Apparently, some people feel there’s an immediacy with online spending that creates disconnect between punching some keys versus handing something over to the register.
For me, it’s all about tactile response. I can touch and hold the item. I can see how pretty it is or how nice it smells. When it’s a picture on a screen, it’s far more abstract — and I can’t always be sure how it will look in person. It’s just easier for me to get attached to an object that’s physically present.
Then there’s comparison shopping. In person, if it seems like a reasonable price, I’m more willing to buy it. I don’t have a lot of energy to run around to every store and check the price.
If I happen to know it’s cheaper elsewhere, that’s one thing. But if it’s something we need in the near future and it’s appropriately priced, chances are we’ll leave the store with it.
For Internet purchases, I can do comparison shopping at the drop of a hat. I can see a wide range of the products and take time to read through and better understand them. I often end up reading reviews, which are almost inevitably conflicting. That usually convinces me to do more research before purchasing.
In person, my energy might be waning. (Don’t most people’s, when they’re faced with shopping?) That can mean a mental fog sets in, making it hard to compare features and prices. Or I’m just anxious to get home before I crash.
In that situation, I usually find something in a middle price range, unless it’s one of those rare occasions where the cheapest ones look decent.
Of course, I’m kind of a fanatic about comparison shopping. It’s not just pricing, though I usually check a minimum of four stores’ prices and about 10 stores to see if they have it. I’m also checking our rewards or cash-back programs to see what kind of deal we can get. If it’s available on Amazon, we can use gift cards, courtesy of Swagbucks. Failing that, Mr. Rebates or Ebates at least offers me some cash back. If I was going to spend the money anyway, why not enjoy the benefits.
When shipping costs make the savings moot, I can locate the best price locally and send Tim out to pick it up.
During these searches, my mind is questioning the purchase. It doesn’t help that I spend so much time online working on rewards programs, tracking our bank accounts and charting our debt reduction efforts. There’s a mental connection for me between the Internet and frugality that can make it hard to spend money.
But the biggest hurdle of all for online spending? Inputting my information.
At a store, you hand over your credit card, then you sign a slip. But an online purchase means you fill out your profile information, including shipping and billing data.
Then I have to get up from the computer, grab my credit card, look at the total, (wince), click on “Check Out,” then type in my credit card information. With each digit, I’m picturing the charge on our next statement — and about how this is a step backwards in debt reduction.
And after all that, I still have to click “Confirm.” It’s torture!
Even using PayPal isn’t that mindless. I have to stop and decide whether to put it through to checking or the credit card. That means considering what’s in the bank, how much time is left until payday and what we need to buy.
So, folks, what part of all that is “easy,” exactly?
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
The problem with online shopping, for me, is that everything can be done without putting in much if any effort. I rarely go out to a shopping mall, but I spend a lot of time on the computer. What's more, online stores are a source of temptation – I might never consider needing a new dress, until I see one that just screams "buy me!" on the Anthropologie website.
As far as putting your CC & address info in – a lot of websites store that now. That can be dangerous, because by streamlining that checkout process, they give you even less time to consider your purchase. And offering free shipping on some amount, they get you to spend more, just so you feel like you're getting a deal.
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Abigail Reply:
May 18th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
I try never to store my credit card info on a site for just that reason. You have to agree to save the CC data for later. So I just say no.
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Abigail Reply:
May 18th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
I try never to store my credit card info on a site for just that reason. You have to agree to save the CC data for later. So I just say no.
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Most of what I buy online is stuff like vitamins and supplement, personal care products, etc. Tactile response isn't as necessary–and it's easy to do internet search for price comparisons of specific items (as opposed to the seemingly impossible quest of finding the perfect gray cardigan sweater…). I mainly use Google shopping to compare pricing, but I hear what you're saying–sometimes having access to all this information online only helps to get you caught up in an endless loop of research.
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