Online shopping, shopping malls etc

I have never liked any sort of shopping and certainly would not go into a town just to look around the shops.

Each to their own but I have never understood those that go window shopping, seems a very odd pastime to me.

I dislike shopping. I can't remember the last time I went out to purchase - ordering for delivery is easy and fast, in my opinion.

Online shopping is a huge blessing to me.

I like wandering round shopping centres and find it relaxing. When I was working full time I used to wander round the local shops for 20 minutes or so before came I home to all the kids and the cooking, cleaning and peacekeeping! I never told them at the time of course. Just the anonymity of it all appealed.

Our small Somerset market town is thriving and thankfully - unlike Bruton and Frome - free of celebs, London journalists and discarded politicians.

I like to do both, online and a walk around the shops and charity shops.

I like to do both but most of my shopping is online furniture i like to see in person then go home and order online as it’s sometimes cheaper. Just don’t like doorstep delivery for furniture as soon wont delivery into your home have you tried dragging a wardrobe into your house lol

We live in a rural area and don't have a car, so we shop online for large or bulky things, or because doing so is a good deal cheaper than buying things like bike tyres a 14 km bike ride away.

Food shopping is done in the local shops, but things like ink catridges for my printer are far, far cheaper bought online than in the local shop selling office supplies.

I shop mainly online but not through choice. Our local town has virtually no shops except charity shops and nail bars. I want to buy an air fryer but would like to look at them before deciding which one but no doubt it will end up being an online purchase as I have no other way of buying.

I used to really enjoy a full day shopping in my nearest city but I find 2 or 3 hours is more than enough now, the first thing I tend to do is go and get a decent coffee.
I do enjoy an occasional wander around the shops but do most of my shopping on line. There are benefits of seeing clothes in the flesh though, getting a feel of the fabric etc but it’s so easy to have things delivered and just return if you are not satisfied although returns can sometimes be a bit of a faff.
I do use the local butchers, bakers etc in my local town.

I buy most things online, though I think I would always go to a shop to look at household goods like furniture, fabrics or flooring.
We have a large shopping mall fairly close to us, there are loads of shops on three floors but apart from John Lewis and a few selling furnishings I wouldn't bother with most of them. You seem to see the same shops in all these places, none of them interesting or independent.

missdeke

I shop mainly online but not through choice. Our local town has virtually no shops except charity shops and nail bars. I want to buy an air fryer but would like to look at them before deciding which one but no doubt it will end up being an online purchase as I have no other way of buying.

There's a fairly recent Which report on air fryers, with full reviews on many. You might be interested to look at this online or in a library?

I wouldn't want to bother going to shops on Aberdeen
Marks is useless John Lewis is closed as are any decent shops we had. My wants are few and online is fine for now.

I used to enjoy wandering round the City centre, lots of quirky little shops, larger chains too. But the Council has made it a nightmare by shutting off traffic access to the centre on the grounds that it is healthier. This actually means long traffic queues in the surrounding streets, much less healthy for the poor residents, we have no ring road. You can only park in the Council or private car parks, the fees seem to rise monthly and are only on an app, so many older people have given up trying to get in. Council rates have priced many of the smaller shops out of the market.

So the centre is awash with coffee shops, restaurants, charity shops and betting shops. Even our twice weekly market is losing stallholders because of hugely increased rents.

I don't know if anybody else shops for clothes as I do? If I find something I like that fits me (and looks OK!) I often buy several more the same. Searching online sometimes reveals other colours too.
Having found some nice trousers (not too wide, not too narrow, not finishing short of the ankle) in John Lewis I'm now kitted out for a while. And the bonus is that I have found the manufacturer's own site so can check their new styles next season.

The last time I went to a big city I was traumatised. Dozens of beggars asking for money - all ages and states, both genders. Huge, aggressive feeling crowds. Dirt and litter everywhere, cracked paving and loud music. It was horrible. Could not wait to get home to my little market town with fresh air and no crowds. Obviously will not go again.

