I've stopped buying things online

[fisicx]

Looking at any number of threads here, reading the depressing economic news and seeing the state of some town centres I've started going back to the shops.

Too often when I've brought stuff online the money has disappeared from the UK economy as the site was operated by some bloke in wherever.

But now I've stared to use the bookshops again, found a butcher, the farmers market, stationers and so on. I pay someone to do my ironing, the garden and wash the car. It's quite invigorating knowing the money I hand over is helping someone pay their bills.

We now go to the restaurant once a week instead of a takeaway, the pub instead of bargain booze and it's great.

Going offline has made me realize that there are millions of people who need us to go to the shops and use their services. Sure I could buy a pair of socks cheaper from an asian dropshipper but paying 50p more to the bloke in the high street has more benefit.

Don't care about the government and all their rhetoric, the tenner I give to the ironing lady means she stays off the dole and has a few bob to buy nice things.

Altruism does give one a sort of smug self-satisfaction but it does work.

 

[tomsk]

Food for thought

 

[sysops]

Too often when I've brought stuff online the money has disappeared from the UK economy as the site was operated by some bloke in wherever.

But now I've stared to use the bookshops again, found a butcher, the farmers market, stationers and so on. I pay someone to do my ironing, the garden and wash the car. It's quite invigorating knowing the money I hand over is helping someone pay their bills.

I love buying stuff online, and wouldn't ever go back to the high street.

I don't understand your comment about money disappearing from the UK economy. The examples you give are bookshops, food and stationery. For food, if you buy from one of the UK supermarkets and have your food delivered, how does the money disappear from the UK economy?

Similarly for stationery - if you buy from a UK online supplier, how is that money disappearing from the economy?

With books it's easy to think of Amazon as being a US company, but when you buy from Amazon in the UK, your book is shipped from the UK by staff who work in UK warehouses.

 

I agree with your point, fisicx but I think its morre about engagement than offline/online.

Wherever possible I still go to my local town (Which is still blessed with a large number of independent stores) and buy most of my provisions - particularly foodstuffs. It is quite rewarding talking to the greengrocer about footie results (I'm not even a footie fan), and the butcher about best cuts, cooking tips etc. We also have a record store whose owner has an infinite knowledge of music - of all types from classical to modern. If he doesn't know he finds out and phones you!

Does it cost more - frankly I've no idea - I know a chicken costs me about £8 against £5 in Sainsburys & I taste every penny of the difference. however my fruit & veg seems to cost next to nothing, plusI have to carry stuff back to the car, so I buy what I actually need and want. (Overall i guess my exenditure is about the same)

Its an easy excuse that there aren't any independents, but its simply not true, if you get off your arse and look for them..

 

[HFE Signs]

I like your theory, but don't forget a lot of online suppliers are UK based and UK manufactured.. i.e. us..! I aggree to some extent though I too take pleasure by supporting local businesses....

 

[fisicx]

I love buying stuff online, and wouldn't ever go back to the high street.

But go to the shops and you keep many more people in work, the teenagers with their Saturday jobs would be out of work if we all brought online and the cafe's would close because no-one goes into town.

We went out at the weekend. Left the car to be washed and valeted, did a bit of shopping, had a cuppa and a bun in the cafe, spotted and brought a nice occasional table, picked up some local cheese and ended up in the cinema. It was a really nice day out and we added a bit to the local economy. If we had sat at home and done things online we would have missed out on an awful lot.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

This stuff you buy off the High Street,have you thought where it comes from?
That lovely Scottish beef,from Argentina perhaps? Those socks?,Chinese probably.
Stationary? Singapore maybe.
The ironing lady,sending it home to Poland?
La vie en rose?

 

[sysops]

But go to the shops and you keep many more people in work, the teenagers with their Saturday jobs would be out of work if we all brought online and the cafe's would close because no-one goes into town.

I don't enjoy the experience. Shop staff are invariably miserable, parking is a PITA, the quality of food & drink in most cafes is appalling.

We went out at the weekend. Left the car to be washed and valeted, did a bit of shopping, had a cuppa and a bun in the cafe, spotted and brought a nice occasional table, picked up some local cheese and ended up in the cinema. It was a really nice day out and we added a bit to the local economy. If we had sat at home and done things online we would have missed out on an awful lot.

Missed out on an awful lot of hassle from my POV. I can't remember the last time I went into town and enjoyed the experience. I do it occasionally, every couple of months, because I forget how much I dislike it.

