on line shopping

Not everyone can ‘go shopping’

I ageee with you in principle.

Unfortunately several posters on here are housebound, some without cars and having to rely on public transport, which in rural areas is not reliable or in some cases nonexistent.

Internet shopping and the internet in general is their lifeline and I respect that.

I do get to the shops as frequently as my GC duties let me, I use Amazon when there is no alternative. I do use JL and M&S online shopping sites, as they often have items which are only available online.

I am "parcels central " for our family ! and judging by the state of my hallway they do a lot of online shopping , but .... if it is any consolation Cakebaker ...... most of it is then waiting to be uplifted and returned ! , whereas high street shopping , most stuff is kept

I agree but unfortunately I'm one of the online shoppers. I work from home so am unable to go out shopping regularly and our local town doesn't have any of the bigger shops. I do try to buy locally when I can and have in fact just bought furniture from our local small shop to be delivered 60 miles away. We don't have clothes or shoe shops here so if I want something it's easier to look online when I have time and the fact that Amazon Prime deliver the next day makes shopping for other items too easy. I've also had to do an online grocery shop for the first time this week as we haven't been able to get to the shops for food and the cupboards are bare.

My mother ran a shop years ago and was extremely concerned when a Spar shop opened two doors up and started to sell tights - that was probably the very beginning of the end of small independent shops each selling their own goods. It is sad that the internet has now taken over our shopping habits and consequently is forcing shops out of business and our High Streets to be full of empty shops - I'm not sure what the answer is but unfortunately I'm part of the problem

I am too. Our town has a limited variety of shop shops - coffee shops aplenty though! - and as a consequence a limited attraction. Also parking can be a problem. For me it is a boon to have online shopping. However if you want just a couple of screws or even a fork handle THEN there is a problem of where to get it! Life as we knew it is changing but who knows, it might change back again!

I agree in principle but as several people have pointed out, not everyone can visit the shops and for these people internet shopping is a godsend.
Also there are items (such as deep fitted sheets in a specific size, as yesterday's post) which are not necessarily easy to find unless you go to an out-of-town shop, which again can present problems.

We have recently moved house and can now walk to shops etc. However prior to this we had nothing and lived in the middle of nowhere. Amazon was a lifesaver. It is easy to judge the actions of others until you know their circumstances.

Exactly Annie on line and catalogues are a life line for some.

If I wanted to buy sheets for intsance it would be tesco or a 20 mile drive each way to the nearest large town. Our small High St. has a couple of food shops, a jewellers, 3 pound shops, a couple of chemists, 2 banks and the usual selection of charity shops, bookmakers and estate agents. Everything else is a bus and train ride away unless you drive.

Just because some people cannot go shopping does not mean that most can't. Probably more than 90% can go shopping. My online shopping is usually limited to something very specific I want that I cannot get locally.

I really cannot be bothered with clothes shopping online. When I have done it, at least 90% has had to be returned, which is a pain and time consuming. I do buy trousers from Landsend, but nothing else.

I feel it's inevitable and things will evolve.

Where I live I couldn't go into the town to buy shoes or get clothes that don't cost a fortune and comes in a size 12/14 at most, bedding/towels etc that would cost twice as much as I can order online. Greedy landlords and business rates have killed off the affordable shops and expensive boutiques/coffee shops and charity shops are the norm here.
I don't drive and most of our bus service was scrapped this year, so online is the way to go.

I think the High Street has shot itself in the foot to some extent. At one time you could go to the HS to look for anything, clothes, furniture, garden stuff etc. Now our High Street is clothes, shoes, toys, few household items etc. Most other stuff is stuck in a retail park somewhere, mostly accessible by car. At home I can browse everything on my iPad in comfort, what’s not to like? Everything evolves whether we like it or not.

I don't think it is that simple.
The internet has enabled a lot of small stores and independent craft people to get a huge 'shop window'.
Our small town has a fantastic independent toy shop - and they offer a bespoke on-line service for families which helps keep them going.
Nearly all of my shopping - including every day food & household - is done at independent stores, markets and co-operatives.
But when it comes to the example of sheets, I won't drive miles and trek around stuffy shops, in order to find that they don't have anything I like.
I buy on-line from Just Linen at Dawsons, an independent shop who have excellent quality bed linen and are good value.

