With the increase in the number of e-commerce websites, the day is not far enough when a visit to the bricks-and-mortar store will cease to exist. But we must be well-prepared. Online shopping comes with numerous advantages, but it also has a considerable number of disadvantages too.
Let us take a detailed look at the pros and cons of online shopping:
Pros:
#1. Saves your Time: If you know what you want to buy, you can place the order with just a few mouse clicks. All you need to do is place the order and choose the payment option.
#2. Access to Larger Inventory: In online shopping, it is easier to find an item and pick the desired size, style and color. You also get to see whether an item is available or out of stock. Above all, you are not bound by geographical restrictions. The number of products available to you is vastly larger in comparison to any retail shop.
#3. Saves Fuel: Shopping online does not need you to even leave the chair you’re sitting on. This means that you can save the gasoline required to drive the car to the nearest retail store. This is also a major step on your part to conserve non-renewable energy and prevent air pollution.
#4. Shop Anytime: Online stores are, as the name suggests, online. This means they are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 30 days a month, and all year long. You need not worry if you suddenly remember buying a gift for your friend at the middle of the night. Just place the order at your convenience.
#5. Avoiding Long Lines: No visit to retail stores means that you do not have to stand in the long lines just to make a purchase. When you are making an online purchase, the only time you have to wait is getting the display of the ordering page of the website.
Cons:
#1. Lack of Instant Gratification: Once you have placed your order, the product will not be delivered instantly. You need to have patience and wait for at least a couple of days for your order to get dispatched and delivered.
#2. The Shipping Cost: Almost every online store fixes a certain minimum amount for the shipping to be free of cost. If you need to make a purchase which falls below that amount, you will be charged extra for the shipping.
#3. No Personal Access: Most shoppers like to see, touch and feel a product, try it on or test it before making the purchase. In online shopping, however, the only thing you get to see is the photo of the item.
#4. Risk of Defective Items: If the item that has been delivered is defective, you need to pack it and ship it back to the retailer in order to get a refund or a replacement. Not only the return shipping cost is yours to bear, but the return process itself is as lengthy as the delivery process.
#5. Concern with Personal Data: As online shopping does not allow building a personal relationship with the seller, there is always a risk of sharing your personal data and credit card numbers with them.
Understand the advantages and disadvantages you might face when you are shopping online, and be careful while calling the shots!
