Shoppers Compare In-Person & Online Sales for Best Holiday Deals
John Palminteri
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – While fast shopping online is a quick fix for some people, in-person is still unmatched for the real-life experience.
That’s the annual holiday split that’s underway now.
If there was any evidence of the strength on in-person shopping, it was at many outlet centers and some traditional department stores on the Central Coast.
There were 6 a.m. store openings today, with lines forming last night to be the first to get the best deals or an early bird price.
Throughout the day early season discounts have been found with customers saying a 20 percent sale price is good, but 50 percent or more will definitely get them through the door.
Goleta’s Camino Real Marketplace and the Collection in Oxnard were solid with cars all day.
Downtown Santa Barbara has the Paseo Nuevo with some chain stores and many specialty shops but it does not have the once-popular anchor stores, Macy’s and Nordstrom.
The remaining Macy’s in Santa Barbara is at the La Cumbre Plaza, which also has many art and home furnishings choices.
Paige Miller is the Creations Boutique Manager in downtown Santa Barbara. She says they offer a personal shopping experience. “We’re doing a sip and shop offer drinks, we always welcome everybody in to the store, offering everyone a fitting room.”
When it comes to boutiques or locally made items, it’s hard to shop side by side with something on line and that’s where local employees can assist or bring out different styles and sizes right on the spot.
There’s also deals that come up on the spot. Miller said, “it gets people in. It is the first thing people see outside of our store. Putting some things out there that are selling well that people like and having a clearance rack as well.”
The Game Seeker will have its Grand Opening in a new location Saturday at 920 State Street. Up the way on the same block, the Italian Pottery Outlet has a storewide 20 percent off sale through Monday. In the 400 block Zoe Bikini is a boutique that includes dresses, jewelry and trucker hats with large colorful hearts. It is closing out in the next month and items are selling at a reduced price.
Nationwide sales online are already showing a strong start according to analysts in many states.
Some shoppers are concerned about returning an on line item if it’s not what they want.
Charlie Brier was shopping in person but also goes on line. “On line you can have some problems. If you order something and it doesn’t come. It happened to me two weeks ago so I want to have money back please.”
Martin Diaz said, “I have clothes that I’ve never worn before. Sometimes it is like the hassle – returning on line.”
For a taller shopper like Carolyne Erlach and her brother Daniel, “I prefer to be able to shop in person and try things on so we’re both very tall so it is very hard to find things in store that fit.”
Daniel said he likes to get off his computer and shop in person to see the community, and the downtown scene.
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