far as liking the item? Are you more willing to take risks locally due to being able to return it easily or is online a bigger risk due to the unknown factor?
06/06/2013
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Contributor: Ciao. Ciao.
I don't have a problem taking a risk in terms of buying an item either locally or online, though I find returning things online to be slightly more of a challenge. Generally the big selling point for me of online shopping is either getting something I can't easily locally (I live in a small town in a rural area), or getting something at a much better price. Otherwise I'll almost always aim for a local store.
06/06/2013
Contributor: evanescentowl evanescentowl
Quote:
Originally posted by js250
Which one do you take a bigger risk as far as liking the item? Are you more willing to take risks locally due to being able to return it easily or is online a bigger risk due to the unknown factor?
It depends on what it is. When it comes to sex toys I almost always buy online. You simply can't beat the honest reviews on Edens, and all the pictures, comparisons and opinions!

If it's anything else I'll buy in stores (except video games or makeup). I do not buy clothes or lingerie online, ever. I love getting to try things on, and it can be hard to find things that fit properly.
06/06/2013
Contributor: SydneyScreams SydneyScreams
None of my local adult shops allow for returns. They all insist on in store testing. Because of that, I actually feel that I take a bigger risk shopping there than online. I do go to the local shops to feel material (usually) before buying.

Everything else... it really varies. I buy a lot in stores but I also buy a lot online. Depends on what it is, I guess.
06/06/2013
Contributor: SMichelle SMichelle
Are we talking about buying sex toys here?

If so, I feel like I take a bigger risk when I buy in person, oddly enough.
06/06/2013
Contributor: Cinnyree Cinnyree
i've never bought sex toys locally. actually I've only ever bought them from eden. I like to buy clothes locally because I love to go shopping. I would never buy shoes online I range between a 5-7 1/2
06/06/2013
Contributor: surreptitious surreptitious
Quote:
Originally posted by js250
Which one do you take a bigger risk as far as liking the item? Are you more willing to take risks locally due to being able to return it easily or is online a bigger risk due to the unknown factor?
I generally only buy online if I'm shopping for something that I can't get in the area or if I can get a much better price than in a brick and mortar store. Realistically, the bulk of what I buy online is lingerie (there are sometimes a few other bits and bobs, but that is a huge chunk of it), and I don't have the option of buying things in my size around here. It would be less of a risk to try things on in a store, but I'd have to drive hours to find the stuff that I want to buy before I could try it on, so it's actually easier and cheaper to just buy it online and return it if necessary.

I guess what all of that is saying is that I don't know which is a bigger risk. For me, I don't buy the same things in stores as I do online. It would be much less of a risk for me to buy lingerie after trying it on, but there's nowhere to do that.
06/06/2013
Contributor: Boyfriend Boyfriend
I like to shop online because it saves me so much time.
06/06/2013
Contributor: Woman China Woman China
I buy pretty much everything online.

I don't really have a choice.

When it comes to clothes/shoes, I only can shop from stores I have bought from before. And then??? Say when it comes to shoes, I can only buy from Payless as they are the only ones that carry my size. Then I have to make sure that the brand I buy is a brand I have bought before. For clothes, I always buy from the same store, and I pull up some links send them to family and let them choose what I get. But I have to make sure that it is the right sister I send the links too. My other sisters, they buy what they like, not what I like. I have suitcases of clothes that I will never wear because they are simply not my style. And I cannot return then, for it takes so long for them to get here, by the time I get them, the return policy is over. But I am getting a little bolder now and buying shoes from a Chinese website making sure that the seller knows that I might be returning them for a different size.

For foods and such; like coffee, supplements, oils and various items in packages, I buy from a Chinese site like Amazon. Only, I have to pay sometimes ten times more, plus shipping from the States to get what I need.

For fresh fruits, veggies and such... I buy from the market downstairs.
06/06/2013
Contributor: gsfanatic gsfanatic
I'll take a bit more risk in person when I can take a close look at things
06/06/2013
Contributor: eri86 eri86
Quote:
Originally posted by Ciao.
I don't have a problem taking a risk in terms of buying an item either locally or online, though I find returning things online to be slightly more of a challenge. Generally the big selling point for me of online shopping is either getting ... more
Agreed. I buy online when I can't get it anywhere else.
06/07/2013
Contributor: Mr. E Mr. E
It's been about two years since I even went into the local adult toy store. Most of their inventory was overpriced junk that I have no use for. I have made a few purchase at Home Depot, Lowes and the local fabric store. .

