There are two types of internet shopping.

1. You go onto retailers web sites and compare prices.

2. You go in to stores, do your research, then buy online from an overseas competitor.

Now the first way is fine, however, it's the second way that we should all be very concerned about.

You see, it is hardly fair to go into a retail store, take up a sales persons time, learn all there is to know about models, (pros & cons) then go away and buy online from an overseas competitor.

In fact, if this practice is not stopped, retail as we know it may well be doomed.

Please consider this if you are one of the 2's out there, as someone has paid that sales person's time that you wasted, other than you yourself.

rechtub I doubt you know just what you are proposing here.
Fact is free market is a plank our economy needs or falls without.
Would you stop say a white goods retailer shopping around, even ordering his/her stock on the net.
I bough my retiree meant present last weekend.
Going fishing again, after 8 years away.
3 reels line all imported and very good , seller was very happy he made a lot, I saved a lot, we do not make much that is sold in this country.

Belly, I have no problem with what you have said or done with regards to internet shopping.

Now go back and read my post, as it appears you have objected simply because it is my post.

Then, once you have read my opening post, tell me if I am wrong in what I say.

3/ I go online and do my research. I buy from the supplier who best meets my needs based on the level of service I require, the total price, how quickly I want it etc.

Often the decision to buy on line is because the items are not available locally, the delivery times for a local item are much slower than me getting the same item shipped from the other side of the world or the price difference including that shipping is so large that I just can't justify supporting the local supplier.

It gets really frustrating when you see the same item (genuine) on an oversea's site for a fraction of the price that local supplier want to sting you for and the overseas site is not allowed to ship to Australia. I want a gear for a lawn edger which sell's for less than $10 in the USA and in Australia it's part of an assembly which was around $130 last time I checked (and I don't think it was in stock).

R0bert

Rehctub,

I must agree with Belly on this.

While I do shop around for prices on the Internet for larger items, for small components such as leads, adaptors etc, I can buy them cheaper over the Internet than even the cost of driving to the shops.

As for computer equipment, I usually buy these over the internet too, but from local companies.

My internet shopping seldom involves even a visit to the shops let alone using salesmen's time.

rehctub
How is it any different if you take up the salesman's time and buy from a real store? Is that "unfair"?