Temptalia Asks You – Do you prefer buying online or going to the store?
Saturday, May 31st, 2008
Do you prefer buying online or going to the store? Why is that your preference?
both. it depends on the product. if its something i want to try out in person, get to the store. but if its a product ive used before or something i don't need to see in person (ie lash curler) i can buy it online. but also a good thing about living in CA is that there are a lot of stores here (ie, sephora, MAC stores/counters, etc) that if I bought it online, I could easily return it in store. But with gas prices now, $6 for shipping isn't to bad at all.
I love it when you can buy online and return in store, that IS the way to go.
I actually shop online for everything except makeup. I just really like to swatch products before buying -- and I love playing with makeup, so going to stores like Sephora is heaven on earth!
Even clothes? I find that whenever I buy clothes online, 90% of the time, they won't work for me :( Just like makeup!
Both! For MAC, I only have a MAC counter here, no stores, so I do love testing things out at the counter... but sometimes they don't have something I want, and then I hop online. I do like visiting my parents in Massachusetts tho because I usually fit in a trip to the MAC store on Newbury St. in Boston... And there's no Sephora here either... so I need to do the online thing for those products as well. I guess I do online more lately because I can do it from my couch and don't have to pay for gas (I have taken advantage of some free shipping deals).
Oh, the MAC at Newbury is nice! :D LOL, gas is $$ these days, makes sense!
usually, i prefer going to the store. but i buy my makeup online sometimes (mac_cosmetics at LJ, or specktra.net) just because i've found some really great deals. :)
Oh, I'm all over LJ sales ;) Well, OK, used to be, not so much anymore. Way too much makeup!
Online shopping if it's something I really want and can't get my hands on, or staples cos online's mostly cheaper. Would most definitely go down to the store if it's a new range, to test out the stuff before getting it. Or if I'm really impatient to wait for online delivery!
I definitely pick up things online if I can get them at a bargain price, too!
Definately the store! I can test things that way, because swatches or online photos don't really tell you how it's gonna look on your skintone. Plus it's fun to hold it in your hand when you buy it and stuff. But I won't deny that packages in the mail are super exciting!
Yep, I need to test things out first, too, Kat! I love getting packages though, lol!
Both - you know what you're getting if you go to the shop but some makes I use are American/Japanese/only available online (eg my foundation is Everyday Minerals) and I've had really good experiences with them.
True! I'm not a huge online beauty shopper though, I never find the right products, lol.
Definitely going to the store. I can test and try and touch everything before I decide to buy!
That's how I feel, too, Sophia!
I prefer stores...or I think I would. We don't have any makeup stores here so I can't tell, lol. But I'm not happy about having to send so many items back, I must've spent hundreds of dollars on it over the years, but then again...I'm pretty lazy. Lol. It's quick and easy to order online, and you can do it whenever.
Ohh, that really sucks, Sophie! I hope you get some stores soon!
Both.Like some stores I can't physically go to so I just shop online for those items.
Yeah, when you can't go in store, then there's not much else you can do!
I've never felt welcome in a MAC freestanding, so I never buy from them. I've received poor customer service and have run into too many snotty MAs who seem to turn their nose up at the sight of me. It's not so nice. Any MAC stores are far from me anyway, so I guess it's just as well. The only time I buy in person is from MAC counters at The Bay here in Canada. They are less pretentious and I feel less out of place. I know going into the store is a great experience for many people, and more power to them! It's just not an important or necessary part of my own MAC fandom/addiction. :)
Oh, that sucks, Skyler!! I know how you feel - the freestanding nearest me used to have the worst MAs, but now they're the best.
I prefer to shop in person since I can see the exact colours and see how close they are to other colours I have etc. Plus I find I tend to go into stores (especially MAC) with an idea of what I want and then totally change my mind once I'm in store! (NN for example, I was most interested in Pandemonium and Submarine e/s and only ended up buying Illegal Cargo e/s)! I also definitely prefer in store because I always have problems with shipping and customs!
That's so very true, Ashley. These are many of the reasons why I have to go in-store, too!
