Premium Essay

Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Shopping

In:

Submitted By catcatcat
Words 1336
Pages 6
The advantages and disadvantages of online shopping

Who doesn't like to shop? Buying new things is fun—except for when it takes so much time that it becomes more of a chore than a pleasure. Of course, now with online shopping and banking, you can go on a spree from your home. Purchases are just a click away on the Internet—life never has been so easy! Online shopping is a very popular kind of e-business where one consumer can shop over the Internet and have their goods delivered. Ebay and Amazon are the two most popular and trusted websites for shopping online, selling millions of products each.

Nowadays many people prefer to shop online because of its numerous benefits. However, the practice has disadvantages as well as advantages. This article will go over the pros and cons of shopping online.

Advantages of Online Shopping

Online shopping can save you the time of having to leave your house to run errands.
It makes products easy to find: Finding a product online is much easier than looking for it in the local store. In a store, you have to search for the product you want; if it's not there, you may have to visit several locations, which is frustrating and time-consuming. However, online you can easily search for any product by using the website's search feature, and it's more likely to be in stock. If the website doesn't have it, you can simply go to another without wasting your time. For example, if you can't find the suitable product in eBay, you can look for it on Amazon.
Products are often more inexpensive: Products are often cheaper online than they are in stores. There are several reasons for this. For one, an online store doesn't have the overhead costs of renting their location and paying for the electricity, AC, cashiers, etc. Also, sometimes a product can be much cheaper in another country than your country. In this case, it would be wise to

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Shopping

...can talk to people from different countries on the Internet or buy things online. Today, many people like shopping online, some dislike. Shopping online has both advantages and disadvantages. Shopping online has three main advantages. First, shopping online is very convenient. People only use the computer to buy the things they want. They do not need to go out. Second, shopping online saves people’s time because they only need to order a product and receive it after several hours or days. In fact, they do not need to go to traditional shops and go around the shop to choose product that we want to buy. Third, the prices of the product when they buy online are usually cheaper than those of traditional shops. Last but not the least is it is easy to choose what they like. There are many shops online with many different kinds of products. And their pictures are posted in the websites of the online shops. Therefore, they can have a lot of choices. Beside the advantages, shopping online also has several disadvantages. The first disadvantage is the quality of the product. People can not see the real products online. They only see the pictures of the products, so they don't how they are. The second problem is security. In many situations, people send their money but they do not receive the product they order. Shopping online has two sides. Therefore people should be careful. They should shop in high reliability online shops. These are usually known by many people. They should send money after...

Words: 288 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Online Shopping Advantages And Disadvantages

...internet boom began in the late nineties, search engines like Google and Ask Jeeves connected the buyers to the sellers across geographical territories. Not only did online shopping make the process hassle free for consumers but opened new avenues for the sellers to sell their products and reach out to newer markets and territories. With technological...

Words: 1492 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

“What Is the Advantages and Disadvantages of Shopping Online from the Consumers’ Perpectives”

...PROJECT “What is the advantages and disadvantages of shopping online from the consumers’ perpectives” Report from: Ta Duc Tam Report to: Stella Kalfa 9 June, 2014 INTRODUCTION * Brief of the study For several centuries ago, traditional shopping which means that consumers go directly to the shop, then choose and buy goods, at last come back home with them is a dominant method in trade industry. Nowadays, the development of e-commerce is pushing the popularity of online shopping. Only by connecting your computer or smart phone with the internet, opening the website and searching for goods, you can easily get whatever you need. This new method is known as the new fashion of shopping. Currently, in China, about one of four consumers is online shopper; while, this number in Europe and Korea is two of three. ( Jia-xin, et al. , 2010). It is obvious that the trend of shopping through the internet is growing more and more quickly. * Research question The existing argument on whether shopping online is better than traditional shopping or not. Thus, my study will focus on answering the research question which is “ What is the advantages and disadvantages of shopping online from the consumers’ perpectives”. * Reseach objectives The overall purpose of the research is to analyze what is the differences between traditional shopping and shopping online. Moreover, the research also evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of shopping online, thus consumers can...

