Brick and Mortar VS Online Stores

I'm sure that most people have at least browsed an online store before. The simple convenience of being able to sit in your home in you pajamas while searching for anything from shoes to kitchen appliance, toys to costumes, party supplies to that perfect hand crafted gift...its all available somewhere 24/7 and can be shipped right to your door. I myself have browsed many a site and while I often don't buy anything I still enjoy it. It's like window shopping has evolved and I don't have to waste my gas money to peruse through the latest fashions, decor or guilty pleasures. But at what point is it actually not a good idea to head to the nearest internet connection instead of taking the time and energy to get presentable and drive around in search of whatever it is we need or want? Sales While most retail stores link their in-store sales to online deals they are not always created equally. When to hit the online deals? Check out the coupons-a lot of retailers will offer coupons that are for in store use only or online only. Some offer free shipping codes as well. For me those catch my eye quickly because I have to drive anywhere from 15-25 miles to a given store one way and that takes time and gas-if I don't have to pay shipping fees OR for gas then it's a better deal to stick with the online shopping. When do the stores win out? When I don't spend enough money to qualify for free shipping. These thresholds are at $50 and higher, I usually have a hard time justifying it. Why? Because I may be only looking for a few things and trying to spend as little as I can...so if I really want/nee to stick to a budget I can't justify spending $20-#30+ just to get free shipping which usually is not more than $7(that I have seen for clothes anyways). So it ends up costing me more to hit that magic number than the gas money to get to the store, pick up what I need and head back home. Getting burned When you are in a store you generally know what you are paying for. You try on the clothes and shoes, you feel the texture and weight of the table, chair or storage ottoman. You can see the color and the pattern clearly and unless its boxed up, chances are if you loved it in the store you will love it when you get home. Online that is not always the case. I myself have gotten burned once. It was at zulily.com a online store that stocks tons of rotating brands at a fraction of the cost if you were to buy direct. They have tons of stuff and I really enjoy "window shopping" and have purchased boots, dresses and maternity clothes from their different sales. Once though I ordered a pair of Bumper Combat boots. The looked cute and would fill a void in my shoe collection of the casual, utilitarian yet cute low heeled boots that I could wear out while grocery shopping. So I ordered them. When they arrived I tore into the box with excitement but once I opened it up that excitement was replaced by that sudden feeling of guilt and regret. The color was not what it had seemed online. It was lighter and the material was more suede like that I had expected. When I picked them up they felt horribly light. The kind of light weight that is associated with low quality. The worst part? I couldn't return it. I tried it on, hoping that somehow that would make it right. The boots felt really loose on my feet, not only because I probably should have ordered a 7 instead of 7.5, but they also felt like I couldn't lace them up tight enough no matter how hard I tugged on the laces. So, now I have to live with them or gift them to someone else...or try to sell them. If I had gone to an actual store I would have seen the color first hand, and probably never would have even picked them up let alone try them on. That is where a brick and motor store will always win. When you need something NOW and don't want to pay an arm and leg fro quick shipping only to have to turn around and exchange or return it going to a store means that you get to test it out before you waste time and money on it. I recommend this when trying new brands or when time is an issue. If you only have 2 weeks before an event don't order from a place you have never used..it usually takes 5 days for it to get to you and if it doesn't fit you probably won't get a replacement in time. If you are familiar with the brand and its sizing for you ordering online is great though. The experience OF course nothing beats the convenience of sitting at home in your comfy clothes with no makeup, no traffic and no annoying person asking a million questions when you just need to know where the bathroom is but there is something to getting yourself dolled up and hitting the store in person. The experience of getting out of the house, away from the computer and socializing with people is something I think we all need every so often. Getting the chance to walk around a mall with your sister or your girl friends and grabbing a coffee or lunch is great and can be super uplifting. I don't think that sitting down on the couch with your buddies huddled around a tablet has quite the same pick me up. The bottom line is that each offers its own set of pros and cons. Some days online is the best choice-like when there is an amazing 70% off original prices combined with a 50% 0ff clearance sale, you have no babysitter and aren't dragging your 5 kids to the mall to grab those few things you really want...or when you need to find the perfect shoes to go with a dress you are wearing to a wedding that is 5 days away...online retailers and brick and mortar stores can coexist as long s they know their strong suits and show them off in their ads. The stores need to showcase the experience, the atmosphere they provide for the customer, the ability to walk in see what you want and take it home-no 5-7 days of wondering if the mail man delivered it to the wrong address. In store only sales and coupons work well to get people in the door as well and some stores even make it possible to order products at their store-for example you find a pair of shoes that you love but they don't have the color you want. The associates can order the shoe and have it mailed to you! No driving around to "our other store", no settling for the color you don't love. Sure you have to wait but at least you know what you are getting when you open that box. All this shopping talk makes me want to get out for some retail therapy and today I think I am going to opt for the experience of the brick and mortar store.