I prefer shopping in person so i can test the product, ask questions and play with my new make up right away. I only buy online stuff that I can't find in stores.
Me too, Gio! Love playing with stuff right away!
I prefer shopping online (especially when MAC offers free shipping!) because it comes conveniently to my door, I don't have to wait for someone to help me, and I don't have to feel embarrassed that I'm buying a ridiculous amount of product! I'll usually buy online if I'm making a big purchase. I do like to go to the store to see the colours in person and play around with the products, and I'll buy there if I'm not making a huge purchase. I'll be honest, I don't go for the benefit of the MAC employees because I already learn everything I need to know online!
I hear you on the free MAC shipping! Then I can pay $5 for the 2-day :D
at the store :)
Do you ever buy online, or is it strictly in-store?
In store all the way...it's very, very rare when I buy makeup or clothes online. If it's like kitchen stuff or anything like that...online all the way. I go to deal websites and get the best deals on everything!
Oh gosh, I can't buy clothes online either, nothing ever works out!
Depends. If you can get a good deal online with free shipping or samples or discount, I will usually go that route, but I usually end up ordering items I have and tried and want to restock on. Other than that, if it's a new item I try to track it down in a store first.
Oh, definitely, anything that sweetens the deal :) It's so hard to get a good discount on makeup!
I like shopping in person, I'm an instant-gratification-sort-of-gal and I want to play with my new make up right away! I also want to make sure the colors and textures are what I really want. Like DaniMae I'll online window shop too, then when I have a list of products, I'll hit the store to test and buy.
lol, I hear ya on the instant gratification part, Claudia!
I prefer to go in person. There is a freestanding store and a Nordies counter near me. The counter while staffed with great people, is usually a zoo, so I prefer the Freestanding. I like going in person because I like being able to try the colors on and get advice from the MA's. I do like Ebay though, because I can get some really good deals on stuff.
Lucky you :) My freestanding is a ZOO usually! How funny.
I do both. Since many things I like are not readily available here, or at least not WHEN I want them, I often use ebay to get my goodies. But it is better to see before you buy, for sure...
Yeah, I think if you can see it before you buy it, you can be more assured of your purchase!
I agree. When I want to do serious damage, I'll go to the store to swatch & make my decisions, then order online. My local MAC store is a crazy zoo unless you go there 1st thing Sunday morning. Plus I don't often like MA's swarming all over me asking me if I need x,y & z to go along with what I pick out. I don't know how the rest of you feel, but being such a long time makeup junkie (& having worked at a counter before), I feel pretty knowledgeable about products, so I don't always want or need to interact with MA's.
I do that, too! Many times I go in-store to scope the goods out, but won't order til I'm home.
i definitely like online when i am doing big hauls. idk i find it a hassle to ask for a million products at the store so i only end up getting a few things and then i want to get outta there. i love swatching tho but i can sometimes look @ ur swatches and know what i want
lol, Grace!! Yes, I agree, sometimes if you want a ton, it's easier to do it online!
I love going to the store to see ans swatch everything, but if need refills on something or it's a L/E and my local stores are out well ONLINE HERE I COME!! :0) I do like online though because taxes out here are 9 something and online they are 6 something I believe. . not that it's a major difference, but it makes me feel better, lol ^_^
If I can, I'll shop online, but I love to swatch things, too!!
In store, absolutely. I like to swatch things. Also, when it comes to things like lipsticks, I like to see how they interact with my body chemistry to make sure they don't change colours (most MAC lipsticks I have don't, but grenadine slimshine does). Really, that's something no one but me can determine, and my nearest MAC is just a short bus ride away!
I'm a big fan of swatching things, too! I'll usually make way better decisions this way.
I love both. I do mostly in store shopping because I like to shop actively [try on colors, do swatches, ask questions]. This is going to sound really weird and probably pathetic but I'm an online window shopper LOL I love to look at products and load them all into my "cart" and then empty it and start over...LOL Ah well, we all have quirks.
re: online window shopping, LOL, I do this too!! I always have my MAC online shopping cart filled up. I think of it as "research" for when I go to the store.
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