I do about 50% of my shopping online. I hate going to B&M's, if I don't have to. I choose .com's that I've heard of and have a "secure network", for whatever that's worth. 99% of the time I am lucky and I don't have to return the item, because it is exactly what I wanted.

I recently made a purchase from Overstock.com, that I wish to return. I never had to return anything to them before. I just spoke to C.S. who told me that there is a $4.95 handling fee for returns-per item! Have you noticed whether this is an anomaly or a trend? There is a 15% for electronics and computer stuff- which I think is industry standard- but also home office stuff is 15%, which I don't think is the norm.

Edited to add: The restocking fee is in addition to the "normal" shipping and handling fee that you pay out-of-pocket.

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~LOL~
ladyoleisure@lycos.com

Your heart understands what your head cannot yet conceive; trust your heart..

I guess it all depends on each stores policy. Some stores will give you a prepaid postage to send items back, but i think most times you have to pay your own expenses. I don't shop online much, but when i do i don't buy items that i think may have to be returned. I buy my k cups for my keurig coffee maker and i sometimes buy items that are hard to find in the stores. I rather go to the store and be able to have my items the same day.

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SAHM of Bailey 12, Tyler 9 , Emily Ann 5, and Ryan Matthew 4 yrs old.

I usually only buy items online that I am pretty confident that I won't have to return and only when I get a better price online than I can find in a B&M store. One exception is QVC. Their customer service is excellent and I love their return policy - they even send you a return shipping label with your original purchase, so you don't have to pay to return anything.

I probably do 80% of my shopping online. I am a single parent (8 yr old ds) and work full time - I don't have much time to really get out to the stores and shop. It is so much easier for them to just bring it to me!

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Mom to 3 - one with 2 legs and 2with 4!

I do most of my shopping online including grocery shopping

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Mom of 2 DD's & soon to be Grandma to Malycia Lynn due 6/3/07

I do the majority of shopping on line but it's not by choice. I would much prefer to go to a B&M store to actually see what I am buying. We live on an island in Alaska and have very limited shopping. What shopping we do have, I refuse to pay here what I can purchase on line, usually buy 3 items for the price of one and that's including the shipping.

But it is helping the pocket book though, because there is very little impluse shopping when I have to order online. LOL!

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"Why must you speak, when you have nothing to say." Horatio Hornblower

I shop a LOT online but only for things that I do not need to see or feel or try on! I ordered some boots during Sears' online sale a few weeks ago but knew that if they did not fit, we could return to the B&M (which we did... such a bummer that they did not fit!). Some companies, ie Zappos, etc. have great returns policies that do not cost the customer OR have B&M stores close by ie JCPenney, Sears, etc.. Those are the only stores that I'll buy clothing or shoes from anymore...

Our sales tax is close to 10% here and the closest discount store is about a gallon of gas from here ... so it is almost always less expensive to buy at Amazon or some other online store. I joined Amazon Prime w/ free two-day shipping a month or so ago and have their rewards credit card so that I earn a little back as well - I love it!

My DH works near Best Buy so we do a lot of ordering online for him to pick up after work. He also passes by a lot of grocery and Walmart stores on the way to/from so he does some shopping too.

I spend Thursdays shopping on my way to/from an exercise class that I take. I research sales and go through my lists (cross a LOT off) on Wednesdays and if there is no reason for me to shop, I don't!