Words: 4897 - Pages: 20

Premium Essay

Ewfcwqfeq

...Shopping in physical store or online 1. Introduction/background The topic I want to discuss is shopping in physical store or online. Nowadays, online shopping is very popularly, a lot of people like buy goods online. For example, I like to buy some snacks that from other countries but I can’t find it in shopping mall. Actually, shopping online is a kind of shopping trend. Most of customers have the experience about shopping online. Especially, a part of them are crazy about shopping online. There a variety of online shopping website and APP. Alibaba Group is the most famous one. It let customers feel they can buy anything. Mushroom Street is mainly sell clothes、JUMEI is mainly sell cosmetic、VIPSHOP is mainly special offer. The reason i choose this topic is the development of online shopping is getting better and better. The physical store is facing the powerful competitor. So, I want to analyze this two shopping mode through doing research. 2. Research question and research objectives There are a lot of research methods to know the details. I will do a research through use questionnaire. The respondents’ age、gender and job are different. These three points are important for my research. I do research about three main questions. First, the customers rate between prefer shopping in physical store or shopping online. Second,the respondents think the advantages and disadvantages of shopping in physical store. Third, the respondents think the advantages and disadvantages...

Words: 1315 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Marketing Management

...4/5/2011 Advantages/Disadvantages intro advantages/disadvantages solutions conclusion quiz references contact Advantages/Disadvantages Advantages Convenient Convenience includes the overall ease of finding a product, time spent on shopping, minimization of overall shoppoing effort (Schaupp & Belanger, 2005). Online shopping allows consumers to shop at the convenience of their own home, and to save traveling time to retail stores and spend their time on other important tasks and hobbies. Researchers idenfity convenience as a 'fundamental objective' related to online shopping (Schaupp & Belanger, 2005). This is relevant to 72% of online shoppers' claim that they would rather surf online than go to retail store to attain information about a product (Lokken et al., 2003). According to a study, 72% of online shoppers chose convenience over privacy (Bhatnagar, Misra, & Rao, 2000). In addition to ease of finding products online and shopping time reduction, consumers can shop without time limitation with 24-hr access at their convenience because the World Wide Web never closees. Lokken mentions 24-hr access as a beneficial characteristic of online shopping (Lokken et al., 2003). Also, consumers can exchange information online through chatting and discussion forums to help them make wise consumer decisions. No need for vendors and no pressure to buy Online shopping benefits both the society as a whole and individuals. The society can save human resources when...

Words: 811 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Compare and Contrast Essay

...Online V.S Brick-and-Mortar Shopping Brick-and-Mortar shopping has been the most popular shopping method for as long as mankind has been inventing items. In the last century, or two, the world has been experiencing new technology known as the Internet. The Internet now allows people to shop online, not only in stores. There are many people who enjoy both methods of shopping, but also many who prefer one method over the other. From crazy check-out lines, to no wait time at all, shopping is done every day and millions are spent each year online and in stores. While there are many advantages to online and brick-and-mortar shopping, there are many disadvantages as well. With technology allowing us to shop online, we are experiencing more advantages from the comfort of our own couch and computer. Some of the greatest advantages for online shopping is no lines, no crowds, stores are open 24/7, fewer expenses, and best of all privacy. One can stay home in their pajamas and lounge on the couch while browsing through the store’s inventory. It is a quiet and peaceful environment for one to enjoy their shopping. With online shopping there is no closing time. One can shop any time day or night for whatever it may be they want. When people are able to shop online it allows them to save money on gas and reduce their eating habits by being less exposed to fast foods. Another way of saving money with online shopping is the decrease...

Words: 1090 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

English Composition

... Compare Online Shopping with Traditional Shopping Online shopping and traditional shopping has as many similarities as differences. Online shopping allows you to shop from the comfort of your home as opposed to traditional shopping, whereas, you would have to leave home to shop. Although traditional shopping allows you to try on, touch, and test a product, online will allow that and even if it’s unsatisfactory, the consumer has to go through the motions to return and exchange. There is, however, more convenience with traditional shopping when it comes to payment for merchandise. With traditional shopping, the options are far more than online shopping. For example, you can pay with cash with traditional shopping with the event that you don’t have credit cards and such. Unlike with online shopping where you must pay with a form of cards. Furthermore, with online shopping, you have the convenience of shopping at a store that is not in your local area, though you would have to pay for shipping and handling, you still have the flexibility to shop at a far away store. As opposed to traditional shopping you would only have access to what’s there near your hometown. Another advantage is having a store that offers online shopping; it would allow you to buy items not normally found in the physical location. Also, if you are a person that doesn’t like a lot of crowds, then online shopping is the way to go. Also, if convenience is your choice then online shopping is beneficial...

Words: 689 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Lpi What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Shopping on the Internet and Shopping in a Mall?

