9 Reasons to Stay Away From the Mall

Don't waste your time shopping there.

December 2, 2012

Image via Complex Original

Shopping has to happen one way or another. Sorry, Ebenezer, the holidays are here. It used to be you'd sit in traffic for an hour, to drive around a jammed parking lot for thirty minutes, to shuffle through a stuffy mall and buy crap at garbage stores. Sure, malls were great for scheming on chicks from different towns when you were in high school, but the mall is no place for improving your own style, or for buying gifts during the holiday season.

Thanks to the explosion of reliable online retail, local shopping options, and independent shops with awesome customer service, you need not suffer the weekend shopping trip any longer. Here are 9 Reasons to Stay Away From the Mall.

Parking Sucks

There are few things more exasperating than the desperate search for parking at a mall. Hours upon hours of circling the entire building, before finally finding a spot that's only five miles away. It's a huge waste of time and gas.

Gas is More Expensive Than Shipping

The price of gas is ludicrous these days. While shipping isn't cheap either, there are plenty of times when a trip to the mall ends up costing ten times more than the 8 dollars you'd pay to get whatever you want delivered. Beyond the Internet, plenty of places still do good old-fashioned phone orders, whether it's for a pair of limited-edition sneakers or a covetable, rare shirt or jacket.

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Employees Could Care Less About You

One of the differences between a boutique and a big mall? Employees' attention to detail. Most people are just here to punch the clock and go home. Beyond the tiny commission they might get for making a sale, they don't care what you buy. The actually helpful mall employee is like a unicorn, and chances are that person will go on to better things like working for an independent retailer. Remember when you had a mall job? You were just there for the paycheck and absolutely hated doing actual work. Nothing's changed that, not even a recession.

Small Businesses Lose Out

Malls are full of chain stores and big box retailers run by corporations, not mom and pop shops. Independent boutiques tend to have a more edited selection, not to mention better taste. These are the types of people who have a passion for what they do, it's why they chose to open a small shop. Support these guys instead of huge companies.

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Lack of Good Brands

There may be a lot of stores at the mall, but not all of them are necessarily good ones. Malls are a shoppable version of cable television. Hundreds of channels and nothing on? More like hundreds of stores and next to nothing actually worth buying. Even if you come across an impulse buy at a fast-fashion store, or something on super sale, chances are it'll languish in your closet forever, or get two wears before it's completely forgotten about.

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Annoying Teenagers

Back when you were young and didn't know any better, you were a little shithead too. Expect to feel mad old when you see today's high schoolers aimlessly hanging out at the food court, doing shit like planking and whatever it is bored kids can think of to show off to their friends. As the mall's number one customers, most shops and restaurants are tailored to their needs, and the parents that provide for them. You've grown up. So should your shopping habits.

They Are Depressing

Is there anything more depressing than a dying mall? Shuttered stores and meager foot traffic are enough to make you hate your life. Not to mention, the mass consumption and sheer amount of settling for less that goes on at these institutions can make you want to just give up. People should know that they deserve better quality products and a better shopping experience. It gets much better when you broaden your consumer horizons and step outside the mass market comfort zone.

The Internet

Come on son, the Internet opened up the floodgates of so much cool shit you couldn't get your hands on before. European exclusives? Obscure Japanese brands? Uppity New York boutiques? Now it's all at your fingertips!

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Outlet Malls Are a Sham

First of all, outlet malls are located in the middle of nowhere, which means whatever money you might be saving you'll usually spend on gas. Second, many brands like the Gap and J. Crew make lesser-quality items specifically to be sold at these locations. The factory store you think you're getting a deal at? You're actually paying full price for a shoddier product. While there are some items that are a bargain, more often than not shopping at these places is more trouble than it's worth.