 

[Deleted member 61074]

I agree with the OP, my high St is all independent with the exception of 3 shops.

The butcher meat by far exceeds the quality of supermarkets, as for cost we just buy 4 sausages rather than buying a pack of 6. We can buy cheaper cuts for casseroles and splash out on the deli.

Same goes in the greengrocer, we can buy the quantities we want not the pre packed quanties forced on me at the supermarket, the vast majority of the produce is local too. I would prefer to support the grower 10 miles up the road rather than an unknown operation in Kenya, chile or wherever ESP as these mega farms are being taken over by big business (think the tomato greenhouses in holland)

Btw our local cinema costs £2.99!

 

[DesignerNick]

If you were to buy your shopping for example from Tesco online then the person who collects your order will be in a job, the person who then delivers it will then be in a job which will be helping the economy.

I think while actually going out shopping would be good for the social side of it, it doesn't always fit in with people's working day etc.

What if you have a screaming baby and want to buy a book? Would it be easier to buy it off Amazon with next day delivery for the same price as getting the pram, getting to the book shop, getting the pram out, walking to the shop, trying to find the book you want so something like Amazon is much easier.

Your example about the socks, the guy in the high street has probably bought them from the far east dropshipper and added his % on top. Why not just buy them direct and save the money?

 

Looking at any number of threads here, reading the depressing economic news and seeing the state of some town centres I've started going back to the shops.

Too often when I've brought stuff online the money has disappeared from the UK economy as the site was operated by some bloke in wherever.

But now I've stared to use the bookshops again, found a butcher, the farmers market, stationers and so on. I pay someone to do my ironing, the garden and wash the car. It's quite invigorating knowing the money I hand over is helping someone pay their bills.

We now go to the restaurant once a week instead of a takeaway, the pub instead of bargain booze and it's great.

Going offline has made me realize that there are millions of people who need us to go to the shops and use their services. Sure I could buy a pair of socks cheaper from an asian dropshipper but paying 50p more to the bloke in the high street has more benefit.

Don't care about the government and all their rhetoric, the tenner I give to the ironing lady means she stays off the dole and has a few bob to buy nice things.

Altruism does give one a sort of smug self-satisfaction but it does work.

Agreed there is also the point that many of the UK players are able to avoid paying tax with the aid of creative accountants as well as wasting good tax revenue on airey fairy stuff. .I.E Top Shop.etc.

Might help cut back on this sad story.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12582292

Earl

 

[Christine Hough]

Thanks for the thread.
A lot of what you say is true, but not all online stuff is about taking money out of the country, and somethings I buy from abroad are not available here.

Just want to assure you that Hofnote is all UK, and without the Internet we would not have a business! Actually we bring some foreign money in too!

 

[Paul Norman]

I do not recognise the idyllic picture of the High Street. Here is how it works.

I drive into town. The 10 mile journey takes about 45 minutes, including parking. Then I have a 15 minute walk from the car park to the actual shops - quite pleasant on a sunny day.

The shops themselves are great, actually. There is a snag though. I cannot buy too much, because I have to carry it back the 15 minutes to the car.

I do use local shops. I can walk to the local shop and buy what I need each day. Although gradually they are closing, I have no need ever to go into town to shop. The few extras I cannot get in the village I get ...wait for it...online.

When - and it is when - the last local shop closes, I shall shop entirely online.

 

[RadiusBPO]

I agree with Fisix!?>!? HUH? Maybe for different reasons though. I'd agree it helps keep money in the UK as most small shops, farm shops etc don't avoid tax like SirEarl mentioned... But I have no issue with that to be fair.

I love going out to shop in Exeter, or to a Cafe / bar / pub by the sea or next to the river dart, or to Wykesfarm shop in Exeter who farm their own meat, grow their own veg and have 1000s of products from other South West suppliers because it's nice to get away from the desk. It's nice to interact with people instead of skype, it's a nicer experience, the food and beer taste so much better, it reminds me people aren't all trolls like Fisix

It's life get outside and live it!!

 

[bjg123]

I work for an online business, so obviously don't support getting everything offline, but I do like the sentiment of supporting independent UK businesses.

