Buying on Sight not Seen
- Thread starter fryke
- Start date
I think this is a generational thing. I notice alot of items mostly high tech items forsale on the web that are very hard if not impossible to see before buying.
Case in point, Laptop cases. There are many available on the web that local stores or for that matter any store do not have in stock. I know it is hard for stores to carry everything under sun, and probably in bigger markets it easier too. For us we only have CompUSA. They stock whatever sells the best. It hard for me to buy something that might look good on the picture they show on the net but does work at all once I get delivered in the mail.
This goes for many items I see on the net. What to peple do.
Do you buy it and send it back if do not want it? If you do that is a hassle with online store?
I am 52 and I would like to touch it, examine it and then buy it and be done with it. I get the feeling from younger co-workers that this is not case anymore. Any Thoughts?
Calliex
Case in point, Laptop cases. There are many available on the web that local stores or for that matter any store do not have in stock. I know it is hard for stores to carry everything under sun, and probably in bigger markets it easier too. For us we only have CompUSA. They stock whatever sells the best. It hard for me to buy something that might look good on the picture they show on the net but does work at all once I get delivered in the mail.
This goes for many items I see on the net. What to peple do.
Do you buy it and send it back if do not want it? If you do that is a hassle with online store?
I am 52 and I would like to touch it, examine it and then buy it and be done with it. I get the feeling from younger co-workers that this is not case anymore. Any Thoughts?
Calliex
kendall
Registered
is the notebook case for a Mac? if so, id go with any of the ones at the applestore. i have a brenthaven case and its very nice. the ones the applestore sale are designed specifically for powerbooks and iBooks.
typically with online purchases you can return the item but you have to pay shipping and a 15% restocking fee. also, before you do anything you have to get an RMA # which can sometimes be a hassle.
keep in mind though, all stores are different, you may want to ask them about their return policies before purchasing from them.
typically with online purchases you can return the item but you have to pay shipping and a 15% restocking fee. also, before you do anything you have to get an RMA # which can sometimes be a hassle.
keep in mind though, all stores are different, you may want to ask them about their return policies before purchasing from them.
edX
mac shaman
well callie as another of your generation, i tend to agree with you. i'm lucky to have a Fry's and several other stores within reasonable distance. however i've started to believe more and more in getting feedback from others who have tried any new and different product i want if it's hardware or peripheral related, an inquiry post in our hardware forums will often get you some insightful feedback - whether it's good or bad or people know as little as you will help a lot. when i look at all the stuff sitting in front of me now, there are some i would reccomend in a heartbeat, some i would warn you not to touch anything made by the same manufacturer and others that just are, no real preference for anything about them one way or another. my own list of stuff to avoid is anything made by belkin or iomega, maxtor if you expect any customer service to accompany it, and umax scanners. on the other hand i would trust anything made by Wacom, VST or entrega sight unseen. i have mixed feelings about acom, epson, smc and Que products but can't say that i've had any really bad expereinces with them as of yet.
i realize that i'm not directly addresing your issue when i talk about my own prefs, but the point is that with our large userbase, somebody is likely to have had expereince with almost anything you would consider, and if not, likely an indication of more reasons not ot take a chance than reasons for buying it.
i realize that i'm not directly addresing your issue when i talk about my own prefs, but the point is that with our large userbase, somebody is likely to have had expereince with almost anything you would consider, and if not, likely an indication of more reasons not ot take a chance than reasons for buying it.
Thanks Edx,
You hit the nail on the head. I used the laptop bag as a example. Things like bags or cases for the iPod are very hard to determine from a picture. Someone should come up with a demonstration store. A place different manufactures can display there products and we can kick the tires. But alas those kind of places would only be the big market places and people like me that live podunk USA would still be out of luck.
calliex
You hit the nail on the head. I used the laptop bag as a example. Things like bags or cases for the iPod are very hard to determine from a picture. Someone should come up with a demonstration store. A place different manufactures can display there products and we can kick the tires. But alas those kind of places would only be the big market places and people like me that live podunk USA would still be out of luck.
calliex
edX
mac shaman
uh, i was just there - It's called Mac World San Francisco 
and people do gather from all over the world to 'kick the tires'. in fact i gave my extra free pass to the exhibit hall to a friend from another forum who is from norway. We spent the morning trying stuff out together and even tried to look into some questions that we knew people were asking. but sometimes you just gotta trust others opinions and your own gut feeelings.
or get on Compusa's case and make them order stuff you're interested in!!
and people do gather from all over the world to 'kick the tires'. in fact i gave my extra free pass to the exhibit hall to a friend from another forum who is from norway. We spent the morning trying stuff out together and even tried to look into some questions that we knew people were asking. but sometimes you just gotta trust others opinions and your own gut feeelings.
or get on Compusa's case and make them order stuff you're interested in!!
Ugg
Registered
Well, I'm 40 so not quite as old as you guys, but I am certainly not a product of the dotcom 90s. For me there are two columns, functionality and aesthetics. I recently purchased a Canon Mini DV. The reason I chose this camera is as follows:
1 Value
2 Features
3 Ratings
Of all the Mini DV's on the market this camera consistently ranked at the top. I had seen lots of pictures and read a great deal of user comments. This camera appeared about 1.5-2 years ago I believe. I never am the first to buy a new product. The first horse out of the gate is rarely the first across the finish line.
Then I shopped around. Apple offers it in their online store (that is a HUGE recommendation for me, if Apple offers it, it means that it is compatible and that the product has value.) However, Apple wanted $549 for it. Go to Pricegrabber and make a decision about who you want to send your $s to.
So, when it comes to functionality, I don't care about touching it or playing with it, I go to wherever I can find a review about the product, whether professional or personal and read as many opinions as possible.
Aesthetics are a different matter entirely. If I'm buying strictly for the image that a particular item will project then I have to see and play with the item. I never buy shoes online, rarely buy clothes online except for reioutlet.com because their return policy is excellent.
I will attest to the quality of Brenthaven's products. I lived in Bellingham, WA (Brenthaven's home) and purchased a fanny pack of their's about 10 years ago. The QUALITY is excellent. Whether you will like how it looks is another story.
Lyle
1 Value
2 Features
3 Ratings
Of all the Mini DV's on the market this camera consistently ranked at the top. I had seen lots of pictures and read a great deal of user comments. This camera appeared about 1.5-2 years ago I believe. I never am the first to buy a new product. The first horse out of the gate is rarely the first across the finish line.
Then I shopped around. Apple offers it in their online store (that is a HUGE recommendation for me, if Apple offers it, it means that it is compatible and that the product has value.) However, Apple wanted $549 for it. Go to Pricegrabber and make a decision about who you want to send your $s to.
So, when it comes to functionality, I don't care about touching it or playing with it, I go to wherever I can find a review about the product, whether professional or personal and read as many opinions as possible.
Aesthetics are a different matter entirely. If I'm buying strictly for the image that a particular item will project then I have to see and play with the item. I never buy shoes online, rarely buy clothes online except for reioutlet.com because their return policy is excellent.
I will attest to the quality of Brenthaven's products. I lived in Bellingham, WA (Brenthaven's home) and purchased a fanny pack of their's about 10 years ago. The QUALITY is excellent. Whether you will like how it looks is another story.
Lyle