Buying on-line

[thirdcrank]

There's something symbolic about high street shopping that seems to set it on a level with things like church attendance. City centres were the result of earlier forms of communication. Although going shopping seems to be a new way of passing the time on Sundays, it's more usually in retail parks than on the high street.

I'd assumed that traditional shops were still the best place if things needed trying on for fit or appearance, but successful distance sellers seem to be getting round that, at a cost. I read something in the business news earlier this year about the costs absorbed by online retailers of dealing with returned goods, especially if they were not returned in pristine condition. That article was written in the New Year, explaining how firms were about to be hit by the big post-Crimbo returns.

As always, this will be decided by what younger people do, not how us BOF's think it should happen.

[mjr]

Have we factored in the cost of going to Truro yet?

No because he was there anyway - which is often the most efficient way to shop or do many things. Combined trips for the win!

Even for a shopping trip, you'd need to distribute the cost over all purchases.

[Psamathe]

One thing that bugs me about a lot of online shopping is that they often send stuff "next day" - when I don't need it next day. Which, as I live rurally means a courier van has to drive out, find me, etc. Better use Royal Mail where the post person visits most days anyway (or visits neighbours most days) so no unnecessary special trips with all the environmental impacts.

That said I suspect most courier company have their vans in most nearby villages most days - which I take as a sign of the stupidity and un-sustainability of this "need it now" culture we seem to have developed.

Ian

[[XAP]Bob]

The trip is no less wasteful than the trip you might have taken to several shops to try and find what you want... In fact the likelihood is that the portion of the journey dedicated to delivering your goods is very small indeed.

[Cyril Haearn]

Have we factored in the cost of going to Truro yet?

No because he was there anyway - which is often the most efficient way to shop or do many things. Combined trips for the win!

Even for a shopping trip, you'd need to distribute the cost over all purchases.

A half or a third of the cost of the trip should be attributed, depending on what else they were doing there

[philvantwo]

Never mind all that! 3 questions need answering......
What has Mick F bought?
Why does he need to ask permission to buy it?
Why is he counting the clicks on his computer?

[Mick F]

................... depending on what else they were doing there

We went to The Hall for Cornwall to see "The Play that goes Wrong".

Took the train, via Plymouth, and arrived in time for lunch and a pint at Wetherspoon's before the matinee performance, then a pint at The Old Alehouse and another at The Wig and Pen on our way back to the train for Plymouth.
We had an hour to wait for the connection to Gunnislake, so wandered off to James Street Vaults for a pint.

In order:
https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all- ... dowr-truro
http://www.theplaythatgoeswrong.com
https://www.skinnersbrewery.com/the-bre ... ewery-tap/
https://www.staustellbrewery.co.uk/pub/truro/wig--pen
http://jamesstreetvaults.com

This:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232382604563
Found it by using Google. I knew what it was called so it was only a matter of clicking to find the eBay item. Sign in, pay, and sign out. Job done.
We'd planned - sort of - getting a new kettle for the Stanley range, so it was a short step to actually buy one. We popped into the shop in Truro on the off-chance that we might see something right, and then left. It was only the next day that I thought about it and discussed it with my better half, then did the deed.

[Cyril Haearn]

Have we factored in the cost of going to Truro yet? That's 100 miles return at 45p per mile. That's an hour each way at let's say £10.00 per hour, that's £65.00. The cost of earning that money with travel to work is maybe another £5.00. Then there's recovery time (they don't call it shop until you drop for nothing) so another £10 in lost earnings.

Truro is strangulated by shoppers and there is now a huge park and ride development just outside. The trains are heaving.

Shopping is seriously tiring, expensive and very environmentally unfriendly. Better on-line methinks.

They took the train!!, +1

[thirdcrank]

It seems that Debenhams are fighting against the trend.

Could new Stevenage store save Debenhams?

(A customer) shopping at the Stevenage branch today, said "thousands were outside waiting to get in" when the store opened in August.

He said it is the staff that make the difference, describing them as "welcoming and polite".

"The main thing is how kind and considerate the staff are. It makes a difference," (he) said.

