“Why doesn’t everyone shop online?”
“Why doesn’t everyone shop online?”
That was the question my wife asked my when she reviewed the invoice for our new 46” Samsung LCD purchased from Frys.
You see, two days earlier a family member bought the same TV, with several notable differences:
– Their sticker price was $400 more – They paid over $100 in taxes – They had to remove the TV from the box to fit it in their car.I clicked a button and held the door open for the delivery guy. That’s it. Nothing more.
‘But don’t you have to see something first?’ my wife asked.
I DID go to the store, but that was only to see the TV live and in person. This is something I do with more and more frequency. In a nutshell, here’s how I shop…
– I research a group of products online that fit my needs. – I price each item. – I read reviews on each item – I identify a local store where I can physically see the product (if it’s a major purchase). – I systematically check a series of Web sites each day to find the lowest price. I’ll also check sites such as FatWallet and SlickDeals for specials. Assuming I’m not in a rush for the item, I will try to take my time. This is a key component to saving money when chopping online: don’t be in a rush, but know when to pull the trigger.Is my way perfect? Of course not. Had the TV arrived in 876 pieces, I would be blogging about how brick and mortar is the way to go. I understand that this method takes time and luck, but to be honest, I’ve seen it save me hundreds and hundreds of dollars time and time again.
“It makes no sense. Why is everything cheaper online and why doesn’t everyone do this?”
I launched into my usual ‘less overhead,’ ‘no expensive staffing’ speech. Then I realized she had a point. Stores simply can’t compete with online vendors, so why aren’t more people buying online? I don’t need the ‘human touch.’ That generally consists of a careless 18-year-old in a vest or a pushy salesman.
It might boil down to fear. Do not be scared to shop online, my friends; Unless you have a money-saving phobia. Sure there’s the whole identity-theft risk, but the odds of that happening might not be any greater than the store you’re shopping in getting robbed while you wait to pay.
The biggest problem I have with saving money by buying online is that I tend to re-spend what I’ve ‘saved.’
The economy might blow, but spending season is almost here. If you are fortunate enough to have money to spend, you will likely see the most competitive pricing in years – especially online.
Happy shopping!
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Borrowing More than you Can Handle at Biz Crunch said this on October 31, 2008 3:45 pm