Buy local or on the web?

**Crazycarl** · 12-10-2008, 06:40 PM

When you buy consumer goods, would you rather buy from locally-owned shops, even if you could save 10-20% by searching prices online? Do you try to support local businesses, and if so, what is it worth to you?

zSilver_Fox · 12-10-2008, 08:55 PM

I live in a town of 2,000 people, the nearest Wal-Mart is 45 minutes away. Online is usually easiest for me.

Skanky Butterpuss · 12-10-2008, 09:16 PM

i usually buy online for cheaper prices and to get away from paying 7% sales tax on shit, but usually i try stuff out in the stores before i decide to buy.

KubeDawg · 12-10-2008, 09:20 PM

It depends. If shipping costs are involved, I will buy local. If it's too close to a holiday, I'll buy locally, otherwise, most of my hopping occurs online. There are just too many good deals on fatwallet.com and other deals sites.

BinaryLife · 12-11-2008, 02:57 PM

I buy wherever it's cheapest.

But at a retail store I just love it when people come in to learn from us as much as possible because we're just so darn smart and then not buy from us. I consider that to be rude considering that the same information is available online. So clearly they admit that the extra 10% may actually save them some time.

fishBurger · 12-11-2008, 04:14 PM

Depends upon the product. Most stuff I buy local, but books I generally get online. The few bookstores around here don't carry much of what I'm looking for, and textbooks are hella cheap when you buy the chinese version.

Doctor Zyo · 12-11-2008, 06:04 PM

Most of the time I buy locally, I'll look online when I can't find what I'm looking for in any of the local shops.

Skanky Butterpuss · 12-11-2008, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BinaryLife

But at a retail store I just love it when people come in to learn from us as much as possible because we're just so darn smart and then not buy from us. I consider that to be rude considering that the same information is available online

i can read a TVs specs online, but i cant see how good the picture actually is. i can read a stereos specs online, but i cant hear how it sounds. etc.

Credge · 12-12-2008, 03:40 AM

Depends. I used to say I wouldn't buy an instrument online until I bought one... and it's really god damned good. Cheap too. Certain things are better to, at least, see or try before you buy.

The main deciding factor is convenience and what my mood is. I bought Fallout 3 in store (pre-order... fuck yeah bottle opener) and bought L4D online. I bought my EQ pedal online and my MXR Zack Wylde Overdrive in store (both before trying to buy, although I knew exactly what they did before buying through youtube videos and the like). I bought my Les Paul after playing for about 10 hours in a store, comparing the tone and playability of a few Les Pauls and other guitars.

Mainly it depends on what is best for me at the time. I make no preference to either.

View Poll Results: well?
I buy local for better service/to support the community	2	16.67%
I Shop online for cost/convenience	8	66.67%
I visit the shops to get information and then buy online for the best price	2	16.67%
Voters: 12. You may not vote on this poll

12-10-2008, 06:40 PM	#1
Crazycarl D&A Member Wiki Team Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts Rated Helpful 31 Times	Buy local or on the web? When you buy consumer goods, would you rather buy from locally-owned shops, even if you could save 10-20% by searching prices online? Do you try to support local businesses, and if so, what is it worth to you?

12-10-2008, 08:55 PM	#2
zSilver_Fox IRL Combat Medic Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ethanol Land Class/Position: D Medic Gametype: Conca Jumping Affiliations: ^iv Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	I live in a town of 2,000 people, the nearest Wal-Mart is 45 minutes away. Online is usually easiest for me. __________________ I have a nasopharyngeal and webcam... First infraction! Flaming!

12-10-2008, 09:16 PM	#3
Skanky Butterpuss Beware the Hammer D&A Member Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Mar 2007 Class/Position: Sabotaging your shit. Affiliations: :}\|, mimic, /KBN/ Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	i usually buy online for cheaper prices and to get away from paying 7% sales tax on shit, but usually i try stuff out in the stores before i decide to buy. __________________ Support FF: Etzell: Skanky Etzell: The Wings are fucking fantastic Etzell: They really are Etzell: But even SAYING that makes me want to vomit

12-10-2008, 09:20 PM	#4
KubeDawg Nade Whore Server Owner Beta Tester Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Oklahoma Class/Position: Scout/Soldier Gametype: CTF/TDM Affiliations: blunt. Moto Posts Rated Helpful 128 Times	It depends. If shipping costs are involved, I will buy local. If it's too close to a holiday, I'll buy locally, otherwise, most of my hopping occurs online. There are just too many good deals on fatwallet.com and other deals sites. __________________ Moto's Funhouse \| Dallas, TX - 74.91.114.247:27015 ff_plunder - Complete

12-11-2008, 02:57 PM	#5
BinaryLife Posts: 1 bajillion D&A Member Wiki Team Join Date: Mar 2007 Gametype: CTF Posts Rated Helpful 5 Times	I buy wherever it's cheapest. But at a retail store I just love it when people come in to learn from us as much as possible because we're just so darn smart and then not buy from us. I consider that to be rude considering that the same information is available online. So clearly they admit that the extra 10% may actually save them some time.

12-11-2008, 04:14 PM	#6
fishBurger get off my lawn Join Date: Mar 2007 Class/Position: O scout / demo Gametype: killing Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Depends upon the product. Most stuff I buy local, but books I generally get online. The few bookstores around here don't carry much of what I'm looking for, and textbooks are hella cheap when you buy the chinese version. __________________ That means that either you are an American, or you are NOT an American. There is no hyphenated exception. -Iggy

12-11-2008, 06:04 PM	#7
Doctor Zyo Manic Necrophiliac Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina Class/Position: O: Spy D: Engineer Gametype: CTF Affiliations: :e0: Eternal Order Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Most of the time I buy locally, I'll look online when I can't find what I'm looking for in any of the local shops.

12-12-2008, 03:40 AM	#9
Credge FF Loremaster Beta Tester Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts Rated Helpful 4 Times	Depends. I used to say I wouldn't buy an instrument online until I bought one... and it's really god damned good. Cheap too. Certain things are better to, at least, see or try before you buy. The main deciding factor is convenience and what my mood is. I bought Fallout 3 in store (pre-order... fuck yeah bottle opener) and bought L4D online. I bought my EQ pedal online and my MXR Zack Wylde Overdrive in store (both before trying to buy, although I knew exactly what they did before buying through youtube videos and the like). I bought my Les Paul after playing for about 10 hours in a store, comparing the tone and playability of a few Les Pauls and other guitars. Mainly it depends on what is best for me at the time. I make no preference to either. __________________ "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'" Ronald Reagan

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