What you need to know about online shopping:
7 Pros and Cons
Ever since the internet exists, online shopping has gained more and more ground, increasing the number of consumers who choose to buy online rather than in stores. This has revolutionized the way we shop.
What are some of the reasons why many people love online shopping and why is it so popular?
Let’s see the PROs :
1. Absolute convenience
Are you able to shop from your bed in whatever clothes you are wearing
Online stores are available for 24/7 so you can shop anytime you want.
Downloadable items purchased online eliminate the need for any kind of physical materials as well, which helps the environment!
2. Products are cheaper
Better deals and cheaper prices are available online because products come to you directly from the seller. You do not need to drive and parking either, so that saves you a lot of money.
3. More variety
You can find almost any brand or item you are looking for. You can shop from retailers anywhere, no matter where you live. You have a better chance of finding clothes in your size and favourite colour. Some online shops even accept orders for out-of-stock items and ship them when they become available again.
4. No crowds
When you shop online, you would never have to deal with the frustration that comes in crowded stores. There are no lines to wait in or cashiers, and you can do your shopping in a matter of minutes. This way, shopping can become a much smoother experience to you.
5. Giving presents is easier
You can buy presents without your children finding out about them too early, even if you are in the same room. Also, you are able to send gifts to relatives and friends, no matter where they are. All the packaging and shipping is done for you. They even take care of wrapping!
6. Controlled shopping
What does that mean? We often end up buying items that we did not want when we started to shop (but we cannot find anything better in the store). Online you do not have to let the store decide what you buy, and you can get exactly what you want and need.
7. Discreet purchases are easier
Certain items are better to shop from the privacy of your home. Online shops are the best for discreet purchases, for things like adult toys, sexy lingerie, and so on. At your home, you can check out those products without any embarrassment or difficulties that there are people watching or judging you.
These are the most essential benefits of online shopping.
However, it is clear, as there are two sides to every coin, that online stores have their own disadvantages as well.
Let’s see those too
1. You don't know exactly what you are getting…
Until the minute it has arrived. Sizes are often imprecise. You cannot determine the texture, fabric, fit, cut, quality or durability just by looking at a photo. Products that looked great might feel awkward or cheap when you hold them in your hands.
2. Shipping problems and delays
There is no way to ensure that you will get your purchase in time unless you pick it up from a store. Items get lost, detoured, damaged or delivered to the wrong address more often than you would imagine.
3. Risk of fraud
When you shop online, there is a larger risk of fraud: credit card scams, phishing, hacking, identity theft, counterfeit products, bogus websites, and other scams are common.
4. Negative environmental impact of packaging
Having your purchase packed in several layers of plastic and delivered right to your front door is very comfortable, but not so great for the environment. Even if you try to recycle the cardboard, you are likely to create unnecessary waste by shopping online.
5. Less human contact
If you do all your business and shopping online, you will never have to leave your home. This can be great for a while, but sometimes you may want to go outside, breathe some fresh air, get a change of scenery, talk to real people, participate in your community, or just be a part of the crowd. A computer cannot compete with real human connections.
6. No sales assistance
In a store there is usually someone to help you, but you are on your own when you shop online. If you are confused or have questions, the page just cannot reply to those. You may make mistakes on your blind purchases, which you regret later, because there was no one to talk to.
7. Returns can be complicated
Some shops make the return process easy (in the package already prepared everything for the return), but many of them make it extra hard to return their merchandise or get a refund. Oftentimes you cannot get reimbursed for any shipping costs. Labelling, packaging, shipping, tracking, and filling out all the proper forms all are unnecessary difficulties which you can avoid if you buy in person (and if you hand-select your merchandise, you will not need to return things so often).
We hope you found this article interesting and useful. Here you can find another post about what we buy online and in-store and how does it affect our budget.
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