Online Shopping and it’s craze
Estimated reading time: 5 min
Given how much time and effort we put into shopping, it can be a great relief to find a store that offers free shipping, free returns, and no minimum purchase. However, while many people now choose to buy from online retailers due to the convenience this provides them in their day-to-day lives, it's important to take note of what these stores are like before you make your purchase.
In this blog post we'll give an overview of some of the pros and cons of online shopping in order for you to judge for yourself whether you think this is something that would work best for you or not.
Advantages of Online Shopping
1. Convenience - perhaps one of the best things about online shopping is that you don't need to leave your house to do it. With the exception of a few physical products like clothing, shoes and handbags, most other items can be delivered straight to your door in just a few days, which means you don't have to waste time driving around from store to store in search of what you want or spending hours in a crowded mall.
2. Convenience - When you're shopping online, you also don't have to worry about determining what size or style of clothes to buy, as well as whether you'll be able to find something in your size when you need it. If it happens to be out of stock, you can simply browse the restock section and quickly get back in touch with the seller if they happen to have what you're looking for.
3. Convenience - Another big advantage of shopping online is that you can search through thousands of items in just one click, so there's no need for indecisiveness on which products to buy. You can also quickly compare products to figure out which one has the features and qualities you want, what it's not as good at, and how much it costs.
4. Convenience - Most online stores offer free shipping and free returns, so there's no need to worry about paying extra for shipping and handling when you're purchasing something that isn't quite what you expected. You also don't have to be concerned about returning an item if it turns out to be damaged or defective or doesn't fit your needs, as most online stores will refund the total cost of an item (including shipping) if you return it within a certain period of time.
5. Convenience - Many people enjoy the privacy and control they have over their shopping experience when shopping online, as they can easily keep track of their purchases in one place. Besides that, they can usually get a better deal when buying something specific because most of them offer free shipping on orders above a certain amount, and often a percentage off the total cost if you sign up for their newsletters or promotions.
Disadvantages of Online Shopping
1. Privacy - While there are many benefits to shopping online, there are some drawbacks too, the most prominent being that you'll have to share your information with the store in order to make a purchase. The information you give includes your name, shipping address, email address, payment and credit card information, and any other details the store may require from you – but the good news is that in most cases you don't have to share this information if you don't want to.
2. Privacy - You also need to keep in mind that some online stores will ask for your Social Security number so they can verify your identity before issuing a refund or providing customer service. These stores usually state this up front on their website and also provide a privacy policy about how they'll use your personal data – however sometimes this can be easy to overlook.
3. Privacy - Another disadvantage of online shopping is that since you're purchasing an item off the internet, you don't know what your customer service options are if something goes wrong. This can be especially troubling when buying something expensive, like a computer or a camera, so you have to research the store's return policy and find out what their terms of service are before placing an order.
4. Privacy - During the checkout process online stores will ask for personal information in order to verify your identity – such as your Social Security number – so they can issue a refund or provide customer service if there's any problem with your purchase. While these stores will usually state this up front on their website, it's important to keep in mind that since you're purchasing something off the internet and don't know exactly who you're buying from, it's a good idea to research their return policy and find out what their terms of service are before ordering.
5. Privacy - Another downside to online shopping is that you're not able to physically touch or see the item you're purchasing before buying it. This can be troublesome when buying furniture or large appliances like a refrigerator, and if you take this into consideration ahead of time, you won't be as disappointed if something happens.
6. Privacy - When ordering a product online, it's also important to know what your return policy options are in case the product arrives damaged or defective. While some stores will offer free returns on all products and some will charge a restocking fee if you're returning an item within seven days of receiving it, others will only allow product returns within 30 days and charge restocking fees up to 15%.
7. Privacy - When you're shopping online, you also don't know if the product you're buying is made in a foreign country where child labor and unfair working conditions are common. If this is something that could bother you, it's important to keep it in mind when making your final decision and researching the store's policies about returns within seven days of receiving the item.
8. Privacy - Another disadvantage of shopping online is that some stores collect your information even after you've purchased an item, so they can contact you again about another product or service if there's something in particular that interests them. For example, some stores will automatically send out emails or text messages from time to time to remind customers about different specials and promotions.
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Conclusion
While shopping online can be convenient and can save you a lot of money in the long run, it's important to keep in mind the drawbacks of this method of shopping and be able to recognize when they're present. By doing your research ahead of time, you'll be able to make an educated decision when making a purchase, whether you're buying something large like a computer or something small like a dress.
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References:
http://www.webopedia.com/online_shopping/advantages_disadvantages.asp http://www.brighthubtechsupport.