I live in the centre of town, so don't have problems with travel and parking. I do shop at supermarkets but decrease my reliance on them wherever I can. Living with a girlfriend passionate about food and training to be a chef helps too! All our veg comes from the local market and we make sure it's grown locally. It's no more expensive than the supermarket anyway. We use a local butcher where possible, mainly to save money. For example last week I had pig cheek ragu - the pig cheek was basically free and tasted delicious - you can't buy it Tesco!

 

[Christine Hough]

Have to say Goodprint, I love your online designer.
have always had great service from you.

Even if I worked next door I would use the online facility because it gives me control over what I am asking for.

 

[RadiusBPO]

DARTS!!! I mean Darts Farm.

 

[Signify_1]

I agree, I love going out shopping when I have the money to! What's wrong with people that have to stay in all the time? I couldn't imagine shopping for absolutley everything online especially if it was a sunny day, don't get me wrong I love eBay and buy lots of stuff from there but there is nothing like going out, walking into fashion shops, eating out, having a brew and just breathing fresh air.

I don't really think the point of it is to keep money in the economy as ther are many small UK online businesses that you can buy from, but I do think that alot more people going out shopping will keep the retailers trading and keep them open.

 

Thanks for the thread.
A lot of what you say is true, but not all online stuff is about taking money out of the country,

True more importantly its also about taking jobs out of the country.

Supermarkets and large corporations drastically cut the amount of jobs available to UK people by there very efficiency and there policy of purchasing outside the UK.

Probably good for a few, but not the majority.IMHO

Earl

 

[deniser]

I only operate my online shop because my nice little B&M indie in a pictureque high street didn't work out (along with the rest of the village we were trading in - all gone now replaced with estate agents and dentists/hairdressers/beauty/physios/vets etc).

Many independent shops are now only in existence because they have an online business as well or in the case of butchers,greengrocers etc, they wholesale and supply restaurants etc. Or they are operating as a hobby only.

 

[longleaf1]

To some extent I suppose it all depends on where you live. We live in semi rural Shropshire in a small town which is yet to be spoiled so its great, loads of really nice independant shops, butchers, bakers etc etc! If i lived in more of a larger town, i dont think i'd step outside the door, as i couldnt be doing with all the hustle and bustle.
I hate shopping but do support my local, and my better half will happily clean me out in the interior shops, womens accessories, shoes you name it, all locally, she knows all the owners by name lol!

That said, I'm no stranger to online shopping and I can't get DVD's etc in town so i'll happily pick up a bargain on Amazon

 

[the_agx]

Going offline has made me realize that there are millions of people who need us to go to the shops and use their services. Sure I could buy a pair of socks cheaper from an asian dropshipper but paying 50p more to the bloke in the high street has more benefit.

Online shopping has an advantage: convenience. In a country that shuts down at 5.30pm, except weekends, where it remains mostly shut, there will always be people who opt to buy online. I know what you mean about sending money out of the UK economy, but I finish work at the same time most businesses finish trading.

Also, some things just aren't made here. What was the last British Music Sequencer a la Cubase or Reason you saw? We just don't makestuff. We are a services-based country. What a shame, but it's true.

the tenner I give to the ironing lady means she stays off the dole and has a few bob to buy nice things.

what the phickity phuccoh? :|

A tenner a week keeps her off the dole rather than her receiving £50 a week on the dole? Also, with that £50 dole, she also pays no rent. With your £10 super salary, she will. A tenner is nothing. I regularly go into a corner shop with £10 and come out with change.

LMAO@ "buy nice things". How is she gonna buy nice things and earn money to get to work, and buy food, and pay bills? What nice things do you think she can buy with a tenner a week?

I gotta hand it to you. You must be so far off into the millionaire's list that you are unaware of/forgot what is like to live on the poverty line.

More likely, she's still claiming dole and your £10 goes towards her mobile or kids' mobile phone top-up, or it goes on her oyster, or towards gas or electric, or food. Trust me, your £10 isn't her be all and end all.

Unless you mean that she is working for like 100 other people in which case, ignore all of the above.

 

[iArtist]

Excellent post Graham and so true.

I myself reckon I should have shares in the local charity shops because I think I keep them all going! (Not to mention the make-up, shoes, handbags...shops )

Meanwhile for some it's a case of closing the stable door after horse has bolted.

Most towns (mine including) are dying at fast rate and anyone thinking of opening new business in them would have to be nuts and it's not a pleasing shopping experience. My town is fast becoming a ghost town and yet the rates are still high, £1,000 pcm for small retail unit. Too much for new business taking a chance on a ghost town!

