Yeah, cooking stores. Crate and Barrel and IKEA are on this list too. Fun to window-shop, but not necessarily to buy.
When I was a kid it was Spencer’s. Now I don’t even know where there is one.
Kitchen appliance stores, though once in a while I’ll buy something.
Art galleries. In all of the years I’ve been going to a particular one, I only bought one thing. But it was like $600 so I feel entitled.
forever 21; I don’t know why I even bother…
Kohl’s.
And this brings up a minor retail rant, as if there aren’t enough this time of year.
I used to shop at Kohl’s a lot when they finally opened up a store in my fair city. I loved the sales and could always manage to find at least one or two items whenever I popped in. I shopped my way to a VIP card and everything.
And then, I don’t know if this happened at all Kohl’s or just the one I shop at, but I noticed one day that everything in the petite section was complete crap. I used to be able to find stylish separates and dresses that were totally work appropriate and in my size. Now, it’s nothing but granny pants (high, elastic waist) and really hideous print blouses. What happened to the nice button-down oxford shirts? What happened to the lower waisted, stylish dress pants? What happened to all the jeans for Og’s sake?
Newsflash to the buyer at my Kohl’s store: “Petite” does not mean “little old fat ladies whose waist is larger than their inseam measurement.” “Petite” actually means “short.” I can’t find anything that will fit me in the misses section and the while clothes in the juniors’ section is the only place where I can find clothes that fit, they are too trendy and not age-appropriate.
So I stopped buying stuff there. Every now and then I’ll pop in just to see if the buyer for the petite section has changed, but no. Still just elastic waisted jeans, and sizes 10P and above. Nothing to see here. Last time I was in there, I almost stopped an employee to complain or ask who to see upstairs in management about it, but the employee stocking the petite section… well, her waistline was a larger measurement than her inseam by quite a bit, so I figured she’d just resent that I can’t find clothes tiny enough to fit my skinny little frame and she’d probably just blow me off. I took one look at her and decided I’d probably hear “skinny bitch” under her breath as I walked away. So I just quit going.
That and any bookstore. Sometimes I go there just to browse, read a bit, and then decide I’ll either order online or don’t want the book.
Is Suncoast still around? I haven’t seen one in the local mall for awhile. But it’s one I used to go to all the time. Yet, I don’t think I’d bought anything in there since the VHS era. A lot cheaper to get movies from Amazon these days.
Big name pet stores. I have a very small, independently owned pet store very close to my house and I’m friends with the owner. She’s also the only store in a very wide radius that sells the food I like. But, every once in a very great while, I’ll want something she doesn’t have and I’m too impatient to wait. Most recently it was the small bulk treats that Petco has. I go in there quite frequently, mostly to remind myself why I don’t like going there but also to make sure I’m not missing some great new thing that Sandy doesn’t know about yet.
Anthropologie. I just laugh and laugh.
At what?
I live pretty close to the King of Prussia Mall, so I usually pop in at least twice a month. I love the David Yurman store, but will never do anything but just browse there. Hell, Tiffany’s is more affordable.
Back when I went malling, Spencer’s was a favorite place to browse for me, but I rarely bought anything.
Nowadays, it’s new book stores. I go in, want to find a book to buy RIGHT NOW, but there’s nothing on the shelves that I want. If I mention that I wanted a book to a clerk, I’m told that the store could order it and it will be in in a few days. Well, now, I can do that at HOME, so there is absolutely no reason for me to return to the book store.
Oddly enough, I can find all sorts of books at the various Half Price Books in my area.
Suncoast is long gone and for the exact reason you mentioned. You did it, I did it and apparently we were part of a larger club than we realized at the time.
Nordstrom’s, because it’s the closest store to the bus stop at Tysons Corner Center. If the weather is bad I hang out near the door until three minutes before the bus comes.
Pier 1: Really, what’s the point? If I had less money and more time, I’d be making that shit myself and bragging about it. If I had more money and less time, I’d be buying it from somewhere that didn’t mass-produce it in shitty batches in China.
Brookstone: Otherwise known as "Look what we can do with massagers :eek: and iProducts 
"
Williams Sonoma: Oooooh, shiny! Oh god, sticker shock!
I’ll fourth or fifth or whatever Williams Sonoma. I go in there sometimes when they’re doing cooking demos, but I don’t think I’ve ever bought anything there.
“Ooh, this is nifty… I bet I could use this for… :checks price tag: Never mind!”
I used to go to Williams Sonoma. I have purchased two items there. One was a requested wedding gift and the other was a high-quality thermos that I use daily. Despite the uncomfortable carrying handle, it was worth the dosh. The alternative is taking a trip down four floors and through a construction area every time I want a cuppa tea.
The salesperson drooled over the handsome design. I merely wanted my water to stay really hot for a couple of hours.
Role Playing Game shops, I used to love Sword and Sorcery books(both stories and RPG).
Also joke shops.
Hey, I was going to say this, but not because it makes me laugh. I like the idea of Anthropologie, and I like the experience of being in the stores, and once in a while I do buy something there…but. The majority of the wares are either way overpriced for what they are, fit me funny, or have an ugly print. So I usually leave empty-handed.
I was going to say Anthropologie too, but for different reasons. I like the “rustic” look of their clothes, and so I like to look through them for inspiration when I go thrifting. But I can’t afford their clothes at all, not on my student budget.
I go into Urban Outfitter a decent amount but never find anything I like. It’s also way over priced anyway…
(Looks down at her Anthropologie sweater) Hey!
I don’t typically go into stores that I have no intention of buying anything from, but I do occasionally walk into Sharper Image type stores or novelty shops just to gawk and touch things.