I buy things like bedding, curtains and clothes online but I'm often surprised, to say the least, at the variations in quality and fit, even from the same company and I have to send a lot back, which isn't ideal. I have tried going back to shop in the high street but am constantly disappointed in what's on offer. M&S, which used to be my 'go to' store for good quality cotton underwear, socks and basics, now has a huge range of impractical stuff which isn't what I'm looking for at all and seems to be trying to replace Debenhams as a department store with all sorts of other brands. I usually know what I want before I go shopping, like skirts, trousers etc with decent pockets, which are very hard to find, and underwear that's 100% cotton without fussy elasticated bits which are so uncomfortable. The most annoying thing is that my size is so often sold out - and that's online as well as in-store but much more annoying if you've made all the effort to take a trip to the high street for something and it's out of stock.

Jess20

I buy things like bedding, curtains and clothes online but I'm often surprised, to say the least, at the variations in quality and fit, even from the same company and I have to send a lot back, which isn't ideal. I have tried going back to shop in the high street but am constantly disappointed in what's on offer. M&S, which used to be my 'go to' store for good quality cotton underwear, socks and basics, now has a huge range of impractical stuff which isn't what I'm looking for at all and seems to be trying to replace Debenhams as a department store with all sorts of other brands. I usually know what I want before I go shopping, like skirts, trousers etc with decent pockets, which are very hard to find, and underwear that's 100% cotton without fussy elasticated bits which are so uncomfortable. The most annoying thing is that my size is so often sold out - and that's online as well as in-store but much more annoying if you've made all the effort to take a trip to the high street for something and it's out of stock.

Yes, the M&S stock issue is irritating. I found some lovely cord trousers there a couple of years ago, but by the time I'd bought a pair and tried them on there were no more available in my size either online or instore. Yet there were plenty available in tiny and very large sizes, or in short fittings.
I just can't understand why they run out of the sizes that we all want but suppose that once they've sold out they have no way of knowing that there is still demand. At least John Lewis have a box on the product page where you can put your email to be notified if they come back in stock.
And don't get me started on M&S knickers! They used to be so good, nice fabrics, good styles, true to size and most of all very well made.

Mainly on line for me, have a weekly organic veg box delivered and alternate between Ocado and Waitrose for groceries but do try and use the butcher and cheese shop not too far from me. Clothes and shoes I'd much rather buy on line, try on in the comfort of my own bedroom with my own tops/shoes etc and back in the post next day if I don't like them.
Also our small family business is on line retail - of things you only buy if you need them .

But we don’t all have cars to get to the out of town Malls

I have to shop online as we have so little left in town but it’s not a pleasant experience and the items never seem like how you expect them to be or feel…the sizes are so weird sometimes Im a 12 /14/16 then you have to wait in for parcels to be delivered and go to the non existent PO to send them back !!!

I used to love in person shopping. However with my arthritis and not driving it all got too much for me. First I had to troll into the city and I have never been very patient at standing in queues.

There is a large shopping center here in Manchester and I recently heard that M&S are pulling out so I dont know where that will go. Its ages since I went to the Trafford Center.

I shop exclusively online now even for antiques! I used to go to the odd in person auction but there were people who knew what I bought and they could deliberately ran up the prices even though they didnt want the items. Now I bid online via several platforms I belong to. I can bid worldwide and they are completely anonymous so no one knows who I am. I love the anonymity of it all. Buying items in the USA or Europe is no more diffcult than buying in the UK.

On a train, queue at Bicester to get to the shopping village was massive. Like a football match. So guess they’re doing well! Guess I must go one day, but I am not a good shopper.

I agree high streets now seem to be much quieter, mostly charity shops!
I'm not a great one for shopping, and I do tend to buy online, but not normally jeans and shoes, like to try on. Don't visit our city often as it's over a 100 mile round trip and is virtually a whole day out plus fuel is still pricey.

He, there was an item on the radio today saying there is a trend away from online shopping here and people are going back to the shops. Interesting.

I stopped shopping because of Covid and since then the Dial ride bus no longer runs. That last time shops were closing because of high rents. I am now told that it is dead with a few discount store.s.
Because I do not drive and reducing amount of transport I have always shopped on line.
Thirty years ago there were busses es every day to towns every day now there is only one because the village is now population has changed with more younger people and the original retirees have passed away.

I've never enjoyed traipsing round department stores or chain stores and often find that the section I wanted has moved and once I find it, I can't find the exit - and as for those big car parks... So I buy clothes from companies I know I can rely and even shoes which I believe will fit me and if they don't, returning and replacing is easy. But I buy food locally. I feel the need to get beyond my four walls without having to make a tour of a big store and its car park.