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Watch episode 3 of Shop Talk where KatieMumsnet discusses the future of shopping with Ben Shephard. NOW CLOSED

159 replies

KatieBMumsnet · 29/10/2013 13:53

Last week MNers were asked whether they prefer to shop online or hit the high street. Watch episode 3 of Shop Talk now to see if your comments made it on the show!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= WvS-vyPN8Gs

Barclaycard Freedom Rewards, in association with Mumsnet, have created a new weekly online chat show: Shop Talk. Over the next weeks, they'll be looking for MNers' shopping tips and tricks on a range of topics.

Here's what Barclaycard have to say about the show: "Shop Talk is a weekly chat show where we tackle the big shopping stories that you're talking about. A different presenter will host each show each week and this week its Ben Shephard. Two panellists, including shopping blogger Emily and Katie from MNHQ, joined Ben to discuss shopping online and how digital is changing the high street.

With regards to the Barclaycard Freedom Rewards credit card, Barclaycard say: With the Freedom Rewards credit card you can shop online through the Freedom Rewards Store to get at least 3 points per £1 with over 50 top brands.

The last episode of Shop Talk is hosted by Ruth Langsford: where we discuss your Christmas shopping tactics. Share your thoughts on next weeks thread here and you could win £150 worth of Argos vouchers.

Thanks,

MNHQ

OP posts:
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BlackberrySeason · 29/10/2013 22:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 29/10/2013 22:25

I buy food and books etc online, but buy clothes and shoes in store - unless I've already tried them on irl and then find them cheaper online. Too much hassle to send things back.

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StillNoFuckingEyeDeer · 30/10/2013 04:31

I've tried buying food online, but I'm always disappointed. I don't trust them to provide appropriate substitutions and the fresh produce is often not as good as I'd expect. I sometimes do an online food shop for bulky long life items, but I prefer to shop in store, so I can get the best fresh produce.

I research the price of most things and buy almost all of my books, gifts etc online. Our local high street isn't great, but I do go to the city every month or so and buy things there. I don't buy clothes online very often. I prefer to be able to look at them and try them on or hold them up against the DC. I've bought shoes online recently, because the ones I wanted weren't available in the shops locally, but I've stuck with a brand I know my size in.

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MinesAPintOfBlood · 30/10/2013 04:38

Online for most things that can't easily be bought in the village or a simple supermarket shop. Most of my Christmas shopping will be online this year.

Well only buy fabric, wool etc from real shops though.

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VestaCurry · 30/10/2013 04:50

I buy virtually everything online. I only visit shops to buy milk and bread midweek.
There are a few shops that I enjoy browsing around eg we have a v large John Lewis nearby, so I might go 2 or 3 times a year.
Generally I loathe visiting shops, I just find it tiresome now.

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dahville · 30/10/2013 05:25

When I first did grocery shops on-line I would only get non-perishables and generally stuck to non-food items (nappies, wipes, etc.). As I've grown more comfortable I've increased what I'll order. I'm at the point now where I'll even get produce and frozen items but only from Waitrose as I come to trust the people who pick the orders.

Over the past few months I have found myself doing more and more of my shopping, both groceries and clothes, on-line. It lets me have more time with my boys and provides less of a hassle (no finding/paying for parking, lugging around a pram &/or a pushchair but I do need to coordinate deliveries).

I don't like ordering shoes on-line, sizing isn't the same across all brands and I want to walk in them before buying.

What also tips on-line ordering over visitng the store are things like Kidstart - getting something extra for the exact same grocery shop I would do in the store.

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LovesBeingHereAgain · 30/10/2013 05:37

I love shopping online and finding a bargin but gate tge hassle of not being in for deliveries. Carrier also get worse at Xmas for customer service. Wish I could use something like Parcel Motel as it would make things so much easier.

Of course this year we are super skint so don't have to worry so much about tge hastle of tge highstreet!

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DrankSangriaInThePark · 30/10/2013 05:51

What are these high school shops of which you speak?

Online all the way here. Except for food. Even clothes, as I never return anything, just sell it on.

As far as Christmas is concerned, since discovering the holy grail that is codes I don't think I've set foot in a shop since dd was about 3. (She is 10)

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VivaLeBeaver · 30/10/2013 06:26

Shop online for nearly everything apart from clothes. Gadgets, toys, books, presents. I can compare prices so save money and don't have to leave the house!

Clothes shopping I mainly do on the high st so I can try stuff on. Having to send clothes back if I've bought online and they dont fit is annoying and time consuming.

Food shopping I do online but I do click and collect rather than delivered. It's cheaper but still saves me time. I have to drive past the supermarket after work so it seems silly to pay £4 delivery. Click and collect is currently free, but sometimes its £2.

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MrsPnut · 30/10/2013 06:29

I shop for about 90% of items online and when shopping in store, if it's for a particular item then I will have checked the prices online first so I can get the best deal.

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ILoveAFullFridge · 30/10/2013 06:49

I'm happy to shop online for most food, but a little reluctant for other things. There are many things that I would want to try on/try out/heft/touch etc before deciding. Then there's the issue of supporting local businesses, or small independant businesses.

It used to be that catalogue shopping was cheaper than high street, because they passed on the savings due to no shop floor, no displays, lower staff costs, etc. not the case any more! Some websites seem to charge a premium for not having a RL presence.

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WhoKnowsWhereTheSlimeGoes · 30/10/2013 06:55

A mix here, we still have a good range of shops in the high streets of both my home town and the one where I work and I try to support them, I also love exploring charity shops. I rarely buy clothes or shoes online, but do the order and collect in store thing sometimes.

I do a mixture of online (Ocado) and normal supermarket shopping, I used to mainly use Ocado but wanted to get the children more involved in the shopping, they love using the hand held zappers in Waitrose.

