Browsing in stores has 'bin' fun but I'm moving on(line)

I used to enjoy visiting retail stores in search of bargains, scouring bins or racks for items that were deeply discounted and unloved.

Not anymore.

With online deals just as tempting and more convenient, I have gone the virtual route with increased frequency over the past couple of years, particularly during the hectic holiday shopping season.

On the rare occasion that I visit a physical store, I usually come armed with several printouts featuring intel and pricing about the products I am scoping out. It's a version of football's two-minute drill, maximizing every second to get the big score.

I'm not alone in taking this approach. According to a recent online poll by Accenture, 71% of Canadians indicated this year that they planned to browse and research online before stepping out to shop. It's a far cry from the browsing that Rodney Dangerfield and Joe Pesci made famous in the 1983 classic Easy Money.

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal calls this new style of shopping "webrooming" -- a process in which a shopper researches products online and then visits the store to purchase the item and make a quick getaway.

Instead of fighting the tide, many savvy retailers have made major investments in the amount of data and functionality that their websites offer in an effort to cater to the webrooming crowd or ring in increased online sales.

Even venerable Canadian Tire -- which has been around since 1922 -- is making an effort to provide added convenience for customers who are attracted to their distinctive product mix. Whether you are in the market for a ladder or a lasagna pan, you can now select the 'Pay and Pick-up' option to avoid lines and guarantee your item is in stock and ready for pick-up within a few hours.

Meanwhile, some big box retailers such as office supply behometh Staples are reducing their footprint by closing or shrinking the size of their stores and guiding more shoppers to its website.

Before going cold turkey as an in-store browser, I decided to visit my local Walmart this week and check out the bargain bin I used to do some dumpster DVD diving in the past. It was always a handy place to find a DVD or two as a stocking stuffer, additional birthday gift or for a break from what was on TV.

After just five minutes of rifling through the various DVDs, I gave up, unwilling to part with $4.88 for a range of sub-par titles, including A Night at the Roxbury. Fortunately, I came prepared, breaking out printouts for two DVDs I had researched on Walmart's website, including Captain Phillips (with Tom Hanks) for $5.97.

The bargain DVD bin at Walmart is 

no longer the site of fierce interest

among shoppers.

As I walked away from the Electronics Department after my purchase and prepared to leave the store, I took one final glance at the mountain of DVDs that were stacked in the bargain bin. What was once a fierce battleground with customers jockeying for position to lock in the best titles resembled one of the ghost towns in the westerns that were in the pile.

 

While I would like to tell you that seeing the bin brought back some fond memories and caused me to reconsider my focus on online browsing and purchases, I would be lying.

With retailers upping their game and directing more resources to their websites and order fulfillment, browsing for bargains from home has never been more convenient, enjoyable or affordable. To me, that's what a great shopping experience is all about.

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Festive Holiday Gift List
In the spirit of the holiday season -- and to assist readers looking to fill out their shopping lists or provide a small thank you to a colleague at work -- I have compiled a list of four inexpensive gifts that I call the "Festive Five Dollar Holiday Gift List."

Enjoy, and I wish you all the best during the holidays and for a great 2015!

MEC Membership: Mountain Equipment Co-Op (MEC) has built a membership of over 3.7 million clients by attracting a loyal following of outdoor and environmental enthusiasts. One of the little-known perks of the $5 lifetime membership is a 15% discount for Co-Operators travel insurance, a benefit that I've taken advantage of in the past to net some savings.

MEC's downtown Toronto store has an

interesting mix of products from kayaks

to bikes to various clothing items.


Bloomberg Businessweek subscription: I've been a long-time subscriber to this magazine and recently took advantage of a special promotion (12 issues for $5) to extend my subscription. Considering the magazine is $5.99 at the newstand, this is a great deal and gift for someone who has a strong interest in business and current events.

Chapters Classic Reads: Chapters Indigo's website has a Bargain Books section that features a series of "$5 Classic Reads", including titles from authors such as Bram Stoker (Dracula), Charles Dickens (Nicholas Nickelby) and Robert Louis Stevenson (Kidnapped). If you are unable to find other items to top up your order to meet the $25 free shipping minimum, you can order any of the titles through its Kiosk feature and have the books shipped free of charge to any store.

Canada Post Original Six Stamps:  Canada Post may be struggling financially and angering Canadians with its plan to change how it delivers the mail. However, it has scored with the release of several new collectable products, including a pane of six stamps featuring Original Six NHL defenceman Tim Horton, Doug Harvey, Bobby Orr, Harry Howell, Pierre Pilote and Red Kelly. The stamps -- which are $5.10 -- are available at Canada Post stores or online.

Special note: None of the companies or products mentioned in this or other Michael Tee posts have provided any compensation to the writer.