Catalog Shopping

The Wide World of Catalog Shopping

Catalogs are an incredibly popular way for companies to attract customers. Even with the popularity of shopping on the Internet, catalogs allow retailers to get in the face of potential customers who might never search out the company's website on their own.

Getting a regular catalog from a company you have ordered from before is a gentle reminder that the company still exists and would like more of your money. Catalog shopping is great when you're looking for a gift for someone and don't know exactly what you want to get them. Just browse through your catalogs and you're sure to find something that would work.

Odds are you think you're getting enough catalogs in your mailbox every day, but you can also sign up to get catalogs from your favorite merchants. Go directly to the company's website to request a catalog, or check out a site like Google Catalogs to browse for catalogs you might like to get. Just click on the website for the catalog you'd like to explore and request a catalog if it looks useful to you.

Anything can be purchased through catalog shopping, for sports equipment to yarn, clothing to DVDs, candles to garden supplies. Ignite your passion for your favorite hobby or pastime by requesting a bunch of catalogs, and you'll know exactly what to ask for when the next holiday rolls around.

Pros of Catalog Shopping

• Having a catalog to browse through allows you to take your time and really look at items you might have passed by in a store or online.
• It's a low-pressure shopping experience.
• Catalogs often offer free shipping or other incentives.
• You always know when a company is having a sale because they will send you a sale catalog.
• Catalogs are easy to carry around and browse through no matter where you are.
• Catalogs often have better color representation than your computer monitor.
• If you want to buy something later or show an item to someone else, it's easy to rip out a page and keep it.
• Catalogs make fun, colorful wrapping paper.
• Getting a catalog might remind you of a company you liked but haven't purchased from in a while.
• Catalog companies often share mailing lists (often thought of by consumers as a bad thing), which can get you on lists of related catalogs that you might not otherwise have discovered.

Cons of Catalog Shopping

• You can touch items or try on clothes.
• Returns are sometimes difficult when you've ordered the wrong size or decide you don’t like something when it gets to your house.
• Catalogs use lots of paper and ink—please recycle!
• Catalogs can get to be a hassle when you end up on too many mailing lists.
• If there is more than one person in a household who orders from the same company, you might end up on the mailing list more than once.
• Catalogs don't tell you if an item is out of stock.
• Some catalogs still require a phone call or use of a mail-in order form, which is less convenient than ordering online.

Making Catalog Shopping Work for You

Catalog shopping is great for a lot of people and in a lot of situations. It might not be ideal for buying clothing and shoes, but if the company has a good return policy it is fine to buy these items from a catalog, too.

Websites that allow you to order directly from the catalog by item number will save you time and the hassles of talking to customer service or filling out those little order forms. Sometimes you'll find web-only specials as well, which can save you even more money.

If you find that you're getting too many catalogs or catalogs that don't interest you, you can contact the vendor directly and ask to be removed from their mailing list. You can also write to companies you do business with and ask them not to sell or rent your information to other businesses.