How many of you still consider physical retail shops for electronics?

FAST6191 · May 29, 2017

So I watched

It then occurred to me that I would not even consider a retail shop any more, and have not done for years. Assuming I am not there to test their "knowledgeable and specially trained" staff I hate even dealing with so called big box stores.

If my washing machine, cooker or something packs up I will get in the van and go get one that day, or have one delivered from a shop I found one in that day. If I ever need another bed I will probably build one and as second hand furniture costs nothing then I will do that. The idea of me ever buying a new camera, laptop, computer, screen or power tool in the real world, at least one that is not on offer if I happen to be walking by at the time I need one, is almost laughable to me.

I was never an online evangelist though, and still are not. All this sort of just happened.

matthi321 · May 29, 2017

aslong as i can buy it cheaper or around the same price on the internet i will buy it there

PrincessLillie · May 29, 2017

If I can get it at retail, I will. I like my retail stores and online shopping will be the death of the economy. (even though I do frequent Amazon to get old games...)

nxwing · May 29, 2017

Most, if not all of my electronics are bought at retail stores. I prefer being able to actually see and feel them before buying them.

Jayro · May 29, 2017

I prefer buying things in person, and always will.

FAST6191 · May 29, 2017

Curious

I like paying cash for things, though I get most of the benefits I care for by first having to go to the bank to put cash into the account to buy stuff.

On touching before I buy then while I do tend to look at laptops that way (does it have a good screen, does it have a good keyboard, is it one of those crap laptops with less storage than some of my SD cards, low enough memory that I might wonder what scam they are pulling and a processor that I can probably calculate faster than? If the answer to all those is favourable then as long as it is not for a specific need then go ahead). That said I don't go far wrong with reviews, and with most things being focus tested for ages and most things having designs that have been thrashed out over decades -- the controls on my shiny camera from the other year are mostly the same as the ones on my film camera from the late 70s, which itself goes back further still) I can learn to live with most things out there I am not even seeing the need to touch things first in many cases.

Re death of the economy then while I am no fan of the credit+(over)consumption model adopted by many places (I buy what I can afford and owing to the path I took in life fix or adapt most things going). That said retail seems to be about 10% so I am not sure how that is going to be the death of anything
https://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_table_201.htm
To say nothing of

Mikemk · May 29, 2017

If I need something right then, such as a power cable, sure, I'll go to a store.
Normally I just buy from Amazon or Newegg though.

Deleted User · May 29, 2017

I buy retail whenever I can, phone, tv, it could just be a usb or hard drive. I love just going into electronic shops and looking around

Ryccardo · May 29, 2017

Almost always (10-to-70-minute shipping from payment, in a vehicle I personally control, is something I value highly)

But I do my own research both before going to the store and while inside it; especially for phones, you can bet I'm checking xda for the availability and quality of custom roms!

sarkwalvein · May 29, 2017

TBH, I feel like going to retailers to get things is a waste of time more often than not.
Waste of time because first you have to travel there, then you have to look around, find the thing (if it happens to be in stock), etc.
The only goods thing about retailers is you can take a look at products you don't know well before buying, and that delivery time is null, as you deliver it out yourself.

That said, I prefer to plan buying things, do it online, and let the mail services do the work and spend the time of getting them into my house, while I use that time for my own bussiness.
But well, if I didn't plan things out well and I am in a hurry, sure I go to a retailer.

Oleboy555 · May 29, 2017

FAST6191 said:
So I watched

It then occurred to me that I would not even consider a retail shop any more, and have not done for years. Assuming I am not there to test their "knowledgeable and specially trained" staff I hate even dealing with so called big box stores.

If my washing machine, cooker or something packs up I will get in the van and go get one that day, or have one delivered from a shop I found one in that day. If I ever need another bed I will probably build one and as second hand furniture costs nothing then I will do that. The idea of me ever buying a new camera, laptop, computer, screen or power tool in the real world, at least one that is not on offer if I happen to be walking by at the time I need one, is almost laughable to me.

I was never an online evangelist though, and still are not. All this sort of just happened.

I buy my phones in retail shops

Saiyan Lusitano · May 29, 2017

I just buy things online because they tend to be cheaper, free delivery and can avoid crappy customer service.

RaMon90 · May 29, 2017

Retail is still better if you want to spend over 100 euro, because to me it's safe and for the guarantee. So that's just me, some people maybe even spend 1k or more.

sarkwalvein · May 29, 2017

RaMon90 said:
Retail is still better if you want to spend over 100 euro, because to me it's safe and for the guarantee. So that's just me, some people maybe even spend 1k or more.

Meh, they make you send things to a random service center for guarantee anyway, no matter if you buy online or retail.
I've spent over 2K€ buying online, IMHO it is as safe.

DinohScene · May 29, 2017

I prefer to get things from retail stores.
That is if I need it the same day, otherwise I'll prolly order something small online.

Tom Bombadildo · May 29, 2017

I haven't bought electronics in an actual physical location in at least a year+. Buying stuff online is usually just cheaper, and a majority of the electronics I buy are from Amazon and I have Prime so I usually get stuff in 2 days at the most. If I absolutely needed something that day I probably would, but otherwise meh.

Victrine · May 29, 2017

I usually buy from psychical retail since most if not all my devices are second hand, gives you an opportunity to see what you're getting before buying.

OblivionReign · May 29, 2017

FAST6191 said:
So I watched

It then occurred to me that I would not even consider a retail shop any more, and have not done for years. Assuming I am not there to test their "knowledgeable and specially trained" staff I hate even dealing with so called big box stores.

If my washing machine, cooker or something packs up I will get in the van and go get one that day, or have one delivered from a shop I found one in that day. If I ever need another bed I will probably build one and as second hand furniture costs nothing then I will do that. The idea of me ever buying a new camera, laptop, computer, screen or power tool in the real world, at least one that is not on offer if I happen to be walking by at the time I need one, is almost laughable to me.

I was never an online evangelist though, and still are not. All this sort of just happened.

I prefer retailers if anything as anytime i buy shit online it "gets lost" so whatever. Plus i womt have to pay extra for shipping and i dont have to wait days to weeks for what i wamt ill just go pick it up within the hour ^~^

spotanjo3 · May 29, 2017

To be honest with you, I prefer retailers over electronic (internet). However, if I cannot find what I am looking for then electronic (internet) is my next option. Most time, I use Amazon for some reason: Cheap.

Foxchild · May 29, 2017

Actually lost my job a few weeks ago due to the retail chain I was a manager for closing all its stores, in large part due to the online market, although there were other factors too.

Personally, as a Gen-Xer, I find myself in between with online purchasing. I get all my PC parts online, as I have nowhere locally to buy them. Entertainment like blu rays etc is kind of half online half brick n mortar (yes I still buy dvds and blu rays). I did all my Christmas shopping online last year, except what I bought at the store I worked at, largely because after managing in retail all day I had no desire to go out shopping in it. I'll buy stuff ship to store for the free shipping quite often. Clothes I do retail so I can ensure they fit (I absolutely hate returning anything so I go to great lengths to ensure I won't need to), large appliances I go retail as well, since I can't picture how big a 22.9 cubic ft fridge is, I need to go open it and see if it's the size I want. Basically it's a mixture of price, convenience/time, and whether I feel it is necessary to physically inspect an object before purchasing.

How many of you still consider physical retail shops for electronics?

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