Whats the difference in buying and adopting a pet?

What steps do you take in both?

What’s the difference between buying a pet and adopting a pet?

don’t you pay either way? or do you just get the pet for free when you adopt him or her?

What is the difference in attitude in golden hamsters and dwarf hamsters?

I am trying to decide what hamster I should get and the Petco near me does not have golden hamsters but it has dwarf hamsters. I have heard that dwarf hamsters bite, but they are cute. So are golden hamsters, but I have herd that they escape! Help!