Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Shopping

Shopping is a fun experience, but the process has changed much in recent times. Because of the rapid growth of technology, businesses have switched from traditional methods to an electronic mode of shopping. They are now using the internet as the major vehicle to conduct commercial transactions.

Online shopping allows you to go on a spree, from any location. Purchases are simply a click away-life has never been this easy! But online shopping has both its pros and cons.

The following are some of the advantages and disadvantages of online shopping.

Advantages

  • Products are easy to find

Finding a product online is much easier than searching for it in brick and mortar stores. In the case of the latter, if you don’t find what you are look

ing for, you will have to search physically from one store to another, which is time-consuming and frustrating. But, with online shopping, searching for products is very easy by exploring many websites or using search engines just by clicking on the computer.

  • Products may be inexpensive

Products in online stores are often much cheaper than in physical stores. This is because of a number of reasons. One reason is that an online store saves much on overhead costs like rent, furnishing, wages of cashiers and sales personnel, air-conditioning, etc. Another reason is that a good might be cheaper in one location as compared to another. Thus, you can save money by online shopping.

  • Saves energy and time

There is no need for you to waste time going to stores combating with crowds and standing in line. The process of shopping from a local store will be more time consuming either if you don’t have your own vehicle or if you have to struggle to find parking. These hassles can all be solved by shopping online.

  • Wider choice

You will have plenty of choices when you shop online. Browse through various categories of products or visit various websites to find millions of choices of products based on colour, size, texture, price, etc.

  • Convenience

Online shopping is convenient for busy persons. You can shop from office or home or any location where you have access to a smartphone, computer or tablet and an internet connection. One can browse and shop from wherever and whenever you desire.

  • Helps in comparison shopping

While shopping online, you can compare pricing and offerings at various stores with a click of the button without having to physically go to various stores and find out who is charging what, for which product. There are even shopping comparison sites where you can find out different rates of various products.


Disadvantages

  • Lack of tactile experience

In online shopping, you don’t have the opportunity to touch and feel items, which you are considering to buy. This may not be an issue for products like electronics and books but maybe very vital for items like clothing, shoes, bed and bath linen, etc. Quality and fit may not be possible to judge.

  • Cost of shipping

Even if products are available at discounts, cost savings might be ruined by shipping and handling costs. So, before making final your purchase decision, factor in all relevant expenses of online shopping.

  • Returns may be expensive

You may lose some money when you return products. Majority of e-commerce stores will not return shipping charges if you are planning to return or exchange items.

  • Unknown vendors

Though there might be some famous reputed online stores like Amazon, yet many other smaller stores may not be familiar. Some of such stores may not be reliable like selling products of poor quality or compromising valuable personal details of customers like credit card information.

Ultimately after weighing all the pros and cons, it is up to you to decide if shopping online is the right choice for you.

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