What do you purchase over the internet?

[laney]

I was responding to another post and realized that every major purchase that I have made over the last 6-7 years has been over the internet. And all the sudden that was scary! LOL! Anyway - since most of us here have made a diamond purchase over the internet..

Do you make major purchases for other things over the net?


Ok - here''s my list

House (found it, virtual tours.. etc - no real estate agent)
(2) Cars - found it price - no haggle - just picked them up
(2) Diamonds

All Travel - Air, Hotel, Car - and we travel a lot international & domestic for work & pleasure
My recent destination wedding - everything from the DJ, Caterer, Location, Officiant, Photographer, Baker, Accomodations, Boat trips, Wedding dress, Bridesmaids dresses, groomsmen outfits..
Jewelery
Furniture
Scuba equipment
Computers, Cameras, Big Screen TV.. all electronics
MY DOG!!!!! Great dane.. so he was a big purchase..
Photos (shutterfly, mypublisher..)


The really very sad thing is - there are very few things I''ll buy in person. Groceries. Yes.. that''s about it.

How about you?

 

[Mara]

Everything?

I used to be in eCommerce so I have been shopping online for years, felt like it was my 'duty' to help further the industry...

I know my list is longer than this but it's what I can think of now. I also hate going into stores because I tend to waste alot of time wandering around and my schedule is pretty busy, so if I can get it online I do. If there is free shipping, even better.

Basically all Clothes, Including shoes
Diamonds & Jewelry
Coffee from Hawaii *yum*
Photos (Ofoto)
Electronics (TiVo, Camera, etc)
Furniture/Rugs/Home Decor
Travel/Car/Hotel
Did everything for destination wedding online including finding vendors, even things like centerpieces and favor bag components, invitations, etc.
Most Birthday, Holiday, and Wedding Gifts (RedEnvelope baby!)
Gardening Items and Plants/Bulbs
Wine
Dog Treats & Stuff (Best prices I have found are online)

I attended a seminar last week at an industry conference and the speaker said something about buying online and how he felt a house would never be purchased online. I refrained from speaking up, but I would buy a house based on what I saw online and I know others who would too. I'm sure he would freak about buying a diamond online too.

Sometimes I think that depending on where you are from, your acceptance and tolerance of the internet and technology is more natural.

 

[ame]

Jewelry
Clothes
Makeup
Hair stuff...

yknow, probably everything. As long as I can return/exchange it and it''s a trustworthy seller usually I don''t mind.

 

[Matata]

Date: 8/10/2005 1:52:44 PM
Author: Mara
I refrained from speaking up....

AAACKKK!! The world is going to come to an end

. I buy nearly everything I can on the net -- home decor, electronics, cosmetics, appliances...whatever. It''s faster to find good deals on the net than running all over town. And, since I live in a relatively rural area, it''s hard to find a lot of the stuff I like here.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Mostly, I buy everything in person, especially clothes and shoes. It''s hard to gage what will fit and it''s a PITA to return stuff in the mail. I bought TONS of stuff from VS, like $600 worth of sale stuff, so five boxes of marked down garments came to me and only ONE thing fit, so I figured screw this and since, I just take the ten mintues to drive to the mall and find exactly what fits then and there. I live near to just about every store imaginable, so I shop when I have time.

What I DO buy online are face cream samples thru ebay. Usually, I pick up about two products a week, so I always have something fun to look forward to in the mailbox. I also buy junk through sephora, like yesterday a foot scrub came along with a pumice stone. Simple stuff like this, I love to order to break up the upset over all the BILLS that come

Also, I buy some house things, but not too often and generally get sale stuff like marked down candle holders from Williams Sonoma and just this last week or two, I got some clearance hand towels from Restoration Hardware.

And, lastly, BOOKS and CDS. These are easy and safe and I love having the Amazon reviews to look through before picking up a book.

 

[curlygirl]

I buy as much as I possibly can online. Who has time to shop anymore?!

Clothes
Travel/hotel/airfare
Electronic devices
Books
Jewelry
Hair products
Thank you cards
Gifts
Furniture
Vitamins

I think I just love getting packages!!

 

[Mara]

Matata...I knew PS''ers would get a kick out of that!! As he said that, my boss turned around and looked at me and smirked because she knows how nuts I am about buying online.

