Consumer and Shopping Experts: You’ll Save More Money Buying These 8 Things In Person

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These days, you can buy almost anything you want with a click of a button or tap on your phone. But the speed and ease of online shopping make it too tempting to overspend or impulse shop. Sometimes, when you shop online, you also end up with things that don’t quite match your expectations and you need to return — something that can be time-consuming and come with its own costs.

While online shopping definitely has its upsides, some consumer experts would rather buy certain things in person — and from specific stores. Here are eight items that you should buy in person to save money.

Don’t Buy These Four Things Online

For Jennifer Johnson, the owner of True Fashionistas, shoes are one of those things she prefers to purchase in person.

“As a shopping expert, I always like to purchase a few things in person rather than online. One being shoes. I have to try them on. I need to know how they fit and feel,” she said. “I do the walk test and walk around the store for a few minutes to be sure they will work for me. Every time I buy shoes online, I end up returning them because they are way too uncomfortable.”

The other big one is clothes — specifically pants.

“They have so many areas they have to fit; inseam, out seam, leg width, rise. I am petite with a long torso and can’t fit into many styles,” she said. “If I don’t try them on in person, I always end up returning them. I save money and time because I don’t have the hassle and waste my time having to return them.”

One of the biggest reasons to buy things in person rather than online is making sure you like what you’re getting. Things like color, texture and size can be difficult to gauge when you’re viewing an item on your phone or computer. But when you go in person, you can get a better idea of what you’re looking at and whether it suits your style.

Todd Stearn, founder and CEO of The Money Manual, also recommended buying certain items — like accessories and home décor — in person to save time and money.

“Some items just are what they are, like a part you need to repair something or an item you’ve ordered before,” he said. “But for many items, like clothing, accessories and home décor, seeing the item in person or trying it on can help you decide whether you like it. If not, you can leave it at the store and save yourself the hassle and expense of a return.”

Other Things To Get In Person Rather Than Online

What you decide to buy and from where is ultimately up to you, but here are a few other things that you may want to purchase in person — unless you already know the quality of what you’re getting.

• Cars: It’s generally wise to test-drive any car before you get it. Doing this could alert you to any noticeable issues, but it can also give you a better idea of the comfort, size, viewing angles and overall feel of the vehicle. You don’t want to end up with a car you hate to drive.
• Property/houses: Property is a big one, especially since it’s generally hard to get out of a contract once you’re locked in. Whenever possible, you’ll need to get an inspection done — by a professional, ideally — but it’s also best to see it in person so you know the overall condition and look of the place.
• Food: Online food shopping can save you money in gas, but it usually comes with shipping fees. Plus, you might want to check the quality of the food you’re getting — especially if it includes fresh produce, raw meat or other perishables.
• Phones: If you’re considering a new phone, testing it in person can save you a lot of headache later. You’ll want to know how responsive it is and how it feels in your hand. If you buy a phone online, you run the risk of getting one that doesn’t work as well as you’d have liked and that you’ll need to return.

Cons of Shopping Online

There are also some negatives to shopping online aside from not physically seeing the items you’re purchasing.

Shipping Fees

Online shopping comes with several costs that in-person purchases don’t have. One of the biggest is shipping fees.

“Many retailers will give you free shipping if you order over a certain dollar amount online, but not all will. And even if an online retailer does offer free shipping, you might find yourself buying something you don’t really need to hit the minimum amount required for free shipping,” Stearn said.

Returns

The other cost is returns, which retailers sometimes make a little difficult.

“If the retailer you ordered online from doesn’t have a physical presence near you, returns can be a pain,” Stearn said. “Some retailers charge a restocking fee for returns if there’s nothing wrong with the item but you just didn’t like it in person or changed your mind.”

Returns come with another issue as well — one some online shoppers might not think about when making their purchase.

“It can be easy to put off making returns that involve packaging something up, finding or printing a return label, and driving to the post office — sometimes until it’s past the return window,” Stearn said. “You may be more likely to make an in-person return in a timely manner, since it’s generally an easier process.”

Impulse Buying

Johnson pointed out another issue with shopping online that she doesn’t experience as often with in-person shopping, and that’s the temptation of impulse shopping or buying things she doesn’t really need.

“The other plus side of shopping in person is that I can try [things] on and that helps me not overspend. If I am ordering online, I usually have to order more than one size. Or I am offered a shipping discount (or even get free shipping) if I buy a certain amount online and then of course, I add more to my cart, more things I did not need,” she said. “I am usually more tempted to be impulsive online or on Instagram or Facebook shopping than I am in person.”

Where To Shop To Save Money

There are plenty of in-person places to shop that can save you money.

“The best place I find great deals is at resale and consignment stores,” Johnson said. “I always save money, and I always find things that are unique. Many times, I have found items that are currently in a regular retail store and still have their tags on. Resale and consignment stores are my secret shopping weapon. 95% of my closet is from resale.”

You can also often find great deals at thrift shops.

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