'Mrs MSE's a Robo-shopper!' blog discussion

mmillie

You should also beware of this in particular for furniture. The law says that the 7 day returns policy doesn't apply to "the supply of goods made to the consumer’s own specification such as custom-made blinds or curtains.". Many pieces of furniture, such as a new sofa, is specifically built in your chosen colour. The 7 day returns policy therefore might not apply under such circumstances. Always check the web site policy before ordering. Even if it is debatable whether or not it is custom, who wants to get in to that kind of argument if it can be avoided?

Martin

Churchmouse

MSE_Martin wrote: »

Im not quite sure I follow the logic.

If you're buying from an independent store with different stock and service you can't Robo it anyway. The entire premise of this blog is about bricks and clicks stores.

If what you're saying is that if the high street stores become primarily show rooms that'll have an impact on other stores - then I accept it to an extent.

Yet frankly people need to accept interenet shopping is here and is popular. I don't see it killing the high street any more than TV killed radio, or the web killed newspapers. It will have an effect and the Robo shopper is an element of that - consumer demand and choice will drive this.

The point surely is that if people keep using real life stores to check out washing machines, TVs etc, then go home to order the goods online, then eventually the high street locations will disappear. At which point you'll have no locations to actually see the *actual* goods you're interested in ordering online. To imagine otherwise is truly to be an ostrich. Just don't complain when you can't ever see or touch goods before you order them. Said as someone who orders online, but realises she is killing the Golden Goose

MSE_Martin

Churchmouse wrote: »

The point surely is that if people keep using real life stores to check out washing machines, TVs etc, then go home to order the goods online, then eventually the high street locations will disappear. At which point you'll have no locations to actually see the *actual* goods you're interested in ordering online. To imagine otherwise is truly to be an ostrich. Just don't complain when you can't ever see or touch goods before you order them. Said as someone who orders online, but realises she is killing the Golden Goose

Point taken - yet the counter business logic is those stores that are bricks and clicks have a competitive advantage over just online providers - so they will keep the high street stores as transactional showrooms in the long run (or even give equivalent rights to online in their ts & cs for those who transact instore)

Percy1983

I did take a similar view when buying a new TV, I did read reviews and figured a few models that seemed to fit the bill. I then went my local comet and messed with said TV's, then went home and ordered form another website which was £200 cheaper.

As others have mentioned products which are all the same (DVD's, games etc) make no difference where I buy from, cheapest wins which usually points to the online only companies.

I do find it amusing to go in a HMV store and then go on there website and find everything is cheaper + cashback.

ThinkingOfLinking

mememememe wrote: »

Beware:- the Distance Selling Regulations don't normally apply if you look at the goods in a shop but then buy the same goods from the same retailer online. See paragraph 2.13, page 7 of http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/general/oft698.pdf

Yes, but that's not the easiest thing to regulate. Are they going to ask us for a photo when we sign up to the site and then check it against CCTV?

I haven't got a car so I buy heavy electricals online to get them delivered, as well as use cashback/points sites and/or voucher codes.

Definitely a robo-shopper here as it makes my money go further.

bagpuss

Have to say that I think it would help immensely if stores such as HMV offered the SAME prices in store as they do on line then I would be more likely to shop in store instead of online. I think that people do realise there are advantages to local independent stores and use them accordingly but at the end of the day it is going to come down to individual consumer choices. Personally I like to be able to research on line then go to the store to view and if as in the case of John Lewis I know I will get excellent customer service and great VFM then I will buy instore, think that perhaps what is needed here is a re think by a lot of stores as to which their policies are and that they need to perhaps step up and make certain that they can compete with the online guarantees and maybe prices too.

Saying all of this if it had NOT been for the internet I would not have known about Richer Sounds either and therefore would not have gone to one of their stores where I was offered advice and great service, whether I purchased on line or from the store.

reluctantworkingmum

mememememe wrote: »

Beware:- the Distance Selling Regulations don't normally apply if you look at the goods in a shop but then buy the same goods from the same retailer online. See paragraph 2.13, page 7 of http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/general/oft698.pdf

how on earth would they know it was you unless you gave your name and address when you were looking round the shop?

reluctantworkingmum

being fair - if I have built up a relationship with a retailer... like the nice man who mends my old washing machine... I will usually buy from him because I trust him and like him! - even if it was a few quid more. BUT looking round a chain store with a bunch of half ignorant pushy salesmen who would try to sell you anything for their comission - doesnt make me feel at all guilty about going away and buying through their website!

musicmonkey1

Take this process to a logical conclusion and we will have shops where you cannot actually buy anything. You will be able to go in, look touch and feel the goods etc and then go home and buy them online. There will be a charge for access to these shops of course!

What's the alternative? A big reduction in high street stores who can no longer afford the high costs associated with a bricks and mortar business and therefore move on line.

The future is coming and we might not like it very much!

DettaWalker

Our behaviour changes with the money we have available.
When we were still DINKS, I generally went to stores to buy my home appliances such as dish washers, washing machines or even toasters.

Now that we got a baby, plus me going back to uni to do my masters degree (thank you dear government, for not supporting master students), we actually have to watch every pound we spend.

Now we dont only compromise in the quality of goods we purchase, we also try to get the best deal. If I see something in store I like, I ll check on my phone if I can get it cheaper online, before laying my hands on it. We simply can't afford spending 200 pounds extra on a washing machine or the likes. For us spending that extra bit of money means not being able to afford a healthy diet.

I agree, if ROBO Shopping actually becomes dominant, we might see a change in local businesses (please dont forget that closing down "showrooms" means losing robo shoppers, as well as elderly people who generally dont robo shop, therefore I doubt it will be that extreme).

Next year, with double incomes, the situation will hopefully change again. If you got the spare money, sure, why not pay extra for the service you get locally. Or the nice looking shelves.