 

[laney]

Funny - I too work in the industry (that being, I''m responsible for internet development - and other internal softwre development for my company). I feel I might be a teensy bit biased with my comfort level

But the house was the best move EVER. When we were buying 2.5 years ago - the boom here was in full swing. All I heard were crazy stories of agents taking customers to houses that were awful - and didn''t meet their criteria - amounting to a waste of time.

When we could see the entire house - virtual tour, see the price, etc etc - and didn''t have to drive all over to weed out the duds and the good ones - it was Great.. with a capital G. We found our house.. of course saw it in person - but signed the contract as soon as we could!

Same w/car.

I still like to do clothes in person. Nothing subsitutes trying on jeans.. or at least I''ve found yet...

 

[glaucomflecken]

i buy almost everything online. I like the convenience of shopping online and how if I get an idea of something I am looking for, something random and wacky, I can do a google search and by golly most of the time it exists! I am too lazy to go from store to store when I have something specific in mind. I like price comparisons and if I know I can get it cheaper in person I will. And I like having a package waiting for me when I get home!

Ive planned almost my entire wedding online, everything so far but my dress was bought online.

Also buy appliances, jewelry, makeup and beauty products, handbags, etc.

 

[sjz]

I do a lot of research online, but don''t really buy that much. I have mostly bought inexpensive jewelry and fashion accesories, perfume, some home decor items, some dollls, a couple of musical instruments and parts for my instruments, some sheet music, a few books and CD''s, and video games for my kids. That''s about it. Oh, and some nice diamonds from WF

.

Things I probably wouldn''t buy online would be clothing, shoes, furniture, cars, homes. Not because I don''t trust buying those items online, but because I have too much fun shopping for those things in person

. Oh, and I wouldn''t get my medications online because I think it''s too important to have a relationship with your pharmacist. I probably wouldn''t buy food online, either, because I''m kinda picky about where things come from that I ingest.

 

[jaysonsmom]

I didn''t think I shopped on-line that much, but now that I''ve seen the list of things that pp listed, I realize that I actually DO:

Jewelry (diamonds and watches)
Electronics (mostly for hubby''s birthdays)
DVDs and boooks (for the kids)
Shower gifts (bridal, baby registry)
Car (haggled on-line)
Cats (found both of my persians through yahoo pets)
Clothes (mainly victoria''s secret)

I think that''s it. NEXT!

 

[sjz]

Date: 8/11/2005 12:08:34 PM
Author: jaysonsmom
I didn''t think I shopped on-line that much, but now that I''ve seen the list of things that pp listed, I realize that I actually DO:

Jewelry (diamonds and watches)
Electronics (mostly for hubby''s birthdays)
DVDs and boooks (for the kids)
Shower gifts (bridal, baby registry)
Car (haggled on-line)
Cats (found both of my persians through yahoo pets)
Clothes (mainly victoria''s secret)

I think that''s it. NEXT!

Just curious about your cats...did you meet the people who bought them from, or did you just see the cats on the internet and have them shipped to you?

I found the breeders for both my Bengal and my mini Schnauzer while researching online, but I called and talked to them both, and met them in person before I purchased my pets from them. They were both located close enough that it was feasible for me to do that. We have been considering another Bengal, but haven''t found one that we wanted from any breeder near us. The closest breeders are located in Chicago and near St. Louis, but we have been looking at a cat from a breeder in Texas. I hate the thought of getting a pet from someone I''ve never met, and having an animal shipped to me. The cats are very expensive, and at this point, I can''t justify the expense of driving or flying to Texas to meet the breeder and pick up the cat in person. I''m inclined to wait until one of the more local breeders has a cat. I''m actually wanting either a kitten that is a pet quality as opposed to a breeder or show cat. I''d go to a rescue or something, but most rescues don''t have Bengals, and that''s the only breed of cat that we can have because of our allergies. Not to mention we are now in love with the breed after having Topaz for nearly 5 years.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

I am absolutely astounded at the amount folks online shop--I just asked this very question in the shopping thread......and some purchases I can understand more than others........but for me clothing is not one of them unless buying muliples of known products..and then that doesn''t always work either..would be too much for me with shipping if the sizing was wrong etc etc...

cheers--Sharon