ONLINE SHOPPING: Advantages and Disadvantages
Online shopping is a form of purchasing goods directly from a seller using the internet. In online shopping, products are displayed on mobile devices, tablets, or PCs allowing visitors to view the description, size, and other details before placing an order. The order is then placed through online apps and the product can be received by the comfort of your home in no time. These online market places are called e-commerce websites. There are hundreds of well-established e-commerce websites from top brands, & authentic sellers to small vendors where visitors can see and select from a lot of variety.
The trend of online shopping has increased after the coronavirus hit the world and strained them to stay at home for their safety. Still, many people don’t feel comfortable while online shopping. They may are unfamiliar with proper internet usage or are afraid of being cheated online. Here we’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of online shopping.
Some online shopping advantages are:
Saves TimeOnline shopping saves a buyer from long traffic lines, the hassle of parking, & long queues at the cash counter. Many professionals prefer online shopping as they don’t find enough time to visit markets and stores to get groceries, family gifts, and other necessary stuff.
- One Time Search Possible
Another advantage of online shopping is that customers can search various brands in a short period. It’s easy to compare the deals, discounts, and sale updates offered by multiple brands on the same product. Customers can search on branded and non-branded e-commerce websites in the comfort of home. Also, customers can compare the prices against the quality and features of any product. In physical shopping, it’s a really tough and time taking task to visit multiple brands for a single product.
- Shop At Anytime
Contrary to physical shopping, online shopping is possible 24/7. Customers can scroll on the products and can place orders whenever they find the time. It is 12 am-midnight or 6 am; you don’t need to wait for the store to open or to get worried that the store will close if you can’t make it in time.
- Offers are amazing
There are many deals and amazing offers that are available at online shopping. As more and more customers are opting for online shopping, so to meet the high competition companies put amazing offers and discounts that are not available in stores for the same products.
- More variety
There is more variety available while online shopping. It is easy for brands to display all their variety in e-stores than to manage it in physical stores. The products are displayed in separate categories which can be accessed from the navigation menu. It is easy for the customers to search for products using filters. Even customers can find and shop off-season clothes and other stuff in an e-store which is not mostly possible in physical shopping. Sometimes, it happens that customers like one item while browsing the e-commerce website but it was not available in a physical store. Sometimes management tells you that the store is small to display all variety or it is out of stock. It fabricates real frustration. Even much quality stuff is available from home-based businesses at cheaper rates gives you more choice.
- Saves Money
Using the online shopping method, customers can save money that they spend fueling their vehicles. Also, you will not have to pay parking charges. Mostly delivery is free above a small amount on most brands that means online shopping saves time, energy, and money.
- Saves Health
How come online shopping saves our health? This question may come out strange before the coronavirus pandemic but not now. There are chances of getting affected by germs and viruses while physical shopping. Most of the time, social distancing is not possible at the shopping place. Many people are touching the same product. Most shopkeepers don’t care about sanitizing around. Online shopping appeared as a blessing in disguise when people had to stay at home to secure their health. Similarly, one should prefer online shopping if he/she is infected by flu, coughing, or any other disease to prevent the spread of germs.
Everything is not that simple in online shopping despite many of its advantages over physical shopping. There are numerous disadvantages of online shopping that can be argued.
- Shipping Delays
One main problem in online shopping is facing shipping delays. The situation gets worst during holiday seasons and near festivals. Shipping can also be delayed due to bad weather conditions. You need to order at least 4-5 days before you need any product.
- A Chance of Replaced or Fraud Items
The internet is full of online shopping frauds where sellers delivered replaced or faulted products. In such cases, customers are blocked from accessing the websites. There is no chance of exchange or return then. Many customers complain that the delivered product quality was opposite what was shown on the website.
This is one main cause that people avoid online shopping.
- Limiting Social Life
Online shopping is being popular day by day because of the convenience attached to it but don’t you think that it is limiting our social life. Online shopping is cutting down on our contact with the community. You must hear that shopping is a way to curtail depression and it is surely not true for online shopping. Going out, feeling the weather, choosing from colors and bargaining fabricates positive vibes that are not possible in online shopping. The practice of going out for grocery shopping or other home stuff gives us the chance to connect with the community.
- No Bargain Possible
It is said that online shopping offers you more variety but one disadvantage of online shopping is that you can’t bargain on the given price. The prices are fixed. All system is run automatically and even you can’t contact the seller for a bargain. It may be possible for small businesses but usually, they also remain to fix with prices.
- Needs Internet Accessibility
Online shopping is one comfort for the customers who have internet accessibility. Most customers living in remote areas don’t have smartphones even. From browsing multiple websites, placing an order to track and grab the product, customer needs an uninterrupted internet. Women, who share the biggest chunk of online shopping, don’t know to use the internet properly for online shopping. So if the customer doesn’t have internet access, he/she prefers physical shopping over online shopping.
So online shopping has many advantages and disadvantages side by side. Many disadvantages of online shopping can be overruled by carefully selecting the websites, where we’re placing an order. Online orders from an authentic seller and popular website reduce the risk of fraud and shipping delays. If you’re a very choosy type of person then you should prefer physical shopping over online shopping.
Online shopping is very convenient but it is not advisable to get stick to any one mode of shopping. Anyone shouldn’t miss the perks attached to physical shopping while spending too much time online.