We need a national campaign that promotes your message loud and clear...perhaps a facebook page supporting the UK high street??

 

[warnie]

Online shopping has an advantage: convenience. In a country that shuts down at 5.30pm, except weekends, where it remains mostly shut, there will always be people who opt to buy online. I know what you mean about sending money out of the UK economy, but I finish work at the same time most businesses finish trading.

Also, some things just aren't made here. What was the last British Music Sequencer a la Cubase or Reason you saw? We just don't makestuff. We are a services-based country. What a shame, but it's true.



what the phickity phuccoh? :|

A tenner a week keeps her off the dole rather than her receiving £50 a week on the dole? Also, with that £50 dole, she also pays no rent. With your £10 super salary, she will. A tenner is nothing. I regularly go into a corner shop with £10 and come out with change.

LMAO@ "buy nice things". How is she gonna buy nice things and earn money to get to work, and buy food, and pay bills? What nice things do you think she can buy with a tenner a week?

I gotta hand it to you. You must be so far off into the millionaire's list that you are unaware of/forgot what is like to live on the poverty line.

More likely, she's still claiming dole and your £10 goes towards her mobile or kids' mobile phone top-up, or it goes on her oyster, or towards gas or electric, or food. Trust me, your £10 isn't her be all and end all.

Unless you mean that she is working for like 100 other people in which case, ignore all of the above.

So the lady with the ironing business just has the OP as her only customer?

As a small business myself "A Tenner" from people that would not normally shop with us does make a difference!

I think it maybe you must be "so far into the millionaire's list"......

As for the 1st half of your post I agree entirely

 

[blueprint]

Money doesn't disappear from the UK economy when you buy online - all it does it gets distributed in the more efficient way.

You will not able to prevent it from happening because trends will change to allow money to be distributed more effectively.

In addition, the money that you save online will provide you with higher disposable income - which in turn will allow you to spend on other goods and services.

To stay in business, business owners need to get with the times. If they fail they will be overtaken by more efficient businesses that can provide customers with better value.

 

[iArtist]

Problem is though blueprint is that when the high street dies so does the community.

We're fast becoming a nation that stays behind their own closed doors.

What value has freedom when we choose to imprison ourselves?

 

[Christine Hough]

Saw recent research which showed a strong link between the time a pound (or any other currency) circulated within a community before leaving it and the economic strength of the community.

Where it passed through most quickly was the Hispanic population in Southern USA. It circulated for the longest time in the Jewish community I think. I don't recall the rest.

 

[chalkie99]

I pay someone to do my ironing, the garden and wash the car.

That's the problem. The whole country is passing money between themselves without actually generating any wealth.

Unless we do things which reduce imports and help exports how will the economic situation actually improve?

 

[RadiusBPO]

To stay in business, business owners need to get with the times. If they fail they will be overtaken by more efficient businesses that can provide customers with better value.

I'd say a lot are staying with the times. In place of the faceless and joy less online shopping, many small retailers, bars, cafes etc are making their customers feel more special and creating an experience. Saving money isn't everything.

 

[Parthelan]

, the tenner I give to the ironing lady means she stays off the dole and has a few bob to buy nice things.

I wanted to pick up on that point - but first, I agree with a lot of your post and sentiment. We source all our meat from farmers, and most of our veg, along with what we grow ourselves. Fruit we buy as much as we can locally.

Now, to the ironing lady - it reminded me of someone we had working for us many years ago. She was a fantastic worker, and a great person. She was always available at short notice, and regularly worked long days. I mused once she must be taking home more than any of us put together with the amount of hours she put in. Everyone loved her and really enjoyed working with her. She was the sort of person who lit up a room when she came in and always had a smile - nothing was ever too much for her. But I digress..... when I mentioned I was replacing the work phones, she asked if she could have one of the old ones to put a sim card in, as she couldnt afford to buy a new one.
I joked that wasnt possible as she could probably buy vodafone out. She then explained she lived with a family member, and 11, count them, 11 other people from her country of origin, in a two bed flat in a cheap area.
They did this, so they could save on rent and food (she loved the long shifts because she got to eat all her meals provided in work for free) and they all sent EVERY PENNY back to their families in their country of origin.
At £2000 a month take home, less about £500 for expenses, times 12, that one little group were sending about £18,000 every single month out of the country.
How many times does that happen across the county as a whole???

