Should brick and motor websites offer "in store" only search categories?

[yoda313]

I've been doing a lot of research online lately for wireless headphones.

One petpeeve I have started to develop is the "available online only" feature that is common nowadays.

Places like kmart, bestbuy, radioshack and the like all have these "online only" products they offer. However I have yet to find a way to enable a search for "in store" only products.

Sometimes I find the only way to reliably search products is to sit through and click through each page they offer. However with these "online only" editions they can be hundreds of products long. Sometimes all I want it is to look for only what I can buy physically in the store, not order online (I'd go to ebay or amazon if i'm going for online only stuff - at least as a first place to look). When I'm going to a stores website I want to see what they have available in the store, not whats in their store PLUS everything thats online only as well.

If any of these places have filters for in store only search features they sure aren't making it easy to find the setting.

Anyone else feel the same way?

[JohnnyMalaria]

Yup, I agree with you. My biggest peeve is with Guitar Center. It's not until I click to get the detail on an item that I find out whether it is available at my "local store" or has to be ordered online. It makes comparison shopping extremely aggravating. Just when you come across the very item you want, your hopes are dashed.

(Yes, I could order online but I'm an impatient bugger and usually only need something when I need it!)

[yoda313]

Yes, I could order online but I'm an impatient bugger and usually only need something when I need it!)

I know the feeling. I usually only shop online for tech specs. Or to find out what it looks and connection options etc... I will order online when that is the only option or a local store is out of stock.

Besides sometimes its not practical for expensive shipping costs on odd shaped items you'd rather just carry out of the store yourself.

[rallynavvie]

If any of these places have filters for in store only search features they sure aren't making it easy to find the setting.

They do, it's called "go visit the store"

If I'm browsing a retailers website I'm either researching (and often there are better sites for research) or to see what that retailers price is for a given item. I wouldn't want to limit myself to in-store offerings only on their website because if I want the item I'll order it from their "online selection". Research should be irrelevant to its availability in store or not; you're researching what the best item is for your needs and money and should be choosing based on those elements rather than availability, right? If you're impulsive then head out to the store. In some cases, Fry's comes to mind, the in-store offering is vastly superior to what is shown online.

I thought Best Buy had a filter for "online only" offers? You could just browse through the other filters and avoid that one.

[stiltman]

For Bestbuy
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[Jim44]

For Bestbuy
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Fry's Electronics and Barnes & Noble do similar.

[Supreme2k]

The thing that I hate about Fry's is that they have some of the most unbelievable deals online that are "Store pick-up only", but they're never at my stores (or within 100 miles).