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Have shoe sizes always been so inconsistent as now? I take the same size yet so many shoes fit differently. I don't remember this from years back. I guess cuz we outsource everything now.
Shoe widths used to have letters A, B, C, D, E, EE. Now it's just N, M, or W or WW. I really need a C in the width but I can't find shoes like that any more so I buy a wide width. Good luck finding shoes in stores with a Wide Width. Not all manufacturers make wide shoes and not too many stores carry them in a lot of styles. I end up buying most of my shoes online and it's a pain. You have to guess your size and then you end up returning one or more pairs. I hate going to UPS or USPS to make returns. I returned a pair this morning via UPS and had to deal with rude clerks and frustrated people standing on line. It's even worse now.
Sometimes I'll order clothing online from a store, especially if I can get free shipping. My first choice would be to go to the store and actually try on the clothes.
Like Sheena, I remember the days of shopping as a social activity. It was enjoyable. Sometimes you looked for something that you needed but other times it was just the thrill of the hunt.
I usually try to avoid clothes from China, unless there is no locally sourced alternatives available for the product. Prefer buying clothes made in the USA, India, South Korea, Mexico, etc...but not any country ruled by an autocratic regime.
I usually try to avoid clothes from China, unless there is no locally sourced alternatives available for the product. Prefer buying clothes made in the USA, India, South Korea, Mexico, etc...but not any country ruled by an autocratic regime.
I feel the same way! Unfortunately until we get manufacturing back again we have no choice.
I don't like online shopping because, as many others have mentioned, I want to feel the fabric. It all looks good in the picture. If it's a brand I am familiar with I may take a chance, but I have returned most everything I have ordered online. Brick and mortar has it's challenges, too, but at least I don't have to screw with returns. I will also try on items just to test out a style. I have found many things I didn't expect to work to be great. I can shop quickly in a store. Usually in and out in 30 minutes. I seldom go with friends for recreational shopping. That does take time, but then it's as much for socializing as shopping.
Side note: I sure as Hades do not want to buy furniture online. I don't want to assemble my own, either!
I don't like online shopping because, as many others have mentioned, I want to feel the fabric. It all looks good in the picture. If it's a brand I am familiar with I may take a chance, but I have returned most everything I have ordered online. Brick and mortar has it's challenges, too, but at least I don't have to screw with returns. I will also try on items just to test out a style. I have found many things I didn't expect to work to be great. I can shop quickly in a store. Usually in and out in 30 minutes. I seldom go with friends for recreational shopping. That does take time, but then it's as much for socializing as shopping.
Side note: I sure as Hades do not want to buy furniture online. I don't want to assemble my own, either!
No, that I don't want, either!
I prefer to buy most furniture from estate sales. You get better things for a fraction of the price than the rickety stuff you have to screw together yourself. I am hesitant to get "soft" furniture, but I've done that, too. I went to an estate sale a couple of years ago in a nearby wealthy town. The homeowners had bought the house and furnished it, but they were mostly in Europe and then when they came back, they decided to move to Naples in Florida and hired someone to sell the contents of the house. I got a beautiful chair and matching ottoman that didn't look as if anyone ever had actually sat in it for $100 and an iron bed/frame, headboard and footboard for $150.
Before COVID -- I bought most non-clothing items online unless I had to go to store to actually see the item itself, so 75% got bought online automatically, while 25% I actually had to go to store. For clothes, I bought in the store. Unless they did not have my size I went right to website and ordered it. If it did not fit then I just returned to the store (rarely online).
Now that COVID happened -- I'm starting to like 100% online shopping for clothes. We had to anyways but I'm starting to like it now and I don't think I will actually go back to shopping in the store. Unless I have to like for buying coats and anything else that I need to go into store for. I don't mind anymore buying 2 of 1 size. For non-clothing stores its still the same answer as before. I'm still going to get 75% online unless I had to go to store for whatever reason 25% of time.
Honestly though, its not a big deal to buy online. Just have to watch where you buy from. EX If a vendor or website is located is Asia, models are drastically different. Asia xl might be a USA medium. Body types are different. That's why it says they are using Asian models.
Some things might get damaged but its not stores fault. Sometimes the post office or whoever is sending items over, the person does not handle it the right way. So it breaks, gets chipped, etc. Unless its a cheaply made item to begin with, then shipping does not matter. Will come falling apart anyways.
Depends. Usually I can only find items online. For example I picked up a Nautica shirt today online as well as some Old Navy shirts. I wear a 3xl or 3xb. Last time I found a Polo Ralph Lauren 3xb for a price I liked it was in a discount store.
So many stores around here are half full if that. Some of them can no longer get merchandise out on the floor. This COVID-19 really changed the game. But even before COVID, if you're big and tall, forget about shopping in person.
A lot of people drag Macy's but they are actually quite competitive considering their quality versus what you're paying in most of America. I wouldn't waste time with Macy's in NYC or LA but across most of the country they're the best you're going to get, as a lot of upscale stores are closing and going out of business, again because of COVID.
The future is nothing but online shopping at this point. Stores aren't carrying what upscale consumers are looking for, and the definitely aren't doing anything to assist buyers with specialty sizes. It's really nothing but Amazon, eBay, and some odd stores you never heard of before and whoever does business online. The era of anchor department stores and even some discount stores is over.
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