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It鈥檚 an oft-asked question: Is it better to buy online or shop in store? Sometimes the answer is the former, sometimes it鈥檚 the latter and sometimes a combination is best.

Better prices (57%) and selection (49%) are the top reasons for purchasing online after researching an item in store,聽聽by media analytics firm comScore and transportation company UPS.

For anyone who鈥檚 ever been torn between driving to the mall and turning on a computer, we鈥檙e finally giving you some answers. Here鈥檚 a list of five things you should definitely buy online (and a few you shouldn鈥檛).

Electronics

First up: electronics. Purchasing a new TV or smartphone can be confusing. With so many product specs to consider, it鈥檚 tough to figure out what makes one model better than another. And what if you pick the wrong one? Can you exchange it for something else?

For major purchases (electronics included), we recommend that you shop online. It gives you more time to fully read warranties聽as well as聽return and price matching policies. You鈥檒l also be able to easily compare products across and within brands. Additionally, online marketplaces such as Amazon or eBay make it easy to locate and purchase preowned or refurbished electronics if you鈥檙e looking to spend less.

Cars

You can set yourself up to drive away with a sweet deal on your next vehicle before you ever step foot on the car lot 鈥� all thanks to online tools.

Start your car negotiations online, as that will allow you to easily compare prices and inventory across dealers. First, consult a resource such as聽聽to get a rough estimate of what you should be paying for certain makes, models and features. Then, start negotiating online with a handful of dealers to see which one will give you the best offer. Get a definitive quote before you visit the lot to test drive and pick up your new ride.

As the聽, consumers can communicate with dealers via live chat and ask them to list all fees that will be associated with the car.

Besides this convenient comparison research, you鈥檒l likely also save yourself from buyer鈥檚 remorse if you do your car browsing from the comfort of your own home, as you can avoid potentially making spur-of-the-moment decisions after only a quick test drive at the dealer.

Groceries

It鈥檚 not just major purchases that are best made online. You can benefit from doing virtual grocery shopping for smaller items too.

Think about it: You already know which type of coffee you鈥檒l need or which brand of toilet paper you prefer, so there鈥檚 really no need to drive to a store to pick up these types of items, especially when they鈥檙e readily available online.

For groceries and other home necessities that you need regularly, take advantage of offers like聽. The program allows customers to set up a schedule for how often they want deliveries of a specific item. Plus, you鈥檒l get a discount off of the original price just for doing so. Amazon says these savings could trim 15% off your entire order. Just be certain that your savings offset any potential shipping charges.

Luggage

Before you jet off on your next vacation, look for luggage deals online. After all, luggage can be pretty bulky to carry home, and there鈥檚 no real need to try it out in person as long as you look at the dimensions.

Once you鈥檝e settled on a size, color and pattern, you鈥檙e ready to buy. Purchase your new travel companion from a retailer that offers free shipping (and free returns on online orders) if you鈥檙e looking for the best possible deal.

Holiday gifts

Finally, holiday shopping season is nearly upon us, and if you want to get the lowest possible sale prices on gifts while also avoiding the crowds, we recommend shopping online.

Both Black Friday and Cyber Monday are huge seasonal discount days, and each is known to offer blowout online discounts. For example, last year,聽聽event hosted tons of deals in store, but deals could also be shopped online all day on Thanksgiving and the day after.

If you don鈥檛 need to try on or test out a present in person, shopping online is the way to go. Combine purchases from the same retailer to meet the minimum threshold for free shipping and input any relevant promo codes for additional savings.

And a few to avoid

Not all purchases are best made via the World Wide Web. Here are a few items you should always go to the store for:

• Mattresses.聽You shouldn鈥檛 commit to a mattress until you鈥檝e felt its comfort level in person. Head to a mattress store to test it out before you buy.
• Art and decor.聽Ever notice that the colors of paintings don鈥檛 always look the same on the screen as they do in person? Before you purchase paint, artwork or other home accents, you鈥檒l likely want to at least browse in store first.
• Furniture.聽Shopping for furniture in store adds a personal element that鈥檚 lacking online. Plus, when you shop at a bricks-and-mortar location, you have the opportunity to speak with a salesperson and negotiate such details as the cost of the item and delivery fees.

Helpful hint

No matter where you make your final transaction, we always recommend doing at least some of your deal comparison work online. Use your computer (or your smartphone) to give you more time and a better opportunity to search for coupons, read product reviews and compare prices across stores. Once you鈥檝e armed yourself with knowledge of the best sale, you can finish your checkout online or hit the stores.

Courtney Jespersen is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email:courtney@nerdwallet.com.