I do shop online but it's more because the things I find online are items I can't buy within a 30-40 mile radius. Even if the prices are better, by the time you add in shipping and handling, there isn't much of a difference.

I shop online, but I shop locally as well. I only ship to a location where the truck would be going anyway -- which used to be my moms office, but is now my building. If I lived in the suburbs I'd probably get a PO box. No sense in making a truck take a detour for one package.

I tend to either buy things from local shops or get them online, but I avoid the big box retailers as much as possible. Supporting local businesses is important to me, but most of the ones around me are small and have limited selection and inventories. When I need to get something they don't have, there are few to no choices for green/organic/ethical products at most of the national chain stores, so I go online where I have many options.

I generally try and buy food locally, I also try and get as much as possible locally, but I will also buy online as it is more efficient overall for the postal service to deliver than for me to drive to some location to pick up a single item.

If I can buy it locally, I do. But I also do shop online because we live in a very, very small town and can't get most of what I need/want around here.

Obviously I buy food locally and get food from my CSA, but as for "stuff" I went with yes I buy stuff online. However I try not to buy new stuff as well. Since I don't visit the local big box stores very often for their poor outsourcing practices and non-existant ethics in purchasing fair trade goods, I don't really have much of an option except to purchase items online.

Add to that most places outside of very green communities don't have ANY specialty stores stocking things like very efficient water heaters, washing machines or the like then you are more or less forced online. The selection is much better online and I feel I have a lot more access to information on what a product is like than the flashy "BUY ME NOW" ads that are plastered in stores.

The reasons I shop on line are
1 Better selection. Many items just can't be found in a brick and mortar, even in NY City where I live. As for price, you have to shop around like anywhere else.
2 No gas. I don't burn any and the delivery trucks make far better and more efficient use of theirs.

the choices are too limited.
I chose 'other' because while, yes, I do shop online it's not for better prices or to 'reduce my footprint' or anything like that, it's pure convenience
the things I purchase online are things it's difficult to find close to me or gifts which i intend to ship anyway, i just have them delivered to the recipient instead which saves time and money and is way easier for me because i don't have to bother with the post office.

I'd really like to shop in local stores rather than online, but the price differences are too significant.

Generally, I'll buy things locally if they're within 15% of what the online price is, including shipping, etc.

If a bricks and mortar retailer can't get his price to within 15%, he is gouging, stupid, and/or has a flawed business model. If we didn't have so many danged retail stores everywhere, cities could be a lot more compact.

I shop both on-line and locally. I find it more convenient to shop on-line, but as previously mentioned the price breaks are made up with shipping.

If you buy at most stores, chances are that it came from afar anyway and you are just toting it home. I do like to check out truly local merchandise where possible.

I don't think my shopping habits have a huge impact either way as I really don't buy that much. I simply replace things when they wear out. Food is where my dollar really kicks in. I buy almost all of it locally, the majority of this is produce. My diet consists of about 20% non-local foods.

To all the treehugger readers out there! : )

Yes, I shop online mainly. I live in a very rural area of the country and the nearest shopping is Walmart, which is about a 40 minute drive, through the mountains. Living out here I try and be as eco- friendly as possible and try not to buy anything unnessecary. I have to admit though...when I lived in an urban setting I definately was a great consumer, buying all sorts of junk I didnt need. Especially those deilcious Starbucks lattes, a huge waste of money! Having the luxury of being able to go out and buy almost anything you want and or need the temptation to $$$ buy buy buy $$$ is always there. Buying almost strictly online, I am now extremely conscious of what I order.

I shop online and many of the distributors are local. I get the benefit of buying online and getting lower price but avoid driving all around town to find the item. the Post Office is still more efficient at getting my stuff to me than driving a car to go get it.

I may look online.But do not buy online.I like seeing my local merchants faces.Besides i do not have a credit card.I believe in using cash.It keeps you within your means.My local merchants can order what i am looking for.