As the OP on the thread about sheets, who was asking about the practicalities of deep fitted sheets, can I just add that I will most likely order from M & S on line. I used to enjoy shopping, but due to DH's disabilities am able to get out very rarely.
I prefer to spend what time I have out of the house doing nice things and not shopping for basics, so food and sheets etc are online and garden centres coffee shops and the like are visited in person.
I don't know what my future holds, and am always hopeful that things will improve.but for now this is how it must be.

Not everyone has a car, and not everyone is happy to lug their purchases home on foot. If I were to buy sheets in person, I would have to catch a bus into town, carry them to the nearest bus stop, sit on the bus with them on my knee, then carry them up quite a steep hill to my house. Linens are not all that heavy an item, but by the time the key was in the door, my arms would be starting to stretch and my back to ache. Also, that shopping trip would take some time, with only one item to show at the end of it - adding anything else would be the last straw!
Buying online takes only a few minutes. I can compare diferent styles, colours and prices without tramping from one shop to another, and I can drink a cup of coffee at the same time.

Not everyone lives in an area with a wide range of shops. If I wanted to buy sheets from a shop I would have to travel 14 miles and even then, ASDA would be my only option.

So don’t get your knickers in a twist and think before you rant out loud!

I need some new boots for the coming winter and footwear is something I prefer to buy in a shop so I can look, feel and try on. Last week, I set off to town, ready to spend my hard earned dosh on something good. Half a dozen shops and a couple of sweaty hours later, I gave up! Very little that I liked and what I would have considered was out of stock in my size; shops were overheated and assistance in short supply.
I've now ordered some boots online that I hadn't come across in any of the shops.

Similarly, I recently wanted another set of M&S bedding and went into our local store. When I couldn't find the bedding, I asked which floor it was on. Oh, no, I was told. This branch doesn't stock bedding but you can order it online.

You can't say I didn't try!

I never go shopping, if I can't buy it on line then I have to go without. I have no sympathy for the high street tbh, customer service was never great and half the time they didn't have what I wanted. so even the likes of Dunelm which is about a mile from home, I still buy on line as it's not wheelchair friendly and they do a larger range on line. Appliances come from A.O. as they are brilliant with next day delivery, something the high street could never manage and I can't survive without a washing machine or dishwasher. I use Amazon a lot, they sell everything, it's usually delivered next day and arrives at my door. I'm certainly not going to apologise to poor old shop keepers who did very little to help me in the past. If the high street disappears I won't miss it because I don't use it. Change happens and it's inevitable, we'll adapt.

I would rather go shopping but realise I am fortunate to be able to do so. I shop online sometimes as well, especially at Christmas when the shops are heaving.

I do what's easiest and cheapest for me, as life is already hard enough, and I haven't much money.

Really interesting to read all the comments and I am happy to admit that on line shopping is a godsend for many of us.
I think that the point I made about people making lots of enquiries in "bricks and mortar" shops and then going home to order on line from the cheapest still stands. If they are doing that, they are obviously able to get out and about!!!

Only ever bought a few things online and they have usually been for my daughter 52 miles away. It saves me having to do the trip. Ilove going to the shops to buy as itssociable and you can see, touch and try before you buy.

I hate shopping, especially clothes shopping, but have spent this afternoon in a nearby town getting the half dozen items needed for my winter wardrobe.

I went into about a dozen shops, from Sainsbury to the upmarket department store in the town centre. I discovered that the garments I had in mind were unavailable so I was able to change my mind about what to get, look at alternative styles and colours, try them on, check that they fitted me and suited me (not at all the same thing). When my usual size was out of stock, see if the size larger or smaller fitted and so on.

I left home at 2.00 and was home by 5.30. Everything done, including journey to town and back in three and a half hours. I have got everything I went out for, I know it fits, suits me and the quality is acceptable and I have bought garments that I would have ignored if I had seen them in the catalogue

So much simpler and easier than online, ordering, getting the parcel, trying the clothes on then finding they do not fit or do not suit or the quality is poor, sending them all back and starting all over again.

Obviously, for some people they have no choice and have to go this route, but by choice? I shudder.

It takes me an hour each way to proper shops, and then the parking is difficult and expensive, and quite spread out.

I am a bigger size, and so many times they don't have my size in stock, so I can't even try it on. It's made me almost give up shopping in the high street. I do order online sometimes, and collect at the shop. I may order 2 sizes, in the hope that one fits.

I do love online shopping. I also enjoy regular visits to local farm shops, that sell unusual gifts, cards etc and fresh local produce.