Dear LPG

I read with interest what MH of Brockley wrote about the online rating system on June 25^th 2018, and how we should use it, and while I agree that it is one of the best ways to get an idea of exactly what you will be letting yourself in for when you buy a particular item, I have always found one drawback.

Perhaps LPG readers are amongst those who will best remember a time before buying on the internet, or even when using the many catalogues to shop in the 1960s and 1970s became fashionable. We were all used to going to the shops, but even then, one person’s idea of a really good purchase was not necessarily going to be perfect for another.

In reality, no two people have the same perception of what is the best for them.  About ten years ago I can remember watching as my next door neighbour had her garden landscaped and being so impressed that I got mine done by the same people, but while I thought that hers looked perfect, I have to say that I was not as impressed with the way my garden looked after all the work was done.

I am lucky enough to still be able to get out so, when deciding to make a larger purchase, I tend to look for options online and then go to a normal shop that sells it and where I can get a shop assistant to demonstrate if possible.  This allows me to feel the quality of a dress or check what a vacuum cleaner can really do before finding the same thing online where it often costs less, but I have to say that high street shops are disappearing fast.

Thinking back to the end of last century when internet shopping was less the thing to do, even if we went to a high street shop and bought something like a TV or freezer, there would be some negative aspects of its operation that we would only find out about once we got it home.   

Perhaps back then we did not have so much choice, but most of us will agree that things were made to last longer and we were happy to have them repaired rather than discard them and get a new one as quickly as we do these days.

Recommendations and ratings online will always give an idea of what will suit us best, but there will always be an element of disappointment whatever we buy.

I think that quite a few readers who are old enough to remember how we shopped in the mid-20^th century will agree that we were not so picky, we did not have so much choice and I think that many of us were happier shoppers. 

HY, Ladywell