MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Why is online shopping so addictive?

Why is online shopping so addictive?


I literally am to the point where I try to think of things I need. I think it’s mostly because of Prime and how easy, fast and cheap Amazon makes it, in addition to the seemingly limitless variety of stuff they have.

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You are contributing to a global retail monopoly. I'm glad that so many things here that I would like to buy are more expensive on Amazon.

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Sorry. I'm not one bit impressed with Amazon. I can count on one hand the number of times I've used it, and then it was only as a last resort.

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I was just on Amazon today looking for an item...It's often the fastest and frequently cheapest way to get a wide range of things

It's also nice to not have to go shopping

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It really is convenient and amazing how fast things show up at the door.

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Yup

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No idea, I prefer to go to the stores to shop.

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I agree - I like to look at something I plan on buying; however, I have never been a person who just goes to shop to see what I can buy.

I do occasionally buy something online, but that is usually only because what I'm looking for isn't in the stores and I also will look for something and see if it's available in a store so I don't wast my time running around.

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Same here.

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" I prefer to go to the stores to shop."

The idea of that horrifies me
- the time it would take
- the not knowing what its going to cost before you embark on the mission
- the not knowing what it would cost before the shopkeeper tells you , and you have to tell him no thanks.
- the paying twice as much (thats probly the main one)
- the lack of choice
- the rooting around trying to find it.
- trying to park any where near a shop

yes you get to "see it" first , sometimes , but that doesent make it worth it for me.

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I don't find that Amazon is cheaper. In a lot of cases things are more expensive.

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"- the time it would take"

Sorry, I don't like to spend all day locked up in my house.

"- the not knowing what its going to cost before you embark on the mission"

People who go to stores don't have internet???

"- the not knowing what it would cost before the shopkeeper tells you , and you have to tell him no thanks."

Again, internet???

"- the paying twice as much (thats probly the main one)"

How about shipping costs? Especially annoying if those aren't refunded.

"- the lack of choice"

How about too much choice and not even being sure how different products compare because you can't actually physically check them first. And I absolutely hate it when you don't have the option to choose your preferred color, etc.

"- the rooting around trying to find it."

Most stores have sections so you can more easily find what you're looking for. And you can always ask a store employee (which reminds me, stores are definitely a good thing for the local economy).

"- trying to park any where near a shop"

I guess I'm lucky to live in a city where stores are easily accesible by bike and public transport.

My own experience with online shopping has confirmed it's totally worth to "see it" first.

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Sorry, I don't like to spend all day locked up in my house.
me neither , but being in a shop , or worse a mall , is far far worse.
You could use the hours saved by shopping online to go to the park or something

People who go to stores don't have internet???
not all stores have their stuff catalogued on the internet (im picturing a local hardware store)

Again, internet???
Again , the internet wont tell me what the local car parts shop will charge for a windscreen wiper , but amazon or ebay will. And i dont wanna have to say to the guy "oh shit , i didnt realise you are charging 3x the internet price , sorry to have bothered you , ill get it online"

How about too much choice
Thats the beauty of the "search" button. On ebay or amazon you can type "johhny cash tee shirt" and in seconds you have the results from HUNDREDS of different sellers ,order by price if you like.
How long is that going to take you in a car? ( or bike or public transport , or even by phone?)

Most stores have sections
see above

bike and public transport.
fair enough good point , i could have biked into town the other day , but in a car the queue hit well still out of town and i abort mission.

"good thing for the local economy"
again , true , but do we really need a local economy , big picture?
yes we do , but it could operate in other , more productive ways.

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"You could use the hours saved by shopping online to go to the park or something"

I've already seen the park plenty of times. I'm sorry the shopping streets in your neighbourhood are no fun.

"not all stores have their stuff catalogued on the internet (im picturing a local hardware store)"

The big hardware store in my area does. And the really small one that doesn't is right around the corner. I can just pop in while doing some other shopping.

"Again , the internet wont tell me what the local car parts shop will charge for a windscreen wiper , but amazon or ebay will. And i dont wanna have to say to the guy "oh shit , i didnt realise you are charging 3x the internet price , sorry to have bothered you , ill get it online"

Funny, I often find smaller stores to be cheaper. Sometimes I see a nice price on the internet, but the shipping costs bring it right back up. And it's far less trouble to return the items to the store.

"Thats the beauty of the "search" button. On ebay or amazon you can type "johhny cash tee shirt" and in seconds you have the results from HUNDREDS of different sellers ,order by price if you like."

Lol, and which one of all those HUNDREDS am I going to buy??? Especially if I can't even physically compare them? Maybe the one that looks best in the photo has the lowest quality fabric.

"again , true , but do we really need a local economy , big picture?:

Of course we do. Don't know what the next best alternative would be for employment. And perhaps you live in suburbia, but closed up shops and deserted streets are no fun.

It's not like I never buy online. Sometimes I have no other choice or it turns out to be much cheaper. But I much, much prefer going to the stores.

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I never buy clothes or shoes online - how would I know if they fit? The only exception to that is if I go to Macy's and see something that I like but they don't have the size I need - like they only have a medium and I can tell a small is better or maybe they have the size I need but the wrong color - then I would order online.

Shoes - unless they are flip flops - never, never, never.

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Same here. I have ordered clothes or shoes online a couple of times when I was looking for something specific, but only when shipping was free. I hate doing it, it's really a gamble.

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Cause it's really easy?

😎

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Well, washing the dishes is also easy but it's not addicting. There is something irresistable feeling about shopping non essential items.

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Well now, my philosophy on washing the dishes is the same as my philosophy on making the bed. Why bother?
You just have to do them again in six months.

😎

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Ha!
MMC2 for the win

Sadly, some of us can't sleep if the house is not tidy...I swear it's a mental illness😱!

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Apparently, in the room of the cooking, Mrs K tells me that we have a device that cleans dishes for us. Imagine that, eh?

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Is it a woman-o-matic?

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I have no knowledge of what dark arts transpire in the room of the cooking.

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Ah yes, Nanny Plum's magic. I can hear the Wise Old Elf rolling his eyes right now.

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Thanks, Shogie!

😎

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You are lucky to have so much discretionary income you have to worry about this.
I wouldn't buy something from amazon if it was free. Go figure

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Apologies everyone, but we have a daily Amazon delivery here at Kings Towers.

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@ MovieBuff
do you think Prime is worth is?

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For sure, it’s really an incredible service. Anytime you realize you need something boom at your door free of charge within 2 days, often next day. I was able to use the student discount so it’s only $60 a year, no brainer.

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Wait so is it free or is it $60?? Paying for something only to turn around and call it free is like saying I paid $30k for my free car.

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