Spending Too Much Online!

[Pokerface]

I certainly did not have to read an article to tell me that when shopping online I am probably spending more money on spontaneous items. With shopping so easy now it is great when you think of an item, search for it, for me typically Amazon, and click to purchase. An item here and an item there and all delivered the next day ... how convenient until you receive your credit card statement.

With our busy lifestyles and need to avoid crowds and traffic online shopping is a great alternative. Selection, pricing, delivery, return policies and customer service are often better than brick and mortar stores. I know, there is a debate about supporting local unfortunately convenience and all seems to beat that out.

Here is the article that started my thoughts : http://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/18/you-m...-shopping.html

[QuinneyJ]

A huge percentage of what I spend is spent online. In fact it's got to a stage that there are times I go to a brick-and-mortar to check the prices of the labels and then compare that with what is the online rate and if the difference is more than 10%, I buy it online.

Businesses are realising it well and re-modelling themselves accordingly. And those who aren't, well, they would end up biting the dust.

[Renee]

I went to a computer fair with my dad 2 weekends ago because he was looking for an SD card reader. He paid $20 for it, and as we walked out I said to him he probably could have got one online for under $5. He was kicking himself but said if he had bought it online he would have had to wait for it.

So I guess that's the biggest difference. Some people are willing to pay more to have it right now.

[Football-Writer]

I can't remember the last time I bought something in a brick-and-mortar shop, except groceries of course!

[Mattbar]

I thought this until I went through three crappy Chinese made coffee grinders in the space of a year, all bought from Amazon.

Not only did they all break one of them caught on fire! In the end I went to Argos and bought the old model I used to have that had lasted me years. The effort to try to save money online cost me more in the long run.

The general principle is true but there are some goods I still prefer to buy in store.

[Football-Writer]

Hey Matt,

I had the same experience with tablets and ended up buying a branded one, but it was online. I guess you get what you pay for whether it is online or offline. I have to admit none of my tablets caught fire, though!

[Alex_PlayAttack]

PockerFace,

As for me, the best way to avoid of buying too much is to ask yourself "why do I need it?" every time such-an-attractive-offer appears. Try Kelly McGonigal "The Willpower Instinct", I guess you'll find out more about the nature of your actions and learn how to escape it

[Football-Writer]

Alex makes a good point. I do believe I spend more money online, than I would in a offline shop on stuff that I do not really need. I do have pretty good control of my finances, though.

[Mattbar]

Hey Matt,

I had the same experience with tablets and ended up buying a branded one, but it was online. I guess you get what you pay for whether it is online or offline. I have to admit none of my tablets caught fire, though!

You must not have bought a Samsung then

[Football-Writer]

Haha, funnily enough I did in fact buy a Samsung! I have had two Samsung tablets. The first one had an unfortunate accident involving my son dropping it down the stairs. I have only had the second one a few months, so there is still time for it to ignite!

[Pokerface]

Further to my original post I have continued to experience service and access to brick and mortar that supports my argument.

I recently wanted to purchase a Thule cargo box for my SUV valued at $669CAD. I had already ordered one from Amazon however the delivery could not be confirmed. I contacted a local retailer and asked if they carried the item which they told me they did. When I asked for the price they told me they would not give me a price over the telephone and revert to their website. I did better than that and consulted another retailer. The original retailer lost the sale due to poor service. I found an alternative retailer where I could purchase if Amazon did not come through. Amazon did come through again. Perfect!

Living in a city, Montreal that is totally under construction, I hate to travel to the shops. Finding a place to park is extremely difficult and the traffic is outrageous. It is much more convenient to do my comparison shopping and research and order online.

If brick and mortar stores want business they need to improve their service and selection. Just look at what’s happening with Sears Canada:

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/repo...ticle35422082/

Sears won’t be the last to go out of business.

[Football-Writer]

I have to say Amazon have always served me well. However, my partner recently encountered terrible service at one of our local shops and has decided to boycott the shop.

[Darren Kell]

Amazon prime has much to answer for - it makes purchasing on line easy and instant.

[baldidiot]

I went to a computer fair with my dad 2 weekends ago because he was looking for an SD card reader. He paid $20 for it, and as we walked out I said to him he probably could have got one online for under $5. He was kicking himself but said if he had bought it online he would have had to wait for it.

So I guess that's the biggest difference. Some people are willing to pay more to have it right now.

I think this has always been the biggest problem that online shopping has faced, but it seems to be becoming less of an issue in big cities - in London we have same day delivery from both amazon and argos. It's actually pretty mental.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Prime-Same-...ode=5782509031
http://www.argos.co.uk/features/fast...track:lightbox

[Renee]

I think this has always been the biggest problem that online shopping has faced, but it seems to be becoming less of an issue in big cities - in London we have same day delivery from both amazon and argos. It's actually pretty mental.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Prime-Same-...ode=5782509031
http://www.argos.co.uk/features/fast...track:lightbox

That's interesting. How much extra do you pay for same day delivery?

Here in Oz, you can pay for express post which is next day delivery, and even then sometimes it doesn't come on time. Auspost here is a joke and couriers are hell expensive.

[baldidiot]

That's interesting. How much extra do you pay for same day delivery?

If you have amazon prime it's free.

Argos is around £4 I think, but same price for same day as it is next day. Just depends if you're in the delivery zone (ie: same day delivery is the standard option, it's not an upgrade on the delivery).

[PROFRBcom]

I've gotten around spending too much by delegating the shopping to a personal assistant. That way only what I tell them to buy is purchased, and nothing extraneous or impulsive is purchased on my part

[Renee]

If you have amazon prime it's free.

Argos is around £4 I think, but same price for same day as it is next day. Just depends if you're in the delivery zone (ie: same day delivery is the standard option, it's not an upgrade on the delivery).

I'm guessing amazon prime is a subscription service or paid service?
There were talks about bringing some kind of amazon grocery service here. I don't know much about it but heard it already looks like it's failing.

[TheGooner]

I do lots of online research ... but despite making my money online, I don't buy much online.
Probably less than 2% total spend.
- Books.
- Some clothes from one supplier.
- Kickstarter / Indiegogo banking.
- Occasional eBay purchase.

The main issue is lack of local suppliers so distances are large which ramps up postage costs and import taxes (customs and GST).
That's one drawback to living on a South Pacific island.

[baldidiot]

I'm guessing amazon prime is a subscription service or paid service?
There were talks about bringing some kind of amazon grocery service here. I don't know much about it but heard it already looks like it's failing.

Yeah it's paid: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/prime - not that cheap at around £80 a year, but comes with streaming services (music and tv). I think they're trying to rival netflix as they have a bunch of original programming (the new top gear is made by them).