Places Not To Shop.
 

I don't know about the rest of you, but there are places I dread to shop. DGD(14) has sent me a list from Ebay and I'm having an anxiety attack..:eek:. First of all, they don't have sizes or colors to choose and by the time you decide to buy it, it's SOLD-gone.:mad:

I told DGD that I refuse to shop and buy Christmas presents there. One special item maybe, but not a list. She is insisting, I am insisting...I win!!!! Bahhhh humbug!!:(

Especially online, I like to shop in regular secure stores with return policies.

What do you think? Am I being an old nervous, set in my ways fart or are ya with me?

I've never had a problem with ebay.....but I don't bid. I just do the "buy it now" thing.

I'm pretty much with you. For some things, on line is ok. If its a secure site. For other things, I want to see, touch, hold up for size and quality check. A certain size can vary wildly from store to store.

I'm dreading the holidays this year. I'm not even doing the tree. Everybody just might get gift cards. At least I know it will fit!

I rarely buy clothes on Ebay. I'll get something I know the sizes of... like the tank tops by Jockey for Women. Hard to find in stores now.

Ebay in general.... bidding takes a while to master, and then really often there are shills, raising the price etc so new Ebayers get jacked up to pay more. Most of the things I find on Ebay today are "buy it now" types. Some of the things I go for are unusual or handmade and unique. I won't buy electronics, or phones etc. But I might buy a case for them if it is a good deal.
But many times I can find the identical thing on Amazon now for much less than Ebay. So I do Amazon mostly now.

It took me over a month to learn bidding...and it was not pleasant, I have to say! :p:o

A 14-year-old is "insisting" on a source for her "list"? Oooooooh. No.

I've "shopped" ebay for years. My son-in-law loves boxing (go figure) and one year I got him a set of 12 boxing magazines from the year he was born, 1968. It took a while to find it, but I started early. I generally stick with sellers that have 100% positive feedback, and many transactions. I also do buy-it-now unless it's something really special.

Ebay wouldn't be my first choice for Christmas shopping, though.

I usually buy clothes on Amazon or other 'known" online stores, or stores that are local also, so I can return things without having to pay return shipping fees.

We do get many rare car parts for our projects on ebay and that works well for us. But if something isn't right, then we do have to pay shipping to return it for the refund.

Is there some special store/items she likes that is only on ebay??

But generally , I don't like being told where or what to buy when it comes to Christmas & gifts...:rolleyes:

The only time I ever use eBay is when I'm looking for something specific that I cant find somewhere else. Like when I wanted to replace the milk glass fruit bowl that my parents got as a wedding present after the original broke. (milk glass is a glass that's white. Same color as milk)

or when I needed a cover for my Kobo e-reader and I couldnt find any that I liked on Amazon or at Borders (when they were still in business)

When I online shop, it's almost always Amazon. I have an Amazon Prime membership, so I get free 2-day shipping on certain things. I've also bought stuff on Walmart.com.

For Xmas shopping, I buy from QVC and HSN. Not always the greatest quality, but the prices arent too bad, and it's usually stocking stuffers that I'm buying from those places. There are certain things I wouldnt buy from those places. Computers, e-readers being sold in a special package with accessories. (think it's cheaper to buy directly from the manufacturers if it's something like an iPad/computer or an e-reader. The accessories are usually junk and overpriced)

I've had good and bad experiences with Ebay. I just had to open a dispute for an item that was not as described. It can be a hassle. If you don't mind haggling with sometimes odd sellers, it is ok. I don't shop there unless I have to, for something that is easy to judge for quality and only with highly rated sellers.

I bought my first iPhone there because employees were not allowed to order them from Verizon on our accounts, but I did a lot of research first. You can usually get just as good deals on Amazon or Best Buy or Kohls, etc...

That's OK Sally, I'm still afraid of E-Bay. haven't bought a thing there. i have no idea how to sign up for pay pall and not sure if I want to. I haven't gone to Amazon either but my kids do. I like to go shopping, without my husband, so I just buy here in town. I have bought online when they offer free shipping. Also my MIL likes Blairs

We buy on EBay from reputable sellers. You have to do your research and know what you are buying and ask questions. Ask any and all questions you have before bidding or buying. Read everything on the auction site. Know if you have to pay for shipping if you want to return the item. Just read and read and ask plenty of questions.

I used to sell on there and it was good and bad but mostly good. In the past years they really have changed their rules, etc. I would not be selling now and when I did sell it was all as advertised and good stuff. But, no selling anymore on there.

