Buying Tools and DIY Materials Online vs. In Store

Home Improvements and DIY is still something that’s very much done the old fashioned way, by going into the store and finding what it is you’re after. But should it really be this way? Most major DIY retailers also have a strong website and there are a variety of different websites you can use to get much better prices.

Buy Online vs. In Store

There are pros and cons to each choice for most products, but with tools and materials these are slightly different. Most notably, if you know what it is you’re looking for then buying online is simply a search, click and selection away. As there are so many retailers out there, all competition for your custom, it is incredibly easy to find the cheapest price online. When buying in store you either have to trust that they have it at the lowest price or drive to several stores to see which one has the best price.

If you aren’t entirely sure what you need to buy, then shopping online gives you access to FAQs, forums and YouTube. This means that you will soon know exactly what materials and tools you need to complete the job. When buying in store, you are able to ask the people working their but they are unlikely to have the same level of knowledge as you can find online.

Delivery vs. Pick Up

One of the reasons that many people buy in store is because they want the product they ordered as soon as possible and nothing is faster than being able to walk it out of the store the moment you buy it. However, if you’re ordering large, bulky items and don’t have a van then this can be a bit of a problem.

While ordering online may not be quite as quick as going into the store, you are able to have everything you want delivered straight to your front door. Many websites even have the option of picking it up the same day, allowing you to reserve and purchase online to avoid disappointment of the store not having stock.

Next day delivery is often an option, but by planning in advance you can easily order bulk items and arrange for them all to arrive exactly when you need them. This can save on countless trips to the hardware store and means that you won’t need to rent or borrow a van to pick up stock.

Materials Available

If you’re looking to buy products that aren’t very popular then you may struggle to find the right amount of stock in your local store. This eliminates things like buying-in-bulk discounts and even being able to purchase enough of your product to complete the project in hand.

Buying online allows you to purchase directly from the supplier, meaning that you have a much wider range of products available in greater stock. This is especially true if you are looking for bespoke items or certain length or widths, as often stores will only have generic sizes available.

Checking Quality

While being able to physically hold, touch and even test tools and materials will help you to make a decision when purchasing, you won’t know how it performs in the long run. Granted you can always purchase in store after doing online research, but why not simply purchase online.

Buying online does eliminate this ability to physically see and hold the products you’re buying, forcing you to rely on product descriptions and trust signals to know that the item is legit. This is arguably the only downside of buying online, but in reverse to buying in store you could always visit a retailer to see and test the product before finding it at the best price online later.

Overall

Ultimately, the decision to purchase online or in-store is down to you and will rely heavily on what items you’re after. For larger, more specialist orders then you are more likely to need to purchase online whereas small, generic products can be easily picked up in any hardware store near you.