Whatever happened to human interaction?

[Sherlock]

This has intrigued me for a long time now...

But it seems that many people, particularly the younger generation would rather purchase their goods through the internet, entirely...

For example:

In another forum I'm on, someone posted a question about the best online source for printing business cards... Online? Nothing wrong with that as such, but why not just trot down to a local printing shop and get them to do it for you locally? It will get you out of the house for one thing... It's good to support a local business (preferably an independent shop which is even better)... And what is wrong with real person-to-person communication? We are rapidly losing that in this internet age...

Just some thoughts, not really a rant, that's all... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

 

[rick_ingram]

This has intrigued me for a long time now...

And what is wrong with real person-to-person communication? We are rapidly losing that in this internet age...

For a response in English, please press "1"

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

 

[Sherlock]

LOL

But we can fight it! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/hammer.gif

 

[Basil]

I do a lot of my shopping locally since I can get what I need right away and can talk face-to-face if something goes wrong. That said, if I am making a major purchase for something that I don't need right away, I will check the prices locally and also online and will buy online if there is a significant savings. For example, I am in the market for a GPS for the new Santa Fe I just bought.

I checked all over town for the model I wanted and only a few places had it. Then I went online and found the model I wanted at a considerable (hundres of dollars) less on Amazon.com As much as I'd love to do the business locally, it isn't worth paying hundreds more for the privledge.

Basil

 

[GregW]

What? Shop online and miss out on all that great customer service? I think shopping online has a couple of benefits. You can shop many stores in a small amount of time and prices can be much better. I’m all for supporting local vendors, especially independent hardware stores, but sometimes their prices drive me away.

 

[Sherlock]

Good point Basil...

For major purchases.

Somehow I suspect that for something like business cards a local printing shop would be just about as good as an online company for pricing, unless one lives in Timbuktu /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

 

[Steve_S]

I hate shopping. 10 Minutes online is much easier than battling traffic and crowds for 2 hours. I buy garage supplies and car parts locally, but most other transactions are online. Besides, most store employees these days are less helpful than a well-designed web page.

 

[Baz]

Just went to the grocery store this morning, get in line for check out.....

I swipe my card, I put the number in, I press YES for 'amount OK?', I press NO for 'cashback', I press YES for 'complete transaction.'
I bagged my stuff and put my cart in the coral for the next automaton.

There was no human interaction whatsoever with a local face to face purchase, except for handing over my super-reward-max-saving-loyaty-track-my-purchases-preferred-shopper-card.

 

[vping]

PM me so we can chat /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

[martx-5]

For me, I like the online buying, if for nothing else then to see what things can be gotten for. I like to support my local guys, but sometimes it's impractible. Case in point...I need a carb for my Sears lawn mower. I go on the Sears site, find the part number, and then check to see if any of the local Sears parts/repair facilities have it. None do. So going there is out of the question. I found another place online that has parts for this Techumseh engine, and they have it in stock for five dollars less...well, that will pay for the shipping, but I won't get hit for the tax. That makes me fell much better. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/thirsty.gif

If I need parts for my Miata, I find out how much the online dealers are charging, and then go to my local dealer, and he'll match the price. He'd rather do that then loose the sale. Another win situation for me.

Basically, if you know exactly what you are looking for, there are lots of good deals to be found on the internet. If you're not sure what you want, then you may be forced into the local store to see what will fit your needs...provided you get a sales person who knows what he is talking about.

That brings us full circle. Since the sales person knew bupkis, we ask questions on forums such as this and get some real answers. Then we buy online. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

[Shinsen774]

Where I work we still see 100% of our customers in person; usually nude.



Ok, it's a chain of hospitals. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

[aerog]

For a response in English, please press "1"

That's one reason I try to go to my local Ace hardware when I can. I used to go to Lowes a lot - it was relatively convenient if I wasn't working from home, has a ton of stuff etc. One day I went in and it seemed like all the signs were in Spanish; to be fair they were bilingual, but the way they're set up the Spanish portion just lept out at me. A year later I went in looking for outdoor lighting, and every single item on the shelf in that isle was in Spanish. Turns out the stock was in Spanish on one side, English on the other - but Lowes stocked all the shelves "in Spanish". Home Depot is no better - both get my business only as a last resort.

At least Ace makes an effort to help me without making the shelves look like I'm shopping in another country.

 

[Basil]

Where I work we still see 100% of our customers in person; usually nude.



Ok, it's a chain of hospitals. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/lol.gif

 

[judow]

I am all for supporting our local stores but sometimes they make it impossible. Case in point: Husband and I were looking to purchase an enclosed trailer for Agatha (our Healey) and we comparison shopped. Turns out we got the best price on-line and that price will increase by the $'s it will cost us to pick up the trailer in Arizona. Less than 5 miles away is a major trailer dealer and we decided that if they were in an area of $500 of the price, we would purchase it there. They turned out to be $1600.00 more (same trailer, same specs, same everything) and when they asked us what we had for a price they made us feel like were were being less than truthful. Showed them the faxed quote and their response was that they were probably not bona fide dealers, said they were (We called the factory to confirm.) and then we were told, "We'll be calling the factory and letting them know that the dealer is selling for less than cost!" All in all a very unpleasant experience with the 'local' dealer.

Having said this, I/we do both - internet, big box stores and local when possible.

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif

Still liking those bananas.

 

[Nunyas]

I do both. For MGB parts, I have no option but to buy online, unless it's an emissions part. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif However, I DID pick up a new emissions Check-Valve for my B today at the local Kragen Auto Parts place. I also grabbed some extra stuff while I was there: roll of carpet, Dupli-Color "High Performance" wheel paint, sand paper, etc.

I stopped off at the Auto Zone before going to Kragen's but felt like I had crossed the southern boarder into Mexico while I was there. So, Kragen's got the bulk of my patronage. I'd go to NAPA if there was one within 8 miles of me.

For hardware stores, I haven't seen an Ace Hardware since I moved out here. As a result, I usually end up in "The Do It Center" or at Osh. Osh gets all of my tool purchases, because they carry Craftman tools. Osh also gets ~most~ of my hardware purchases, because they're a little closer.

With most everything being Corporatized these days, it's getting more difficult to find the 'mom & pop shop'. I don't feel as bad buying over the internet when my main choices are owned by this corporate megalith or that one. Sure, buying from the local store helps the local economy ~some~, but when the bulk of the money you spend goes to some corporate head quarters in who knows where, it's not enough of a difference to stop me from buying the same products over the internet.

 

[swift6]

For a response in English, please press "1"

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

With apologies to our non-US members... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

 

[tony barnhill]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Somehow I suspect that for something like business cards a local printing shop would be just about as good as an online company for pricing, unless one lives in Timbuktu [/QUOTE]

Ordering business cards must mean he interacts with humans at some point - on-line businesses don't use them.

Don't stop using local businesses - but also don't forget to visit SOME on-line vendors often.....hehehehehehe

 

[aerog]

For a response in English, please press "1"

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

With apologies to our non-US members... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

I try to avoid that one. All three of John Wayne's wives were hispanic, not that there's anything wrong with that /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

 

[GregW]

So would Mr. Wayne have to press 1 when calling home?

 

[tony barnhill]

He lived with his third wife, Pilar Palette Wayne, who was born in Peru when he died. His first two marriages, to Josephine Saenz and Esperanzo Bauer, also Latin Americans, ended in divorces. He had seven children from his marriages, and more than 15 grandchildren.

Somehow, I think they all spoke English.....