Best advice is to do your homework. There are plenty of reputable sellers out there.

Hi Sally
 

I don't shop on line either very much. I purchase e-books and thats about it. I keep Christmas expenses down as much as possible as I am on a fixed income. I would rather go to the store and know there is a return policy. Have a good day Sally. ginnie:hug:

I'm pretty sure that anything bought on walmart.com can be returned to the store as if it was a purchase from a brick & mortar WM.

The nice thing about shopping online is that I dont have to go out into the world of the unwashed masses and risk getting whatever nasty illnesses that might be going around amongst the Xmas shoppers.. Plus, I dont always have the energy to go from store to store at the mall. I'd rather just click on something on my computer, enter in my credit card info and my address and get it shipped right to my door.

I am about to head out to WM and go shopping because I'm suddenly the healthiest person in the house and the one who is willing to go shopping. (cant leave mom home alone, cant take her out) So, I'm stocking up on food and picking up some things that I could have bought online and had shipped (free) to my house. I've been stuck in the house a lot this summer, so going shopping in an actual store sounds kind of fun, as long as they have what I'm going there to buy. (I need a micro SD card for my phone, and yarn)

Yes, anything bought at WalMart.com can be returned to the store. I've done it and no questions asked.

I just came from Walmart.

I think I'm dying. All my energy got sucked out of me thru my toes. I swear, the make the floors of that place out of the Dementors from the Harry Potter books.

All the grumpy people were shopping today. You know. The ones that see you walking in with a cane and a brace on your foot and instead of running to get the door, they run to get ahead of you in line for something.

They didnt have the micro SD card for my phone. (I want 32gb, apparently only available online at walmart.com...guess I'm going back to Amazon then, either that or do WM's Site-To-Store thing if I can)

There was one non-grumpy person there tho. The nice guy who helped me with my car when it was having a problem. The emergency brake got stuck somehow and I couldnt get it to unstick. (my dad moved the floor rug, edge was stuck in the opening for the brake)

Miles Kimball is good for inexpensive items. Been shopping on their website for years. Never had occasion to return anything so can't speak of that policy.

I never even looked on EBay. DH has though.
We have an air hockey table that we want to sell, so I think he'll place it on EBay soon before Christmas...

I can't imagine what the shipping for a pool table would cost

good thing the buyer pays the shipping and not the seller.

My main shock I am still stuttering at: why does this young whipper-snapper think she can tell anyone what, let alone where & how, to buy her a gift. I would simply get her a savings bond and be done with it. Beggars cant be choosers and nobody is entitled to a GIFT :Soapbox:

As for ebay: I have looked at Ebay, but never was brave enough to wade into buying there. It just seems to wild, wild west to me. If I shop online it normally means I go to one of my favorite brick & mortar stores' web sites (like sears or lands end or wallmart) and look at the online price and have it shipped to me (often with a free shipping discount code). I tend to also look online but call a human being cust svc rep on the phone to place my order (it somehow gives my more trust to tell a human my CC# over the phone instead of putting it out there on the web)

I have gotten quite a few really good deals on ebay but also been taken a couple of times also. Overall I really like it but prefer Amazon because I haven't ever had a problem with a product I purchased from there.

I would bet ebay has gift cards and she could do her own bidding which can be part of the fun. It makes me thankful we all just donate to charity in each other's name for the holidays. Good luck!

At my age I don't do homework. I buy people what I want to from where I want. A present is suppose to be a surprise. Sometimes they/I like it, sometimes I/they don't. Just say thank you and smile.

Actually the online links for Christmas shopping was my idea, for my convenience..:D I'm a shopping wimp.:rolleyes:

I don't mind if my kids and granddaughter give me a list of suggested items and/or stores. It's helpful. But sometimes "I want this item from this store" can actually back me into a corner and make things more difficult.

How about, "I love you, sweetie, but ebay is too difficult for me." And then hurry up and stuff a cookie in her mouth before she starts saying, "No, Gram, it's easy, I'll show you...." :D

Been there, done that. I held my ground. She will have to adjust to it or else..:eek::D

We always ask for suggestions for gifts...two of my kids live out of state, and the other two are so busy we hardly see them:( So we have very little idea of their wants/needs...

If I draw my brother's name for Christmas I see him once a year, on Christmas so I have no idea what he wants. So i ask. I would rather ask then give them a gift card