Buying in person vs. buying online?

[InkyMilk]

I've seen Snowcatcher at Family Dollar..have you checked there?

I don't believe we have that store around here I've seen quite a few ponies at Target, yet they never seem to have her, no matter which I visit.

[Flitter]

I very much prefer to buy in person in local stores, not because of the hunt but because 1. saving on shipping 2. several of the ponies I have ordered online have had small defects. It's disappointing to receive them like that and I've ended up re-buying a few.
I only order online anymore when it is something I'm afraid I won't be able to find in stores for a very long time or one that appears to be an international exclusive. I try to be patient and hold out for local stores to stock items. It is really difficult though and tempting ti take the risk if I'm having a hard time finding something or when it hits other countries weeks/months before where I'm at.

[ShortyBoo]

I try to buy all my G4s in the store whenever possible because then I can look them over carefully and make sure there are no paint smudges, misaligned eyes, stray marks, etc. I don't trust ordering ponies from an online site because I don't trust them to actually look them over before sending them out. I ended up with a factory error SDCC 2011 pony since I ordered from Hasbro's site and they were sold out by the time she arrived. If Hasbro can't send out a perfect or near perfect pony, I don't think any other sites will. Usually if I can't find a pony locally, I'll have another member pick it up for me, that way they can check the condition in the store like I would and I don't end up with messed up ponies.

[TheBeatlesPkmnFan42]

It really depends on where the pony was released, and if it's new or not.

If it's a new, unopened pony/set, I don't care if it's in person or online because it won't affect the contition at all. Though, buying in person is usually cheaper, so I wait until the item is released where I live.

Which brings me to my next point. If the pony is used or unopened. Unless the pictures are very good quality, and you can see flaws, I'd perfer not to buy used ponies online. While I go to Goodwills/Antique Malls/Vallue Vilage all the time, I still would like to know what I'm getting. I sometimes even get a G1 with mold if it's not that common, or cheap. I just don't want the Ebay description to have a blurry picture and claim to be 'perfect', and recieve a pony with tail rust/mold/faded hair/symbol rubs, etc.

Though, if it's a Euro exclusive, like G1 Tales ponies or G4 Rainbow Flash, I'd pretty much have no choice but to buy online.

[Gonzo]

For me, it depends. I prefer buying G4s in person so that I won't have to deal with shipping costs and wait times, plus I can usually find them for less in stores (well, in Wal*Mart and Target). Though, waiting for new ponies to hit the shelves can get annoying.

[scarletjul]

If I can do so, I much prefer buying ponies in person.  You can get a good idea of the condition the pony is in (if it is used,) whether there's any quality errors or mismatched head and body, etc plus you don't have to pay for shipping.  Most of my g4s have been purchased in-person (with the exception of 2; one was a trade and one was from Hasbro) and, honestly, I've gotten most of my g1s and g3s this way as well. 

That said, I do appreciate the ease and availability of online buying.  And sometimes, especially with g1s and collectible items (like the new g4 boxed set) that might be the only way to get a certain pony - and I'd much rather have the pony than not.  So, if that is the choice, I'll buy the pony online. 

[Mintymints]

I like buying them from the stores, and even with G1s and G2s I much prefer goodwill, alas, I've never ordered a pony online ( ) and I would probably order like 100 at a time, so I don't trust myself on ebay 

[hathorcat]

Well as g1 collector normally based in the wilds of Scotland, online has pretty much only ever been my option. But anything people think they potentially miss out on by finding something on a shelf in store is more than balanced out by the joy of a pony parcel in the post.

G4s...I ll normally pick up in store as I only ever after the odd one or 2 and they are cheaper to purchase in store than have them shipped!

[sarafina]

Although I'm not really a G4 collector, I totally feel the same way!  There was a lot of excitement in looking for particular ponies or G1 LPS sets when I was a kid.  I remember finding the LPS Country Home Carrycase after searching for it for ages, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw it in the clearance bin at Walmart.   Sometimes I think about how much easier pony-collecting would've been if there had been access to online shops, references, etc., but there was a lot of fun in the mystery of searching for new ponies. 

[sweetsong100]

I'd much rather buy in person, than online. It's the thrill, no shipping, and most times I can choose what I want (flaws, etc) I also hate waiting for the mail..lol.

[dragonfly]

IMO, the magic of having the pony appear in my mailbox and anticipation of her arrival is equally fun as happening across one in stores! Different feelings but both nice.