Reluctance to buy online?

Question

I see many posts here about people looking for local sources of an obscure ingredient or piece of cookware and I always say to myself "why not buy it online?" or "don't they use Amazon?". I buy so many cooking related things that are better and cheaper online. When I suggest this option to some people here I don't think they consider it. Why the reluctance?

Answer

One of my main reasons for buying in-person, is my desire to know the place of manufacture of products. Not all on-line businesses provide that info. When I'm in a bricks-and-mortar shop, I can read the box labels.
Additionally, I prefer to try on equipment, i.e., hold the handle, lift the casserole, etc. I have some mobility challenges and small-ish hands, so want to be sure that I can physically use the item.

Answer

Speaking for myself I check locally before considering buying on line. I like to keep my tax dollars where I live and see local businesses succeed.

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I'll always buy local first. I'd much rather deal with a person than with a faceless corporation. The internets is great for research and as a last resort.

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Agreed. I get sick and tired of driving around in our horrible traffic, wasting gas, money, time, and polluting the air just so I can find an item that I know I can buy online and that no one stocks reliably. So things like Mrs. Balls Extra-hot Chutney, De Siam curry pastes (really good, by the way), and so on - I don't even try. I go right to Amazon.

Answer

Amazon never even crosses my mind, I think I've bought one thing on Amazon ever.

Answer

It surprised me, too, when people ask where they can get things locally, as if that's the only option.
Perhaps if you don't have a safe, easy, convenient place for drop off, you don't think about delivery.
Also, some people don't want to pay the annual Prime membership fee.

But, for me, if I want an ingredient, I'll get it somehow and many times, Amazon etc. have filled that need.

Answer

I find similar. I often suggest an online source as it is far easier that way.

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I live in Seattle, so Amazon IS local! I don't really buy food online, but I think that's because so much is available locally, and it can be a fun adventure to go to the various Asian supermarkets. But other stuff, if online is easier and/or cheaper, I'm all for it.

Answer

Depends what it is. I'm happy to buy much online but things like pans adn knives I want to pick up and handle before deciding. Fortunately I have a department store with a very good kitchen department only 5 minutes drive away.

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I like to support local businesses so thst there will still be local businesses.
I'll pay a few bucks more for the privelege if I have to.

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Believe it or not there actually are people who don't have credit cards.

I used to be hesitant for fear of my credit card getting hacked. It's happened three times.

Answer

I patronize local businessi to the maximum extent.
I know it costs more.

but it's going to cost me more when they disappear and I have to drive to some megacorp place that, after all (sigh) doesn't stock/have want I want because the item is insufficiently popular.

unfortunately, I find myself shopping more and more 'on-line' because less and less of what I'm wanting is locally available.

most recently example: a $12 OXO pepper grinder. OXO is not some off-brand never-heard-of-it stuff. not in any local store. not even in the local Bed Bath & Beyond - which has two _walls_ top-2-bottom full of OXO stuff.

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I usually suggest it when things are hard to find locally.

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I buy many things online(tea,spices,yarn) and not just on Amazon

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I thought I had responded to this a couple of hours ago. I am a frequent on-line shopper. If I don't get a few packages delivered to my door, then I have done something bad. I'm an Amazon Prime customer. If a store is out or doesn't stock the product(s) I want I go on line. This is a town that is looking for the college student's money. They don't seem to care what adults want.

Our Kroger is a bit different. It is said to be the largest in the chain (most of think too large). They are still finishing the remodel. One thing that many of us are happy about is Murray's Cheese. The Murray's people came here to train the cheese shop employees. They did a great job.

Answer

For me personally, a lot of things I buy online aren't offered in stores and going online is the only way to do so. Buying in person gives you a better feel on how heavy a product is or how comfortable it feels in your hands. Especially when it comes to cookware. And for some products, they actually cost more to buy online due to shipping costs. Even the cheapest, unused 8 inch Calphalon Tri-Ply frying pan sold on ebay is a little over $26 dollars. Why do that when I can buy the exact same thing for $20 at Marshalls that I live five blocks away from? They're even more expensive on Amazon.

Answer

I am reluctant to buy a lot on-line because there will be no one home when it is delivered. It may get stolen, or it may get rained on and ruined. I can't have things delivered to my work.

So, I'll only do it if it's the only way to get something that I really need.

We all live in different worlds.

Answer

I buy so many things online that I rarely consider hitting the shops. Shopping online also saves me a lot of money and time because I can easily comparison shop without wasting gas hitting one shop after the other.

The only thing I regularly buy locally is food and that's mainly because fresh things are best purchased locally.

I hear many people who claim they shop locally to support local businesses, but that's not really a concern for me. I live in a metropolitan city - downtown location - and many shops are not really the mom/pop stores. I did have to get some items locally during my remodel, but that's not really common.

I find that I receive excellent customer service buying online - Amazon, Nordstrom, Gap, Rue La La, etc. 

I just bought a John Boos 30x23x2.25 cutting board online for $95. Everywhere else, it's $200+ and I don't have to pay out 10% sales tax.

I bought Staub cookware for $99 for 5.75 that normally sells for $200. Also, no tax. Did the same for other items. Buying locally is not really a good use of my time or money.

Answer

I wish.

I do try to spend my dollars locally, particularly small businesses. But there are no local bookstores, for instance, so I buy books online for the most part. I also love Etsy for gifts: While not local, they are usually small, independent crafts people. I think I spread my spending out pretty broadly.

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I'd much rather support a local business whenever possible or else the entire city will become banks, fast food/coffee chains and drugstores.

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My only reluctance is the possibility of having to return the purchase. Sometimes its not worth the hassle of sending the item back.

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I live in a small town.

Often on-line is simply my ONLY choice.

I would love to "shop locally", but that option is not available.

I just dropped in after Christmas shopping (a DeBuyer pan and the Ottolenghi cookbook, nice gift combo, yes?). I kind of miss the crowds and the camaraderie. The parking hassles? Not so much.

Answer

I buy tons of things online. My Amazon Prime account gets heavy workout. Sure I'll buy locally but I live in a small town and it's 15 miles to an actual grocery store. No Whole Foods, no Trader Joe's and while we have a few Asian independent markets the selection is fairly limited even there. Even the local restaurant supply sucks. I'm also not paying 20-30% more for the street cred of supporting "local" either. I can think of a whole host of things that I can't buy locally that me very thankful for internet shopping.

Answer

Rereading the original post I am beginning to see why the tone of this discussion is so divisive. Reluctance to me means being aversive or unwilling to do something. I love to shop in local stores, it gives me a lot of pleasure. It isn't that I am unwilling to shop online or try to avoid it at all costs, I have bought plenty of things online. I find shopping in a store a lot more fun than shopping online.

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Reluctance to buy online?

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