...Lpi what are the advantages and disadvantages of shopping on the Internet and shopping in a mall? Give examples for both. With the development of the Internet, online shopping has become increasingly popular. However, this does not discourage people from shopping in malls since these two ways of shopping have their own advantages and disadvantages. Compared to shopping in a mall, shopping on the Internet is much more convenient. The photos of goods are well-displayed online. People can go through them easily. Besides, goods sold in online stores are cheaper than those that are sold in stores in malls. Stores in malls have higher costs since they need to pay rent and employees’ wages. On the other hand, shopping online has its disadvantages. Customers cannot try on the clothes and shoes they prefer, so they may fine things they buy do not fit them well. They cannot get what they want immediately as well. Since free-shipping usually takes a long time. If customers need to get the goods right away, shopping in a mall is their first choice. Many people think it is interesting to go shopping with friends, so they choose to shop in malls. They can spend a whole day in a shopping mall, trying on clothes or going window-shopping. What matters is that they can have fun with their friends. They cannot experience such happiness when they go online shopping. Furthermore, customers can actually see and touch the goods, so they are less likely to buy things that are poor quality...

Words: 363 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Mkt1

...Scenario Your company has recently decided to expand into online sales. The company wishes to continue to sell its products in the retail stores located throughout the United States but they also wish to establish a presence on the Internet. Research the online marketing opportunities available for retail sales and provide a report to your manager which includes the advantages and disadvantages of marketing online, the potential impact of online sales to the company, and the requirements for a successful online marketing campaign. Main Ideas Advantages and disadvantages of online marketing Halligan, B. ( 2011). Inbound marketing. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/HubSpot/101-awesome-marketing-quotes Fowler, G. (2009). Amazon cuts ties to affiliates in Hawaii. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124638801268074915.html Lau, K. (2010). The advantages and disadvantages of online marketing. Retrieved from http://kevinklau.com/the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-online-marketing/ The potential impact of online sales Cerf, V. (1995). Computer networking: Global infrastructure for the 21st century. Retrieved from http://homes.cs.washington.edu/~lazowska/cra/networks.html Barr, A. (2013). EBay holiday quarter sales jump: 2013 forecast cautious. Reuters. Retrieved from http://news.yahoo.com/ebays-fourth-quarter-revenue-rose-18-percent-212124057--sector.html Macaluso, N. (2001). Analysts cool to Amazon q4 projections...

Words: 3409 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

Advantages of Online Shopping

...Online shopping, the Mecca for deal findings and savings on anything and everything a consumer could want, offers both advantages and disadvantages. All shopping has some of both, so here are the facts so you can judge whether online shopping is for you. Advantages: Save money. The biggest advantage to online shopping is the amount of money you can save with a little time and patience. Just like in-store shopping, online shopping requires that you shop around and visit more than one site. One way to reduce some of this time is to use online shopping apps that will do the searching for the best deal for you. Offers more variety and options. Online shopping opens the door for easy shopping around the world. Instead of being limited to the two or three brand names or products offered in-store, you can shop them all. You also can run across small and upcoming brands or products that you haven’t heard of yet that offer high quality and more for your money. Shop from anywhere. Shopping online doesn’t require that you get dressed to go out and shop. Hop in the nude, wear the ones you had on last night or that old t-shirt with holes in it, it really doesn’t matter. You can also shop from anywhere you have an Internet connection on a computer, tablet or smartphone. Most major retailers online or off now have their own shopping apps. Shop anytime. You woke up at 3am or just got home and want to go shopping. The brick and mortar mall is closed but all the online shopping...

Words: 675 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Internet as a Threat to the High Street

...Index Contents Introduction 2 Types of shops 2 History 2 Example of Ecommerce 2 Processes 3 Advantages 3 Disadvantages 3 Effects 4 Legal and ethical implications 4 Social implications 5 Economic considerations 5 Solutions 5 Conclusion 5 Bibliography 6 Internet as a threat to the high street Introduction Ever since its creation, the internet has developed drastically. One of its focal areas is internet shopping, which is vastly becoming more popular during the last few years, which led to the factor of increasing consumerism to a point almost beyond recognition. For those who have access to the internet, they are granted the privilege of a vast choice of not only physical but also digital products which have always been subject to availability in the high street. Types of shops Nowadays retail establishments can be fragmented into three classifications. Those constructed solely in physical retail shops, those assembled around the concept of both physical shops and online shopping, and also Ecommerce which is exclusively online shopping. History Before anyone was able to obtaining goods online there were only limited ways where people were able to purchase products. One of the methods was to go to the high street and inside the stores. Alternatively products were acquired by teleshopping, where you would call a number, usually advertised on TV, and give your credit card details. Nonetheless giving credit card details over the phone is very unsecure...

