Countering the Shopping Woes

[dragon wench]

Not long ago I stared blankly into my closet for a good ten minutes and I reached the exceedingly depressing conclusion that I have once more reached a point in life where I must gather together my strength and courage.... and brave the experience of clothes shopping... *shudder*

Now, some people (not to depict stereotypes, but usually women) view clothes shopping as a therapeutic experience. I do not. In fact I abhor the entire process. I hate the jostling crowds in overly cramped shops, I hate the hot changing rooms, I hate the flourescent overheads, I hate the superficial and vapid smiles of the clerks who ask me, "How are you today?" In short.. I detest everything about shopping.

To counter this problem, I usually hook up with a friend. We head out for an extremely alcoholic brunch somewhere and thus fortified, armed with nothing other than our tempers, we venture forth into the perils that await...

So, my question is this: Assuming you dislike shopping as much as I do, what do you do to counter the unpleasantness of the experience. And for those of you who actually enjoy it, what on earth is your secret?

[fable]

Do it as early in the morning as possible, when no one else is in the malls. That way you're less likely to actually kill somebody in a homocidal rage, since there are fewer people around.

[C Elegans]

Since I by far prefer going to the dentist and have a root canal before shopping clothes, and also, I spend all my money on travelling, the result is that I don't buy new clothes until I reach the point where the old ones literally start falling off my body. Then I take the morning off (the morning is good because nobody is out shopping a weekday between 10-12) and buy everything I need in an extremly rapid speed. I may buy 15 tops and trousers in 1-1.5 hour or so, then I rush home. I don't try clothes on unless absolutely necessary. I always go alone, because nobody else I know enjoys rushing around like I do. This way, the time/number of pieces of clothing-ratio becomes very efficient, I think.

It's not that I dislike crowds or stupid looking superficial clerks more than many other things in this world. It's just that I'm totally uninterested in clothes, much the same way as I am uninterested in cleaning or washing. It is simply not a bit fun, it is only a boring must-do without any inherent reward. (For instance, I hate writing grant's applications too, but at least they will get me money to fund my research projects.)
Also, buying clothes feels so meaningless to waste my time on, since I know I must do it again sooner or later.

[Magrus]

I drink, heavily prior to entering any store. Then, any of those in the crowd around me that jostle me, look at me with an irritating glare, comment on my dress or state end up as a target for my nasty tongue and booze induced disregard for personal safety and common decency. I then giggle at the looks I get from passerby and continue on my merry way.

I generally can get into a store, get what I want, and be to the register within 5 minutes, depending on the size of the store and if I can find what I want easily or not. I get in, and out as fast as I can. I don't have the patience to deal with people in general in malls. Those ladies who spray you with perfume and cologne? I knocked one down after I told her not to spray and she did. I don't put up with it. It irritates me and they go too far with trying to do their jobs. I'd rather see an exhausted, miserable clerk than one with a fake smile and condescending attitude.

People who accompany me and browse aimlessly do so at their own risk. My friends tend to do such shopping without me now. I toss out innapropriate comments at everyone, and everything that irritates me and it tends to attract attention. I'm irritated by anything categorized with models, pop culture, most teens, half the adult population in malls and most layouts in stores. SO, I don't do well with shopping whatsoever.

[Yeltsu]

I hate shopping as well, not for the same reasons you do, but I just hate the very action of looking at clothes you buy, especially shoes. I have no opinions whatsoever, I do not know what I like, I only know what I don't like, and that is quite alot. Shoes are the worst, I spent two hours yesterday looking for shoes (I even got help from my friends gf) and when I finally found some, they didn't have my size... I use 46 -47 (which is something like 11 or 12 in the crazy US system ) in shoes now it seems, so that makes things even worse...

I hate shopping...

[Rudar Dimble]

Just write down what you need (not how it looks). Go to a shop, get the first thing that matches your notes for 50% or more (so a dress is good enough when I want pants...they're both covering my legs) and go home again. You should be done in about 30 minutes

BTW: this is probaby why you don't see a picture of me here on the SYM board

[Robnark]

I get it over with quickly. when I need clothes, I know the shops that have the most stuff I'd consider buying and decent prices, then plan a route through them all (oh, the joy of a compact town centre). I know how much I'm spending and what I need to buy, so by the time I'm at the third or fourth shop - usually within half an hour of starting - I'm just looking for fripperies to spend my last few quid on. last time I got a belt, a headscarf and some flip-flops from the last shop on the route because I'd bought everything I needed.

maybe I'd take longer if I had silly amounts of money to spend, but if I know what I want, I usually time it so I can get the very next bus home from when I arrive, which is about a 40-minute gap. rigorous scheduling is the friend of the fretful shopper.