 

[IInfluence]

Anyone else notice a certain sense of irony about the OP selling websites.

 

[fisicx]

Anyone else notice a certain sense of irony about the OP selling websites.

See, assumptions made without considering the full facts. I stopped selling websites years ago, my main income is offline and the webby stuff is almost a freebie. In any case, the title of the thread is 'I've STOPPED buying things online' - I've changed the way I do things.

Anyway back to the subject in hand. There is a real tendency to drive prices down - to do it as cheap as possible. This means we employ people in minimum wages to pick our vegetables, do the plumbing, clean the office, deliver our pizza. If we paid a little more then the quality of life for many would improve. If we went to the shops the owners could employ more staff. If we stopped using the black market legitimate business would be more viable.

Of course this is a very simplistic view but my general point in the opening post was that if we don't use the shops and stores they will disappear and that will have a major impact on the UK economy.

Can't get a haircut online. But if we buy everything else online the barber won't survive when he is the only shop left in the high street....

 

[sysops]

This means we employ people in minimum wages to pick our vegetables, do the plumbing, clean the office, deliver our pizza.

!!!

Have you had any plumbing done recently? How long did it take, and how much were your charged?

If we stopped using the black market legitimate business would be more viable.

What black market? What the hell have you been buying?? How are you equating buying online with buying on the 'black market'?

 

[fisicx]

Have you had any plumbing done recently? How long did it take, and how much were your charged?

Last week, local bloke came in, fixed the boiler and left an hour later. £75 plus parts.

Black market in it's widest sense - downloading music without paying for it is a pretty good example of how online services are hurting musicians. I still buy CDs, compression isn't good but far better than an MP3.

 

[sysops]

Last week, local bloke came in, fixed the boiler and left an hour later. £75 plus parts.

And you think that's too cheap?

Black market in it's widest sense - downloading music without paying for it is a pretty good example of how online services are hurting musicians. I still buy CDs, compression isn't good but far better than an MP3.

I really think you have lost the plot.

 

[An Oasis]

...found a butcher, the farmers market...

Find quality suppliers and I bet you'll never go back to poor quality supermarket swill. We bought some supermarket bacon for the first time in years, it shrivelled up to nothing and I managed to reinstate half a gallon of water back in to the system.

Interesting stats coming about purchasing based on moral decision making in the UK 2.3 out of 5 purchased are based on a moral choice, if the choice is there.

 

[IInfluence]

See, assumptions made without considering the full facts. I stopped selling websites years ago, my main income is offline and the webby stuff is almost a freebie. In any case, the title of the thread is 'I've STOPPED buying things online' - I've changed the way I do things.

Anyway back to the subject in hand. There is a real tendency to drive prices down - to do it as cheap as possible. This means we employ people in minimum wages to pick our vegetables, do the plumbing, clean the office, deliver our pizza. If we paid a little more then the quality of life for many would improve. If we went to the shops the owners could employ more staff. If we stopped using the black market legitimate business would be more viable.

Of course this is a very simplistic view but my general point in the opening post was that if we don't use the shops and stores they will disappear and that will have a major impact on the UK economy.

Can't get a haircut online. But if we buy everything else online the barber won't survive when he is the only shop left in the high street....

So you charge for online work then? Just so we can be clear. You appreciate 'almost a freebie' means it's not free don't you?

 

[mach12321]

you don't have to do this. always check the sites which are selling products.check weather they are authentic or not and are their products real or not.Today many people prefer online shopping.

 

[Esk247]

If we dont start using our high streets they will be gone forever..you do all realise that don't you.

There will be no high street, just megashops on industrial estates run by US or even Chinese companies selling imported trash that will not actually save you money at all, it costs you more because you have to replace the items more often.

and as for the food in supermarkets....we're doomed.

 

[fisicx]

So you charge for online work then? Just so we can be clear. You appreciate 'almost a freebie' means it's not free don't you?

You call me and we chat about your website, I don't charge. You want me to do some coding I charge a nominal fee (which I pay tax on).

And you think that's too cheap?

No, I think it's a fair price.

I really think you have lost the plot.

Why? Are you condoning illegal downloads of music?

If you want to continue to use every online resource available then that's fine - it may suit your lifestyle or geographical location. I've decided the opposite, it's suits me and in a very small way helps a lot of people.