Summary: When my sister and I discussed our shopping plans this year, we discovered our attitudes were vastly different. She, a trendy New Yorker, loves online shopping, while I, a Midwestern suburbanite, prefer the traditional brick-and-mortar experience. We decided to switch our shopping methods to see who would have a better experience. Here’s what we found out.
When my sister and I sat down to discuss our shopping plans for the year, we were surprised to find our attitudes were worlds apart. She, a hip New Yorker living in a trendy section of Brooklyn and commuting to her publishing job in Manhattan, was excited about the upcoming shopping season. I, on the other hand, a down-home Midwestern girl who loves driving around my suburb, was dreading it. We were chatting on our mother’s couch after indulging in cake at our parents' anniversary party when the topic of shopping came up—my favorite pastime. To my astonishment, my sister was looking forward to it, while I was filled with dread.
As it turned out, my sister was a devotee of online shopping. She looked forward to surfing the web, researching options and deals, and getting all her shopping done early. I argued that the personal touch of finding a gift in person couldn't be replicated by a machine. Many of the unique items I wanted weren't technologically oriented, and I doubted small vendors had online stores.
The debate got heated, and we decided to make a bet. We wagered a new iPod player that the other person would have a better shopping experience using the other's preferred method. We agreed to buy gifts for the same people and rate the shopping systems on ease, quality, price, and the appropriateness of the gifts. Here are our results:
I started by searching for a gift for our brother, a bird-watching enthusiast. I typed "bird watching" into a search engine and quickly found a birding book specific to our state, along with a CD of bird calls. The site offered free shipping, gift wrapping, and direct mailing to my brother. "Well," I thought, "that was easy. But books and CDs are simple to find online. How about something tougher?"
I decided to challenge online shopping by looking for something I thought could only be bought locally: organic, wild blueberry pancake syrup from our local farmer's market. To my surprise, a quick search on Google led me to the exact product. The new franchising and marketing opportunities have enabled local growers to market and ship their products nationwide.
For my sister, I wanted something so personal and unique that it would require an in-person purchase. She had always admired a Thai elephant painting we saw at a friend's house. To my amazement, I found that these paintings are available online, and they even accept custom orders. I hadn't planned on flying to Thailand to get a painting, but I certainly didn't expect to find it online.
While I was breezing through my online shopping, my sister was stuck in rush-hour traffic on her way to the store. She called me, frustrated, and admitted that she hadn't even started her shopping yet.
After two hours online, I had bought all my major presents. My sister, still stuck in traffic, conceded defeat. Our experiment showed that online shopping offers unparalleled convenience, a wide range of options, and competitive prices. However, the personal touch and experience of brick-and-mortar shopping still hold value for many.
The author’s shopping mall review website is US Shopping Malls Directory, which lists and reviews major shopping malls. Any or all parts of this article may be reprinted in any form, as long as there is a link to the website.