Words: 2147 - Pages: 9

Free Essay

Online Shopping

...people can do a lot of things without going out, like paying bills, watching movies, study online and so on. Among those, the most attractive one for people is doing shopping online. Online shopping does have many advantages but everything has two sides, some people think that it also has many disadvantages. Online shopping attracts people because it has many advantages. Nowadays, more and more people, especially for the office worker, don’t have that much free time to go shopping they’re busy working, studying and doing other important things. So online shopping becomes the most convenient and best way for the office worker. Many people choose shopping online also because they can’t stand that crowded and noisy environment. For shopping online, they just need to choose the article they want and pay online, and then shopping is finished. To most people, shopping is not a hard and anguished job anymore, they can just stay at home, click the mouse, spend several minutes to get what they want without stepping out of the room or standing in line for checking. Well doing shopping online is not always a perfect thing, it also has disadvantages. It seems easy and quick, but there’s always a trap online. If you are careless, it will bring you some troubles. For example, if you order a cloth online, at the moment you get the item, you may find that the color is different from what you saw online, or the size is either too small or too big because it is not available to try on before...

Words: 349 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Ffrf

...Factors of Online Shopping Binbin He and Christian Bach Department of Technology Management, University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT 06604, USA Copyright © 2014 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. ABSTRACT: Perceived risk, Shopping motivations, Experience, Service quality and Trust are five important factors to improve the competitiveness of online shopping. KEYWORDS: Perceived Risk, Shopping Motivations, Experience, Service Quality, Trust. 1 INTRODUCTION This paper wants to research influence factors of online shopping, the advantages and disadvantages of online shopping; and how to improve the competitiveness. The foundation of this paper was based on some factors about if people choose the online shopping. Via analyzed the factors, I will present some suggestion about how to improve the competitiveness. Online shopping had some problems in user-friendliness and aesthetics [1]. Now it is the first evolved of B to C E-commerce [2]. The first factor is Perceived risk. Perceived risk is an important part of online shopping factors. Consumers are worried much about perceived risk. It is a big factor if they choose buy products from online shopping companies or not. Hassan, Perceived risk is an important role, consumers know much about the products and online shopping...

Words: 4824 - Pages: 20

Premium Essay

Amazon and Ebay

...products available for sale. As initially stated, both sites deal with a variety of items including the most basic items such as clothing. Another reason as to why the two website retail stores fit this purpose is because they are among the leading retail websites on a global basis where both websites offer retail services beyond the United States thanks to logistics services from companies such as DHL and FedEx that have made shopping on both sites open to just about any other country outside the United States. For diversity purposes and range of products available on both websites, below are screenshots of categories of the various commodities both sites have to offer as “website based retailers”. Amazon shopping category list Although not fully covered, the screenshot above illustrates what any shopper could possibly buy on Amazon and the whole category list can be accessed via this link - http://www.amazon.com/gp/site-directory/ref=nav_shopall_btn EBay shopping category list Similar to Amazon’s screenshot, the above screenshot illustrates the shopping categories of...

Words: 1993 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Traditional Shopping vs Online Shopping

...1. Traditional and online shopping environment In the traditional shopping, one has to leave home, either walk or take a ride to a particular location in order to buy what one wants. There are many ways of traditional shopping such like shopping at shopping center, outlet village, markets or department stores. However, online shopping has been developing at a fast rate through recent years and more and more people are moving towards this mode of shopping. The online shopping is typically done at home or office that you could convenient use a computer to search online. 2. My Traditional and online shopping experience 2.1 Online Shopping Experience Online shopping offers me a greater selection at my fingertips with no waiting in lines, saving time and energy. Whenever I want to shop online, I just need my laptop, a cup of coffee, and I can shop at my own comfort and convenience at home on my comfortable bed. I usually shop in G-market as they offer a huge range or products from lifestyle to fashion clothes to accessories, and even travelling packages. I personally like to buy clothes there due to the wide varieties with clothing design from different countries with different style. If I were to buy a formal and an informal shirt together through traditional shopping, I would probably need to shop at 2 different outlets to get the shirts. However if I were to shop online, I could get the 2 shirts at one go with a just few clicks. When I shop online, it will just take...

Words: 1549 - Pages: 7