To all those venturing out into the sales, I hope you manage to make it home with a smile!
I’m not sure what happened to the days when:
- I could find the time to spend a whole day wandering up and down/in and out of shops and coming home with a few nice things to make the time feel well spent
- I actually enjoyed spending hours wading through shop floors ‘looking’ for something to catch my eye
These days I only tend to venture out for purposeful shopping if there is something I’m specifically targeting, otherwise I’m a loyal online browser and about 90% an online shopper.
Just thinking about ‘Black Friday’ gives me a headache…and don’t even mention the January sales.
Click and collect – where would we be without you!
Well I’ll let you be the judge of this one!
I dread to think of the hours I’ve spent in shops, only to return home empty handed because ‘nothing caught my eye’.
Then there’s the journey home at the end of it all – what joy!
The traffic jams on the road are not much better either
Shopping has become somewhat stressful, the crowds, the untidy shop floors, the overwhelming feeling of there being too much to look at, not knowing where to start, the queues for the changing rooms, and then the despair of not liking anything you look at.
The best thing about the experience becomes the lunchtime stop or tea and cake break.
I think I have more of a pragmatic approach these days. Basically, if you see something you absolutely love/really like (but don’t need it yet), buy it if you can afford it (within reason).
When you go out looking for the perfect party dress, bargain boots or whatever, you probably won’t find it so always try and give yourself a head start on things if the budget allows.
Anyone fancy a squirrel necklace?
It’s true, online shopping can feel endless and hard to keep track of but Pinterest is a life saver for keeping track of your browsing and organising it into categories. Keep pin boards for different things you browse and then you can go back at anytime and see all the things you have ‘pinned’ that you might want to return to buy later or look back at during sale periods of you’re after reduction.
Despite the above, I always enjoy browsing for homeware, there is something quite comforting and relaxing about browsing things for the home, maybe it’s a nesting instinct that starts to kick in at the sight of throws, cushions and candles, I don’t know, but I never tire of it.
It’s also quite interesting when you discover some random shop like this one – a cuff link collector’s paradise:
Not something you see every day…
Despite the rant, I know I will still have the odd shopping day – preferably on a rainy week day to avoid the crazy crowds.
Happy shopping!
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carlysangelsblog
Slow packers and que jumpers grate on me the most!
Cherryl
These can be very annoying – yep!
Karen Walder
I hate waiting behind someone who starts packing after they have paid! The cashier has to wait until they have moved on before she can start scanning my bits and pieces!
Cherryl
I know – why wait for it all to pile up!!
Amanda Richardson
Being behind someone who feels they have the right to pack their bags at the checkout and hold everyone else up!!!!!! and then not being ready to pay, having to search through several bags for their purse
Cherryl
Lol, there’s always one!
Michelle Ptak
Over enthusiastic sales people get my goat!! I would rather have time to just peruse at my leisure and not be pounced upon, I usually just walk out.
Cherryl
Couldn’t agree more, it’s the fastest way to put me of and make me want to get out of the shop.
Nicola
I only like to shop on really quiet days or my lunch break. I work in retail so it’s too much of a busmans holiday haha.
Cherryl
Lunch times are great if you can get the chance, sometimes I feel cheated if I use my weekend for shopping!
hannahlig
I really don’t like shopping any more since I had kids as they just can’t stand still, they touch everything, hide amongst stuff and generally make things hard!
Cherryl
It’s bad enough by yourself, lol
Vicky Allum
Hate it when you go the the reduced section in the supermarket and there are greedy people who feel to push their trolley in front of it so you can’t get anything! Very rude!
Cherryl
Ha ha, like vultures
Adrian Bold
I really don’t like people who wait in queues, and then when it’s their time to pay spend ages trying to find their cash / debit cards / store cards etc. Use the time waiting in that queue to make sure you have everything ready.
Cherryl
Yes, this one’s a head scratcher…..last minute.com members please see the light!
Rose Stephenson
I had a shoulder operation a couple of years ago and I panic every time I try something on just in case I can’t take it off again. Nightmare!
Cherryl
That sounds awful, be sure to take your time, hope you’re on the mend.
jo liddement
Living in a small town in Cornwall and having to queue for ages in our local store when the holiday season kicks off. The queues start early and end late!
Cherryl
Nightmare!!
janine atkin
i prefer to click and collect.i spend too much otherwise
Cherryl
Click and collect is fantastic – saves a lot of delivery hassle too!
natalie Crossan
My shopping gripe is waiting for a changing room. I have often just bought something, taken it home and it’s been LESS hassle to return it another day than to wait up to 30 minutes sometimes (no joke) with a bored child and all I wanted was to try on a few pair of jeans! …. *sigh* rant over!