If the staff in the rest of the firm's branches don't fit that description, it may be something to look at.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-be ... s-43825424

[Mick F]

They took the train!!, +1

We're lucky to have a railway station connecting us to the rest of the world.
Rural location, and the line only just escaped the Beeching Cuts.

If we go shopping in Plymouth, it's a twenty-ish mile drive each way, then there's parking to consider, or park and ride. All hassle.
Walk up the hill to the station, sit onboard for 45mins, take in the spectacular views, walk into town, do your stuff, and walk back to the train. Meanwhile you can have a few drinks over lunch, plus take a bottle of wine to pass the time on the way back home.

As for Debenhams and the like ............ I'll be surprised if department stores are still with us in ten years time. The days of Grace Brothers are gone.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,

Ask yourself: how long did you spend surfing the net to find the deal and how long might you spend waiting around for the delivery, possibly returning a damaged first one and so on? How much is your time worth? Also, how soon did you want it?

2mins of Google with half a dozen keystrokes. Found it on eBay, asked permission from SWMBO, and three clicks and it was a done deal. eMail in reply to confirm.

No rush, it'll be a week.
Hermes tracked.

If it's damaged, you have a good point.

If its not as described / damaged they pay all cost to return.......the law.
If you don't want it or change your mind just pay postage to return, how does that work in high street?

The high street in going out of business part due to NOT moving with the times, like a lot of big businesses' sitting on their laurels.

[ambodach]

One problem I find is with the multiples selling for example white goods. I need a new freezer so I check out the stores when I am next in a suitable area. They have loads of goods apparently in stock but none of it is for immediate sale. It is all sample goods and they will deliver free. Problem is that they will not deliver to me free or even for a reasonable charge. I have been quoted delivery prices more than the cost of the item I want to buy. Try to buy on line? Many are not interested and will not even quote as they cannot be bothered sorting out transport to an island. I have a vehicle which will carry anything reasonable I want to buy but nobody will sell to me on this basis. I can arrange a mainland delivery address but even then I have to fight for reasonable delivery price as mostly they try to charge for my home address. I have no wish to live anywhere else but sometimes it gets very wearing. It was much easier in the now distant past. You just went to a shop, selected the item you wanted and transported it home.

[Mick F]

Yes, outlying areas and islands are an issue for deliveries.
We have our nephew and family living in Orkney, so I know what you mean. Good job Royal Mail don't charge extra.

This is from the AO.com website:

*Delivery to Northern Ireland and remote areas of the UK.

Delivery to Northern Ireland is charged at £10 for small appliances and £15 for all other products. Please note, deliveries to Northern Ireland are not included in any delivery promotions, for example free next day delivery. Unfortunately, there are some TV, audio, computing and mobile phone products we cannot deliver to Northern Ireland.

We may not be able to deliver if you're in the Scottish Highlands or in more remote parts of Scotland. If we can, delivery fees may be higher and will not be eligible for delivery promotions.

Unfortunately, we can't deliver to you if you're located in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland.

[rjb]

We had an hour to wait for the connection to Gunnislake, so wandered off to James Street Vaults for a pint.

http://jamesstreetvaults.

That brought back a few good memories. Graduated from Plymouth Polytechnic - now Plymouth University in the early 1970's. One of our lecturers held his lecture in that pub over a lunchtime pint and pasty. Happy days. Wonder how much it's changed?

[Mick F]

http://jamesstreetvaults.
That brought back a few good memories. Graduated from Plymouth Polytechnic - now Plymouth University in the early 1970's. One of our lecturers held his lecture in that pub over a lunchtime pint and pasty. Happy days. Wonder how much it's changed?

We've been going in there on and off over the years as it's only a couple of hundred yards from the station ............ as you no doubt remember!

We've seen it change a little bit. The back room hasn't changed with the pool table, and the toilets are in the same place, but the bar has changed its layout and decor. They specialise in pizza and have an extensive menu, plus they have a couple of real ales on. There's two telly screens - or is is three? - but it's the same roaring fire when it's cold.

Look at their FB page photographs and see if you think it's different to your memories of the place.
https://www.google.com/maps/uv?hl=en&pb ... oioIjwEwDg