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Theincidental · 30/10/2013 07:10

I'd love to buy more on the high street, but two factors prevent me; I live 1.5 hours away from a town with a high street, and I just don't have time.

Toddlers and shopping don't seem to mix well, except for food shopping, so we get to do that each week.

So I buy mostly online, and appreciate the ease and infinite range, but I still prefer to look at things, pick them up etc in a shop.

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MikeLitorisBites · 30/10/2013 07:20

Depends if I can get a discount code really. If I can I'll buy online. I live very close to my town centre so do a lot of shopping on the high street. Dp hates it though so he does all his online. I think he is ebays biggest customer.

I do love wandering around the shops but only if I am child free for the day.

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LegoCaltrops · 30/10/2013 07:25

I do a lot of my birthday/Christmas shopping in advance online.

If I know I'm going into town to look for a particular expensive item, I'll shop around & also check out the price online before I go.

I've got tiny feet (size 3) which most shoe shops don't habitually stock, so my options are limited. Some shops apparently charge just to get shoes delivered to the shop so I can try them on - sorry but there is no way I'm paying just to try the shoes on! Others (eg Clarks) will get them in for free or I can just shop online. Must admit I prefer to get them in at the shop so I can try a few pairs & not have the hassle of sending them back, also no obligation to buy.

In terms of clothes, makeup, toys etc, I like to have a look & preferably try on in a shop before buying. If I get it online it's usually because the shop didn't have my preferred colour, size etc, or I could get a better price or deal or multibuy online.

Books, DVDs etc I'd happily buy online. Generally you can get them at great prices & if you shop around you don't have to pay much/any postage.

I'll do grocery shopping online, but only dry/tinned/frozen/long shelf life items. I've heard too many horror stories on here & in RL to trust the pickers to select or properly pack any fresh produce. I've heard of items being delivered that were very short dated, damaged either in transit or in store, & not packed adequately (potatoes on top of lettuce etc). So, although we don't have a car, we always walk the mile to the supermarket & buy all our fresh produce.

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LordPalmerston · 30/10/2013 08:30

I buy masses online. Will rarely pay postage though and definitely not pay to return.

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YoungBritishPissArtist · 30/10/2013 09:47

Clothes and shoes - I buy on the high street, I like to try on first. I hated the hassle of sending back when buying online.

Food - do online shops for bulky dry goods, loo roll, detergent (anything too heavy to carry home on the bus!) buy meat from butcher, fruit and veg from local market.

Books - buy online sometimes but nothing beats charity and secondhand shops

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WowOoo · 30/10/2013 11:25

For clothes, shoes and electricals I research prices and browse online.
I do enjoy looking at clothes in an actual shop. Sometimes what I want is only online. I tend to stick to companies that offer free returns as I don't want to waste money on postage.

For food I also do a mixture of online and in store. It all depends on how busy I am and if I need to do a massive shop with bulky, heavy things like washing powder. Mostly, I go to the supermarket. I've been so disappointed by almost gone off and bashed fruit and veg that I like to choose my own.

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tiredoftrains · 30/10/2013 11:35

Online is sooo much less stressful!I shop irl at supermarkets only, anything else brings me close to tears thanks to the toddler!

Love shopping online as its far easier to check if you're getting a good deal, see what quality is like etc from reviews.

Online is the way forward!

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shineypeacock · 30/10/2013 11:38

I used to be totally high street/supermarket with a bit of amazon until i had DD 12 weeks ago, started online grocery shopping when heavily pregnant, and kept it going until last week, when i thought i would do a big shop myself at supermarket, without DD. Was horrible, much easier to have it delivered and then just go in for bits and bobs. Have also done quite a bit of Christmas shopping online, much easier!

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GwendolineMaryLacey · 30/10/2013 11:48

I've done most of my shopping online for years now and mostly I stay away from the shops as I hate window shopping when I'm skint. Online is great if there's one particular thing you're looking for so you can research prices etc and you don't get distracted by other things that you don't have the money for.

However, there is nothing better than going to a big shopping centre with money in your pocket and no set path. Parcels arriving are all well and good (although not as exciting as they used to be due to sheer frequency now) but collapsing on the sofa with a stash of carrier bags is much much better.

Until we had children (not together obviously!!) my brother and I used to go to Lakeside every Remembrance Sunday (don't know why we picked that day) and do all of our Christmas shopping in one hit. We used to have a giggle and a nice, satisfying day out. I miss that now but can't face it with the children.

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mercibucket · 30/10/2013 12:05

Online for presents and high street for everything else
I like shopping in town

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lilyloo · 30/10/2013 12:13

I always do my food shopping in store as I like to take advantage of whoops products.
Present shopping I do online to get the best deals, I currently have the Christmas bargains thread, hukd and mse Grabbit forums open on my tablet trying to do some Christmas shopping.

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AndHarry · 30/10/2013 12:13

I do almost all my shopping online. Retail therapy is definitely not for me. If I go to my local shopping centre I have to round up the kids, pay for parking, drag them round umpteen overheated shops while they get bored and restless, squeeze a buggy into a cramped changing room... So much fun Hmm I like to go online, read reviews and compare prices. I do my grocery shopping online too but do venture out to collect it from the shop.

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Theimpossiblegirl · 30/10/2013 14:31

I do the food shop in the supermarket. Actually I tend to go to several if I have time, pick up the best deals and bargains and meal plan around them.

I buy clothes on the high street too as it can be a faff returning things that don't fit.

I do shop online for household goods, toys, DVDs etc as I love a bargain and you can save a fortune shopping around. I've saved so much by being a savvy shopper for this Christmas already.

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