Online shopping, shopping malls etc

My latest expedition (I hate them) was an early morning train to a large shopping place - to try on shoes and write down the comfortable ones (make, style, size) - then rush home before the crowds emerge - to order them online.

I've shopped online for decades - as I always hated shopping anyway. The only exception is shoes, as I prefer to try them on.

I think the large, out of town shopping centres will be around for quite some time, though, as most people seem to enjoy going out for coffee, lunch, cinema and a browse around the shops. They've killed many small, local, high streets stone dead, though - along with city stores.

City shops have real problems with high expenses for premises and staff, parking shortages and a lack of passing trade (with people working from home). They simply can't compete with online prices - or the large malls.

I try and avoid my local city centre at all costs. Due to our local council more of it has been pedestrianised which means there is no parking near the shops and the parking that there is is too expensive. There is nothing worth going to town for.
There is a small town nearby however that has a few independent shops and free parking. I will visit there. I visit the supermarket once a week and buy most clothes/furnishings/Electrical/DIY, etc either at out of the town centre shops with free parking, eg Dunelm, B&Q, or online. I actually prefer click and collect. The damage was done here before Covid by greedy councils.

Same situation inspired me to write a post about not being able to get clothes in physical shops any more. I went down the online route instead and have three parcels to return today with sizing issues...

I actually prefer a wander around the shops but this depends on location. The city nearest to us has now become a dismal depressing place and have no interest in shopping there, whereas a local market town has a lovely vibe with many small shops and is a pleasure to walk around.
I love a trip to York for shopping but the big artificial shopping centres are not so appealing.
I find stores can often shoot themselves in the foot by offering discounts online that are not replicated in their high street shops.

Pre Covid, when I was working, I loved a Saturday morning shopping in Glasgow, now I shop mainly online.
Many of the well known stores in Glasgow have closed and health and mobility problems mean I am already exhausted by the time I off the train!
I am also an expert at finding discounts, so it is much cheaper to shop online.

I rarely send things back, because I know what brands suit me.

I don't enjoy shopping the way I used to, certainly not going at it for a sustained amount of time, a big shopping mall with all that artificial lighting holds no appeal for me. I will browse in my high street for an hour or two maximum. I'm well served for shops in my local town so don't feel the need to go further afield, today being an exception having ordered on line from Monsoon I have to take one item back which can't be delivered to their sister shop Accesorize but Monsoon itself the nearest one 20 or so miles away, a nuisance!. Thinking about it, I do buy a fair amount on line these days.

As someone once commented, “Before, you used to shop and come home for a coffee; now you go out for this coffee and go home to shop!”

I don’t buy much. I prefer to visit the shop if I can.

I dislike online shopping but appreciate its uses, especially groceries for those unable to shop in person.

I would buy very young childrens clothes online.

I dont buy that much online.
Especially not clothes or shoes.

I hate it Nana8 the towns used to be bustling little places now it’s dead as a dodo and seems to be so in most towns The small cities don’t seem so bad and the small market towns are ok Any town that had big national shops is dead as they gradually go under, the town becomes a cafe/vaping/nail bar centre.
Very very disappointing

I shop almost exclusively on line. All my food, clothing etc.

I recently purchase a rug from a London store on line.

Shopping was never something I enjoyed - so online shopping has been taken up with huge enthusiasm in this household.