[Magrus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeltsu I hate shopping as well, not for the same reasons you do, but I just hate the very action of looking at clothes you buy, especially shoes. I have no opinions whatsoever, I do not know what I like, I only know what I don't like, and that is quite alot. Shoes are the worst, I spent two hours yesterday looking for shoes (I even got help from my friends gf) and when I finally found some, they didn't have my size... I use 46 -47 (which is something like 11 or 12 in the crazy US system ) in shoes now it seems, so that makes things even worse... I hate shopping...

Shoe shopping is easy for me. I have a checklist.

1. Black shoes.
2. Do they fit.
3. Are they less than $30.

So, you run to the section that has adult men shoes, scan for a pair that looks decent, check price, if those two work, try them on, stomp around the store. Chances are within two or three pairs you're all good and ready to go. I've only bought one bad pair of shoes like that so far.

I love it, I can walk 5 miles, eat pizza for lunch, and do shopping at three different stores in two hours. It takes my mother longer to DRIVE that distance, eat and do her shopping. It takes me about 1 1/2 hours to do my walking there and back, and the rest of the time I use for lunch and shopping. It takes her about 10 minutes to drive there and back, and the rest of the time to do her shopping. It's crazy.

[moltovir]

I'm not the only one that hates shopping! Yay! When I have to go shopping (only when I really really have to), I enter the store, ignore everyone, take the first things I like and then get out as quickly as possible (after paying, ofcourse ). It is boring, uninteresting and timewasting to look for the exact right size and color in a shelf full of sweaters, so I've ended up with some things that I'll only be wearing when I start weighing 300 pounds. Trying clothes out is even worse: waiting in line for half an hour, getting into a cabin, sweater out, sweater on, doesn't fit, go back, .... Luckily I mostly grab good things; I don't dress like a colour-blind clown. As for a solution: booze There's nothing like a good Belgian Trappist after a 10-minute shopping spree. You've no idea what you're all missing by not living in Belgium.

[dragon wench]

@Fable, lmao!
I suppose that avoiding jail time is not a bad idea.. though at least in jail you don't have to worry about shopping. I mean, hey! You get your very own orange jumpsuit courtesy of the State
Seriously, early in the morning makes sense. My problem is that it would mean imbibing at least 4 cups of strong, black coffee in order to be sufficiently alert for the ordeal (I'd rather not mistakingly buy fuscia pink when I had intended to select black ). And that means the risk of having to bolt out of change rooms owing to the diuretic effects of coffee!

@CE, Good point. I tend to spend my money on other things too. Even so,while I find the whole concept of clothing a necessary evil, I try to find stuff I actually like. I tend to have a fairly tomboyish style with a feminine twist, so this is never easy.

@Magrus. Yes indeed! Alcohol, preferably in large quantities truly does decrease the pain! Speaking of which... *grits teeth at Moltovir* Damn.. I love Trappist beers.. and they can be so hard to find over here.. *sigh*

lmao @ all of you. It's very reassuring to know I'm not the only one!

[Cuchulain82]

I deal with the shopping woes by bribing myself- if I can get what I need, then I get a new game, maybe a new piece of gear, or something else fun. If I'm only partially successful, then I get a CD or something little. If I strike out completely, then I just get mad (see "Fable's Homocidal Rage")

[ik911]

LOL, I guess we finally found out what all the members of SYM really have in common besides the abstract insanity (oh no, that's just a couple of us). It's the dislike of shopping for clothes. Who would have suspected that?

[Rudar Dimble]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ik911 LOL, I guess we finally found out what all the members of SYM really have in common besides the abstract insanity (oh no, that's just a couple of us). It's the dislike of shopping for clothes. Who would have suspected that?

It's what has kept us together through the years...

[dragon wench]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudar Dimble It's what has kept us together through the years...

LMAO! This is why when sanity begins to pervade the halls... it simply doesn't feel the same, something just seems to be lacking

[jopperm2]

I dislike stores, but I love buying things. Even if I have no use for them. So i'm a split ticket when it comes to shopping. I love to get new stuff, but I'm lazy and don't want to deal with people. What can I say? I'm a republican.