Shopping vs. Order Taking: Why Real Shopping is So Much More

Blog by Dawn Maloney

In a world that’s increasingly digital, the line between shopping and order taking has blurred. But let’s be clear: ordering online is not shopping. It's convenience. It's efficient. But it's not the real thing.

Online shopping is order taking.You click, you pay, and you wait. It’s a transaction, not an experience. It’s a to-do list item, not a memory. And while there’s nothing wrong with that, let’s not pretend it compares to the richness of actually going shopping.

Shopping is an experience. A real one.

It’s not just about buying things—it’s about the how and who you're with while doing it. It’s time spent with people you love.

• Time laughing with your girlfriends as you all try on outrageous sunglasses.

• Time spent with your family, maybe helping your mom pick out a new dress or your kids choosing their school shoes.

• Time feeling present, instead of distracted by tabs and shipping options.

Shopping is sensory.

It engages every part of you:

• Touch: Feel the fabric. Pick up the bag. Try on the shoes. You don’t imagine how it feels—you know.

• Smell: Walk into a boutique and take in the scent of new leather, candles, or perfume wafting from the beauty counter.

• Sound: Hear the feedback from a friend: “That lipstick is so you.” Chat with the sales associate who knows her stuff and genuinely wants to help.

• Taste: Sip that complimentary glass of wine or coffee as you browse. Treat yourself to a café break between shops.

• Sight: See the colors, the full range of options, the surprise items you didn’t know you needed but now can’t live without.

  
  

Shopping takes time. And that’s the point.

Yes, experiences take time. But the best things in life usually do.

Online shopping may save a few hours, but you miss the connection, the laughter, the spontaneity. You won’t make a memory scrolling through your phone in your pajamas at midnight. You might get the package in two days, but you won’t get the moment.

So, the next time you're tempted to "shop" online—ask yourself:Are you shopping?Or are you just placing an order?