Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Explain Which Items They Prefer To Buy In Person Rather Than Online

People Explain Which Items They Prefer To Buy In Person Rather Than Online
Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

I live to shop. I often have to stop myself like an addict needing a fix. And don't even get me started on Target. I've told security to tase me at first glance. One of the things I love most about shopping is doing it up close and personal.

I just can't get onboard with the online shopping craze. Maybe it's because I crave instant gratification or because of the few times I ordered online it was an unholy disaster. The sizes never seem to fit and more often than not, it never looks like what you ordered.

I don't want to pine away at window waiting on a delivery truck that may bring the wrong item. I want to hand my cash to the sexy clerk and saunter out with my item for me to indulge in at once.

Redditoru/Rindhallowwanted to discuss why up close and personal is always best when shopping, by asking:

What item do you prefer buying in person rather than online?

Last year I ordered a lush nightgown for a bestie. It was fluffy, sultry and floor-length. It took months... MONTHS to arrive. And when I opened it... I saw no fluff. No sultry and it was basically a crop top. I was not pleased.

On your Feet...

shoes GIFGiphy

"Shoes."

- Rettirk

"Yes, I'm always in between sizes. Online shoe shopping will end in a crap load of returns."

- SnowdropWorks

The Fit

" Clothes. Lot easier to return if they don't fit, or better still you can try it on in the shop."

- PinGUY

"This 100%. I'm pregnant and most of the retail stores around me have stopped carrying maternity clothes in store. In my town I found about 12 racks between Walmart, Target, and Khols. I complain about it and people are like "I just order it all and then return what doesn't work."

"But I don't want to do that, I don't want to wait a week to find out it doesn't fit and then go through the hassle of taking a package to the UPS store to return items. I decided instead to just find a few sewing patterns that would work and go to JoAnns for my maternity clothes."

- macaronbaker87

Fill her Up...

"A used vehicle. With services like Carvana and others pushing the full online experience, I just could not bring myself to invest that kind of money into something I cannot see or drive first, especially after being burned on a used car or two in the past. I understand many have trial/return policies but it seems like more of a headache than its worth."

- i_like_things_btw

DEMIN LIVES!!

"Jeans."

- sputnikbong7

"Agree, except the last time I went to buy the kind I like the only store I'd been able to find them in said they no longer carried them. So I called up the jean company and the lady said we aren't making them anymore and I have 3 in stock in that size. I ordered all 3 over the phone. BRING BACK 100% DENIM! I hate stretch jeans."

- Electrical-Pie-8192

Squeeze...

Dance Bouncing GIF by E!Giphy

"Groceries... I like to squeeze my own melons."

- Andee_SC2

Shoes and melons. You always need to feel those in person. Shoe and melon shopping is almost an art form. And jeans. You have to try on jeans.

The Songs

Moving The Simpsons GIFGiphy

"Music and DVDs. I enjoy the browsing and stumbling on a hidden gem. But most of these stores have closed down."

- Isand0

Words in front...

"Books. I love book stores. I like to pick up the books, the smell of a bookstore, getting distracted by books that I wasn't even looking for, all of it. I'm saddened that there are fewer and fewer bookstores. If I visit a new place I always look for local bookstores."

- Cheercraft

Not My Order

" Food."

- dont_mess_with_js

"Yeah I've done the Walmart pickup and ended up with some junky produce. I still risked it during the pandemic though just to avoid the store. Rather some moldy lemons than covid. But that exact sentiment kept me from doing it before."

- mandy_loo_who

The Strings

"Guitars. Even if you've aged the exact same model in a store, you never know what you're going to get in the mail. Even low end guitars, if 1000 come off the production line 995 will be just fine. 3 will be bad. 2 will just have something about them that makes them special t hat you can't really define but takes it to that next level."'

- rhett342

Looks can be Deceiving...

"Fruit and vegetables. I've used a lot of grocery pickup because of covid. The pickers don't give a crap what the produce looks like."

- oh_look_a_fist

"When I did this years ago, I would be careful to avoid bruised apples, bags of fruit with a rotten one, avocados that were squishy or rock hard. But I'd get complaints on items that I don't eat (and therefore don't know what to look for) like mangoes, pineapples, and tomatoes."

- theshoegazer

misfitting...

Giphy

"Bathing suits. A lot of online stores only sell the same size top and bottom together. I need different sizes."

- carolinahoosier

Now bathing suits I can chance it with. Mostly because I'll just wear undies to the beach if I have to. I'm just never going to fully trust the online experience.

Want to "know" more? Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again. Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Karoline Leavitt and Scott Bessent
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Karoline Leavitt Dragged After Making Mind-Numbing Claim About Trump's Tariffs Reversal

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is getting called out after she attempted to justify President Donald Trump's sudden reversal on his proposed tariffs, telling reporters that his actions make sense because he has a master plan to make the world bend the knee.

Trump declared a full 90-day suspension of all the “reciprocal” tariffs that took effect at midnight April 10—except for those on China—in a dramatic about-face from a president who had long championed his historically high tariff rates as permanent.

Keep ReadingShow less
religion signs
Noah Holm on Unsplash

People Explain What Stopped Them From Going To Church Anymore

There's been a perception of a bit of an exodus from religion for the last several decades. But humanity has gone from no organized religions to oppressive religious regimes to rebellion and back again over the last several millennia.

But is the 21st century when religion finally fails to bounce back?

Keep ReadingShow less
Jojo Siwa; Mickey Rourke
ITV

Mickey Rourke Reprimanded After Indirectly Aiming Anti-Gay Slur At JoJo Siwa On 'Celebrity Big Brother'

Dance Moms dancer, Nickelodeon child star, singer, and reality TV staple Jojo Siwa had a rough few months in 2024 over some problematic comments and behavior.

But 2025 is looking brighter as the public rallies to her defense.

Keep ReadingShow less
Barack and Michelle Obama
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Michelle Obama Expertly Shuts Down Baseless Rumors That She And Barack Are Divorcing

Speaking on Sophia Bush's Work in Progress podcast, former First Lady Michelle Obama addressed rumors that she and her husband, former President Barack Obama, were getting a divorce.

Obama addressed the recent divorce rumors for the first time, while also reflecting on the personal choices she’s made since departing the White House in 2017.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kristi Noem
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Kristi Noem Ripped Over Her Lack Of Gun-Handling Skills While Cosplaying As ICE Agent

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was criticized after she had an ICE officer seemingly dodging her aim after she pointed a gun towards his head while filming a video.

In a 20-second video posted to X on Tuesday, Kristi Noem stands flanked by two Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, brandishing a gun. Wearing a vest marked "ICE," along with dark cargo pants and a cap, Noem addresses the camera while the two agents remain silent beside her—though some X users expressed concern for the safety of one of them.

Keep ReadingShow less