Do you shop in groups?

We are all social beings and Jamaicans have always enjoyed the company of their friends and family.  I am sure many people can relate to the fact that they enjoy spending time with their friends especially on shopping trips.

Of course, there is always the exception to the rule. Although I enjoy shopping with friends at times, there are those days when I purposefully avoid the crowd and go on my own.

Unbiased Opinion

There are benefits to shopping in groups, after all its nice to have another opinion besides the sales clerk. Your friends might be more inclined to tell the truth as they don’t have anything to gain by encouraging you to purchase an item.

We often have a wrong view of ourselves, being with someone who can objectively respond is a valuable opinion. I have been saved my friends in the past from making unnecessary purchases.  Someone asking me if I really needed the item is often just enough to make me stop and think before purchasing it.

Another benefit to shopping in groups, is that the store manager might be more inclined to offer discounts. This is because with more shoppers in the group there is the added benefit of increased sales. The manager might also offer an additional item to ‘sweeten the deal’  which would benefit at least one member of the group.

Safety

Shopping in a group is also a safety precaution. Often if you are in a group, the members of the group will look out for you so it would be less likely that you would be targeted.

At times you can leave behind bags or personal belongings in stores by mistake but having a group member realize it and point it out to you can save time returning to the store to collect it, that is if it is still there when you return.

Negatives to Shopping in a Group

Are there any negatives to shopping in groups?

Well there are times that you might want to linger in a particular store but your group is ready to move on.  The group members might also have different tastes in fashion  than you do so while their advice while valid, it might be contrary to your own.

Some store owners don’t like big groups who don’t buy anything, especially if they had kept the store clerks busy then left without purchasing any of the items. You also might not get individualized attention from store clerks as they are busy with your friends.

So what’s your take?

Do you like shopping alone or with friends? Let me hear from you!

Teri Ann Renee Paisley

Gleaner online Writer

Tags: shopping