I have purchased many, many toys online. I have never felt the need to return any of them.
06/07/2013
Contributor: KinkyKatieJames KinkyKatieJames
Online is definitely risky. When it comes to clothing, sizing isn't always the same. For instance, I wear a size 6 or 8 and bought a medium skirt online (since it was for size 8). When it came, it was ridiculously tight. A few days later, people reviewed the product stating that you need to order a size larger. Knowing it wasn't just me, I returned the skirt and replaced it for a large. If I had purchased the skirt in a physical store, I would have tried it on and known right away that it didn't fit.

However, with shopping online, there is so much more variety. I can also find what I'm looking for a lot easier. Rather than run to several stores, all I have to do is visit a few extra websites.
06/07/2013
Contributor: solly solly
For sex toys, you can't beat the price and selection online. I have never lived near a local sex toy store that had any halfway decent stuff and if they ever did it was always twice as expensive (or more!) than buying it online. I also buy books, electronics, stuff for my fish tanks and other little gifts and doodads online (gotta love ebay!)

The only thing I really buy locally is food and clothing (unless it's just a standard tshirt) since I have to try everything on. I'm really big on thrift shops and I prefer to get things like furniture, dishes, etc. there or on craigslist, I've even gotten lots of stuff for free! (Living in a college town is pretty sweet for free furniture and appliances since the kids practically toss it all away at the end of the year.)

I also like buying craft supplies and fabric locally since I like to look at and feel the material but I will order it online if it's something I can't find anywhere else. I've never had any problems ordering anything, other than a few times things got held up in the mail, but really that was the postal service's fault and not the merchant's - and I've always gotten my stuff in the end.
06/07/2013
Contributor: sunflower sunflower
Quote:
Originally posted by js250
Which one do you take a bigger risk as far as liking the item? Are you more willing to take risks locally due to being able to return it easily or is online a bigger risk due to the unknown factor?
I will not ever buy jeans or shorts online. Clothing companies are crappy and none of them ever fit me right! I have to try a bunch on in stores to get a good fit. Dresses are also difficult to buy online because sometimes stuff looks nice on a model or on the rack but it looks bad on.
If there is a good enough deal on something online, I will take a risk. Online stores offer more variety but in-person stores you get to try stuff on and see if it looks good and if it's the right size.

Buying household stuff online works ok for me usually.

Adult store wise:
I like to do a recon mission before I buy some things. There have been things that I've seen people recommend on here and then I went to the store to turn the toy on and I thought "Woah nope. Not for me." On the flip side, have actually been things that I had no interest in when looking at it online and then when I saw it in person said "I have to have it! I like to check out size of stuff as well. I probably would have bought a We-Vibe Tango because everyone recommends it, but it was a thing that I knew I didn't like once I held it in my hand. Usually when I go in, I act like I'm going to buy something and then say "I'll have to think about it and come back another day." Then I log on here and buy it lol. They have no return policy either!


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06/08/2013
Contributor: ViVix ViVix
Quote:
Originally posted by js250
Which one do you take a bigger risk as far as liking the item? Are you more willing to take risks locally due to being able to return it easily or is online a bigger risk due to the unknown factor?
Unfortunately, based on horrible customer service (I'm looking at you, Amazon!) I feel that online purchases are riskier in general. I'm at the point where I'd rather not buy online at all (except from Eden).
06/08/2013
Contributor: KatPawz2003 KatPawz2003
It all depends on what I am buying. In terms of sites like this vs. an adult store, I thin I am taking a bigger risk buying in store because of the fact that you cannot return them. I do try and go to look at them in person first to get a feel for size, as some people may think something is huge while others small.

Clothes and wigs I like to buy in person so I can try on and see the quality of the material. I feel like it is a bigger risk to get something that SHOULD fit and find that I have too much boobs for the size (most things my rib and waist are a medium yet I have DD's which a medium is a b/c).

Everything else I am not picky as long as the price is reasonable.
06/08/2013
Contributor: melissa1973 melissa1973
It just depends really. I buy from Eden all the time because:
1. I save on gas because my local store is 25 miles away.
2. There is no worry about why will be in the store when I go to browse.
3. I've not had issues about the return polocy.
4. They(some times)have sexy outfits for the plus sized gal.

Shopping at home in regular stores:
1. I can try the clothes on before I buy them to see if they really fit.
2. Returns aren't a problem and there's no restocking fee, some online stores are an all sales are final, and you're screwed if you're not happy with the purchase.
06/08/2013
Contributor: libbyv libbyv
Quote:
Originally posted by js250
Which one do you take a bigger risk as far as liking the item? Are you more willing to take risks locally due to being able to return it easily or is online a bigger risk due to the unknown factor?
i will only buy lingerie locally...toys i always buy online, too embarrassed
06/08/2013