Do you shop with a group of women?

[shootingstar]

Last Thursday, was a girls' night retail event in one of the neighbourhoods. A marketing event with discounts at various stores and restaurants, to bring in more business.

I went by myself. I noticed women in pairs or a group, window-shopping and chatting up with the retailers who offered snacks and cookies, etc.

Then I realized how RARELY I go window shopping with my good female friends over the ...um...decades. Happens once a year, with a sister or friend. Some years, never.
I wondered if I was missing something but honestly, I'm at a point I really don't spend more money on stuff I don't need. And when I really need stuff, clothing, I like to take my time looking, trying on clothing....without wasting friend's time while I dither away on my decision-making.

I've moved several times across Canada. I rarely see my family members, my closest friends, that when I see them, I don't want to distract precious time on sharing important news and thoughts about ourselves, with the distractions of window shopping. So it's lots of time at a café, restaurant or at someone's/my home. Fortunately my friends and family are like myself. That's just me too.

Maybe I can't multi-task.

[thekarens]

I hate shopping and do most of it online. When I do shop I take a list and go specifically for those items. I'm not typical when it comes to that kind of thing.

[roadie gal]

I hate shopping and do most of it online. When I do shop I take a list and go specifically for those items. I'm not typical when it comes to that kind of thing.

This exactly. My partner and I will "shop" sometimes when we bring Toby (the rough collie) in for grooming and have a few hours to kill. Mostly we have a list of stuff we need and just go and get that, though. Then we'll hang out in Barnes and Noble or a coffee shop.

I loathe shopping as a recreational event.

[spokewench]

I do the majority of my shopping on the internet or one or two shops (one where I live, one where my sister lives). However, I do go on trips with groups of women when I go to tennis tournaments. The ladies always want to shop because we live in a small town and do not have access to many shopping opportunities. So, yes, I do go with them to shop. It is fun; most of the time I do not buy anything, but have to admit that I did buy a dress and a beautiful splurge leather jacket when we went to Las Vegas. It may not be that I would do this on my own. But, with a group and when you are with a diverse group on a trip, you need to be flexible to get along, I enjoy those trips to the stores.

[GLC1968]

I love shopping with a group of friends as a social activity. I have to do it purely social though...for the company, the laughs and perhaps the sights. I sometimes buy for myself, but it's usually impulse buys and nothing of any significance. Oddly enough, I love helping other people shop (I have spent many, many years working in retail!) for clothing. Men, women, doesn't matter. I will be honest, I will be helpful and I will help friends make good decisions. It's fun.

BUT, if I need something? I go alone. I don't like to stroll in malls when I have something that needs doing. In fact, it is the one place on the planet where I walk faster than my husband. I think it's because I get sensory overload and I do my best to create tunnel vision for myself and focus only on my goal. Get in, get out, get on with my life. (Chili's stole that slogan from me!).

[marni]

like most other things in life, I do this solo. I can rarely find anything I like in the stores anyway so most often shop on line. Most of my "dressy" (anything other than jeans or t shirts -all from local charity rides) are several to many years old. I am usually very gentle on clothes which is a good thing since I loath the entire shopping experience so much. When I find something I like and that fits, I ususally buy multiples so that I won't have to go looking for that particular item again any time soon.

Some women are herd animals, others are solitary. Count me as a small herd of me, myself and I.

[lor]

. And when I really need stuff, clothing, I like to take my time looking, trying on clothing....without wasting friend's time while I dither away on my decision-making.

Maybe I can't multi-task.

I'm exactly the same type of shopper. I also try to buy whatever I can online. I just don't enjoy shopping for the most part.

[Crankin]

I buy about 99% of my clothing on line (both regular and cycling). There are only 3 stores I can shop at, in terms of size and one is about 3 miles from my house; if I need something in a rush, or I get the urge to shop, I go there, by myself. I have occasionally gone shopping with one friend to help choose a special outfit, but I get bored and annoyed. All of my friends have different taste than me.
Sine I started riding, I don't shop "recreationally" anymore. I used to spend a lot of time at the mall.

[indysteel]

I've never really enjoyed shopping or shopping with friends. I, too, mostly buy online. I used to go to the mall in downtown Indy when I still lived downtown for a shopping spree of sorts, but since moving away, I never do that anymore. My wardrobe, as a result, is starting to look a little worn. I need some things for work, but it's so hard to find appropriate pieces.

[Owlie]

I do a lot of my shopping online, unless it's jeans/pants or dressy clothes. Those I have to buy in-store unless I know roughly what I'm getting. I'll shop with a friend, because I am terrible at the "what looks good" game, but not with a group.

[PamNY]

I don't like shopping, and I certainly don't like shopping as a social activity. Occasionally I enjoyed going to a bookstore with my mother, but that's about it.

I live in an area with many tourists and there's a popular off-price department store nearby. Shopping there is miserable because (understandably) tourists are very often shopping in large groups. It's not a spacious store to begin with, and six or eight people crowded around a small rack of coats make shopping an even more tiresome experience.

Probably saved me a bit of money when the tourists crowds in this store increased.