Do you e-window shop?

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qwerty7

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#115893 10-Apr-2013 20:11

What am I talking about exactly?

websites like harvey norman, noel leeming, countdown, supercheap auto etc

I do most of my shopping this way. I check prices of products online then go into the store to buy it. I call it e-window shopping. I am not talking about the controversial check price then buy from overseas. Do you think it is the way of the future?

I understand for smaller businesses there is a cost to setup. What really made me start this post is I have been looking for car parts. It requires endless emails asking if they have it and how much it is? sure this is time consuming for them. They already have a catalogue or price list they get their prices from so why not put the whole thing online and save the hassle? Would it not be far more simple if they had the whole parts catalogue online?

I was in an ecstatic mood one night recently when I was looking at the supercheap auto website and found a full online catalogue, then I realised I was on the Australian website
http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/parts_guide/default.aspx

khull

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#797385 10-Apr-2013 20:27

There will be a generation of grandmas and grandpas loitering in Amazon.com in the coming years. I can just see that

alasta

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#797452 10-Apr-2013 22:03

Yes, I do this a lot because I like to choose my purchase without the pressure of a salesman standing over me, and then just get in and out of the store as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Kingy

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#797567 11-Apr-2013 09:03

alasta: Yes, I do this a lot because I like to choose my purchase without the pressure of a salesman standing over me, and then just get in and out of the store as quickly and painlessly as possible.

This is the correct answer. Did this when purchasing my TV. Spent days beforehand researching most brands/models before then "e-window shopping" to get the cheapest price on the brand I had chosen. Salesman tried to point me in the direction of a similar more expensive TV once I got there but because I knew the exact model I wanted I got it and left (with a bit of price haggling).

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sleemanj

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#797811 11-Apr-2013 15:06

qwerty7: I understand for smaller businesses there is a cost to setup. What really made me start this post is I have been looking for car parts.

Car and bike parts are the worst (especially for older vehicles), often the business is run by grumpy old codgers who resist such sorcery as this internet thing at length. You're lucky if you get any response to the email address on their yellow pages advert that somebody said they had to put on there.

Many of these places just don't have a database even if they wanted to put it online, they use parts books, probably still have a microfiche too.

---
James Sleeman
I sell lots of stuff for electronic enthusiasts...

Goosey

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#797813 11-Apr-2013 15:10

Yep, always E window shopping. My wife tells me off as she thinks Im buying more stuff I dont need!
My reply to her is "you goto a mall/shop and browse around for shoes and clothes that you dont intend to buy", Im simply doing the same for the things I like...AND I havent wasted time and money driving/parking to the shop to do it" !

Result: I then get told to get off the laptop and go do somthing else.... WIFE is always right !

Doesnt everyone nowdays research the internet for anything they want / intend to purchase.
If the price and circumstances are right... I usually buy online from NZ companies or simply just pop into a store.