When to buy in store?

yinhong

I have this thing that whenever I see anything in the store, I always have that naggy feeling of "hmm, i bet I could get this cheaper online". My girlfriend hates this cos it means that I never actually buy anything in store!

I dunno. Do you guys have a rule for deciding when to buy in store, and when to buy online? Or just always go for the cheapest?

U've_been_framed

Buy in store when:
1 It's on special offer, and a real bargain.
2 You really have to have it immediately.

Earlier this week I tried to buy a book from my local bookstore to use up some book tokens I'd been given. Their suppliers couldn't get it for 3 weeks. Amazon had it in stock for 2/3 of the price (including delivery.) It should arrive today.

exe_2

You are not alone yinhong!

It drives my girlfriend crazy too. If I see anything I always have to check online.

However I know at least for things like games, dvds etc Tesco and Asda are known to have the occasional great deal on. (i.e. Ratatouille double disc edition for £8) plus you don't have to wait for delivery.

My mam announced last minute that she wanted the live Take That DVD for Mothers Day and it was too late to order it online so I had to buy that in store, as it happens the price didn't differ much anyway and I was lucky to get it as everywhere seemed to have sold out!

So barring rare occurences like that I always do my homework online.

fiscalfreckles

I generally have an idea of on line prices, I buy instore if they beat those prices, if online delivery is particularly high, or if I need something quickly & can't wait for delivery.

Stephen_Leak

Albeit without knowing it, you are just obeying Martin's Money Mantra, which are three questions you should ask before buying anything.

1. Do I need it?
2. Will I use it?
3. Have I looked for it cheaper elsewhere?

Why would your girlfriends want to buy something in a store when it would be more expensive to do so? That was a rhetorical question. I've been married.

yinhong

Stephen_Leak wrote: »

Why would your girlfriends want to buy something in a store when it would be more expensive to do so? That was a rhetorical question. I've been married.

Yup. We feel ya.

Petmidget

I rarely buy anything except everyday items in shops. For 1, single bloke I hate them!

I use shops for ideas, doing a run round this weekend for ideas for the new bathroom to kit it out, but most of stuff will be bought online.

3 reasons, not in a rush for the stuff, dont want to have to carry it or drive home wiht it, and of course it is likely to be cheaper.