Experiment 1: Scrolling

When I first heard of this assignment, I thought of two things: what should I look into buying that would benefit me and be of use, and wow, I’m so glad that this project is when all the Black Friday sales are going on. 

It didn’t take too long for me to settle on an object. I’ve had the same pink bedsheets since my freshman year in college, and, the other day, I stumbled across a photo of my bed at that time. At the time, my bedsheets were a bright, eye-catching pink, with little pink hearts adorning the top. 

The same bedsheets are now incredibly faded, with the hearts turned into distorted, bleach-stained blobs. Next semester will be my last at SUNY New Paltz, so this wasn’t just about practicality—this bedding had been with me through the ups and downs of college. It felt symbolic to start fresh as I approach graduation.

And so, I turned to online shopping. I’m a chronic window shopper, so I already knew what websites to look at, what filters to put, and how exactly to get the good deals. 

For the sake of quick shipping (the mailroom will be closing soon!), I immediately went to Amazon. Within seconds, I had more options than I could process, and the variety was both exciting and overwhelming.

I initially typed out “pink and white bedding”, clicking the search key with little trepidation. True to my search, the first 20 or so results showed a variety of different types of pink bedding. They all were rated about 4.4/5 stars, which seemed like a good thing. 

However, a lot of the reviews were a mixed bag. Reviews like “These sheets are the best thing ever!” were followed by “1/10, would not recommend ever.” It was hard to determine what was the truth and how exactly bedsheets could garner such a low rating. 

After the first 20 or so searches, the beddings stopped being pink and white. Sometimes they were only pink, other times they were only white. There were often red and black sheets scattered in there. If I were more of an adventurous person, maybe I would’ve checked those out. However, if I couldn’t see them in person, I felt no need to search for something I wasn’t specifically looking for. 

Shopping online always feels impersonal to me. I love being able to touch the items and run my fingers along them to see if they have any divets. Additionally, clicking “Add to Cart” didn’t carry the same satisfaction as physically selecting an item and carrying it to the check out. 

Once Amazon failed me, I bounced between other websites. JCPenney, Target, Macy’s… the whole 9 yards. I was met with frustration when I couldn’t find anything whose appearance and reviews matched my ideal bedding set. 

As I scrolled through these websites and viewed the deals, I reflected on the old sheets that I had bought for my first dorm. It was nice to be able to replace them at this point — especially with all the deals! I did feel a bit nostalgic at the concept, but a bit disappointed too, since I couldn’t seem to find anything even when granted an endless maze of options.

I decided to give myself about an hour or so to search. If I didn’t find anything reasonable during that time, I would get ready to look for new bedding in person. I’m fortunate enough to live in New York City, so there are plenty of clothing stores around that I could check out. This online method was more for seeing how convenient this process could be. 

I didn’t end up buying any of the sheet sets I found online. Despite them looking nice, it was different to determine whether or not they’d be right for me. I sew so I take fabric quality very seriously. Because of that, I didn’t feel right picking something that I’d basically be living on. This process seemed like convenience came at the cost of that initial connection, and I wasn’t willing to sacrifice that for something I’d be using so often.

Experiment 2: Browsing

Armed with my Black Friday sales determination, my bedsheet journey continued! 

New York City does have a lot of stores, but its mall scene is quite lacking. Because of that, I ended up venturing to the Newport Mall in New Jersey. Whenever I say that I go to New Jersey to shop, I always get weird looks, but I promise that this mall is worth it! 

I continued this journey on the day of Black Friday itself, so I had expected the stores to be crazy and/or empty of items. Part of that was true — the store was bustling with shoppers, carts filled with discounted TVs and holiday decorations. However, there was still plenty of stock left, and I was able to happily zigzag in between all the stores. 

Macy’s and target proved to be busts. Though their selections were nice to be able to touch, they didn’t have the shoes I wanted, and their sales were often bit too far out of my price range. It was nice to be able to form my own reviews of the items as I travelled through the store, but ultimately my hard work came up short.

Then JCPenney was the store I chose. Walking through the aisles brought a sense of nostalgia. I remembered shopping with my mom for those freshman year sheets here, and how we spent hours going between the different sheets, arguing about quality and appearance. Now, I was here alone, facing the same questions but with more experience behind me.

JCPenney had better deals, though it was hard to find the bedding aisle. After navigating the maze of aisles, I managed to find it. I was met with a view of blankets upon blankets — some stacked on beds, other nestled away in shelves. 

I immediately ran my hands over the different sheets. Some flannel, some cotton, others polyester. Being able to feel it was an experience only in-person shopping could offer, and I was glad to be able to see how the quality of the sheets were.

Around me, other people shopping for similar items were chatting. Shoppers discussed between prints, others lamented about the deals. It was nice to see that others were engaging in the same activity that I was.

The primary downside of this method, aside from having to travel an hour to get there, was that the sales were below my expectations. 50% off $100 is still $50, which is way out of my price range! Online, sales were way cheaper, so I was mentally cursing at myself for not just going with the online versions. 

Because I’m terrible at making up my mind, I didn’t end up buying anything. The materials were nice, but I didn’t find anything in my price range that bit the aesthetic I wanted to go for. I did have fun though! 

Reflection: Comparing the two methods

Though I didn’t end up buying anything, I can say I did enjoy the experience. I love shopping and seeing what things are out there, and approaching shopping for one item in two different ways allowed me to see the pros and cons of both approaches. 

Online shopping allowed me to spend less time traveling between stores. It offered more speed, convenience, and endless filters to help me find bedding that fit my exact wants. However, it lacked the satisfaction of touching the fabrics or seeing the colors in person. I found myself overthinking and second-guessing my choices, relying heavily on often finicky reviews to fill in the gaps. The experience, though efficient, felt detached and transactional.

in-store browsing was definitely more immersive. Walking through the aisles, reveling in all the options, definitely felt a lot more fun than just mindlessly scrolling. This method also carried a sense of nostalgia that online shopping did not, reminding me of shopping for college supplies with my mom all those years ago. This would’ve been different for me if my Black Friday shopping experience was as bloodthirsty as it usually is, though. I’m sure if I would’ve loved the crowds as much. Still, the in-person experience felt richer, as I could engage with the product directly.

This act of browsing reminded me just how much I liked to be in the moment. I feel like with phones, it’s difficult to be fully present in what you’re engaging in. In person,  things definitely felt more intentional, and it required less work than online shopping (though it did take more time). That being said, I agree with Guriel’s argument that we should browse more and scroll less. Browsing allowed me to revel in this transitional experience of getting something new. It was a less convenient experience, sure, but I was lucky enough to have the time to indulge in it and have more of a connection to the sheets I was looking at. Overall, the browsing experience is what reminded me that shopping isn’t just about getting the sheets that best fit what I want, it’s about engaging and creating stories with the materials — something that’s difficult to obtain if you’re only scrolling.