Cherryl
I’m in total agreement. You can waste a lot of your life waiting to try things on – unless you can go shopping when its quiet (not the weekend – and preferably in bad weather). I’m still yet to see what the changing rooms in Primark look like – I’ve never ventured anywhere near lol.
Sarah Austin
I’m always forgetting the shopping list and can never remember what I have gone out to buy!
Cherryl
Keep a little notebook in your handbag at all times lol 😊
Sammy (@SammyHamster_)
My gripe is when the service is so painfully slow, especially when there’s a massive queue. At least it gives me time to reconsider if I actually want to buy it or not 🙂
Cherryl
Yes, absolutely!
Ruth Carson-Byrne
My shopping gripe is sales assistants who continue to talk amongst themselves while you’re standing in front of them waiting to be served. So rude!
Cherryl
I can’t help myself, I normally interrupt and did this in Agros recently when two assistants were discussing their plans for the evening, whilst slowly serving me – I said to the other girl ‘I can I get served without you interrupting?’ – she backed off sheepishly and the other one apologised and served me swiftly 😣
Ann
People who stop to chat in front of the shelves I am trying to reach and don’t move to let me in, even with an excuse me!!
Cherryl
Hmmm, perhaps shops should have easy chairs dotted around the aisles and shops for those who come just to socialise! (sarcasm).
Emma Howard
I don’t like online shopping for clothes as I like to touch and feel the fabrics and try them on first. But then I don’t like the crowds in the shops at events like Black Friday/January sales/run up to Christmas!
Cherryl
The sales and black Friday are my worst shopping nightmare.
mummycomper
I prefer online shopping I enjoy shopping for my children’s clothes but when it comes to mine I try to be in and out as quickly as possible I will check I can return items as I hate fitting rooms and I hardly ever find anything I like.
Cherryl
Shopping definitely isn’t what it used to be!
Alison Latham
My shopping gripe is my family thinking that because I enjoy spending a few hours aimlessly wandering around an interesting town centre full of boutique shops that obviously means I also enjoy visiting Asda for the weekly shop. No, I don’t. Really! I find it as dull as you do!
Cherryl
😊 I agree – supermarket shopping is a chore!!
Joanna Phillimore
Every time I am shopping and then going to catch the bus home (leaving plenty time), the customer in front of me at the checkout has a major problem with an item and has to change it, get another etc. It happens every time…..grrrr…
Cherryl
Yep, while the other till next to you is probably moving along swiftly!! 😣
ROBERT MCINTOSH
I’m always amazed at how many people only realise that they have to pay when they are asked at the till for payment – and then take forever looking for their money!
Cherryl
So true!
Candyfloss
I pretty much only supermarket shop these days, everything else I do online. I hate the heat in shops, crowds irritate me and I’m paranoid when I’m carrying items that security will think I’m trying to shoplift! (@Natterjacktoad on Twitter)
Cherryl
Lol, online shopping is much more pleasant too – cup of tea, feet up!!
kathcake2017
having to carry all the heavy bags!!
Cherryl
Assistance is sometimes required lol
isis1981uk
My shopping gripe is overly bright changing rooms – I’m not a fan of that, I like a more “flattering” light!
Cherryl
I’m with you on that one.
Kim Coate
I don’t feel comfortable in gift shops when you are the only customer and the assistant either watches your every move or says can I help you, I walk straight out.
Cherryl
I hate that too – best way to get me to buy something is to leave me alone! I think sometimes they feel like they have to – to be polite/helpful, but it doesn’t always help.
Heather Brannan
Love shopping for clothes but hate it when the shop runs out of your size!
Cherryl
Story of my life lol 😝
Catherine Okey
When I find jeans that fit I buy three pairs!
Cherryl
Very smart – it’s not easy to find a decent fit 👌😊👖
Sheena Batey
I hate people pushing in to queues the most and if i find something I like I tend to buy two in different colours
Cherryl
Yes – buying two is a really good idea as you never know how long it will be before you find anything else you like just as much.
C Philip
Would like staff at local fish and chip store to be polite to customers who have been waiting for ages for their food and not tell people to take their food and bugger off!
Cherryl
Wow, I don’t think I’d shop there again if they spoke to me like that – people should leave Google reviews – name and shame!!
quercuscommunity
I’ve seen some things, but I’ve never seen a shopful of cufflinks! It’s enough to make me stop rolling my sleeves up…
Cherryl
Maybe some people collect them, (but Batman cufflinks 🤗😆!!) lol