These are the items you should never buy online. Time to go in-store!
No one can deny the comfort of online shopping, but there are some items out there you should never buy online. There are various reasons for this, and we want to discuss them in this article.
In the last years, 268 million Americans, which is almost 70%, shopped online, so we can say that this is a trend that is more than popular. And we totally get it; buying all you need from the comfort of your home is wonderful.
But there are some items that those who know never buy online. Despite all the advantages of online shopping, in-store visits are recommended for these items. Read on and discover why you should sacrifice your time for the following items.
1. Bicycles
People will always love bicycles, and they are indeed a timeless mode of transportation. The environmental and health benefits are both advantages of using a bike, and right now the bike market is strong in the US, with an estimated 18 million bikes sold by 2027.
But a bike is one of the items you should never buy online, and the store you decide to take your bike to is extremely important. Selecting the best bike is a must if you want to keep it for more years, and going in-store gives you the chance to get hands-on advice from professionals. Also, it is easier for you to negotiate the price or potential upgrades.
Online bike shopping is dangerous, and for example, many people struggle with parts that don’t fit or don’t look good on the bike. So, going in-store helps you to make a better decision and choose the best bike that suits your needs.
2. Paint
Believe it or not, but people started to buy paint online more than ever, and in 2023 the sales reached $33 billion! This is more popular among the younger generations, but since it is a growing trend, older people start to also buy paint without visiting stores.
This might sound like a questionable decision, especially considering that a sample of paint is incredibly useful, but here we are in the era when people prefer online shopping for paint. But despite all of this, we still consider that this is an item you should never buy online. Maybe it is convenient to do so, but do you want to have your entire living room painted in a color that you hate? Probably not.
The color you see on the screen is different from the real color you will see on the wall, and this is a big risk you should not take as a lot of money is involved. Paint is not cheap at all! This is especially true considering that many paint retailers have strict no-refund or return policies for opened cans.
So, better not risk it and visit a store the next time you want to redecorate your house.
3. Shoes
People are buying shoes, and they’ll always be. The shoe market is a huge business, and buying shoes online is incredibly widespread. Most of the time, if you know your size, things should be alright. Or at least is what everybody thinks, but in reality, things are a little bit different.
So, even if Americans clearly have an affinity for buying shoes online, we consider them one of the timers you should never buy online because this might not be the best option for you. There are some types of footwear that are difficult to fit, and ordering from a brand you’ve never worn is also a risk.
Different manufacturers have varying size standards, and this is especially true for heels. Wearing ill-fitting shoes can lead to many problems such as ingrown toenails, bunions, tendonitis, and hammertoes.
How do you avoid all of these problems? Only buy shoes in-store. This is the simplest method, and despite it not being the most accessible in the end, wearing comfortable shoes will show you that it’s totally worth it.
4. Furniture
Nobody wants to struggle with the burden of carrying heavy furniture, and ordering online is a good way to do that. But sometimes this approach can be harmful, and the best thing you can do is to avoid it.
Hopefully, more and more Americans start to prefer to shop for furniture online, but even so, there are still some who prefer to buy it online, and if you are one of them, it is a good idea to stop right now before wasting any money.
We are strong supporters of the idea that furniture is among the items you should never buy online, and the main problem is the poor quality of the reviews. Many times it seems that you found a great piece that has amazing reviews, and once it arrives at your door and you open the package, you are immediately disappointed. You don’t want that to happen, right?
The stats say that more than 10% of those who buy furniture online regret it because they are not satisfied with its quality. So why risk your time and money when you can instead go to a store and choose the pieces you like the most?
5. Televisions
TVs will always be a staple in any American household. Even if smartphones, tablets, and laptops are popular and people use them for streaming services, in the end, the TV is king.
But what makes TVs one of the items that you should never buy online? Most concerns are about the potential damage that can happen during delivery. This is indeed a real possibility, and the whole process of returning the damaged TV is daunting and can take a while.
Nobody wants to deal with this, and guess what? Returning the TV multiple times means a visit to the physical store. Instead, you can go to the in-store and simply buy the TV from there in the first place.
But shopping in-store offers another significant advantage: you are allowed to test the TV and make sure that it is in check with all your standards. That tactile and visual experience when you are viewing a product up close can’t be compared with anything else and can greatly help you to make an informed decision.
Also, when you pick up your TV, you are no longer paying costly delivery fees, and you can’t deny that instant gratification. You take the TV home as soon as you exit the store. Even more, the chances of damaging it can be lower.
Even if we live in a world dominated by online shopping, there are still some items out there that should always be bought in-store. The traditional in-store experience is worth the extra effort for various reasons, from potential damage to the ease of choosing a good quality product.
Next time, remember that not all products are best purchased with a click. Do you have any stories about bad online shopping experiences? Share them with us in the comments!
If you feel like you are shopping too much and this slowly becomes concerning this is a book that can help you understand why this is happening and how can you stop it: Spent: Break the Buying Obsession and Discover Your True Worth
You should also read: Self-Made Millenial Millionaire: 7 Frugal Habits She Still Keeps
